Chapter 16 — Husband Takes Little Tam to Party, Big Screen Shows My 31 Million Yuan Project

I took a step back.

"Lawyer Liu has already sent you the divorce agreement. The conditions are very clear. If you sign, I won't pursue anything else. If you don't sign, we'll meet in court."

Having finished speaking, I turned around and left. He didn't chase. The trial is scheduled for the fifteenth of next month. In the two weeks before the trial, one thing happened after another. First, Co Minh Thanh proactively made an appointment to meet me. At a coffee shop in a high-tech district, he was younger than the photo on his business card. How to speak concisely and decisively.

"Miss Nguyen, I have seen the technical research direction that you publicized. The two projects you are working on, if they have the ability to be commercialized, Due Trach Investment Fund would like to become the first unit to evaluate the technology and participate in incubation."

“It's still in the early stages right now.”

"No problem, what we are looking for are early-stage projects. You have a complete technology barrier and independent intellectual property rights, that is the most core value."

I talked with him for more than an hour and a half. Before leaving, he said:

“Ms. Nguyen, if you intend to establish a studio or company, we are willing to become angel round investors.”

I remembered this, but didn't answer right away. Second story. Ten days after I moved out, Ms. Trieu called.

"To To! My mother-in-law just posted a post in the apartment complex residents group!"

“What did she say?”

"Say you stole all the family's savings, say you're unfilial, don't care about the life or death of the elderly, and say that after you have money... you go hang out with men outside!"

The corners of my eyebrows slowly furrowed.

“Someone also posted a screenshot, I don't know who edited it, saying I was on a date with a man in a cafe.”

Co Minh Thanh. It was the meeting at the coffee shop that day.

"Nguyen To, don't be in a hurry. I've already spoken up for you in the group! Everyone knows what kind of person your mother-in-law is, but there are still a few people who don't know the truth so they follow along..."

"Miss Trieu, thank you. I will handle this matter myself."

I sat at my desk thinking for five minutes. Then open the photo library on my phone, look for things I haven't used yet. That's all Chu's mother made me do for the past seven years. I have the habit of recording my expenses. Every living expense, every time I transferred money to Chu Dien, every amount I spent to buy medicine or run errands for her, every happy birthday envelope, every Tet holiday that she forced me to pay for, were all carefully recorded in a spreadsheet. Full for seven years. I opened another folder again. Inside are the screenshots that Dao Vy helped me save when we chatted. Chu Hue's comments on his friends circle, Chu Dien's history of borrowing money and not paying back, and Wei Man's message that year demanding repayment. I arranged all the documents, then sent them all to lawyer Luu.

“If their side continues to lead public opinion, we will use this evidence.”

Lawyer Luu responded very quickly.

"Received. Rest assured."

Third story. Twelfth day. I received an email on my phone. I don't know the sender, but I know the organization. That is the warehouse of technical appraisal experts in the industry that Professor Phuong introduced. The email subject is:

“Congratulations, gentlemen has been officially approved into the expert warehouse.”

The attached information clearly states that in the next quarter there will be three key technical projects that need experts to participate in appraisal, at which time they will send an official invitation. I saved this email. Then open to another page. Nguyen To Technical Consulting Studio. Legal representative: Nguyen To. Charter capital: 1 million yuan. I fill out each line of information in the form in turn. Coming to the "Scope of business" section, my fingers suddenly stopped on the keyboard. Outside the window, the bright afternoon sun filled the sky. I continued typing on the keyboard. Three days before trial. Lawyer Luu met me one last time.

“The documents are complete. I also partly grasped the opposing lawyer's strategy. They intend to request division of common property during the marriage, especially income from her technology licensing."

“Can they divide it?”

"Cannot. Intellectual property rights were independently registered in her name, the creative process has full timestamps, and no marital assets were used for investment. Legally it's very clear, this is your private property."

“So what else are they fighting about?”

“Extend time.” Lawyer Luu took off his glasses and gently rubbed the bridge of his nose, "They want to drag it out until you give in. In addition, they may believe that her 'hiding her income' constitutes an act of deception between husband and wife."

“Am I obliged to report?”

"Are not. This is not income from salary, so there is no obligation to notify the other party. Furthermore..." She smiled, "The reason you hid it also has enough evidence to prove that over the past seven years, you have always been overlooked, degraded and have no independent economic status. The judge will understand.”

“There's one more thing.” Lawyer Luu looked at me, "Are you going to present yourself in court?"

“Explain what?”

“If the judge asks about your marital status in the past seven years, you can explain yourself orally, or you can let me speak for you.”

I thought for a moment.

“I will speak for myself.”