Chapter 2 — After Divorce, Husband Prays to Donate Marrow for New Love

I laughed.

“Do you believe whatever she says?”

“I believe in you.” My mother looked up at me, "I don't believe her. That woman doesn't say a single honest word. You've been married for three years, I can see clearly."

I bowed my head and drank the soup, saying nothing.

“Divorce is divorce.” My mother picked up a piece of ribs for me again, "You don't miss it."

“Yes.”

“But at my eldest uncle's house... Next month my cousin To Uyen is getting married, and my eldest uncle personally ordered me to leave.”

“I'm not going.”

"Mom also answered the same. But the eldest uncle said, not going would be disrespectful to the To family. My grandfather also spoke up..."

"Mom," I put down my chopsticks and looked at her, "Since when did our family respect us? When dad was still alive, how did they treat our family? Have you forgotten?"

My mother was silent.

“Don't forget.”

“Then don't go.”

After eating, I helped her wash the dishes. When she was about to leave, she held my hand.

"Nien Niem, I don't understand your business, but I know you are a brave person. Don't let yourself suffer."

“It won't happen.”

I left the dormitory and sat in the car. There were a dozen more WeChat messages on the phone. Sent by Luc Dien.

“Nien Niem, I can remove that article. But you have to meet me once.”

"Chau Dao is really serious, the doctor said he only has three months left at most."

“I'm not someone who sees death without help.”

I read each news one by one, then locked the phone screen.

"Miss Lam, help me make an appointment tomorrow morning."

“Who is that?”

“Vuong Kien Quoc, Department of Hematology, Bei Thanh Hospital.”

“Make an appointment directly with your primary care doctor?”

“That's right. Let's just say that To Niem of Niem Canh Investment wants to learn about the bone marrow transplant process.”

The next morning at nine o'clock, I appeared at the specialist clinic of Bac Thanh Hospital. Vuong Kien Quoc is over fifty years old and wears thick glasses. When he saw the four words "Nem Canh Investment" on my business card, his eyes were clearly more enthusiastic.

“General To, I wonder what you want to find out?”

"Director Vuong, I have a question. Bone marrow transplant requires blood to be tested for compatibility first, right?"

“That's right.”

“If a person has never been tested, how can they know if they are compatible with the patient or not?”

Vuong Kien Quoc pushed his glasses.

“Then of course it is impossible to know.”

“What if someone publishes that your patient and I have compatible marrow, but I have never had any tests done?”

Vuong Kien Quoc's face changed.

“Too, what do you mean…”

“I haven't said anything yet.” I stood up, "Just wanted to confirm the process a bit. Thank you, Director Vuong."

When I walked out of the clinic, I happened to meet someone in the hallway. Luc Dien. He was wearing a light blue shirt and looked a bit thinner than he had three days ago at the Civil Affairs Department. The moment he saw me, his steps stopped.

“Nim Niem.”

“Luc Dien.” I didn't stop walking, "Get out of the way."

“What are you doing at the hospital?”

“It has nothing to do with you.”

He raised his hand to stop me.

"To Niem, what are you so angry about? Chau Dao is really about to die. You can't..."

“First, I'm not angry. Second, you said I have compatible bone marrow, so when should I do the test?”

His hand stiffened in midair.

“Do you think I don't know?” I looked straight into his eyes, "You persuaded the reporter to write that article, saying I was compatible but refused to donate. But you don't know whether Chau Dao and I are compatible or not. You are using public opinion to force me to take the test."

His face was pale.

“Nim Niem, you…”

“Luc Dien, stay away.”

He doesn't avoid it.

"Even if my method is not correct, Chau Dao really needs to save her life. Don't you really want to try?"

I stood there, looking at the man I had loved for five years, married for three years. He still looks as handsome as ever. The eyes are still deep. When begging others, he still has the look on his face that makes people feel soft-hearted.

"Luc Dien, do you know what you're saying? You're saying... your ex-wife should donate bone marrow to your current girlfriend."

“I know that's too much.”

“I don't know.” I walked past him, "I thought I knew, but I didn't."

When I reached the stairs, I heard footsteps behind me. Not Luc Dien. I turned my head. A woman wearing a hospital gown, holding her hands against the wall stood at the end of the hallway, her hair was thin, her face was yellow. She looked at me, her eyes containing a very complex emotion. It's Chau Dao. She was more emaciated than I imagined.

“To Niem.” Her voice was very soft, as if about to break.

“Chau Dao.”

“I know you hate me.” She leaned against the wall, panting, “But I really don't want to die.”

I looked at her. The girl who stayed up all night talking to me in the college dormitory. The girl who helped me reserve a place, buy food, and help me pursue Luc Dien. The girl ended up sleeping in my husband's bed.

“Chau Dao, I don't hate you.” I said, “But the person you should be looking for is not me.”

“The national bone marrow bank has no one suitable…”

“Then you should expand your search.” I looked at her, "For example, your family."

Her face changed. That change is extremely miraculous. Not surprised, not afraid. It's a panic when someone else suddenly hits a painful spot.

“I don't have any family left.” She bowed her head, "You know, my parents are both gone."

“So what?”

I turned around and walked into the stairwell. Behind him came Luc Dien's worried voice: "Dao Dao, why are you out here? Go back to bed quickly." The stairwell door closed, isolating all sounds. I took the phone to call Ms. Lam.

"Chau Dao said her parents are both gone. Help me confirm whether her father, Chau Quoc Luong, is dead or alive."

“Clear.”

“Also, when will that article be published?”

“Tomorrow.”

"Okay. Tell the legal department to edit the statement a bit, adding one sentence: 'Miss To Niem has never conducted any bone marrow compatibility tests, the related articles are completely fabricated'."

“Clear.”

Back at the company, had a meeting for two hours in the afternoon. The Van Linh project plan has basically been finalized. The Department of Thua Vien has agreed to cancel the cooperation with Luc Thi and switch to signing with me. The 1.2 billion land area, plus future development profits, is conservatively estimated to recover 3 billion. This is the biggest business deal I have ever done. When the meeting ended, investment department director Ha Minh stood at the door waiting for me.

“General To, there is a situation that needs to be reported to you.”

“Speak Go."

“Luc Thi Real Estate is recently negotiating a debt extension with several banks, an amount of about 600 million yuan. If it cannot be renewed…”

“What will happen to them?”

“Breaking the capital chain. Project of projection. The worst case scenario is bankruptcy and liquidation.”

I walked into the office, Ha Minh followed.

“Does their loan have anything to do with us?”

“The largest amount at Thuy Hoa Bank, 300 million. President Su, their customer manager in charge is…”

“Zhao Pengfei's people.”

“That's right.”

I sat down. When Luc Dien divorced me, the one who left empty-handed was me. Not because I don't have the ability to compete, but because it's not worth it. What he didn't know was that his company and his father's company combined were less than one-tenth of my assets.

“Ha Minh, you follow the Van Linh project closely. On Luc Thi's side... there's no need to care, and there's no need to help."

“Clear.”

After Ha Minh left, I sat in the office for a while. The phone rings. Some strange.

“Hello?”

“May I ask, are you Ms. To Niem?”

“That's right.”

“I am Phuong Nhat Minh of Bac Thanh Daily. I want to confirm something with you…”

“Reporter Phuong,” I interrupted him, “What you want to ask, my lawyer will issue a statement tomorrow. Before that, I didn't have any feedback.”

“Miss To, I just want to hear your opinion. Anyway, Luc's side has already..."

“Reporter Phuong, you are Luc Dien's college classmate, right?”

The other end of the line was silent for a second.

“This…”

“Doing news requires avoiding conflicts of interest. You have a personal relationship with the litigant, this article was published, does your editor-in-chief know?"

Silence prevailed.

“I advise you to report this situation to your editor-in-chief before submitting it.”

I hung up the phone. In the evening, when I returned to the apartment, I turned on the computer. Chau Dao's social network account has been updated again. A selfie in a hospital bed, using just the right amount of filters - showing the sick look, but not too scary. Accompanied by the status line: "Try to live on. Thank you to everyone who cared about me.” Below are more than ten thousand comments.

“Dao Dao fighting!”

"Who is so cruel and refuses to donate?"

“I heard that he's her old best friend, but he's really not as good as a beast.”

“Heaven has eyes, those who see death and do not save them will sooner or later suffer retribution.”

I browsed a few lines and then exited. This is the strategy of Luc Dien and Chau Dao. Not specifically, but implicitly hinting. Let public opinion ferment first, labeling me "the ex-wife who refused to save people". When I can't stand the pressure, I will automatically get tested and donate bone marrow. Very smart. It's just a shame they don't know who I am. I'm not talking about To Niem. I'm talking about the founder of Niem Canh Investment. Niem Canh Investment, one of the largest private investment funds in Bac Thanh. Assets under management exceed 8 billion. Takes control of three listed companies, with shares in eleven other companies. And I, To Niem, am the largest shareholder, holding one hundred percent of the shares of Niem Canh Investment. Luc Dien doesn't know about this. The To family doesn't know. Chau Dao doesn't even know. They only know that To Niem is an ordinary office worker of a small company. Because from the beginning, I didn't intend to let anyone know. But now, the situation has changed. The next morning, Beicheng Daily certainly did not publish that article. Phuong Nhat Minh drew the card. But Chau Dao's account posted another post: "Some people are putting pressure, wanting my story to be hidden. But the truth will not be buried." Attached is a photo of the infusion. Within ten minutes, three famous bloggers shared this article. Within an hour, the topic was trending in the region. #Marrow_test_matched_but_refused_to_donate# The comment section was filled with criticism.

“This type of person deserves to be called out!”

“The law cannot control her, the court of conscience will judge her!”

“Is there anyone knowledgeable who can reveal who it is?”

I saw these comments and called Ms. Lam.

“The announcement hasn't been posted yet, right?”

“No. She said to wait more.”

“Continue to wait.”

“President To, there has been a lot of noise online.”

"I know. The louder it is, the more painful the flip will be."

“So when do you plan to…”

“Wait until they make a mistake first.”

At two o'clock in the afternoon, I received an unexpected call at the company. It's my cousin, To Uyen. To Uyen is the eldest daughter of the eldest uncle's family, two years older than me, and has always disliked me since childhood. Her father is my father's eldest brother, said to be one in the To family.

“To Niem, have you returned to Bac Thanh?”

“I'm back.”

“My wedding is next month, will you go?”

“Don't go.”

“You better go.” Her voice carried an air of superiority from above, looking down, "Grandpa has spoken, the whole family is required to be present. If you don't come..."

“What if I don't come?”

"To Niem, don't think that after getting divorced, you can ignore the To family. You are a member of the To family, so you must keep the To family's rules."

“To Uyen,” I leaned back in my chair, “What name is your sister going to take?”

“Trinh Hao Nhien. Why do you ask this?”

“Trinh Hao Nhien, Trinh family of Hao Dat Construction?”

“Yes. So what?”

“Nothing.” I smiled faintly, "Congratulations."

I hung up the phone and asked Ms. Lam.

“How is the Hao Dat construction situation?”

“Mid-sized construction company. Annual revenue is about two hundred million yuan, profits are not high, recently bidding for a government project.”

“Do you have any business transactions with us?”

"Not directly. But Hao Dat's upstream material supplier is a company we invest in - Vinh Loi Construction Materials."

“Really interesting.”

“General To, I don't intend to…”

“I don't plan to do anything.” I flipped through the next document, “Just doing some research.”

That evening, at eight o'clock, someone rang my doorbell. I glanced at the camera screen. It's Luc Dien. He was carrying a bag of fruit and standing outside the door, seemingly waiting for a while. I pressed the radio.

“How do you know I live here?”

“Your mother told me.”

I sighed in my heart.

“I don't want to see you.”

“Five minutes.”

“Luc Dien…”

“Three minutes.”