Chapter 8: Echoes of Yesterday

The hospital room remained quiet, but for Minh Hoang, it felt like an eternity, a space where emotions swirled endlessly. Thanh Khai stood beside him, the concern in his eyes no longer cold, yet not enough to soothe the turmoil in Minh Hoang's heart. He could sense the distinct change, but he felt too lost to confront it.

Suddenly, the door to the room opened, and a young woman walked in. She had long, flowing hair, sharp features, and eyes that exuded arrogance and a hint of defiance. Minh Hoang immediately recognized her as Lieu – the one whom Duat Van and Thanh Khai always mentioned as a ghost from the past.

Lieu entered the room with a mocking smile, but Duat Van's expression immediately darkened. She didn't say anything, simply standing there, her gaze sweeping over Minh Hoang before settling on Thanh Khai.

"It's you again," Duat Van spoke, his voice cold but unable to hide the weariness. "What are you doing here?"

Lieu didn't rush to answer, instead walking closer to the hospital bed, looking at the man lying there with a gaze that mixed feigned concern. "I have the right to know about his condition, don't I?"

Duat Van frowned, his eyes sharp as if trying to see through Lieu's words. "Don't pretend, Lieu. You have no right to be here."

Ngoc Han stood next to Minh Hoang, looking at Lieu with undisguised displeasure. She knew about Lieu, not only because she was someone who once had a relationship with Duat Van, but also because her presence always brought a tense atmosphere.

Minh Hoang could feel the shift in the air. A conflict was brewing between Duat Van and Lieu. He didn't know if he should speak up, but the feeling that this wasn't the right time to intervene kept him silent.

Lieu turned to Thanh Khai, offering a soft smile, but her eyes were filled with calculation. "And you, Thanh Khai, it's rare to see you in places like this these days. And Minh Hoang, why are you so quiet? You seem very worried about Duat Van."

Thanh Khai didn't reveal his emotions, his eyes remaining cold. "You came here just to cause trouble, didn't you, Lieu?"

Lieu didn't hesitate, only smiling slightly. "I just want to be sure that Duat Van won't let his family get into any more trouble. I'm always here to help, don't forget that."

Duat Van couldn't contain himself, stepping closer to Lieu. "What have you done to help? Or do you just know how to stand aside and wait for an opportunity?" His voice was full of anger, but also contained disappointment.

Lieu didn't answer immediately, only looking at Duat Van coldly, then shifting her gaze to Minh Hoang. "You, finally, you've appeared. But is it because of Duat Van or because of Thanh Khai?"

Lieu's question was like an arrow piercing Minh Hoang's heart, making him confused. He didn't know how to answer, but all eyes in the room were now fixed on him.

Thanh Khai stepped forward, standing close to Minh Hoang. His eyes looked at Lieu without any emotion. "You've been absent from our lives for far too long. And as for Minh Hoang, he's not someone you can talk to like that."

Lieu looked at Thanh Khai with surprise and anger, but in the end, she remained silent. She didn't want to continue arguing, knowing that Duat Van and Thanh Khai were not people who could be easily overpowered.

"Leave," Duat Van said, his voice firm. "We don't need your presence here."

Lieu looked at everyone once more, then turned to leave the room, her eyes not forgetting to glance at Minh Hoang one last time. "Don't think I'll let this go so easily," she said softly, then walked out.

The atmosphere in the room immediately became lighter. Minh Hoang felt as if a wave had just passed, leaving behind silent ripples in his heart. The feeling of uncertainty about what he had just witnessed was still unclear. The relationship between Duat Van, Thanh Khai, and Lieu was more tangled than ever.

"Are you okay?" Thanh Khai turned to look at Minh Hoang, his eyes a bit warmer, but Minh Hoang felt a bit of distance. He couldn't understand his emotions, couldn't clearly express what he was feeling.

"Yes, I'm fine," Minh Hoang answered softly, but in his heart, he still couldn't get rid of the questions that Lieu had left behind.

Was he truly important in Duat Van's life? And did Thanh Khai truly care about him as much as he had shown?

The answers were still unknown, but one thing Minh Hoang knew for sure – his life was entering a challenging phase, where emotions and reason would become increasingly blurred.

"Will Minh Hoang doubt himself after what Lieu said?"