Chapter 9 — Three Years After Divorce, He Found Out He Had Two Children

“He's on duty.”

“Does he… treat you well?”

Khuong Tri Y raised her head. Look straight into his eyes.

“Better than me?”

“Tham Nghien Thanh.”

She put down her chopsticks.

“You don't need to ask those things.”

“We are divorced.”

“Everyone has their own life.”

“You come to Xi'an, I'll let you meet your children, it's for your sake.”

“But you can't interfere in my life.”

“I don't intend to interfere.”

“So why do you ask Phuong Huc?”

Tham Nghien Thanh was silent for a few seconds.

“I just want to know if the person next to you is trustworthy or not.”

“He is more trustworthy than me.”

Khuong Tri Y said.

“At least he won't disappear when I need him most.”

That sentence was like a knife stabbing straight into Tham Nghien Thanh's heart. She is telling the truth.

“Mom, I'm full.”

Khuong Du slid down from Tham Nghien Thanh's lap. Run towards Khuong Tri Y. Khuong Niem also jumped down. Two children held hands and stood in front of their mother.

“Is it almost kindergarten?”

Tham Nghien Thanh asked. Khuong Tri Y stood up. Wipe the two children's mouths. Adjust your clothes. Tham Nghien Thanh went to pay. When you come back. Khuong Tri Y pushed the stroller to the shop door.

“Let me take everyone to school.”

“No need, it's very close.”

“Let me give it just once.”

This time she did not refuse anymore. Tham Nghien Thanh pushes a stroller. Khuong Tri Y walked beside. Two children sat in the car. Chatting non-stop. The sunlight is very beautiful. The rows of ginkgo trees along the road have begun to turn yellow.

“Autumn in Xi'an is so beautiful.”

“Before, I said I wanted to go to Xi'an to see the ginkgo tree.”

“But I never brought you here.”

Khuong Tri Y did not respond. Arrive in front of the kindergarten gate. Khuong Du and Khuong Niem got out of the car. Put your school bag on your back.

“Goodbye mom.”

The two children kissed Khuong Tri Y's cheeks. Khuong Du turned his head to look at Tham Nghien Thanh. Hesitate a bit. Then waved at him.

“Goodbye.”

Khuong Niem also waved along.

“Goodbye.”

Not dad. Tham Nghien Thanh smiled. Squat down.

"Goodbye."

The two children turned and ran into the kindergarten. Quickly disappeared among the crowd. He stood up. Look at Khuong Tri Y.

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me.”

She pushed the stroller and turned away.

“Don't come again.”

“I will still come.”

She stopped walking. Don't turn back.

“Tham Nghien Thanh, what do you want to do?”

“I want to make amends.”

“Compensate for what?”

“The children don't need me to make up for it.”

“They already have Phuong Huc.”

“What about you?”

Khuong Tri Y turned around.

“I don't need it myself.”

Tham Nghien Thanh took a step closer.

“Last night I painted until three in the morning.”

“I have to wake up at six thirty to take care of my baby.”

“I'm at least twenty pounds skinny.”

“There are still paint stains on my wrist that haven't been washed off.”

"If you live well or not, I'll know with just one look."

Khuong Tri Y instinctively withdrew her hand into her sleeve.

“That has nothing to do with you.”

"Related."

Tham Nghien Thanh looked at her.

“Because I made you like that.”

“If three years ago I would have cared for you a little more.”

“You won't have to shoulder it all alone.”

“If I were by your side when you were pregnant.”

"I won't even dare to say anything about taking Oriental medicine."

“What does it mean to say those words now?”

He looked straight in the eyes Miss.

“I want to start again.”

Khuong Tri Y burst out laughing. A cold smile.

“Tham Nghien Thanh.”

“You are so naive.”

“I think I just need to say one sentence and start over.”

“Is it possible to erase the past three years?”

“Do you know what happened the day I gave birth?”

“What happened?”

“I went to the hospital alone.”

"My water broke, I have to call 120."

“Go to the hospital.”

"The doctor said the fetus was not positioned properly and had to have a cesarean section."

“Need family members to sign confirmation.”

“I have no family.”

“I signed it myself.”

Tham Nghien Thanh's hand clenched into a fist.

“Anesthetics don't work well.”

“I still feel the pain of the knife cutting through my stomach.”

“But I don't dare cry.”

“Because I'm afraid the more I scream, the more it will hurt.”

“After giving birth, both children were taken to the Neonatal Department because they were born prematurely.”

“And I lie alone in the hospital bed.”

“There's no one around.”

“There wasn't even someone to pour me a glass of water.”

“The nurse asked me: ‘Where is your husband?’”

“I said: ‘I don't have a husband.’”

“She looked at me with those eyes.”

“You know what?”

“It's the kind of eyes that seem to say…”

“‘Oh, single mom, worth it.’”

Tham Nghien Thanh closed his eyes.