Chapter 4 — 20 Million Yuan Buys Freedom, Not Marriage

The third day after breaking up, Tran Hao's mother came to me. Not at home, but at work. I work as a manager at a design company, with seven or eight people working under me. During the meeting, the receptionist made an internal call.

"Miss To, there's a lady who says she's your mother-in-law. She insists on coming in to see you."

I gently rubbed my forehead.

“Tell her to wait in the reception area.”

Coming out of the meeting, Vuong Thuy Lan sat on the sofa in the reception area, next to a plastic bag containing several boxes of functional foods. Seeing me, she stood up.

“Nian Niem—”

"Auntie, this is my workplace. If there's something we'll talk about outside."

I took her downstairs to the coffee shop. Sitting down, she pushed the bag over.

“Buy it for your child, nourish your blood.”

I don't accept.

“Auntie, if there's anything, say it directly.”

Her expression darkened.

“To Niem, do you really want to break up with Tran Hao?”

“Already divided.”

"You said dividing is dividing? It's been three years! This whole family treats you like one of their own. When you say you turn your face, you mean you turn your face?"

"Auntie, Chen Hao took my money. You all know about the car loan, the 120,000 yuan thing."

Her eyes flashed a bit.

"What do you get? As a family, money just goes from one pocket to another. Niem Niem, I'm telling the truth, that 120,000 yuan is indeed used to buy a house, but it's also for the future small family of the two of us—"

“The house is in my aunt's name.”

"What's the difference? What's mine is also Tran Hao's, isn't Tran Hao's mine?"

“Auntie, we broke up.”

She suddenly slammed the table. Several people in the cafe turned their heads to look back.

"To Niem, listen carefully. You stayed with my son for three years, ate at my house, used my son's connections, and took a lot of benefits from him—"

“What did you say I took from him?”

"Where did your position as design team leader come from? Doesn't Tran Hao know your director, could he ask for help?"

I laughed.

"Auntie, I got that position because I competed on my own ability. Tran Hao doesn't know our director at all. Did he tell you he knew him?"

She paused for a moment.

"No need to know! After all, you two have known each other for three years. You wasted three years of my son's youth. Let's go, don't you feel sorry for anyone?"

"Auntie, the one who was wasted was me. Three years of car loan, 120,000 yuan in deposits, 5,000 yuan in living expenses each month - I put in more than 400,000 yuan. You gave it back to me, I didn't take another penny."

Vuong Thuy Lan's face turned red.

"You're talking nonsense! When did you spend 400,000 yuan—"

“I have a full transfer history. Every single one.”

She opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything. I stood up.

"Auntie, bring back the nutritious food. Don't come to my company again from now on."

Walking to the door of the cafe, she shouted a sentence behind her.

"To Niem, don't regret it! Where can you find a good man like Tran Hao!"

I don't turn around. On the first weekend after the breakup, I went to my house to wait for the construction company to come and measure. Just arriving at the gate of the area, I saw a black Maybach parked in the passenger seat. Without paying much attention, I went straight into the building. Waiting for the elevator, there was a man next to him. About thirty years old, wearing a dark gray dinner jacket, holding a cup of coffee. The elevator arrived, I got in first, pressed the 17th floor. He walked in, looked at the number plate.

“Also on the 17th floor?”

I glanced at him.

“Are you on the 17th floor?”

“Just moved in, 1702.”

I'm at 1701.

“Neighbors.”

He nodded. The elevator stopped at the 17th floor, we stepped out one by one. When turning in both directions, he stopped for a moment.

“Hello, I'm Co Tham.”

After exchanging names, each person went into their own house. Construction staff arrived and began measuring. I was sitting by the window reviewing design reference photos on my phone when the doorbell rang. Opening the door, it was Co Tham. He held two cups of coffee.

"I heard there's someone here, I think you might need it."

I took it and said thank you.

“Are you moving alone?” I asked through the loudspeaker.

“Have the furniture been moved yet?”

"No. Stay temporarily for a few days."

I don't ask more. After the construction crew left, I locked the door and was about to leave when I met Co Tham in the hallway. He was receiving goods, seven or eight cartons were piled on the ground.

“Need help?” I asked.

“No need, thank you.”

When he bent down to carry the box, his sleeves were rolled up a bit. My wrist revealed a watch, I glanced at it — Patek Philippe, Nautilus line. That car has a market price of more than 2,000,000 yuan. In school district, wear Maybach, wear Patek Philippe. This neighbor... is not simple. On the way home, I received a call from an unknown number. It's Tran Hao's voice.

“You blocked me, let me borrow your phone to call.”

"What is up?"

"I want to meet you. Talk in person."

“There's nothing to say.”

"To Niem, you can't be like that. I was wrong okay? I was wrong about the car loan, I asked my mother to pay you back for 120,000 yuan. I didn't mention adding names to the book anymore. Let's start again—"

“Tran Hao, we broke up not because of money.”

“So what for?”

"Because from beginning to end, you were deceiving me. You approached me with a purpose. Three years ago, before breaking up with your ex-girlfriend, you came to find me, and even went to find out about my family's conditions."

The other end of the line was silent for a long time.

“Who told you?”

“Is it important?”

“To Niem, you can't listen to one side—”

“Goodbye, Tran Hao.”

I hung up and pulled that number into the blacklist.