I looked down at the hand gripping my wrist.

Then at the thousand-yuan note he had thrown onto the table.

Ten years ago, surrounded by these same people, I might have felt humiliated.

Now I only felt tired.

—Let go.

The man laughed.

—What? Is one thousand not enough?

Several people chuckled.

Tong Y sighed softly.

—Minh Duong, don’t misunderstand. Everyone is just joking.

I pulled my wrist free.

—Then your jokes haven’t improved in ten years.

The room became quieter.

The man’s smile disappeared.

—You’ve become quite arrogant after spending a few years abroad.

Before I could answer, Gu Tu Chau’s cold voice came from behind us.

—Enough.

Everyone stopped.

He stood beside the door, expression unreadable.

The man immediately laughed awkwardly.

—Mr. Chau, we’re only helping your old girlfriend.

—She isn’t my girlfriend.

Gu Tu Chau answered without hesitation.

For some reason, the room became even more uncomfortable.

Tong Y smiled.

—Of course not.

She stepped closer to him naturally.

—Tu Chau and I have known each other since childhood. Minh Duong surely understands that some relationships can’t be replaced.

I almost smiled.

Ten years ago, those words would have hurt.

Now my military terminal vibrated.

My daughter was calling.

I answered immediately.

Her little face appeared on the screen.

—Mom!

My expression softened.

—Why aren’t you asleep?

—Daddy said I could wait five more minutes.

A man’s voice sounded from beside her.

—She negotiated for ten.

I laughed.

—Don’t spoil her.

The room behind me had become completely silent.

My daughter suddenly asked:

—Mom, did you see great-grandpa?

—Yes.

—And tomorrow you’re operating on his friend?

—Yes.

She grinned proudly.

—Daddy says you’re the best surgeon in the world.

I shook my head.

—Your father exaggerates.

—He never exaggerates about you.

After promising to call again tomorrow, I ended the call.

When I looked up, everyone was staring at me.

Especially Gu Tu Chau.

His face had lost the casual indifference from earlier.

—You really have a daughter?

I raised an eyebrow.

—Did you think I invented her?

He didn’t answer.

Tong Y spoke first.

—You’re married?

—For eight years.

Something flickered across Gu Tu Chau’s eyes.

I ignored it.

The man who had offered me money looked embarrassed, but apparently his pride still hadn’t recovered.

—Fine. You’re married. But what do you actually do abroad?

Before I answered, headlights swept across the villa windows.

Several military vehicles stopped outside.

A moment later, the door opened.

A colonel from the Military Region General Hospital entered with three doctors behind him.

Everyone in the room immediately straightened.

The colonel looked around.

Then his eyes landed on me.

His expression changed instantly.

—Professor Hua.

He walked directly toward me.

—We’ve been looking everywhere for you.

The room froze.

I stood.

—What happened?

—Chief Gu’s latest scan is worse than expected.

He handed me a tablet.

—The surgical team needs your decision tonight.

Gu Tu Chau frowned.

—Professor Hua?

The colonel looked at him.

—Major General Gu, you haven’t been introduced?

He gestured toward me.

—This is Professor Hua Minh Duong, chief specialist of the international military medical team invited for the operation.

No one laughed anymore.

The thousand-yuan note was still lying on the table.

The colonel continued:

—Professor Hua has performed this procedure successfully in several extremely difficult cases. Your grandfather specifically requested her return.

The man who had grabbed my wrist slowly lowered his head.

Tong Y’s smile stiffened.

—But… Minh Duong studied abroad only because she failed the graduate entrance examination here.

I looked at her.

Interesting.

After ten years, they still believed that story.

The colonel frowned.

—Failed?

Then he seemed to understand.

—Professor Hua didn’t fail anything.

He looked toward the others.

—She withdrew from the domestic program after receiving a fully funded placement overseas.

Silence.

I picked up my medical case.

—Colonel, let’s go.

Gu Tu Chau suddenly stepped forward.

—I’ll come too.

—There’s no need.

—He’s my grandfather.

I looked at him for two seconds.

—Then come as his family member.

Not as my former boyfriend.

Not as the youngest major general everyone admired.

Inside the operating conference room, none of that mattered.

There, he was simply the grandson of my patient.

For the next hour, I reviewed scans with the surgical team.

Gu Tu Chau remained behind the glass.

When I discussed vascular reconstruction and contingency procedures, his expression gradually changed.

Perhaps, for the first time, he understood what those ten years had actually given me.

When the meeting ended, he was waiting outside.

—Minh Duong.

I stopped.

—What?

—Why didn’t you tell them?

—Tell them what?

—Who you are.

I smiled faintly.

—Why would I?

He fell silent.

Then his eyes dropped to my wedding ring.

—Your husband…

—What about him?

His jaw tightened.

—Is he also a doctor?

—No.

—Military?

—Sometimes.

That answer seemed to bother him even more.

I didn’t explain.

My husband had his own identity, career and responsibilities.

None of them were Gu Tu Chau’s concern.

I turned away.

His voice followed me.

—Were you happy these ten years?

This time, I stopped.

I thought about my husband making breakfast while our daughter sat on his shoulders.

About birthday candles.

About sleepless nights spent working on research while someone quietly left hot tea beside my computer.

About a home where I never had to wonder whether I was someone’s second choice.

—Very.

I walked away.

The next morning, Chief Gu’s surgery began at seven.

It lasted nearly nine hours.

When I finally stepped out, Gu Tu Chau was the first person to stand.

—How is he?

I removed my mask.

—The operation was successful.

His mother covered her mouth and began crying.

Tong Y hugged her.

Gu Tu Chau closed his eyes briefly.

Then he looked at me.

—Thank you.

—I’m his doctor.

I turned toward the recovery unit.

But before I could leave, footsteps sounded from the end of the corridor.

My daughter shouted first.

—Mom!

I turned.

She ran toward me.

Behind her walked my husband.

Tall.

Calm.

Still wearing his military uniform after arriving directly from another base.

My daughter crashed into my arms.

I laughed and kissed her forehead.

My husband stopped beside us and touched my shoulder.

—Nine hours?

—Eight hours and forty-three minutes.

—You look exhausted.

—I’m starving.

—Already prepared.

He lifted the food container in his hand.

Then someone behind me whispered:

—Wait…

I turned.

Several officers were staring at my husband’s shoulder boards.

Even Gu Tu Chau’s expression had changed.

He clearly recognized him.

My husband looked past me toward Gu Tu Chau.

The two men exchanged the silent acknowledgment of officers who knew exactly who the other was.

Then my husband extended his hand.

—Major General Gu.

Gu Tu Chau shook it.

—General.

The single word made everyone behind him fall silent.

Tong Y looked at me as though she were seeing a stranger.

The man who had offered me one thousand yuan looked ready to disappear through the floor.

But my husband knew nothing about what had happened the previous night.

He simply put an arm gently around our daughter.

Then he looked at me.

—Can I take my wife home now?

I smiled.

—After I check my patient once more.

He nodded.

—We’ll wait.

As I turned toward the ICU, Chief Gu’s aide suddenly hurried from inside.

—Professor Hua!

I stopped.

—Chief Gu is awake.

—That’s good.

But the aide looked strangely emotional.

—He asked for you.

I entered the room.

The old general looked weak, but his eyes remained sharp.

He reached toward me.

I took his hand.

—Don’t speak too much yet.

He ignored the warning.

—Minh Duong…

His voice was barely audible.

—There’s something your grandfather never told you.

I frowned.

The old man’s fingers tightened around mine.

—Ten years ago… you didn’t leave the military region simply because of Tu Chau.

My smile disappeared.

Behind me, Gu Tu Chau had just entered the room.

His grandfather looked directly at him.

Then back at me.

—The order that sent you abroad…

He struggled for breath.

—I signed it.

The entire room went silent.

My heart began pounding.

—Why?

The old general closed his eyes.

When he opened them again, there was guilt there.

—Because someone discovered what you were capable of.

He paused.

—And keeping you here would have put you in danger.

Gu Tu Chau stepped closer.

—Grandfather, what are you talking about?

The old man’s next words erased every trace of color from his face.

—Ask Tong Y.

And suddenly I understood that the humiliation from ten years ago might not have been the real reason my life had changed.

Someone had wanted me gone.

And the woman everyone believed Gu Tu Chau had chosen over me knew exactly why.