Chapter 7 — 58 Lakhs And His True Face

At night, I went home and watched a movie, put on a mask, and looked no different from before. It's just that sometimes when you wake up in the middle of the night, there will be a sudden surge of discomfort and confusion. It's like being suddenly pricked by a needle, not fatal but very painful. More than seven hundred days and nights. The movies we watched together, the barbecue stalls at the night market, the secrets and plans we shared. The smiles and tears that I once believed were sincere. Finally discovered... the true mind can also be thrown away like trash. On the weekend, I went to my cousin's house as scheduled. My sister-in-law cooked a whole table of food, sweet and sour fried ribs, shrimp braised in oil, steamed fish... all my favorite dishes. She didn't say a word about my story, just focused on picking food into the bowl.

“Hieu Ninh, eat more, you look thinner.”

“This shrimp is very fresh. My brother went to the market to pick it early in the morning.”

“Drink another bowl of soup, I've been stewing for three hours.”

The whole meal was just light talking. The joke at my company, the story about him being praised at school, and the recent hot movie. The lights are warm, the smell of food is delicious, and everyone in the family is laughing and talking. All of this caused the tension in my heart these past few days to gradually loosen. The lump in my chest also eased. After eating, my cousin called me into the office and closed the door. He asked every detail again very carefully.

"Hieu Ninh, are you sure Tan Dieu doesn't know your card password? Is there any possibility that he used ID card information or OTP code to access money?"

He asked very carefully, his face serious. I thought back and shook my head.

“The password only I know, I never told him.”

“My ID card is always kept in my wallet, but my wallet has never been lost.”

“The phone doesn't leave my side, and it has a screen lock.”

“Okay then.”

He nodded, but still frowned slightly.

“But I still advise you, go to the bank tomorrow, adjust the entire transfer limit and notify.”

“Lower the limit as low as possible.”

“Add a trusted phone number to receive notifications, maybe your mother's or mine.”

“Is it necessary to do that?” I was a bit surprised.

“Prevention is better than cure.”

He tapped lightly on the table, his voice firm.

“I have encountered many cases where some people will take risks.”

“They can take advantage of old feelings to get information.”

“Or find a way to reach people around you.”

“Don't let them have any gaps.”

I find it very reasonable. Monday afternoon, I took the opportunity to go to the bank. Get a number, line up, wait for the call. The lobby is air-conditioned, the staff wears uniforms and moves orderly, everything is very orderly. I did as he said and adjusted all the security settings. Lower the daily transfer limit to a maximum of 5,000 yuan. Turn on account change notifications, add phone numbers of mother and cousin. I also asked carefully if someone brought my ID card to make a transaction, how would the bank verify it? The staff patiently explained, then smiled and said: "Don't worry, we have very strict control." Leave the bank just in time for the hot noon sun. The light was so bright that I had to cover my eyes with my hands. I stood on the steps, looking at the traffic passing by. Suddenly, 580,000 yuan is no longer just a number. It is no longer simply a burden. It was like a touchstone, filtering out the turbid things around me. Just like a key, it can open another path. A path that leads to the life I want, without looking at other people's faces. Just got back When I got to the company, I just sat down when my phone lit up. A new WeChat friend request. The red dot flashed, strangely dazzling. I opened it to see. Note: "Hieu Ninh, I'm Tan Dieu. There's something very important, related to your money, please accept the invitation first." My heart sank. Like falling straight into cold water, the cold spread from my feet to the back of my neck. Sure enough, they still haven't given up. And this time... Tan Dieu himself appeared directly. Also in the name of "my money is a problem". What does he want to do? Is it a scam or a new round of threats? I stared at that friend request, my finger hovering above the screen. Should I agree... or just let it go? His cousin's words rang in his ears again: "This type of person is only afraid of stiff people. The more you back away, the more they rush forward." If I keep avoiding them, will they think that I will feel guilty and will be pushed further? If I agree, what tricks is he planning? Is there a deeper trick waiting for me behind? After hesitating for a few seconds, I decided. I clicked “accept”. The moment I pressed down, I felt strangely calm. Even a little curious... to see what "important matter" he could come up with. Almost immediately after I agreed, his text message popped out. No greetings, no beating around the bush, straight to the point, deliberately creating a sense of urgency.

"Hieu Ninh, you're finally willing to answer me! Something big has happened!"

“My bank card has 580,000 yuan… there might be a problem!”