Chapter 8 — Three Calls at Dawn

Tham Tu Dien put down the flowers, walked in front of her, and put his hand on her forehead. His fingers were a bit cold, carrying the smell of antiseptic, his movements were professional and gentle: "No fever, probably a problem in the cervical vertebrae. I breastfed with my head down for a long time, the position was not correct." He walked around her back, placed his hands on her shoulders, and began massaging. The movements are mature, the force is just right, you can tell it's not the first time you're doing it. Luc Canh Tham's temples twitched repeatedly. "Tham Tu Dien, your hand ——" "What's wrong?" Tham Tu Dien looked back at him with an innocent look on his face, "I'm a doctor, this is treatment." "Treat your head! Take your hand off her shoulder now!" "Brother, what are you shouting at?" Giang Du's voice came from outside the door, carrying two large bags of food, "My sister-in-law's neck is not good, how about Mr. Tham help her massage a little? I don't know how to massage." He walked inside, and as he passed by Luc Canh Tham, he mumbled another sentence: "If I knew how to massage, my sister-in-law wouldn't have to ask someone else." Luc Canh Tham took a deep breath: "Giang Du, you ——" "Look what I brought you," Giang Du pulled out a box of stomach medicine from his pocket, "You've been going to many guests lately, surely your stomach isn't comfortable, right? I bought you medicine. And this one too ——" He pulled out a shirt again, "The shirt you said you liked last time, I asked. Someone brought his hand back from abroad." Luc Canh Tham was stunned. Giang Du smiled happily, looking just like before, a carefree younger brother who didn't think much of anything. But Luc Canh Tham saw something else in the bottom of his eyes - it was the teasing of a hunter who, after forcing his prey into a corner, pretended to let go. "What do you mean?" Luc Canh Tham asked in a deep voice. "What do you mean?" Giang Du tilted his head, "I'm being nice to you, brother. Aren't you my brother? It's natural for me to be nice to you, right?" He patted Luc Canh Tham on the shoulder, leaned close to his ear, and used a volume loud enough for only two people to hear to whisper: "Brother, you know? Yesterday my sister-in-law told me, she felt that you had changed, turned into someone she no longer recognized. But I don't think you've changed at all - you from before. I've always been that kind of person, but I used to hide it too well, now I'm too lazy to hide it." He took a step back and regained his harmless, animal-like smile: "I'm going to cook, my sister-in-law said she's craving sweet and sour fried ribs." He jumped up and down into the kitchen. Luc Canh Tham stood frozen in place, his hand clutching the stomach pill box tightly, feeling his stomach start to really hurt. Dinner time. Dining table of six people —— Luc Canh Tham, To Niem Vi, the child in the stroller, Co Da Dinh, Tham Tu Dien, Giang Du. A spooky scene like in a mythical play. Giang Du cooked a table full of food, stir-fried sweet and sour ribs, steamed sea bass, sauteed cauliflower with garlic, tomato egg soup, all of which To Niem Vi likes to eat. "Sister-in-law, try this ribs, I purposely added less sugar, I'm afraid you'll get fat." Giang Du thoughtfully picked up food for her. "Thank you." To Niem Vi took a bite, "It's delicious." "Really?" Giang Du's eyes lit up, "Then from now on, I'll cook for you every day!" "There's no need to cook for you every day ——" Luc Canh Tham opened his mouth. "Eat too," Giang Du picked up a piece of ribs and put it in his bowl, blocking his throat, "Don't just talk, eat more." Tham Tu Dien scooped a bowl of soup and placed it in front of To Niem Vi: "Drink the soup first, to warm your stomach." Co Da Dinh silently ate, but his chair somehow moved next to To Niem Vi, so close that their arms occasionally brushed against each other. To Niem Vi did not avoid it.