Chapter 10 — Great Lady of Cleanliness

I looked at his serious yet restrained eyes. Suddenly I remembered that day of the engagement party. Everyone looked at my loss of control and struggle. Only Luc Canh Hanh immediately had someone turn off the lights at the scene, blocking all the lenses. Later, he saved me and never used the name of deep affection to force me to accept. He always asked me first: can I come in, can I come closer, do I need help? I smiled softly.

“Correct.”

The smile in Luc Canh Hanh's eyes spread little by little. When he returned home, news of the Ky family was everywhere. Ky Thi Group's capital chain was broken, combined with the Luc family's constant pressure, and finally declared bankruptcy and restructured. Ky Hoai Chau sold his old house and all assets under his name to fill the gap. The man in power, once famous in the Imperial City's aristocracy, now works as a project consultant in a small company. It is said that every day he wears a neat suit to meet customers, but when people force him to drink alcohol, make things difficult, and humiliate him, he can only bow his head and smile in apology. Because Ky Lam Xuyen incorrectly defended Tong Noan Noan and was suspected of concealing part of the evidence, he was investigated by the bar association. Although he did not serve any jail time, he was suspended from practicing for three years. Later, someone saw him in front of the courthouse. He is no longer that incomparable crazy lawyer, just holding documents to help farm workers sue for free, silent as a dry log. And Ky Thinh Lan. He actually had his practicing certificate revoked. It is said that his mental state is very poor, and he often stands alone in front of the door of the former sanatorium. Everyone you meet says:

“Don't give her any injections, she'll be scared.”

Every time he finished speaking, he squatted on the ground and cried. After listening, I just faintly said "yes". Uncle Tran looked at me and carefully asked:

“Eldest lady, do you want to... go visit them?”

I closed the magazine.

“Don't go.”

"But recently the eldest son had a stomach hemorrhage and was hospitalized, the second son also..."

“Uncle Tran.”

I interrupted him.

“Things in the trash can't be clean because they're pitifully rotten.”

Uncle Tran was silent for a moment and nodded.

“I understand.”

Tong Noan Noan's verdict is also available. Fraud, document falsification, copyright infringement, illegal home invasion, many crimes combined, sentenced to twelve years. During the trial, she still wanted to look pitiful. She cried and said she just wanted a home so much, so much that she wanted me to be loved. But this time, no one feels sorry for her anymore. As she was being escorted away, she suddenly shouted towards the auditorium chair.

“Ky Van Chi!”

“On what basis do you have everything!”

“On what basis do I just want a little love and have to go to jail!”

I don't go to court. Luc Canh Hanh told me these words. When he said those words, his eyes were cold. I smiled faintly.

“What she wants is not love.”

“It's a thief.”

“Stealing identity, stealing pity, stealing life.”

Luc Canh Hanh nodded.

“So what now?”

“Now?”

I looked out the window. Snow falls again in the Imperial City. Pure white, quiet, covering all traces of dirt.

“Now, she should learn in prison that…”

“Not everything can be snatched away by crying.”

10

One year later, I renovated the Van Dinh apartment my mother left behind into an art museum private art. On opening day, many people came. Famous people in the capital, artists, media, and even people who scolded me online. They sent flowers and letters of apology. I didn't see a single picture. The most central location of the museum does not house my award-winning work. It's to place a restored gallery. The floor was full of scraps of paper, scattered red, and on the wall was that malicious sentence written crookedly. Everyone who enters will see a caption. 【This is not a trauma memorial museum.】 【This is my ruins.】 【I was reborn from this place.】 After the opening ceremony, Luc Canh Hanh stood with me on the second floor terrace. He asked:

“Do you feel uncomfortable?”

I shook my head.

“In the past, yes.”

“Not now.”

I looked at the bustling crowd below. Those eyes that once made me suffocate, now cannot hurt me in the slightest. My disease has not completely disappeared. I still hate strangers coming close, still can't stand strong scents, still need boundaries and order. But I no longer feel like it's my fault. I no longer need anyone to use love to prove I can be accepted. In the afternoon, Tran received a phone call. He walked over with a complicated expression.

“Miss, Mr. Ky Hoai Chau is downstairs.”

I lowered my eyes. At the corner of the street downstairs, Ky Hoai Chau stood there. He's lost a lot of weight, and his suit no longer fits so expensively. In his arms he held an old box. Far away, he seemed to feel my gaze and suddenly raised his head. The eye sockets immediately turned red. He didn't come up. Just hand the box over to the security guard at the door and then turn around and leave. When Tran brought it up, I opened it and took a look. Inside is a mandarin clock that has been repaired. There is also a letter. There was only one sentence on the letter. 【Chi Chi, big brother doesn't ask you to forgive me, I only ask mother to look at you for me.】 I looked for a long time. Then close the box.

“Put it in the display case.”

Uncle Tran was stunned.

“The eldest lady accepts it?”

“Not accepted.”

I said calmly.

“It's an exhibit.”

“The exhibit does not belong to the past, nor does it represent forgiveness.”

“It just proves, it's all over.”

Uncle Tran's eyes were slightly red.

“Yes.”

That night, Luc Canh Hanh took me back to the manor. The car was very quiet. He suddenly asked:

“If one day they really lived miserably, would you be sad?”

I thought for a moment.

“No.”

“It won't be fun either.”

“They are no longer related to me.”

Luc Canh Hanh grabbed the steering wheel and laughed.

"Miss Ky is very cold now."

“Does General Manager Luc regret pursuing me?”

“No.”

He looked at me, his eyes gentle.

“I really like it.”

“I like that you set such clear boundaries.”

Outside the car door, the Imperial City night was brilliant. I suddenly remembered a long time ago. At that time, I always thought that as long as I was good enough and weak enough, they would always love me. Only later did I understand that the feeling of security was replaced by ingratiation and dependence, which was not sustainable. The real feeling of security is when I can close the door myself. You can also manually open a new window frame. After returning to the manor, Luc Canh Hanh still stopped at the door and did not immediately go in. He asked:

“Tonight I can hug you Are not?"

I looked at him and smiled.

“Maybe.”

He stepped closer and hugged me very gently. No oppression, no boundary crossing. Just warm, clean breathing and a strong, steady heartbeat. I leaned into his arms, looking at the countless houses with lights on in the distance. The ruins of the past have been left by me in the museum. And I stand in the new light. Clean, free, unbreakable. Full text complete.