Chapter 5 — Marriage Book

Chu Khai Hang screamed in the middle of the empty room, the sound bounced off the wall and bounced back, carrying forced anger and unconcealed panic. He immediately took his phone, found my number and called. A cold, mechanical female voice rang out from the receiver.

“The subscriber you just called is currently switched off.”

He didn't mind, opened social networks, clicked on my profile picture to send a message. In the chat box, a red exclamation mark immediately appeared, with small text below.

“Message sent but refused to be received.”

He was blocked. Only at this point did Chu Khai Hang truly realize that I was not angry, not pretending, I was serious, I really left, using the most decisive way to respond to the "fair" agreement that he carefully calculated. He seemed to have lost consciousness, slid down and sat on the cold floor, his back leaning against the edge of the bed, his mind in chaos. The image of me calmly signing my name last night, avoiding his hand in the morning, the emotionless "okay" before going out the door... All connected together, pointing to a truth that he had never thought deeply about, or rather, did not want to admit. I've been preparing to leave for a long time. He flipped through his contacts, looking for someone who might know where I was. My mother's phone rang for a long time before she picked up. The voice on the other end was cold and distant. After hearing his panicked question, she only replied one sentence.

“It's very fine, you don't need to take care of it.”

After speaking, he hung up the phone. He called my close friend Chu Nhiem again. The other person picked up the phone and after hearing it, he laughed coldly.

"Chu Khai Hang, you forced me to sign the agreement, you personally pushed it away. I'm just looking for it now. It's late. If you have a legal problem, please officially contact my law office. As for To Ninh's whereabouts, you have no right to ask. Don't bother her and the people around her anymore, otherwise I will apply for a personal safety order on her behalf."

“Chu Nhiem, let To Ninh answer the phone, I know it's wrong, that agreement can be discussed again…”

“Let's talk again.” Chu Nhiem's voice was full of sarcasm, "Chu Khai Hang, there are some things that don't just require saying 'you know it's wrong' and you can go back to the beginning. Adults have to bear the consequences of their own choices. Sign the divorce papers, that's the only thing you can do, it's also the way to save the last bit of dignity."

The phone was cut off again, only a long beeping sound remained. Chu Khai Hang heard each "thump" sound, feeling like all the strength in his body was drained away. It was completely dark outside the window, no lights were on in the house, only the pale blue light from a few electronic devices, illuminating his pale face. I don't know how much time passed when the phone rang again, it was his mother calling. He mechanically clicked to listen.

“Khai Hang, have you eaten yet? What delicious dish did To Ninh cook today?” His mother's voice rang out with enthusiasm.

His throat was tight, his nose was sour, and tears almost fell.

"Mom... To Ninh left, she moved all her things and asked for a divorce from me."

The other end was silent for two seconds, then immediately burst into a shrill scolding.

“What, he's really bold, he just registered for two days and already dares to play the missing game, don't worry, I'll be there tomorrow, this kind of daughter-in-law doesn't understand this, the Chu family doesn't need it, if they separate, they'll separate, who's afraid of who, but we can't let him take all the profits, the bride price must be returned in full, every penny, and he left. Does that mean I have to compensate my child for mental damage?"

His mother's voice was fast and furious, both angry and excited, as if there was finally a fight for her to strike. Chu Khai Hang listened to his mother constantly scolding and calculating, looking around the overturned, cold and empty "new house", suddenly feeling tired and confused like never before. The sweet smell of cake mixed with the scent of flowers in the cold air gradually turned into an unpleasant, fishy smell. The divorce petition lay on the nightstand, quietly waiting for him to make his final choice. Outside the window, the neon lights in the city lit up one after another, the nightlife had just begun, but in this exquisitely decorated high-rise apartment, only the heavy darkness and stuffiness remained, bit by bit swallowing him up. Early the next morning, what woke Chu Khai Hang was the pounding on the door, loud and urgent, without hesitation, resounding throughout the empty living room. He struggled to stand up from the cold hard ground. Last night he sat until midnight, then fell asleep on the floor. At this moment, he only felt pain in his back, head as heavy as lead, and dry throat. The knocking on the door continued, mixed with his mother's high-pitched voice.

“Khai Hang, Khai Hang, open the door, mom is here.”

He staggered out the door, his legs were weak, looked through the cat's eyes, saw his mother's face full of anger, next to her sister dressed elaborately, her eyes looked like she was watching a show. He unlocked the door, his mother immediately rushed in like a gust of wind, his sister following closely behind, conveniently carrying two large suitcases.

“Oh my god, what does this house smell like?” As soon as his mother walked in, she covered her nose, her face filled with hate, her eyes scanning the living room like radar.

Her eyes scanned the dried cream stains on the floor, withered flowers on the carpet, the empty TV shelf and the sofa without pillows, finally stopping on her son's bloodshot eyes and wrinkled shirt, her voice immediately rose.

"Look at yourself, then look at this house and see what kind of shape it has become after being destroyed by that heartless woman." His mother slapped her thighs and screamed, as if she was the one who suffered the most.

His sister had gone around the rooms, back to the living room, pouting.

"Dude, she really has principles, she really only cleaned up her own stuff, she didn't touch any of the electrical appliances you bought, she's probably determined to break it off with you."

"Sever." His mother sat down heavily on the sofa, there was no pillow so she had to move back and forth, "He thinks it's great, once he enters the Chu family's door, he is a member of the Chu family. It's not his turn to go, Khai Hang, where is the divorce petition, show me."

Chu Khai Hang didn't say anything, went into the bedroom, took out the wrinkled agreement, and gave it to his mother. His mother wore old glasses, bowed her head and read each clause. The more she read, the tighter her eyebrows became. After reading, she slammed the paper on the table.

“What a terrible calculation, if you want to retreat so cleanly, there is no way.” She turned to look at her son, her voice filled with pressure, "You can't sign this, at least not yet."

"Mom..." Chu Khai Hang's voice was hoarse, his whole face full of fatigue, "She doesn't answer the phone, she can't contact me, Chu Nhiem also said that if she bothers me again, she will ask for a protection order of some kind, what else can I do?"

“What are you doing, looking for someone.” His mother screamed, making his ears ring, “Where can he fly? Go to the company and block him, go to his mother's house and block him, make a big deal out of it and see if he still has face."

“That's right.” His sister interjected, her eyes full of calculation, "She suddenly left like that, there's a good chance there's something shady going on, maybe there's someone outside, I can completely say it that way, we can't let her act and gain benefits at the same time, the ninety-nine thousand ninety-nine bride price, along with the gold items, must all be returned, and the emotional damage must also be calculated separately."

Chu Khai Hang heard the mother and son juggling each other, and his mind became even more confused. He suddenly remembered Chu Nhiem's cold words last night, "bear the consequences", and remembered my coldly calm face when signing my name.