Chapter 9 — Healing After Days of Neglect

"I've heard a little about your family." Co Tham poured me a glass of water.

“Who told you?”

"My employee. When I argued with Tran Hao Vu... the whole company heard."

"…Sorry."

"No need to apologize. You did the right thing."

"How do you know I'm right? You don't understand the situation clearly."

“I understand you.”

I looked up at him. His eyes were very serious.

"You are the most diligent person I have ever met. Every penny you earn is earned by yourself. You have no obligation to share it with anyone."

“You don't know that my money... is not entirely earned.”

He stopped.

“What do you mean?”

I was momentarily stunned. Almost revealed.

"Nothing."

“Lin Van, I have a secret.”

“Who doesn't have it?”

“My secret… has to do with money.”

I didn't reply.

"If you don't want to talk, that's fine. But let me tell you a story."

He put down his chopsticks.

"When I started my business, my father sold the only house in the family and gave all 1,200,000 yuan to my younger brother to buy a house to get married. I didn't get a penny."

I looked at him.

"After that, I bought a house myself. Then two houses, three houses. Now there are eleven houses under my name."

“Does your father regret it?”

“Yes. But you didn't give him a chance to feel relieved.”

“What do you mean?”

"I let him live in the nicest house. Every day he opens the window to look at the river, he will remember that year he sold the old house to his younger brother and not me."

“Is that revenge?”

"Are not." He smiled lightly. “It was for him to face himself.”

I laughed.

“You are more cruel than me.”

“It's not cruel.” He looked at me, his voice low. “Just figured it out.

Anger at family has no meaning. The best response… is to live ten thousand times better than they thought.”

“Ten thousand times?”

“I did it.”

I bowed my head and took a sip of water. It was as if something in my heart... gently let go. In October, something happened that no one expected. I received a call. Caller: Lam Duc Hau.

“Van Van, go home for a while.”

"What is up?"

"Something happened at home. It involves your sister."

"I can't tell you clearly over the phone. I'll know when I get home."

His voice sounded very tired. I drove the Porsche to my old home. At the beginning of the alley, I hesitated a bit, then parked my car in the parking lot two streets away and walked in. It's not time for them to know. Pushing the door in, the living room was full of people. Dad, mom, Lam Huyen, Tran Hao Vu... there were also two strange men. The two of them were wearing leather jackets, so you could tell they weren't gentle people.

“Enough people?” A bald guy spoke up.

“Enough… enough.” Tran Hao Vu's voice trembled.

"Mr. Tran, let's be frank. You owe me 3,000,000 yuan, both principal and interest as of today. You said you would pay it at the end of the month, but now it's a week overdue."

I looked at Lam Huyen. Her face was pale and her eyes were red.

“I… give me a few more days…” Tran Hao Vu stammered.

"You said 'give it a few more days' three times already. My boss is not patient."

The other guy stood up, walked to the sofa, and tapped the 75-inch TV.

"This TV is beautiful, well priced. Is this sofa real leather?"

“What do you want to do!” My mother jumped up.

"Auntie, we don't want to do anything. As long as Mr. Tran pays, everything is over."

The bald guy looked at me.

“Who is this girl?”

“My sister-in-law.” Tran Hao Vu replied.

"Three million, three days. We'll be back."

The two people stood up and left. The door closed, Lam Huyen collapsed on the table and sobbed.

"Three million! How do you end up owing three million!"

"Before borrowed two million... interest on interest..."

“You said you borrowed two million and I went crazy, now it's three million?!”

“Huan Huyen, I didn't expect…”

“You didn't expect it? What's on your mind? Opening a store at a loss, losing a lawsuit, borrowing high interest, now gambling—"

She suddenly fell silent. The whole room looked towards Tran Hao Vu.

“Gambling?” My father's voice was cold.

“Dad, I only played a few times—”

“You gamble?”

“It's not gambling, it's just friends playing a little—”

My father slapped him straight in the face.

“You bastard! 4,200,000 yuan in compensation, how much did you destroy?!”

Tran Hao Vu covered his face, not daring to speak. Lam Huyen cried even harder.

“Dad, what should we do now? Three million, where do you get three million from?"

My father's face was full of fatigue and regret. He looked at me. Just one look. But I understand. He wanted me to give him money.

“Dad, why are you looking at me?”

“Van Van, you have money in your hand now—”

“I have money, I earned it myself. What does Tran Hao Vu's high-interest debt have to do with you?"

“He is my brother-in-law!”

“Brother-in-law, not your husband. His gambling debt, on what basis should I pay it?"

“What about your sister? What about Tieu Bao?

“So when you gave them all 4,200,000, what did you think? Giving money to a gambler, what will be the outcome?

“Dad, you will share the compensation money. The consequences… I bear it.”

“Lam Van, do you want to see your sister die?!”

“It's not that I want her to die. It was Tran Hao Vu who pushed her to the brink. The person you choose, the path you follow... are all your choices."

I turned around and walked towards the door.