Chapter 14 — 4,200,000 Yuan in Exchange for a Divorce

The mother he respected the most. Turns out to be just a family traitor. A person who secretly transfers assets. A scammer. For him. This shock... Perhaps even more painful than divorce. It's even more painful than having to pay compensation. My phone suddenly rang. I picked up the phone.

"Tran Nhien..."

It's Chu Minh. His voice was hoarse. Dry and rough like sandpaper rubbed together.

"You've seen it, right?"

I replied very briefly. He let out a dry laugh. It's harder to hear than crying.

"Aren't you being ridiculous?"

I don't answer.

"You're an idiot."

"The biggest idiot in the world."

Suddenly he screamed. His voice was filled with despair and regret.

"Because she..."

"You quarreled with me."

"You hurt me."

"You forced me to leave..."

"You ruined everything with your own hands."

On the other end of the line, suppressed sobbing sounded. A man over thirty years old. Cry like a baby. I listened quietly. There is no more hatred in my heart. No more pity. Only a huge feeling of emptiness remains.

"Chu Minh."

I spoke softly.

"It's all happened."

"Now the important thing is not regret."

"It's about facing it."

He smiled bitterly.

"How should I cope?"

"This house..."

"Not anymore."

"I have nothing left."

"I still have my dad."

I calmly replied.

"For now."

"He only has you left."

That man is both pitiful and blameworthy. After all that happened. The only relative left beside him. Only this son. The other end of the line was silent for a long time. Chu Minh spoke softly. The voice was so low it was almost a whisper.

"Tran Nhien..."

"I'm really sorry."

That apology. Coming more than a year late. It's finally been said. But I don't need it anymore.

"It's all over."

I looked at the sunset outside the window. Calm voice.

"Chu Minh."

"Compensation according to judgment."

"You send it to me soon."

"Let's finish this."

"We don't owe each other anymore."

He replied hoarsely. I was silent for a while. Finally decided to remind him.

"There's one more thing."

"Truong Thuy Phan's behavior..."

"Potentially related to fraud."

"Appropriation of property."

"Even illegal transfer of marital assets."

"If you and your father report the crime."

"That money..."

"Maybe there's still a chance to get some of it back."

As for that man named Liu. Same with that so-called charity fund. I believe the police will investigate clearly.

"Report the case..."

Chu Minh muttered. The voice was full of pain.

"I personally sent my mother to prison..."

"That's your choice and your father's."

I interrupted.

"It has nothing to do with me anymore."

I don't want to continue participating in that family's tragedy. Not even a second.

"I got it."

Chu Minh said. A long time later. He just continued.

"Tran Nhien."

"I wish you..."

"The years to come will be peaceful."

I smiled slightly.

"Me too."

I hung up. Then stand up. Walk to the window. The sun is slowly sinking towards the horizon. The afternoon light dyed the sky a warm red-orange color. I looked at the paper in my hand. Then slowly tear it apart. Piece by piece. Then throw it in the trash. Just leave those dirty things alone. Those unworthy years. Disappear with the wind. Lifetime I... Shouldn't continue to be bound by them anymore. My future. In Shanghai. In the midst of countless bright lights ahead. And this time. That road. Belongs only to me. Half a month later. My account received 140,000 yuan transferred from Chu Minh. Not a penny left over. Not even a penny missing. Since that moment. Me and that family... In terms of money. There is absolutely no debt left. Through Lam Lam. I heard a few things about the situation of the Chu family. Every little story. Combined into their final ending. In the end, Chu Minh still did not report to the police. He chose to use his own way. To deal with the ruins that family left behind. He told Zhou Jianjun the whole truth. I can't imagine it. When you know you're being cheated on. Defrauded of all assets. Even life-saving money is an act. How desperate was Chu Kien Quan? That very day. He had a heart attack again. Was taken to the emergency room again. Only luck will keep you alive. After leaving the hospital. He seemed to turn into a different person. It was like she had aged twenty years overnight. He and Truong Thuy Phan divorced. Truong Thuy Phan left empty-handed. And that man named Luu. After the incident was revealed. Stole all remaining money in the fund account and then disappeared without a trace. Truong Thuy Phan once returned to look for Chu Minh. But his son chased him out the door. She lost her house. Lost reputation. I heard that in the end I could only get a job at a small restaurant. Washing dishes every day for a living. And Chu Minh. To take care of his father. Also to repay debts of gratitude arising from that year's donations. He sold the old house. The house was originally named after Chu Kien Quan. The money from the sale of the house naturally belongs to him. But since that incident. Chu Kien Quan no longer trusts anyone. Every day, I hold money tightly in my body. Even sleeping does not let go. Father and son rented a room in the damp basement to stay. Relations are increasingly tense. I heard that they often quarrel over very small things. The family was once hailed by the media as a "Volunteer Family". Once praised as "Great Good Man". It turned out to be a complete tragedy. When I heard those stories. I was walking on the banks of the Huangpu River. The river wind blew her long hair. Bring a bit of coldness. But I don't have any joy in my heart. Nor did it stir up any emotions. Their life. It has become a story that no longer concerns me. Everyone has to pay the price for their own choices. They choose vanity. Choose lies. In the end, he was swallowed up by vanity and lies. Chose a more difficult path. But it is also the most correct path. It took me more than a year. To heal the wounds left by that marriage. I bought myself a small apartment in Shanghai. Not too wide. But brick by brick. Every lamp. All chosen by myself. I got promoted. Become a department head. Lead a team of your own. I signed up to learn French. I plan to travel to Europe next year. My life is busy. And filled with light. That evening. After returning from overtime. I discovered that in the mailbox downstairs there was an envelope without the sender's name. Inside there is only one photo. It's a photo of me and Chu Minh that day graduate from university. We stood in front of the school gate. Smile brightly. In my eyes are beautiful dreams about the future. On the back of the photo. There is an inscription. It's Chu Minh's handwriting.

"Hopefully we have all been treated tenderly over the years."

I looked at that text for a long time. Then laughed softly. Then turn around and go upstairs. Return to your small, well-lit and warm house. I put the photo in an old album on the lowest shelf of the bookshelf. Then close the cabinet door. I hope we have all been treated gently over the years. The new future is something to look forward to.