Chapter 3 — Marriage Costs 600,000 Yuan

At nine o'clock the next morning, Tham Quyet's lawyer arrived on time. Two men. One person's family name is Tran, one person's family name is Tuong. Neat black suit, briefcase on his knee, before talking, he politely gave his business card. I sat on the living room sofa, not accepting. Tham Quyet sat opposite me, his expression returning to normal. The panic last night was as if it had never existed. He even asked Ms. Ly to make coffee. I watched Ms. Ly carry the tray and walk out, her wrists surprisingly steady. That's right. A person with a yearly salary of 600,000 yuan still dares to betray his employer... His psychological qualities are certainly much better than those of ordinary people. Attorney Tran pushed the divorce agreement towards me.

"Miss On, Mr. Tham's side hopes this matter can be resolved peacefully."

I opened the first page. Real estate: a small apartment in the west of the city. Cash: 3,000,000 yuan. Additional investment for the studio: 2,000,000 yuan, disbursed in installments depending on business situation. Common property: no major disputes. Debt: borne by each person. I turned to the last page. Stop at a line of text.

"Both parties confirm that during the marriage there were no children together."

I stared at those words for a long time. Tham Quyet said:

“Don't watch it anymore, the conditions are already very generous.”

“Honourable?”

I raised my head to look at him.

“Tham Quyet, you have three houses in your name, two companies, two investment funds, commercial premises in the east of the city, and a new yacht that you bought last year…”

“There is not a single word in this agreement.”

Lawyer Tran pushed his glasses.

"According to our research, most of these assets belong to Mr. Tham's pre-marital personal assets, or are held through the company's share structure, so they are not automatically considered marital assets."

“According to your research?”

I laughed.

“So can you find out…”

"When Tham Quyet's first company was established, there was 1,000,000 yuan of startup capital because I sold my apartment before marriage to save money?"

Tham Quyet frowned.

“I paid you back that amount later.”

“How much to pay?”

He was silent. I answered for him:

“500,000 yuan.”

At that time, his company had just started and cash flow was very tight. I didn't force him to pay. He said the rest would be made up later. After that, the company really developed. But I won't mention it anymore. It's not because I forgot. It's because I used to think... Between husband and wife, there's no need to calculate too clearly. Now that I think about it— The person who doesn't plan clearly... In the end, is the one who is calculated most clearly. I kept flipping contracts.

“Additional investment for the studio is 2,000,000 yuan, disbursed in installments depending on the business situation.”

I read slowly.

“It means that as long as you feel that the situation is not good… then you don't need to give this 2,000,000 yuan?”

Lawyer Tran smiled.

“Miss On, this clause is not what we mean.”

“So what do you mean?”

He choked for a beat. Tham Quyet spoke directly:

"Wen Duong, your studio has been losing money these past few years. I continue to invest just because I want you to save some face."

My fingertips stopped. That sentence... really hit me. In college, I studied jewelry design. Before getting married, I had my own brand. Although not large, there are stable orders every year. After getting married, Tham Quyet said she hoped I would spend more time with her family. He said:

“You don't need to work so hard, I'll take care of you.”

I don't close the studio. Just downsizing, cutting half of the staff. Then pregnancy, miscarriage, body care, taking care of both parents... The studio gradually turned into a "hobby". Everyone says my numbers are good. No need to risk your life working like before. No need to socialize, no need to stay up all night running alone. Because I have a husband like Tham Quyet. But no one told me that— When a woman truly retires to her family... The professional capacity she once had, the income she once had, relationships, voice, position... Will be eroded little by little. Grind until the end— Her husband will hold her loss report and nonchalantly say one sentence:

“Continuing to invest is just so I can save some face.”

“I don't agree.”

Tham Quyet seemed to have predicted it.

“I can give conditions.”

I looked straight at him.

"I want half of the joint assets in the marriage. The additional assets during the marriage must be completely recalculated."

“Chu Kieu's pregnancy care expenses, house rent, living expenses…”

"As long as it's money taken from our shared assets, I will ask for it back."

Lawyer Tran's expression suddenly changed. I continue:

“Also…”

“I want you to publicly apologize.”

Tham Quyet burst out laughing, as if he had just heard the most ridiculous thing in the world.

“Wen Duong, are you not awake yet?”

I don't answer. Just slowly pick up the phone. After last night… I did three things. First, restore all photos deleted by Tham Quyet. Second, change all indoor cameras' cloud access to only me being able to log in. Third, issue all of Ms. Ly's shopping invoices, refund slips, and transfer documents from the day she started working until now. Tham Quyet doesn't know. All smart devices in this house were installed by me. Because he's afraid of being bothered. He is only in charge of enjoying the convenience. And I'm in charge of learning how to use, install, and manage it. Previously, these things were called chores. Those chores are all evidence. I opened a video. In the living room camera screen, Ms. Ly carried a thermos and went out. Date shown: Three months ago. Scroll forward, twice a week. Continue scrolling... Almost every day. Next is the history of electronic door locks. Chu Kieu's fingerprints. Time entered into the system: Half a year ago. Note name:

“House repairman.”

I put the phone on the table.

“Shen Quyet, explain.”

His expression gradually darkened. Lawyer Tran couldn't laugh anymore. Lawyer Tuong bowed his head and glanced at Tham Quyet, as if waiting for instructions. Tham Quyet stared at me.

“You investigate me?”

I find it funny.

"When you entered Xiao Tam's fingerprint into my door lock... didn't you think I would see it?"

He suppressed his anger.

“These things don't prove anything.”

"Of course."

I calmly replied.

“So we have to slowly prove it.”

I opened another statistics table.

"In the past seven months, Ms. Ly's expenses for buying bird's nests, flowers, sea cucumbers, and acorns totaled 198,360 yuan."

“The delivery address repeatedly appeared in the Phi Thuy Loan area in the south of the city.”

“The payment account is a joint family account.”

Finally, Tham Quyet sat up straight.

“Wen Duong, delete all of this.”

I looked at him.

“Last night said the same thing.”

The photo has been deleted... So it never happened? Tieu tam is pregnant... Can the baby be put back? I smiled softly.

“Tham Quyet, maybe you forgot.”

“I didn't just know how to stay at home and cook soup and grow flowers from the beginning.”

I used to work in supply chain. Used to run exhibitions and negotiate contracts. Reconcile books, check cash flow, view invoices... I am no stranger. It's just that in the past few years, I've used that ability to choose housekeepers, inventory purchases, and arrange house repair schedules. So he really thought…