Chapter 10 — Healing After Days of Neglect

“Lin Van!” Lam Huyen rushed forward and held my hand tightly. "You really won't help us? Three million, for you—"

“For me it's also three million, not three hundred.”

"I have a fifty million project! Take three million and turn it around—"

“Fifty million is the total contract, not profit.

Even if it's a profit, it's mine. Not yours, not his, not anyone's."

"Older sister." I looked straight into her eyes. “Do you remember what you said?

She said she would give me a bag of lucky money during Tet. 4,200,000 yuan in compensation... I'll give you a red envelope."

“Now I owe 3,000,000 yuan… so I came back to find you.”

“You see that a lucky money… with 3,000,000 yuan… can be placed equally?”

Lam Huyen let go of my hand. I walked straight out. Behind him were the sounds of crying, arguing, and the sound of furniture being thrown to the ground and breaking. I don't turn around. Get in the car, start the engine. The sound of the Porsche engine rang out, tearing through the silence of the familiar alley for twenty-six years. Did anyone see... I don't care anymore. Returning to the city, I told Phuong Vien everything.

"3,000,000 yuan in high-interest debt? Is your brother-in-law really a gambler?"

“What are you going to do?”

"Do nothing."

"Really, don't care? What if those guys come to cause trouble with your family?"

"That's Tran Hao Vu's problem. He's responsible for it."

“But your parents were there too…”

"The old house has been cleared, now it's just a temporary house. Those guys need money, they don't need human lives, they won't dare to take risks."

“Listening to you… it's really cold.”

"What if it's not cold? Sit down and cry with them?"

Phuong Vien looked at me for a long time.

“Lam Van, you have changed.”

“Change how?”

“Before, you were the one who suffered in silence.

Now… you are the one making others suffer.”

“I don't make anyone suffer.

I just… don't let myself suffer anymore.” Phuong Vien sighed.

"Prepare yourself. This isn't over yet."

Three days later, a strange number called.

“Miss Lam, right?”

“Who are you?”

"My name is Ngo, Tran Hao Vu's creditor. He owes me 3,000,000 yuan. He said you would pay it for me."

“He said it wasn't worth it.”

"Miss Lam, I know you opened a design company and it's doing very well. 3,000,000 yuan is not a big number to you."

"My money is my business. His debt has nothing to do with it."

"I like to talk sense. But if reason doesn't make sense..."

“Are you threatening me?”

“Not a threat. Just a reminder.

If Tran Hao Vu doesn't pay, I will use another method. His wife and children are still at the temporary home.”

“If you dare touch them, I'll call the police.”

"I lend legally. The high interest part is not protected, but 1,800,000 yuan of principal and interest are legal, recognized by the law. He cannot escape."

"Then you look for him. Don't look for me."

“He said you have money.”

"I'll say it for the last time, it's unrelated. Call again and I'll transfer it to a lawyer."

I hung up. Immediately call Co Tham.

“Co Tham, do you know a lawyer?”

"What is up?"

I quickly explained the situation.

"You handle it. The law is clear, they don't dare to overdo it."

"I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about my parents."

“I'll send someone to assist.”

That afternoon, his people were present around the temporary housing area. The next day, the lawyer contacted.

"Miss Lam, I understand the situation. Tran Hao Vu's debt has nothing to do with you. If they harass you, we will sue."

"I I advise you to tell your father clearly to avoid pressure from them from the family."

“I will say.”

I called my dad.

“Dad, Tran Hao Vu's creditors have come to me.”

“Do they dare to bother you?”

“I hired a lawyer. Dad, don't pay for him."

“But your sister…”

“She married him, it doesn't mean she has to take on debt. If necessary... you should divorce."

“Dad, he gambled, borrowed at high interest, and burned all the money. Do you still want her to follow that person?"

Silence for a long time.

“I understand.”

His voice... got really old. In November, things took an unexpected turn. Lam Huyen proactively asked for a divorce. Not because of what I said. Not because of what I said. It's because she discovered another secret of Tran Hao Vu. He raises women outside. Part of the money borrowed from usury... is to support that person. Lam Huyen discovered it when searching his phone. Transfer history, messages, room rental history... every detail is clear. When she called my mother while crying, I was in a meeting at the company. After the meeting, Phuong Vien told the story.