Chapter 3 — A Diary, A Fallen City

“What do I do?” I looked straight at her, my eyes cold to the core, "Should I be grateful and shed tears? Not only do I have to give away all the money saved by the couple, but I also have to take 2 million of my own to fill the hole of 450,000 yuan for your beloved daughter?"

“Two… two million?” Trieu Xuan Mai and Chu Hieu Hieu exclaimed at the same time.

The two of them stared at me as if they were strangers. I just smiled slightly and didn't say more. Chu Hieu Hieu suddenly rushed to Chu Minh Khai, grabbed his shoulder and shook him vigorously.

"You! Tell me! Where did she get 2 million? Isn't she an orphan? Haven't her parents died a long time ago?"

Chu Minh Khai was shaken so much that he raised his head, his eyes scattered. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something. But in the end, he just looked at me, his eyes filled with fear and regret.

“It's over…” he muttered, “we… bumped into someone we shouldn't have…”

Chu Hieu Hieu seemed not to hear, turned around to look at me, his eyes burning with greed that was almost crazy.

"Hua Tinh! I don't care where you got that 2 million from! Now our family needs money! You have to give it!"

She rushed towards me as if she wanted to grab something. I didn't move at all. Just as her hand was about to touch me, my phone rang. I picked up the phone, glanced at the screen, then pressed answer and turned on the speakerphone. A deep, calm male voice rang out clearly from the other end of the line:

"Hello Ms. Hua, I am lawyer Phuong. Regarding the investigation you commissioned regarding 'disguised loan sharking' and illegal capital mobilization by Ms. Chu Hieu Hieu, we have grasped the initial evidence."

Lawyer Phuong's voice rang out from the phone, clear and calm, like a cold surgical blade, bit by bit peeling off Chu Hieu Hieu's last layer of disguise.

"Based on the bank statements and chat history we have, Ms. Zhou Xiaoxiao not only got bogged down in online loans, but also used the money she received from her husband, Mr. Chu Minh Khai, to invest in a high-risk, high-return online project."

"Currently, this project has been identified by the police as a new form of financial fraud."

"That means, the money she owes is not just online loans, but also includes money raised from other victims through deception. Of the 450,000 yuan, at least 300,000 yuan belongs to this section."

Chu Xiaoxiao's body stiffened. Her charging movement stopped mid-air, the greed and madness on her face was immediately replaced by panic and fear.

“You… you talk nonsense!” she shouted, her voice high-pitched with panic, "I'm not! I'm just a failed investment!"

Trieu Xuan Mai also panicked and rushed forward to grab the phone in my hand.

"You slut! You dare hire someone to investigate my daughter! What do you want to do? Do you want to put her in jail?!"

I leaned away, put the phone away, not letting her touch it. Lawyer Phuong's voice continued, unaffected.

"Ms. Hua, according to the provisions of criminal law, the act of using deceitful tricks to appropriate property to illegally raise capital, if the amount is large, can be punished with imprisonment from three to seven years. Ms. Chu Hieu Hieu's case has gone far beyond the level of 'large amount of money'."

“In addition, we also discovered that she had counterfeited goods a series of profit photos and chat content to entice others to invest. This act constitutes fraud.”

“Shut up!” Please shut up for me!” Chu Hieu Hieu covered her ears and screamed uncontrollably.

Chu Minh Khai, who was sitting on the ground, suddenly raised his head, his face full of disbelief. He looked at his sister, his lips trembling: “Hieu Hieu… what the lawyer said… is it true? You... you scammed other people's money?" Zhou Xiaoxiao's psychological defense completely collapsed. She burst into tears and threw herself into Trieu Xuan Mai's arms.

“Mom! I don't have it! I just want to make money! They say this project is definitely profitable! I threw all the money you gave me into it, and borrowed a lot more... I didn't know it would turn out like this!”

Trieu Xuan Mai hugged her tightly, crying and patting her back to comfort her, her eyes full of resentment looking towards me.

“Hua Tinh! Are you satisfied? Do you have to ruin our family to accept it? Hieu Hieu is her brother-in-law! Even if he does wrong, you have to help him, not hire a lawyer to harm him!”

I coldly watched the mother and child hug each other and cry.

“Help? I always help him.”

My words made them pause at the same time.

“380,000 yuan is the joint property of husband and wife. Chu Minh Khai arbitrarily moved without my consent, I can completely sue him and request a full refund. I gave him ten days, as long as he tells me the truth, I won't go to this step."

“As for Zhou Xiaoxiao,” I looked straight at her, “I found a lawyer not to send her to jail, but to help her get back the money she was defrauded from.”

Chu Hieu Hieu stopped crying and raised her head to look at me, her eyes still filled with tears.

“Lawyer Phuong is the best in this field. As long as there is enough evidence to prove that she is also a victim in that financial fraud, not only can we recover part of the loss, but we can also minimize legal liability to the maximum extent."

I stopped for a moment, looked straight into her eyes, and said each word clearly:

“But the prerequisite is that you must reveal everything, from beginning to end, without hiding anything. Including how she approached that project, how she persuaded others to invest, and where every penny taken from Chu Minh Khai was used.

Zhou Xiaoxiao's eyes began to waver. Trieu Xuan Mai seemed to have grabbed a straw to save his life.

“Understanding! Have you heard? Quickly tell him everything!”

She gave her a hard push. Chu Hieu Hieu bit her lips, bowed her head, tightened her hands on the hem of her shirt, still silent. I know what she is hesitating about. The amount of money withdrawn... is absolutely not simply a failed investment.

“My patience is limited.” I glanced at the clock, my voice calm. “Lawyer Phuong's team charges by the hour. Every minute you hesitate… you are spending my money.”

“Your money?” Trieu Xuan Mai shouted again, “Where do you get the money to hire a lawyer?!”

I didn't reply. I walked in front of Chu Minh Khai, squatted down, looking straight into his empty eyes.

“Chu Minh Khai, now you have two choices.”

“First, let your sister confess everything. I will let the lawyer try to help her, get as much as she can get back. Use that 380,000 yuan to compensate for the rest. If that's still not enough... then she'll have to bear the consequences herself.”

“Second, you continue to hide it. I will request it immediately The lawyer stopped all work, then filed a lawsuit against him, asking for asset division. At the same time, I will also provide the police with everything I know regarding Zhou Xiaoxiao's fraudulent behavior."

I looked at him, my voice cold as ice.

“You choose.”

Chu Minh Khai trembled. He understood very well, I was not joking. The disappearance of the two million on the card was enough for him to realize that I was no longer Hua Tinh and let him hold on to whatever he wanted.