Chapter 10 — 7 Year Marriage Isn't Real

The next morning, ten o'clock. I returned to Cam Tu Giang Son. Luc Can Nien is sitting on the sofa in the living room. His clothes were still the same as the day before, and his chin was covered in stubble that hadn't been shaved in two days. On the tea table was a cold breakfast and several bottles of half-drunk wine. The moment he saw me walk in, his eyes immediately lit up. Then very quickly it turned off again. Because behind me there were two employees of the moving company.

"Nien Tri."

He stood up. His voice was hoarse as if it had been sandpapered.

"I'm here. Can you ask them to go out first? Let's talk."

"There's nothing to say."

I pointed towards the bedroom.

"My things are in the dressing room on the second floor. Would you two help me move them down?"

The two employees nodded and went inside. Luc Can Nien walked in front of me. The distance is less than half a meter. His eyes were full of blood, his lips were dry and cracked. It looks really painful.

"Nien Tri, I know you hate me. But let me explain, just ten minutes..."

"Luc Can Nien."

I looked at him.

"What do you have left to explain?"

"The recording is your voice."

"The treatment consent form is your signature."

"You brought me the medicine yourself."

"What are you going to explain?"

His lips parted. But couldn't say a word.

"I don't hate you."

"Hating someone also requires feelings."

"And now..."

"I don't have any feelings for you anymore."

His face turned even whiter.

"Nien Tri..."

"Don't say my name."

He felt like someone had whipped him hard, and his whole body took a step back. The moving staff started carrying each box downstairs. Each box. One box at a time. Pass by us. Luc Can Nien stood still in place. Looking at those boxes was like watching something slowly slip away from my hands.

"Those things..."

He suddenly spoke up.

"It's all I bought for you."

"It was you who bought it."

I calmly replied.

"But the recipient is not your wife."

"Because of your wife's surname, Song."

His throat moved slightly. Finally, the last box has been delivered. I turned around and walked towards the door.

"Phuong Niem Tri."

His voice rang out behind him. Much quieter than before. I don't stop walking.

"You will regret it."

I pushed the door open. Outside, the sun is beautiful.

"You've been giving me medicine for seven years."

I don't turn around.

"You must regret..."

"It shouldn't be me."

The door closed. From that moment on... Everything inside this door no longer has anything to do with me. Online discussions about the party video continue to flare up. Someone dug up a photo of Luc Can Nien and Tong Dao together. Someone found the business registration information of Nhan Hoa Duong Oriental Medicine Clinic. Someone even wrote an analysis article longer than ten thousand words in the comments section, clearly arranging the entire seven-year timeline. Luc Thi's media team stayed up all night to delete the article. But to no avail. Delete one post, and ten more appear. The Internet... Has its memory. Pho Thinh Lan sent a message.

"Luc Thi shares fell six percent."

"Today Luc Minh An opened three emergency board meetings."

I glanced over. No reply. Two hours later. Lawyer Tran Tung called.

"Miss Phuong, Luc Can Nien has authorized his lawyer to contact me."

"I want to ask you to meet privately to negotiate."

"The condition is that he is willing to transfer half of the assets in his name to you."

"In return..."

"You must remove all online videos and sign a confidentiality agreement."

I leaned back on the sofa.

"Half the property?"

"How much?"

"Personal assets in Luc Can Nien's name are about fifteen billion yuan."

"Half is more than seven billion."

More than seven billion. He wants to use more than seven billion... To buy my silence.

"Miss Phuong..."

"Tell his lawyer."

"I don't need his money."

I said calmly.

"My money is a lot more than his."

"Moreover..."

"The video was not posted by me."

"I also have no way to help him take it down."

Tran Tung was silent for two seconds. Hang up the phone. Co Dien Chu brought out a plate of pre-cut fruit from the kitchen.

"Eat something."

He put the plate down next to my hand.

"You haven't been able to eat much since yesterday."

I picked up a piece of apple.

"Co Dien Chu."

"What is Luc Minh An most afraid of now?"

He thought for a moment.

"Industry association chair."

"That is the relationship core he has accumulated for twenty years."

"If I lose my position as vice president..."

"In this world, he will no longer be anything."

"Before the annual meeting next month..."

"Is there any way for other members to see those messages first?"

"But that would no longer have the 'public exposure' effect."

"I don't need it all to happen in front of a crowd."

"What I need is..."

"On the day of the annual conference, when he stepped on stage..."

"The people below already know the truth."

"He was standing up there."

"Every look at him has changed."

"But he himself..."

"I still don't understand why."

Co Dien Chu looked at me.

"That feeling..."

"More cruel than being directly exposed."

I swallowed the apple.

"The truth is known to everyone..."

"But I was the last one to find out."

The corners of his lips moved slightly.

"This move..."

"Did you learn from your grandmother?"

I bowed my head and looked at the jade in my hand.

"It was the Luc family who taught me."