Chapter 2 — He Said The Marriage Certificate Was Fake, I Almost Laughed Out Loud

Under the stands, the sound of cold air was heard. Someone started recording a video. Phuong's mother stood up from the front row. The dark red cheongsam hugged her body tightly, and the jade bracelet on her wrist jingled together. She walked up to me, pulled out a bank card from her pocket, and then "chatted" - threw it right in my face. The metal edge of the card grazed my cheek.

“Ten thousand yuan.” She bowed her head and looked at me with eyes full of contempt. “Enough for someone like you to live the rest of your life.”

“Take the money and get out.”

"Don't stop me from holding your grandchild."

The card fell to the ground, making a sharp sound. The whole hall was silent. I bowed my head. His shoulders began to tremble. Phuong Dat Chu snorted coldly and adjusted his sleeve.

“Okay, stop crying, you'll lose face.”

Lieu Man Ninh covered her mouth and giggled. Phuong's mother glanced at me like she was looking at trash then turned around and left. No one noticed what my hands were doing. My ten fingernails are stuck firmly into the flesh of my thigh. Not because of pain. I'm afraid I'll laugh out loud. I'm afraid I won't be able to control my facial muscles and will directly raise my head and laugh out loud in front of hundreds of people here. The marriage certificate is fake. The ten year marriage was also fake. My body trembled, my stomach cramped, my eye sockets were stinging. But there was only one thought in my mind right now, exploding like fireworks — Last night. Lottery results just announced. 500,000,000 yuan. I won 500,000,000 yuan. If the marriage certificate is real, this amount of money will be considered common property after marriage. Phuong Dat Chu can take away half. 250,000,000 yuan. But now — He said it with his own mouth. Speak in front of hundreds of people. Speaking in front of dozens of phones recording video. All are fake. There is no legal marital relationship between us. He couldn't get even a penny. I took a deep breath. Then took another breath. The trembling in my shoulders gradually calmed down. I bent down and picked up the bank card from the ground. Movement is very slow. Phuong Dat Chu looked at me, the corner of his lips carrying a proud look as if he were giving a favor.

“Think it through?”

I clasped the card in my palm. Stand up straight. Raise your head. Face his eyes. The corner of my lips curled up slightly. Phuong Dat Chu paused. Before he could react, I turned around, stepped on my high heels and walked step by step towards the main door of the banquet hall. Back straight. Steady steps. The sound of heels tapping on the ground echoed clearly in the quiet hall. Lieu Man Ninh's voice rang out from behind:

“She wasn't scared to death, was she?”

Phuong's mother coldly replied:

“It's always better to be stupid, get out of here quickly.”

Phuong Dat Chu said nothing. I pushed the glass door open. The early autumn wind rushed in, cold, carrying the faint sweet scent of cinnamon flowers. Go to the parking lot, confirm there is no one around. I stopped walking. Raise your head and look at the sky. I laughed. Laughter overflowed from the throat, from silence to sound, from soft laughter to loud laughter. Laughing until your back arches. Laughing until tears filled my face.

“Phuong Dat Chu —”

I held my stomach, squatted on the ground, laughing until I couldn't breathe.

"Thank you."

“Thank you very much.”

The phone in my pocket vibrated. I took it out and looked. This is a screenshot of the winning notification I saved on the lottery app last night —

“Congratulations guests, With Song Sac Cau lottery ticket, you won the prize with the amount: 500,000,000 yuan."

500,000,000 yuan. Five hundred million yuan. It's all mine. There's no need to share a penny with him.

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha —”

Laughter echoed in the empty underground parking lot. I, Wen Li, have lived for thirty-two years. This is the first time I feel like God is so biased. But also biased at just the right time. After laughing, I leaned against the car door, panting for a long time. His legs were still soft, the tear stains on his face were sticky, he couldn't tell if it was because he was angry or because he laughed too much. I tightened my grip on the phone, forcing myself to reorganize the current situation. First, the marriage certificate is fake. Phuong Dat Chu admitted it personally in front of hundreds of people, with videos and witnesses. Second, the lottery ticket was purchased yesterday. If the marriage did not exist, then that money has nothing to do with Phuong Dat Chu. Third, no one knows I won the lottery. I lowered my head to look at the bank card that Phuong's mother threw in my face. 100,000 yuan. Just like giving alms to beggars. I put the card in my pocket, opened the car door and sat in. This car was bought for me by Phuong Dat Chu. It's been six years. The air conditioner sometimes worked, sometimes it didn't work, the leather seat on the passenger seat had a long tear, he said it wasn't worth fixing. I sat in the driver's seat, my hands on the steering wheel, staring at the cement wall ahead. I served that man for ten years. Every morning at half past five, he wakes up to make breakfast, iron his shirts, and polish his leather shoes. Making tea and pouring water for his mother, squeezing her shoulders and feet, listening to her sarcasm out of the corner of her eye. He worked overtime until midnight before returning. I reheated the bowl of soup three times and brought it to him. He took a sip and then commented: Every holiday or social party of his company, I wear the cheapest dress and stand in the corner, smiling and pouring wine for each person. Phuong Dat Chu's colleague once said:

“Your wife is really kind.”

He just smiled faintly:

“Just living temporarily.”

Ten years of temporary living. My fingers tightened, the steering wheel made a very soft creaking sound. The phone vibrated again. This time it's a call. The screen shows the name: Phuong Dat Chu. I stared for three seconds. Then pick up the phone.

“On Le.” His voice was full of impatience, behind him it was extremely noisy, probably still in the wedding hall. “If you leave then leave, don't cause trouble for me.”

“I will not go to the civil affairs department to sue you.”

“Just keep that torn card, consider that I have been completely devoted to you.”

“If you're reasonable, don't appear in front of me again.”

I leaned back in the chair, looking at the gray sky through the sunroof.

“Phuong Dat Chu.”

“What stage is the wedding at?”

He was silent for a second.

“What does it have to do with you?”

“Just asking out of curiosity.” My voice was so calm that even I found it strange. “You and Lieu Man Ninh… really love each other?”

“Whoever I love doesn't need you to control me.”

“Take care of your body first.”

"Okay." I replied.

“Then I wish you happiness.”

Obviously he didn't expect me to say those four words.