Chapter 6 — From the Ruins, I Rise Brightly

Zhou Kai's suicide... ended up as a farce. As soon as he climbed onto the window sill, Lam Vy's two brothers pulled him down like a chicken. Then the doctor and nurse ran over and joined forces to tie her to the hospital bed. After injecting the sedative... I just calmed down. Lam Vy's family cursed for a while to vent their anger and then left straight away. Just leaves a mess. Chu Khai's mother sat on the ground, her eyes dull, her mouth muttering incessantly.

“It's over… it's all over…”

“The Chu family… is extinct…”

Chu Le held her head and sobbed. My brother is crazy. She has absolutely no idea... how to live tomorrow. The commotion at the hospital quickly spread outside. Become the newest joke in town. Lawyer Tran told me the story as if telling an entertaining story. I just listened quietly, nodding occasionally. Their end… I soon saw. When they take greed and selfishness for granted... Today's outcome is inherently predetermined. I don't have any pity. Hanging up, I started cleaning the apartment. This temporary place... it's time to leave. I will return to the villa. The house truly belongs to me. Before moving in, I hired a professional cleaning team and disinfected everything. From the inside out, from the smallest corner... everything is thoroughly cleaned. I don't want to leave any trace of the Chu family. Even if it's just a strand of hair... or a speck of dust. Just thinking about it makes me feel disgusting. The cleanup lasted for two days. When the person in charge handed the key back to me, he couldn't hide his surprise.

“Miss Wen, your house… is now cleaner than a laboratory.”

I smiled lightly and paid the remaining amount. Enter the villa. The air carries the smell of sunshine and disinfectant. I walked barefoot on the shiny floor. Sunlight poured through the large glass door, covering the living room. No more arguments. No more calculations. There is no more oppressive pressure that makes people suffocate. Here… there is only freedom. I turned on my phone and played my favorite rock song. Music resounds in the vast space. I stood in the middle of the living room, spread my arms, closed my eyes, and spun around. Like a child who has just been reborn. Three years of marriage… was like a closed cage. I had to use all my strength... to get out. Now… I am free. The following days, I started shopping for all the furniture again. All the things Chu Khai ever bought... I threw them away. Even if it's just a cup... or a pair of slippers. I personally redesigned the entire space according to my preferences. Full of life. I bought a lot of trees and turned the balcony into a small sky garden. I placed a wall full of bookshelves, placing each of my favorite books on it. I bought a set of good speakers and a large projector. Even dug a small swimming pool in the yard. Each item… is chosen by me. Every little corner... carries my own mark. This is life. The life I want. Half a month later. My house... completely transformed. Looking at the brand new villa, I felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. That evening, I opened a nice bottle of wine and cooked myself a sumptuous dinner. Celebrate your own rebirth. Just as I was enjoying the quiet… The phone rang. A strange number, but it's a city number. I hesitated a bit, but still answer the phone. On the other end of the line was a warm male voice, carrying a hint of laughter.

“Excuse me… is it Wen Qing?”

This voice... is a bit familiar, but I can't remember it at the moment.

“It's me, who are you?”

The other person smiled slightly.

“Forget your old classmates so quickly?”

"I'm Co Ngon. In college, you always took the library seat with me."

That name... was like a key, opening the door of memories that had long been covered in dust. In my head, I see an image of a skinny, clean guy who always wears a white shirt. He was the "male god" of the architecture department, and was also the only person that year who could compete with me for the top position. After graduating, he went abroad to continue his studies, and since then we have lost contact. Unexpectedly... he proactively called me. I was a bit surprised.

“Why do you… have my number?”

“Talented people always have their own way.”

He smiled lightly.

“I heard from a group of old friends.”

“They said… you just became single again.”

“So, first of all… congratulations.”

His voice is straightforward and sincere, not making others uncomfortable at all. On the contrary… very pleasant. I also laughed.

“And then what?”

His voice rang clearly through the phone.

“I heard you have a villa that has just been renovated.”

“I just returned home and opened my own design studio.”

“I wonder… would I have the honor of visiting?”

“By the way… give some free professional advice to your old classmates?”