Chapter 4 — The Husband's Secret

So what are my past years? There were footsteps outside. Tham Nghien walked in. I immediately placed the phone face down on the blanket. He looked at Vien Vien, then looked at me. "Are you still uncomfortable?" "Much better." He walked forward, bent down and touched my forehead. I don't shy away. When his palm lowered, my nose stung. This hand was still holding that child yesterday. Also held my daughter. I suddenly couldn't tell which time was real and which time was an act. Tham Nghien said. "Tomorrow I will return earlier." I asked. "Isn't it Friday to go to the party?" He paused for a moment. Very short. "Yeah, I might not be able to go on Friday." "That's it then." I pulled the blanket up, closed my eyes. "Just mind your own business." He stood there for a moment, as if wanting to say something. In the end, he just turned off the bedside lamp. Darkness falls. I opened my eyes wide, looking at his figure with his back turned to me. At two o'clock in the morning, his phone vibrated again. This time he slept very soundly. The screen lit up on the nightstand, light filtering through the gap. I held my breath, slowly reached out and took the phone over. On the lock screen there is only a message preview. Aunt Khuong sent it. Tieu Du coughed so much tonight that he kept asking if his father would come pick him up on Friday.05The next morning, I didn't mention that text message. When Tham Nghien woke up, I was already cooking porridge in the kitchen. Aunt Khuong arrived very early. When she walked in the door and saw me standing in front of the kitchen, a trace of surprise flashed across her face. "Auntie, you're still not feeling well, why are you waking up on your own?" I turned down the heat. "Can't sleep." She took the spoon in my hand. "Let me do it." I let go, my eyes falling on her apron pocket. That's where her phone is. Phone screen facing inward. She is more careful than yesterday. Tham Nghien walked out of the bedroom, his shirt buttoned to the very end. Aunt Khuong glanced at him, then quickly bowed her head. That gaze passed too quickly, but something was transmitted. I scooped up the porridge. "Do you want Aunt Khuong to leave work early today?" Aunt Khuong was stunned. "Do you have something to do?" "No." I put the bowl on the table. "You were tired yesterday." Tham Nghien raised her head to look at me. "She got off work early, who takes care of Vien Vien?" I smiled. "Your own daughter, can't you take care of yourself?" The atmosphere at the dining table was silent. Vien Vien sat in the high chair, holding a spoon and tapping it on the table. She didn't understand every word of our mutual exploration. It just makes this sound fun to play. Tham Nghien's movements of picking up the food slowed down a bit. "Your body is not strong yet, don't try too hard." "Yes." I didn't say more. I know they won't easily let me push Aunt Khuong away. Then change another way. At nine thirty in the morning, I gave Aunt Khuong a bill. "The house is out of apples, go buy some." She glanced at the refrigerator. "I just bought pears yesterday." "I want to eat apples." She couldn't refuse anymore. She changed her shoes and went out the door. I held Vien Vien and stood by the window, watching her walk out the door of the building. She did not go towards the market. She walked towards the north gate of the apartment complex. I sent Vien Vien to an aunt I knew upstairs. That aunt is usually very fond of Vien Vien. I just said I'm going downstairs to get some medicine and will be right back. Leaving the apartment complex, I hailed a taxi. "Follow the woman in the gray coat in front." The driver looked at me through the rearview mirror. I tried to keep my voice calm. "My housekeeper, she left her things in her bag." Aunt Khuong got on a bus. I told the driver to follow from afar. Ten minutes later, she got off the bus near Thanh Duong kindergarten. She didn't go into school. She went into the community clinic next door. When I got off the bus, my legs were a bit weak. In front of the clinic door are two pots of withered betel leaves

oh. On the glass door are pasted the words pediatric infusion. I stood outside the door, through a layer of glass, I saw Tham Nghien. I don't go to the company. He sat in the innermost position of the infusion area. In his arms, he holds the baby boy in the photo. The boy's face was pale, with a fever-reducing patch on his forehead. Aunt Khuong squatted next to her, opened the thermos, and blew on the spoon of water. Tham Nghien bowed his head to comfort the boy. That demeanor is so gentle it's dazzling. Normally he also coaxes Vien Vien. But to Vien Vien, he was always like a clumsy father. Clumsy, hesitant, sometimes not knowing what to do. At this moment, he hugged Tieu Du, so skillfully that it seemed like he had hugged her countless times. The nurse took the paper and walked over. "Father Tham Du, the medicine is done." My ears suddenly went blank for a moment. Tham Du. Dad. These two words put together, finally ripped away the last bit of lucky illusion. Tieu Du coughed. Tham Nghien immediately patted the boy's back. "Slow down." The boy put his hand around his neck. "Dad, are you really taking me out on Friday?" Tham Nghien whispered. "Really." "So will my sister come with me?" Tham Nghien's hand stopped. Aunt Khuong immediately looked around. I retreated and hid behind the wall next to me. The boy is still asking.