When Gia Moc Vi's mind was spinning, she stepped outside following Ve Dinh Tieu. As they passed a door, they heard the clatter of objects falling, accompanied by someone angrily shouting.
The hospital room door suddenly burst open, and a nurse in uniform was pushed out from inside.
Medical instruments scattered across the floor, and a syringe rolled to Gia Moc Vi's feet.
The young nurse gently rubbed her tearful eyes and bent down to start picking up the items on the ground.
Gia Moc Vi looked at her face and recognized her.
She was the woman rumored to have had an affair with Lam Pham.
Gia Moc Vi recognized her, but the nurse didn't seem to know Gia Moc Vi.
"Excuse me, could you step aside a bit?" the nurse said softly, reaching for the syringe at Gia Moc Vi's feet.
Gia Moc Vi moved her foot slightly and looked at the nurse's badge pinned on her chest, which read: "Dao Mo Nhien."
The woman appeared to be just over thirty, the same woman suspected of having an affair with 41-year-old Lam Pham.
Lam Pham had said that since the photos were taken, Dao Mo Nhien had been fired by his wife, and even he could no longer contact her.
She looked extremely weary, and even bending down to pick up items made her tremble.
What was going on?
Was this some legendary medical quarrel?
But seeing the nurse being pushed, falling, and still enduring quietly, could medical staff in this country really be that submissive?
Gia Moc Vi turned to Ve Dinh Tieu beside her. As a police officer, shouldn't he step in to manage the situation a bit?
But the officer's attention was fixed on the sign on the hospital room door, staring at the name.
Only after the nurse finished gathering the items and left did Ve Dinh Tieu slowly retract his gaze.
"So she works here," he said.
Gia Moc Vi heard him referring to "her" and casually asked, "Oh? You know her?"
Earlier, the nurse had also seen Ve Dinh Tieu but showed no recognition.
Ve Dinh Tieu stood tall, poised and elegant, examining the nameplate on the door. "Her younger brother caused intentional injury, resulting in the victim suffering brain death and becoming comatose. I reviewed the criminal files at the Metropolitan Police Department and remembered."
"The moment I saw her name, I immediately thought of her brother, Dao Trạch Uyen, who will be released from prison next year."
Gia Moc Vi seriously calculated the timing. "So her brother wasn't very old when he committed the crime?"
Ve Dinh Tieu nodded. "Right, just eighteen."
If he guessed correctly, then in that hospital room…
When Ve Dinh Tieu touched the doorknob and gently turned it, the door opened just a small crack.
Inside the room, the beeping of the heart monitor mixed with the soft sobs and whispers of the patient's family speaking to the comatose patient lying in the bed.
"Mother will never forgive what they did to you, absolutely never…"
Gia Moc Vi stood behind the officer, hearing the heart-wrenching sobs, her eyes following the nurse who had disappeared around the stairwell corner.
Why was the sister of the perpetrator from years ago working in the hospital treating the victim?
Ve Dinh Tieu seemed very intrigued by the story.
When Doctor Ha saw them out, Ve Dinh Tieu asked about it.
Doctor Ha said, "Ah, Dao Mo Nhien? She has worked at our hospital for nine years."
"It seems that back then, knowing the victim her brother harmed was in our hospital, she applied for a job here."
"During this time, Dao Mo Nhien has cared for that patient with great dedication, meticulously handling every task from bathing and massages to IV drips."
"She even voluntarily used part of her salary to cover some of the patient's treatment costs. However, it's understandable that the patient's family had opinions about Dao Mo Nhien, since that poor child has been here since turning eighteen."
Working at the hospital for nine years?
Gia Moc Vi was about to ask how she found time to work at Lam Pham's restaurant on the side, when Doctor Ha continued, "Some time ago, Dao Mo Nhien requested a long leave of one month and just returned to work two days ago."
Good. The information matched.
That long leave must have been for the side job.
Interesting. Why would she take leave from such a reputable hospital to work in a restaurant?
This question, Gia Moc Vi would find the answer to the next day at the law office.
When she arrived, Dam Uyen Chi sighed upon seeing her. "Moc Vi, Lam is here again."
"Mm." Gia Moc Vi calmly went to her workspace, set her bag down, and prepared to help her mentor organize the materials for next week's seminar.
Dam Uyen Chi looked curiously at her. "Huh? You're not even surprised?"
"There's nothing surprising. The divorce mediation failed, so now he wants to file a lawsuit," Gia Moc Vi said while arranging the documents.
Khương Tich Yen wouldn't accept a divorce case.
It was very likely she would refuse.
"Wow, you really can predict things! You knew what was going to happen before he even arrived!" Dam Uyen Chi was still amazed.
"But last time, didn't you say the photos couldn't prove Lam cheated? His wife didn't seem to believe it."
"Whether she believes it or not is irrelevant. By throwing those photos at him, she's already shown her intention to divorce. So whether the album is genuine or fake no longer matters; it's just a reason to file for divorce."
Dam Uyen Chi nodded. "That makes sense. Last time he came, he didn't explain how to win back his wife, just said he wanted to appeal."
The two finished arranging all the materials Khương Tich Yen would use for the seminar, including thick books.
Dam Uyen Chi asked again, "You still don't remember anything? Do you want to switch hospitals?"
"This can't be rushed; treatment must be gradual. Officer Ve said the doctors here are reputable, recommended by his superiors, and top-notch. Yesterday's hypnosis also helped me sleep very well. I haven't slept comfortably in a long time; it still feels trustworthy…"
Gia Moc Vi answered while flipping through the documents.
Looking up, she saw Dam Uyen Chi's face enlarged several times, startling her. She stepped back slightly. "What's wrong?"
"Last time I wanted to ask, why do you still call him Officer Ve? It sounds distant. Last time I heard him call you Moc Vi, I thought your relationship was close enough for casual names." she said.
"…" Gia Moc Vi lowered her head, speaking flatly. "We have a relationship that requires honorifics."
"What?! Nothing has happened yet? You're still at the pre-romance stage? That's too slow. Come on! Moc Vi! We can take the initiative a bit…"
Gia Moc Vi suddenly remembered Doctor Ha's words from last night, feeling flustered. She hurriedly cut Dam Uyen Chi off: "I don't have any feelings for him."
Dam Uyen Chi hardly believed her and leaned closer. "I didn't hear that clearly, can you repeat it?"
Gia Moc Vi repeated, "I don't have feelings for men."
Dam Uyen Chi blushed, clutching her chest and stepped back, stammering, "So… so Moc Vi you…" Could it be you like women?
Gia Moc Vi: "…"
Knowing she was misunderstood, Gia Moc Vi quickly clarified: "I don't know why, but I always feel like there's something very important I haven't done, leaving an empty, panicked feeling inside me."
"These past days, I've kept myself busy, but I realize that no matter how many cases I read, or how many documents I organize, finishing all the tasks Ms. Khương assigned for next week, I still can't fill the emptiness inside me."
"Love is absolutely not the most important thing to me. Moreover…"
Everyone says she is a very kind person.
Even the police at the Metropolitan Police Department said she has a good character, looks good, and has a bright future after passing the hell-level judicial exam.
Everyone tacitly agreed she could enter the MPD rest area, and each time they saw her bringing food to Ve Dinh Tieu, they greeted her warmly.
But Gia Moc Vi clearly knew herself.
She was absolutely not that "kind."
On Mount Koyasan, she had almost strangled her kidnapper to death.
The feeling of her hands uncontrollably burning with fiery anger, consuming her reason, made her want to crush the living being in front of her.
She had lied to Inspector Ngan that it was "self-defense," and he believed her, based on her behavior before losing her memory.
"Ah, I see," Dam Uyen Chi comforted her.
"But that's normal. Even someone like Lawyer Khương, whenever mentioning her useless husband, will show a bit of delicate lady-like manner. Besides, this is due to your memory loss; when you remember…"
"What if I never remember?" Gia Moc Vi couldn't forget Doctor Ha's prior warning to Ve Dinh Tieu.
Dam Uyen Chi took her hand, as if making a solemn declaration. "It's okay. Just consider it getting to know Officer Ve again. He's very responsible; I trust he will take feelings seriously, though at first he seemed distant. Right now, he's helping you reconnect."
"You're also a very good person! Cheerful, generous, talkative, kind, helpful…"
"In short, your merits are endless! Although now you speak little, and seem rational like a transparent block of ice, sometimes making me feel distant, don't doubt yourself! Khương and I both like you! We did before! We do now!"
She is a very good person.
Gia Moc Vi repeated Dam Uyen Chi's evaluation in her mind.
At this point, everyone seemed to agree.
Not only at Khương's law office, but also some criminal officers at the MPD knew her.
Even Inspector Ngan believed her explanation of why she had to use the rope to strangle the kidnapper.
It seemed everyone thought so.
She had saved Ve Dinh Tieu from nearly dying on the Ferris wheel, and she is a lawyer skilled in the law.
A person like that couldn't be bad, right?
But not really.
Deep in her soul, there was a place sunlight could not reach.
Like a shallow well.
Inside, it stirred, like the vines of a living creature, pulling her down to the deepest point.
And showing her her truest self.
She was on Maple Mountain.
She had once thought of killing.
She knew what killing represented in terms of guilt, and knew that if she admitted that thought, it would scare those who thought she was good.
Am I a good person?
Hopefully.
"Ding ding."
Gia Moc Vi's phone rang.
The conversation between them temporarily ended.
She glanced at the phone screen; although there was no note, she knew that besides Khương Tich Yen and Dam Uyen Chi, only one other person could be calling her.
No one else would call except him.
Dam Uyen Chi stepped back, leaving empty space for Gia Moc Vi to comfortably speak on the phone with her boyfriend.
Gia Moc Vi pressed the answer button; his voice sounded relaxed.
"What are you doing?"
"Just… working." Gia Moc Vi replied.
She looked at the wall clock.
At this time, previously, she would have been bringing food to the MPD.
Could it be…?
Since Khương Tich Yen didn't accept the case, he wouldn't assume she was still bringing food for him, right?
"Have you eaten?" he asked again.
"…" Gia Moc Vi hesitated and didn't say "Yes, I have."
She didn't like others lying to her, so she didn't want to lie to him either.
But the line was silent for at least a minute.
"Come down." he said.
Gia Moc Vi was stunned. "What?"
She stood and went toward the window.
Then she saw the window Dam Uyen Chi had opened for ventilation, and the man standing below in the sunlight, looking up at the second-floor window.
He stood tall under the afternoon sun, his gaze like falling stars, sparkling with a quiet glow.
In one hand, he held the phone to his ear, his ring and pinky fingers holding three smoked-out cigarettes.
The other hand carried a paper bag, waving toward her on the second-floor window.
Gia Moc Vi heard his voice through the phone, slightly hoarse, sending a warmth that made her fingertips tingle.
"This morning you went out without bringing cigarettes."