Chapter 15 — 26 Days My Husband Lived In The Attic

The third part of the investigation is testimony from the families of the two trial participants who died... Along with a report from an anonymous internal employee. The last part — Is the chain of evidence of cash flow between Quan Hop Capital and the drug testing center. The data source is briefly noted:

“Internal documents provided by insiders.”

In just the first hour after the article was posted — the comment section was flooded with more than two thousand responses.

“This is murder.”

“GR-17 must be suspended immediately.”

“Where is the inspection agency?”

“Isn't anyone responsible?”

Three hours later. A series of major media agencies began to report the news. Even CCTV's civil society program team contacted Giang Han directly. Eight o'clock in the evening. The official account of the drug inspection agency posted the following notice:

“Complaints related to GR-17 have been received.”

“During the investigation period, the entire drug approval process will be paused.”

Ten o'clock at night. Tu Nac Khang posted a response on Weibo. The content is roughly:

“Serious press information is false.”

“The company reserves the right to pursue legal liability.”

But the comments section is almost entirely cursed. The next morning. Bui Chinh Tac's profile picture and introduction on Quan Hop Capital's website have completely disappeared. Giang Han called me.

“Last night Bui Chinh Tac urgently transferred a sum of money abroad.”

“I heard someone saw him at the airport.”

“But in the end I couldn't get on the plane.”

“Blocked at the exit gate?”

“It seems so.”

Giang Han's voice lowered.

“The people at the testing center can't stand it anymore.”

“I heard he confessed a few things.”

Three days later. Police officially established an investigation into the GR-17 data falsification case. Bui Chinh Tac was subjected to criminal enforcement measures. Crimes include: Producing and selling counterfeit drugs. The head of the department at the testing center was also completely dismissed. Tu Nac Khang's stock price evaporated eighty-two percent in just one day. Quan Hop Capital's investment fund was liquidated. All of Bui Chinh Tac's assets were frozen. One week later. We returned home. The moment the door opened, Tieu Du immediately ran inside. The boy ran through each room. Finally, he stopped in the second floor hallway and looked up at the attic door. Tieu Du blinked and asked:

“Dad, you don't need to hide up there anymore, right?”

“No need anymore.”

I patted my son's head.

“The bad guy has been caught.”

Tieu Du smiled widely.

“So dad will stay with us forever from now on?”

Tran Dien stood at the foot of the stairs, looking at his son's tiny back. Tears fell silently. I went to stand next to him.

“Want to go up there and look again?”

Tran Dien shook his head.

“I don't want to go back anymore.”

“Then put all your things down.”

I looked at the attic door.

“Then cover that place up.”

Later, Tran Dien moved to another pharmaceutical company. Serves as director of clinical trial compliance monitoring. Salary is almost double before. But he once told me:

“Money is no longer important.”

“The important thing is…”

“… no more GR-17 will pass through your hands.”

Thanks to that investigative article, Giang Han won the journalism award of the year. In his acceptance speech, he said:

“Thank you very brave friend.”

“Choose to speak out true in the most difficult moments.”

As for Wei Thao... But it's not the type of disappearance that makes people feel uneasy anymore. After everything was over, he sent me one last message:

“Keep the USB as a souvenir.”

“I changed my job.”

“No more security.”

“Don't contact me in the future.”

Later, Trieu Minh Triet helped me check the GPS log on that old phone. Traces of Wei Tao's activities during the four months spread throughout the city. There were days when he ran four or five places in a row. He has really been very busy. Busy protecting Tran Dien. Perhaps Wei Tao is not the type of person who is good at explaining. But at least this time... He is a trustworthy person. Half a year later. A very normal weekend. I sat on the balcony drawing the design. Tran Dien sat in the living room playing Lego with Tieu Du. Tieu Du ran towards me holding a lego castle.

“This is the house I built for you, Dad!”

“A hundred times bigger than the attic!”

I laughed.

“Dad, do you like it?”

“Dad said he won't stay in the attic anymore from now on.”

Tieu Du said seriously.

“Dad said he wanted the biggest, brightest room.”

Tran Dien poked his head out from the living room to look at me. The corners of the lips curl slightly.

“Then in the biggest, brightest room.”

Tieu Du chuckled then hugged the castle and ran away. The wind on the balcony is very pleasant. I turned my head to look at the end of the second floor hallway. The attic door was completely sealed. On the outside, apply a new layer of wallpaper. No one saw where there used to be a door. No one knows that place once hid a person. No one even knows... That place once kept an unspeakable secret. But I remember. I will always remember that night... When Tieu Du, three and a half years old, pulled my hand in the dark and whispered:

“Dad is hiding in the attic.”