Chapter 4 — When I Don't Need Them Anymore

The next three days, life in the hospital was even more unpleasant than being locked in the storage room. Luc Canh Tham did not return. I don't know where the nurses heard about me "mistreating my adopted sister", but their attitude changed markedly. The food delivered was cold. The call bell was rang seven or eight times but no one answered. Occasionally someone would come into the room and just stand around whispering.

"I heard that room 302 is the golden girl of the To family? It's really beautiful."

"Master Luc is by her side every day, and even feeds her food himself."

“Look at this person, why are you pretending to be noble after causing trouble yourself?”

I heard it all. Didn't speak up once. That afternoon, two nurses came in to change the medicine, moving as if they were wiping the table. The wheel of the cart accidentally rolled over the IV line hanging on the edge of my bed. Give it a hard tug. The infusion needle immediately popped out of the back of his hand, and fresh blood quickly gushed out. The pain made my whole body shrink. The pull from the IV line made half of my body slide off the bed, falling hard to the ground. The location of the ribs transmits severe pain. I lay face down on the ground, unable to stand up for a moment. The other two nurses turned their heads to look at me.

“If you are careless, who can you blame?”

"We still have to go deliver afternoon tea to the To family's second aunt. We don't have time to get involved."

After speaking, he pushed the car away. I put my hands on the ground and tried three times but couldn't stand up. Every time I moved, my ribs hurt as if something were breaking inside. I lay on the ground for about ten minutes. The room door opened. Luc Canh Tham stood at the door. As soon as he saw me lying on the ground, his expression immediately changed. Three steps rushed forward, picked me up and put me back on the bed. The blood on the back of his hand stained his shirt sleeve, but he didn't care.

“What happened?”

His voice was a bit urgent. He saw the needle mark on my hand and the blood on the ground. He immediately turned his head and shouted at the two nurses who had just entered the hallway.

“Stop!”

The two people were scared stiff on the spot.

“How do you take care of patients?”

Their faces were pale, their lips trembled but they couldn't say a word. I leaned back on the pillow, opened my mouth and said:

“It's okay, I accidentally bumped into it and fell down.”

Luc Canh Tham lowered his head to look at me. I don't cry. Don't cause trouble. Didn't seem to feel sorry for himself either. Just calmly tell the truth. He looked at me for a long time. Then turned to the other two nurses:

"Go get paid at the finance department. Immediately leave here today. Tell the head of the nursing department, all VIP area staff must check for me. If a similar incident happens again, everyone will quit."

The two nurses burst into tears and ran away. The doctor came in to treat my wound. The ribs haven't been misaligned again, but the bruises are worse and require a few more days of bed rest. There were only two of us left in the hospital room. Luc Canh Tham sat next to the bed. He raised his hand to touch my face, but stopped in midair and then withdrew again. Finally just pulled the blanket up for me.

“Have they been bullying you these past few days?”

His voice was hoarse.

"Why didn't you tell me? I was right next to you... at Uyen Ninh's place so I ignored you, but you can completely find me."

"No need."

“What do you mean no need?”

He stood up, trying to suppress his anger.

"I'm your fiancee. If you're upset, you can tell me."

“Do you still regret what happened last time? Are not? I didn't handle it well that time, I'm sorry. But you shouldn't treat Uyen Ninh..."

“Luc Canh Tham.”

I interrupted him.

“Are you done talking? If it's done, I want to rest.”

I turned around, my back facing him. He stood behind me for a long time. The phone suddenly rang. It's To Uyen Ninh's call. A short distance away, I could still hear a choked voice from the other end of the line.

“Mr. Canh Tham, where have you gone? I'm so scared here alone..."

He glanced at my back. Then stood up and said in a low voice:

“You rest well.”

Then leave. In the following days, Luc Canh Tham really came every day. Stay for half a day. Adjust my pillow, peel fruit, try to find a topic to talk about. He even said:

“After you leave the hospital, will you take me to Hokkaido to see the snow?”

After another day, he said again:

“Or to the old town you once wanted to stay in for a few days?”

The first time, I replied:

“No need.”

Second time:

“Not interested.”

The third time, he suggested going to France. I just said: Finally, I couldn't bear it anymore.

“Tham Niem An!”