Chapter 5 — A Retreat Called Love

This is his familiar trick. Slap one. Then give a piece of candy. Before, I was always fascinated by that candy. Forget the pain from the slap.

“You shouldn't listen to your mother.”

“Older people often think about things.”

“I apologize on behalf of my mother.”

He continued acting.

“Don't listen to that girl's advice.”

“It's a lawyer, it's a lawsuit.”

"The matter between husband and wife is closed to each other."

“What's the point of bringing outsiders in? You'll lose face.”

“Chu Nghi.”

I calmly interrupted.

“Where is my money?”

The other end of the line immediately went silent. I could clearly hear his halting breathing.

“What money, wife?”

“Isn't... isn't that used to buy a house?”

He still tried to deny it. But the hardness in his voice was gone. I asked again.

“So what does the message you sent mean?”

“I... I'm just angry.”

“You made me so angry that I said nonsense.”

“Don't take it as real.”

He hastily explained. I nodded slightly.

“I wouldn't consider it real.”

Then I changed my tone.

“Then I brought the red book here.”

“Let's go to the real estate management agency.”

“Add my name to the paperwork.”

“If only you can do it.”

“I will believe what you just said.”

“I will also withdraw the lawsuit.”

The other end of the line fell silent. There was a very long silence. But sometimes... Silence is the truest answer. His voice gradually became cold.

“Do you really have to go to this extent?”

Patience eventually wears off. Instead, it's the real face.

“I tell you.”

“Don't force me.”

“If you really go to court, you won't get a single penny.”

“In the end, only you lost face.”

“Then I wait.”

I hung up the phone directly. Looking up at Lam Man and lawyer Truong. My heart has never been as steadfast as it is now.

“Lawyer Truong.”

“Please investigate.”

“No matter what method you have to use.”

“I want to know the whole truth.”

Right at that moment. A forgotten memory suddenly appeared in my mind. I never paid attention before. But now the more I think about it, the scarier it seems.

“I remember there was an encrypted folder on Chu Nghi's computer.”

“He takes it very seriously.”

“Never told me the password.”

“One time I accidentally saw him open that folder.”

“Inside it seems to be photos of contracts and various types of accounting books.”

The night in the hospital was strangely quiet. Occasionally, a few sporadic sounds could be heard from the nurse's station. I couldn't sleep. The plaster on the leg is heavy and stuffy. The broken bone hurts intermittently. But all that pain adds up. It's not even a fraction of the pain in my heart. Chu Nghi's face. His mother's fake face. The message line is full of threats. And that mysterious encrypted folder. It's all like a movie replaying endlessly in my head. I forced myself to calm down. Then began reviewing every detail of the three years of marriage. Over and over again. It's like using a sieve to filter sand to find gold. Just more filtering. I felt even more cold down my spine. My heart grew colder. I realized that everything they gave me and my mother had a clear purpose. Praise me for understanding when I silently take care of all the housework. Praise me for my diligence when I handed over my entire salary card and only kept a few hundred yuan for pocket money. Praising me for my filial piety is when I Use the money your parents give you to buy expensive gifts for your mother-in-law. They don't love me as a person, they love my patience, love that I let them take whatever they want. In that house, I was like a high-class nanny who didn't need to be paid, and even had to give money back to the owner. Near morning, Lam Man brought breakfast and a laptop.

"The lawyer has asked someone to investigate. The real estate side is quite complicated and needs more time. But the bank statement can be obtained today."

She set up a small table on my hospital bed and turned on the computer.

“Let's deal with that folder first.”

“Do you know the password?”

I shook my head.

“I just know he likes to use my mother's birthday combined with his initials as a password.”

“When was his mother born?”

“June sixteenth.”

Lam Man's fingers quickly flew across the keyboard, trying out all kinds of combinations. 0616zy, zy0616, zhouyi0616... More than a dozen times in a row, the wrong password message appeared.

"Damned!"

Lam Man angrily rubbed her hair.

“What other password could this motherfucker use?”

I stared at the screen, suddenly a thought flashed.

"Wait."

“Try using your cousin Chu Khai's initials.”

Lam Man was stunned, then her eyes lit up.

“Or…”