Chapter 15 — The Secret Pension

You said on that day someone grabbed your hand and pressed it onto something.

I looked at Han Duc Hai. He was standing by the police car, pretending to be utterly wronged. My fingers slowly tightened into fists. My father heard it too. His face turned pale first, then morphed into a sickly, bruised ash.

Back to the hospital.

La Minh immediately spoke up. Leave this place to us.

The two of you go back and protect the patient first.

On the way back to the hospital, my father did not utter a single word. Street lamps outside the window swept across his face in rapid succession, casting his features alternately into harsh light and deep shadow. I knew what he was mulling over. He did not merely harbor hatred for Han Duc Hai. He loathed himself far more for trusting his own younger brother all those years ago. I murmured softly, Father, this is not your fault. He closed his eyes, his voice raspy and broken.

Your mother was in agonizing pain all night, unable to sleep.

I was standing in line at the payment counter, and when I returned, she told me her hand hurt.

I thought the cast was just wrapped too tightly.

I never imagined...

He could not finish. Nor could I find any words of consolation. There are certain wounds so starkly illuminated that even drawing breath carries the iron scent of blood. When we arrived at the ward, Mother had already been transferred to the observation room. Her face was stark white, her lips chapped and dry. The moment she caught sight of Father, tears instantly spilled from her eyes. Father rushed to the bedside, grasping her uninfusions-strung hand.

Mai.

Mother spoke in a feather-light whisper, Old Han, I remember now.

That day when you went to pay the fees.

Duc Hai and Xao Van came.

They said your retirement paperwork required a family member's verification.

I told them my hand could not write.

Xao Van said writing was unnecessary, that a simple thumbprint would suffice.

Father's entire body began to tremble.

Did they press your hand, Mother?

Mother closed her eyes.

I had just been given a painkiller injection at that moment, leaving my head dizzy and spinning.

They grabbed my left hand and pressed it onto a red ink pad.

I asked what that was for.

Duc Hai said it was to process the hospital expense refund.

And I believed them.

The rims of my eyes instantly burned with hot tears. Mother had no inkling that a single fingerprint had imprisoned both her and Father for twelve full years. Tang Vy handed over a tissue, her own eyes reddening. I asked, Mother, do you remember if anyone else was there at the time? Mother pondered for a long time.

An elderly woman in the neighboring bed.

Her daughter stayed by her side to take care of her every single day.

That very day, the daughter even muttered aloud about what kind of paperwork required running straight into a hospital ward.

My heart gave a sharp jolt.

Do you still remember her name?

Mother furrowed her brow.

The old woman's surname was Tien.

Her daughter seemed to be named Vien something.

She frequently bought pumpkin porridge for her mother.

The clue was frustratingly vague. Yet it was vastly superior to nothing at all. I immediately went to the nurse's station to inspect the records of the patients sharing the room that year. The nurse looked troubled, explaining that information concerning other individuals could not be casually disclosed. I produced a copy of Mother's medical record along with her written statement detailing the circumstances.

I am not investigating anyone's private life.

I merely wish to verify the name of the patient sharing that ward back then.

This matter concerns a fingerprint document that may have been unlawfully acquired.

Upon hearing this, the nurse on duty reported the situation to the medical administration office. Before long, a representative from the office arrived. After examining the documents, he agreed to assist us in contacting the former nurses who had worked in that ward wing twelve years ago. While waiting, Father sat by the bedside, gently stroking the back of Mother's hand. Mother suddenly looked up at him.

Old Han, was that sum of money truly so enormous?

The rims of Father's eyes turned red.

Yes.

I am utterly useless, failing to protect you.

Mother shook her head.

You are not useless.

It is they who are utterly wicked.

As those words fell, fresh tears streamed down her cheeks. I stepped out of the ward, pressed my back against the cold corridor wall, and drew a deep breath. Suddenly, my phone chimed with a message from an unknown number. It contained only a single line. If you wish to find the daughter of the old woman surnamed Tien, come to the back alley of the old photo studio in the southern district. I stared hard at the text, and my heart sank into an abyss. Tang Vy leaned over to look, blurting out instantly, Do not go.

There is obviously something wrong with this.

Before I could reply, a second message arrived. Do not bring your father along. Otherwise, you will never, ever meet the person who can bear witness to what truly transpired when that fingerprint was pressed.

16

I glared fixedly at the second message, my palms growing gradually cold. Tang Vy reached out to snatch the phone from my grip.

Han Thanh, you cannot go.

They had the audacity to lay hands on your mother just a moment ago; this trip certainly holds nothing good for you.

I cast a glance toward the ward door. Mother had just woken up, her breathing still weak. Father sat by the bed, his silhouette rigid like a block of stone. The message explicitly forbade bringing my father along. Naturally, I had no intention of bringing him. But neither did I intend to go entirely alone. I forwarded the message to La Minh, then sent the location of the old photo studio in the southern district to Tang Vy. Tang Vy frowned deeply.

What on earth are you planning to do?

I told her, Do not follow me inside.

Stand across the street and wait for me.

If I do not emerge within ten minutes, contact La Minh immediately.

Tang Vy cursed under her breath.

Do you take yourself for a piece of bait?

I slipped the phone into my pocket.

Since the adversary already knows the clues regarding the old woman's daughter, they are unquestionably linked to that hospital ward from the past.

This person either genuinely holds evidence or intends to destroy it.

If I refuse to go, the trail will be severed entirely.

Father walked out of the ward. He looked at me, as though he had already guessed that I was about to leave.

Thanh Thanh, do not take such risks.