Chapter 6 — When the Ex Returns

Tu Tham, please do not be so hasty. First, you should listen to what your mother has to say. Perhaps Xia has left for a specific reason.

The mother of Pho darted her eyes back and forth between the two of them, sighing softly:

Tu Tham, Xia is an adult now; she has a life of her own. Since you have already chosen to be with Tieu Tieu, you should no longer continue to…

Before she could finish, Pho Tu Tham impatiently cut her off. His voice was sharper and more volatile than ever before.

I do not consent! By what right does she get to leave without my permission? I must find her and get an explanation!

Pho Tu Tham shoved Gu Tieu aside with a forceful motion and turned to dash toward the Jeep parked in the courtyard.

Tu Tham, where are you going? Gu Tieu was so frightened by his terrifying demeanor that her face turned pale.

But Pho Tu Tham acted as if he had not heard her. He vaulted into the Jeep and sped off toward the train station. Throughout the journey, he slammed his foot against the accelerator, pushing the vehicle to its limits. The emotions churning within his chest felt like a roaring, uncontrollable wildfire. The mere thought of Lin Xia leaving triggered a sense of panic and helplessness that only intensified with every passing mile. Without his knowledge, Lin Xia had hidden her departure from him! Had she not spent years declaring her love for him? Had she not sacrificed everything for his sake? How could she walk away so easily after being reborn? No, surely she was the one at fault. She had been the one to orchestrate the tearing of Gu Tieu’s visa first. His punishment had only been intended to teach her a lesson—to make her remember better. He had done it for her own good. Yet, at this moment, an image flashed unwanted through his mind: Lin Xia’s reddened, swollen eyes as she stood before the foundation of her old family home. Her frail, thin back looked as though it might collapse at any second. Pho Tu Tham hammered his fist against the steering wheel, his eyes bloodshot. At this moment, only one thought remained in his mind: he had to stop Lin Xia from leaving!

Lin Xia, you will not leave me!

Pho Tu Tham gritted his teeth and growled, a flicker of ironclad determination in his eyes. He stormed into the train station, his aggressive, terrifying aura nearly unnerving the staff on duty.

Was there a passenger named Lin Xia on the train that departed last night? I demand to see her information and documentation immediately!

As he spoke, he frantically described her face and key features, his body trembling from the intensity of his agitation. The station attendant, rattled by his intensity, fumbled in their duties and hurriedly made internal calls to search the registry. Ten minutes later, the attendant replied apologetically:

A young woman named Lin Xia did indeed purchase a ticket to the capital yesterday, but we cannot currently verify if she actually boarded the train. Comrade, please, you must remain calm and wait…

Pho Tu Tham’s mind raced, leaving only two words ringing in his head: the capital. The only international airport in the country was located there. If Lin Xia intended to go abroad, she would certainly have to board a flight from that city. As if grasping at a lifeline, his emotions steadied slightly. He immediately sent a frantic telegram to two friends in the capital. Even after receiving an affirmative reply, the anxiety in his chest did not dissipate. Seconds later, he turned the Jeep around and drove straight into the military zone. Bursting into the office of the Chief Commissar, he stated his purpose without preamble.

Chief Commissar Ly, I am requesting leave from Northern City. There has been an emergency in my family; please grant me three days…

Before he could finish, Chief Commissar Ly slammed his hand against the desk and barked in anger:

Have you lost your mind? You are a regimental commander; your primary duty is to remain stationed here. There has been no order for deployment, and you have not requested permission in advance—what do you think you are doing? If you intend to leave, you must submit a formal application!

No, this is a matter of the utmost urgency. I must find someone. She is about to go abroad…

Chief Commissar Ly’s expression darkened further. He shook his head:

We have just received a call from your mother. Tu Tham, your reckless behavior at the train station has already caused a poor impression. If you persist in this defiance, you will be brought before a military tribunal!

Pho Tu Tham’s chest heaved violently. Seeing the grim look on his superior’s face, the frantic hope in his heart crumbled entirely. An unprecedented sense of dread, like a rising tide, threatened to submerge him, yet he was powerless to resist. He had truly lost Lin Xia. As this thought took hold, a wave of sharp, agonizing pain surged through his heart. He stood in the biting wind for a long time before returning to the dormitory, utterly defeated. As he pushed the door open, Gu Tieu offered him a bowl of hot ginger soup, her face etched with concern:

Tu Tham, you are finally back. I heard your mother say that Xia has gone abroad to study. If that is the case, you, as her brother, should wish her well, shouldn’t you?

Steam rose from the bowl. Pho Tu Tham stood in a daze. Her brother? That was the very sentiment he had repeated to Lin Xia most often in the past, so why did it feel so piercingly painful to hear it now?

That night, Pho Tu Tham locked himself in his study.