Chapter 11 — Healing After Days of Neglect

“Your sister is getting divorced.”

“Not surprising.”

“Don't you find it strange?”

"The type of person like Tran Hao Vu, who gambles, borrows money, loses money and still tries to save face... having a woman outside is a matter of sooner or later."

"What about your sister? Now she's empty-handed."

The compensation money was burned, the house became a temporary house, and the car was also taken away to pay off the debt."

“She still has Tieu Bao.”

“A woman raising a child alone—”

“I know what you want to say.” I interrupted. "But this was not caused by me. This is the path she chose herself."

“But that's your sister.”

"You're really a sister. But you've never considered me your sister."

Phuong Vien opened her mouth, then stopped. That night, I sat alone in front of the ground-level glass window, looking at the lights by the river. The phone was placed next to it, the screen lit up continuously. All messages from the family group. I'm not open. The doorbell rang. It's Co Tham. He held a bottle of wine.

"I see your house is still lit, come sit for a bit."

We sat in the living room. He poured wine.

“The sister story… have you heard?”

“What do you think?”

“I was thinking about something.”

“What?”

“If my father had divided the compensation fairly that year, each person would have had 2,100,000 yuan.

My sister doesn't have that much money, so Tran Hao Vu wouldn't have the guts to cause trouble. He will not open branches, will not import counterfeit goods, will not sue, will not borrow at high interest rates, will not gamble, nor will he support women.”

“You mean… it was favoritism that harmed you?”

“It's not 'maybe'. It's certain.

Money that you don't make... you can't keep it."

"And you? The money you won—"

He stopped. I looked at him. He also looked at me.

“What did you just say?” My voice was very calm.

"Lam Van, I'm an investor. At the beginning of the year, I suddenly had tens of millions, bought a house, bought premises, and opened a company.

Before that, my salary was 3,500. I have looked through your profile, there are no relatives or friends capable of supporting you. The only possibility… is that you win the lottery or receive an unexpected sum of money.” I held the glass of wine without speaking.

"You don't need confirmation. I just want to say, no matter where the initial money came from... what you have now is what you made yourself.

A contract worth 50,000,000 yuan, being on the cover of a magazine, a team of more than twenty people... those things cannot be bought with money."

“When did you start to doubt?”

"The first day I moved in. A girl with a salary of 3,500 living in an area priced at 180,000 per square meter... either won the lottery, or had someone to back her up. But I'm not the second type."

“Why don't you ask?”

“Because it's not important.”

I took a sip of wine.

“79,800,000 yuan.”

"I won the lottery. After taxes, I have 79,800,000 left.

That was also the day my father said all the compensation money was given to my sister." Co Tham was silent for two seconds. Then he laughed.

“So on the same day, I received the greatest joy… and the greatest self-pity.”

“And I choose to stay silent.”

“I didn't tell anyone.”

"Phuong Vien knows. Now add me."

“Why did you tell me?”

"Because you guessed it. I don't like being guessed by others."

He looked at me, put the glass down.

“Lam Van, do you know what I appreciate about you?”

“What point?”

“I have nearly 80,000,000 yuan... but I chose to use 5,000,000 to start a business, using my abilities to make money.

Not to spend, not to prove to the family.”

“I don't need to prove it to them.

I just need to prove it to myself.”

“So… you're human The best I've ever met.”

I turned to look at him. His eyes were very serious, without any joking. Outside the window, a cargo ship quietly glided across the river, the distant whistle echoed, low and long.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for what?”

“Thank you for not looking at me differently just because I have money.

Thank you also... because I don't think if you have money, you don't need anyone's help anymore." He reached out and gently held my hand.

“Whenever you need help… just knock on the wall.”

“Knock on the wall?”

“We are only a wall apart.”

I laughed. That was the most sincere smile... in the past few months. In December, Lam Huyen's divorce proceedings were completed. She left empty-handed. To be more precise... Tran Hao Vu has nothing left to share. The BMW was taken away, the hardware store was transferred to pay part of the loan, and the temporary house is still in my father's name. Lam Huyen took Tieu Bao back to live with his parents. 4,200,000 yuan in compensation... less than two years, all gone. In the family group, no one mentions Tran Hao Vu as "good" anymore. Aunt Ba: "Huan Huyen, don't cry anymore, life is still long." Uncle Two: “That guy is really worthless. Knowing that, I didn't let her have it before." Cousin: "Sister, if you need any help, just ask."