Chapter 8 — The Silence Between Two Loves

“For example… you have never done anything wrong.”

He said.

“It was me who was wrong.”

That statement is like a stone thrown into a deep lake. There are ripples. But the bottom of the lake... is still dark.

“Tong Van, I know you don't believe me.”

He laughed to himself.

“After all, I have three years of ‘black history’.”

“It's not that I don't believe it.”

I bowed my head.

“But I... don't understand you.”

“Then slowly understand.”

He said.

“I'm in no hurry.”

He turned around and turned off the circuit breaker. I looked at that back— Suddenly speaking:

"Tham Tri Ngam... the car the day something happened to my father... you let someone tow it, right?"

His hand— Stopped on the circuit breaker. The whole shop was so quiet that— The sound of the oven fan slowly stopping could be clearly heard. He slowly turned around.

“How do you know that?”

“You answer me—yes or no?”

He was silent for a few seconds.

“…Yes. I will have someone tow it.”

“Because there is something very important in the car.”

“What is it?”

“Tong Van—”

His voice lowered.

“There are some things, the less you know... the safer.”

“That's my dad's car! That's my dad's stuff! What do you rely on—”

“Based on what's in your father's hands... it could take your life.”

His voice suddenly rose, then immediately held it back.

“Tong Van, what your father holds... is not something you can touch.”

“I took it away... to protect you.”

“Protect me?”

My voice trembled.

“Tham Tri Ngam, something happened to my father right in that car! Tell me—was his death… an accident or—”

“Tong Van!”

He took a step, holding my shoulder tightly. The force is very strong.

“You listen to me.”

“About your father… I will give you an answer.”

“But not now.”

“What you need to do now is stay with Niem Niem and live well.”

“Other things... leave it to me.”

His fingers tightened on my shoulders. Tham Tri Ngam— The man who can turn things around in the marketplace— Right now… his hands are shaking again.

“Your father's story... I will investigate.”

His voice was very low. As if talking to myself.

“No matter who it involves.”

I raised my head to look at him. His eyes are very black. Black as an abyss. Not guilty. Not pity. But something… heavier.

“Tham Tri Ngam… do you know something?”

He did not answer. Let go of my shoulder. Take a step back. Like a person just emerging from the water, breathing heavily.

“I have to go.”

He said.

"Nien Niem's Lego hasn't been installed yet. Next time I come... continue to install."

He turned and walked out the door. The wind chimes rang softly.

“Tham Tri Ngam.”

He stopped. Don't turn around.

“The story about my father… if you really know anything, I hope you will tell me.”

“It's not because you owe me.”

“But because—”

My throat tightened.

“He is Niem Niem's grandfather.”

“She has the right to know… how her grandfather died.”

He stood there for a long time. The back is stiff. Enter the night. The wind chimes rang again. The light in the shop shined out the door— There was only an empty space left. Two weeks later— Tham Tri Ngam did not come. This is very unusual. For more than a month before that, he had never gone more than three days without appearing. I texted him:

“Niem Niem misses you.”

No reply. I added:

“Are you okay?”

No reply. Day three— I called. I called assistant Tran. He picked up the phone very quickly. But the voice... was a bit hesitant.

"Miss Tong... recently Mr. Tham is dealing with some... quite troublesome matters. It's not convenient to contact you for the time being."

“What?”

“This... I'm not comfortable talking about it.”

“Assistant Tran… about my father, do you know?”

The other end of the line was silent for a long time. His voice was very low.

“I can only tell you one thing—”

"Recently, Mr. Tham is investigating a case. This case... is related to Mr. Tong."

“Going very deep.”

“Some people were touched.”

“You and Miss Niem Niem... must definitely pay attention to safety.”

"If possible... temporarily leave the district. Find a safe place."

“What happened in the end?”

“Miss Tong... I really can't say more.”

He stopped for a moment.

“But please believe me.”

“General Judge... is not like the person you thought before.”

The phone hung up. I sit in the shop. My palms... are full of sweat. Right after that— Chu Nghien Bach called.

“Tong Van, there is a new discovery.”

“I looked up part of the contents of the official briefcase.”

“Your father… left behind a document.”

“Recording some illegal activities of the Tham Group over the past ten years.”

“Including money laundering abroad, bribery... and some more serious things.”

“More serious?”

“Involves human life.”

His voice lowered.

“Three years ago, a senior director of Tham's rival company... died in a traffic accident.”

“Police concluded it was an accident.”

“But in your father's documents... there are some details recorded.”

“Indicate that—”

“That accident… might not have been an accident.”

The blood in my body—

“That director's car... a week before the accident, had been maintained at a repair shop cooperating with the Tham family.”

“What do you mean—”

“Your father suspects... that car's braking system was damaged.”

“One more thing.”