Chapter 16 — Marriage Book

That silence is more painful than any rejection. After that, he gradually had less contact, was busy with work, busy socializing, and each time he avoided it, there was a very "honorable" reason. Until one day, he sent a text message.

“Let's stop, my mother's health is not good, I can't make her worry more.”

That night, Hua Tinh sat alone on the floor of the motel room, crying from dusk until dawn. She thought she would hate him for the rest of her life. But life is very strange. A few years later, she worked in the law industry, witnessed too many broken marriages, saw people fighting over houses, turning into enemies, and also saw people hugging each other and crying in the court hallway. She thought her emotions had been eroded to the point of being dull. Until by chance, she saw the name Chu Khai Hang. That is a draft pre-marital property agreement, detailing the terms and conditions. The entruster clearly wrote "Chu Khai Hang", the phone number is still a familiar series of numbers. Following her professional reflexes, she opened the file, and as soon as she looked, she saw the prominent text.

"After marriage, all assets and expenses are implemented according to the AA regime."

“Then I burst out laughing.” Hua Tinh said, "The year they broke up, he said he would try to make money and give his wife the best life. As a result, many years passed, and the 'best' he gave his wife was a piece of paper for each person to take care of themselves."

“Did you contact him again?” I asked.

"Are not." Hua Tinh shook her head, "I just sat and looked at that agreement from beginning to end. Then one day, at a coffee shop near the court, I saw you and him walk in to sign the papers."

She remembers the image of that day very clearly. The man wears a neat suit, the woman wears a simple white shirt with a dark skirt, and her hair is tied neatly. The two sat at a table not far from her, with a "post-marriage AA agreement" spread out on the table. She heard him read each clause one by one.

"Living expenses after marriage are borne by each person, no joint accounts are established."

“Holiday gifts at your own expense.”

"If both parents are sick and hospitalized, each family's expenses will be borne by each other."

“During marriage, all assets and debts arising in the name of an individual belong to that person, regardless of the other person.”

After reading each article, he further explained his "fair logic", his tone was firm and confident. As for me, I sat and listened, occasionally just asking a light question like "What if I have children" or "If we go on a trip together, what is the cost of airfare and hotel?" Finally, I took the pen and signed my name decisively.

“At that moment, I admit, I felt a little gloating in my heart.” Hua Tinh said frankly, "I think this is cause and effect. That year he left me because of so-called reality, then he will eventually meet someone who understands 'reality' more."

“What happens after that?” I looked at her, "Then you didn't just watch anymore, you participated."

"Correct." Hua Tinh nodded, looking straight at me, "At first I only anonymously sent your lawyer some of his pre-marital financial documents. At that time, I convinced myself that I was helping you see the truth clearly. It wasn't until I collected things between him and that woman in the red dress that I realized, I was no longer an outsider."

She clasped the coffee cup in her hand.

“I have thoughts.” She said, “I want him to taste the cold Feeling betrayed, experiencing the feeling of losing face, losing your job, losing the so-called 'face'."

“You did it.” I calmly said, “He must have had enough now.”

“Don't you hate me?” Hua Tinh suddenly asked, "If it weren't for me giving you those things, you would still get a divorce, but maybe not so decisively. He may not have collapsed that quickly.”

“You think I don't know who you are.” I asked back, “As soon as I opened that anonymous document, I figured it out. Chu Nhiem used to be your colleague. As soon as she saw the format, she called me immediately, saying it was probably Hua Tinh."

Hua Tinh was stunned.

“Then why do you still come to see me?”

“Because I want to know something.” I looked at her, "I am finally a pawn in your revenge game, or someone who can step out of that game on my own."

“What about the results?” Her voice was slightly tense.

“The result is… not quite any of them.” I said frankly, “You gave me a knife, but whether I use it or not, how I use it, is up to me to decide. She wanted to take revenge on him through me, but in the end, this marriage brought me not only hurt, but also growth. That part, you cannot do for me.”

I paused for a moment, then continued.

“But that doesn't mean I can completely forgive you.”

Hua Tinh bowed her head, her knuckles turning white from clenching.

“I know.” She whispered, "So this time I asked you out, actually to apologize."

“You don't need to apologize to me.” I shook my head, "If you have to apologize, you should apologize to yourself that year, the one who sat and cried all night on the floor of the motel room."

Hua Tinh immediately raised her head. I looked at her, every word clear.

“You took all your frustrations, anger, and failures over the years and poured them out on someone you should have let go of a long time ago, but by the way, you vented them on an innocent person. Do you think that will make you feel better? No. You're just prolonging the time that relationship controls you.”

“You think I've never tried to let go.” Hua Tinh smiled, her smile was full of bitterness, "For many years I have been trying to work, take the certification exam, fall in love with a few people, and my family also introduced people to see me. I thought I had walked out. It wasn't until that day, in the coffee shop, when I saw him read that damn agreement to her, that I realized there are things that have never passed."

“That's your lesson.” I said, “It's not mine, it's not his, no one can do it for you.”

In the cafe, a light piano song sounded. The two of us sat opposite, no one said another word. A long time later, Hua Tinh spoke up.