Chapter 14 — Marriage Is A Trap

Phuong Dao's voice softened.

“Help me ruin To Niem's reputation.”

"As long as her reputation collapses, the public pressure on Luc Canh Tham's side will naturally disappear."

"Luc Canh Tham is no longer under pressure... will come back to you."

Vuong Chi Cuong asked:

“Are you serious about Luc Canh Tham?”

Phuong Dao laughed out loud.

"Serious?"

“Brother Chi Cuong, do you think I will be honest with a man with a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan?”

“I just need someone who can be of use in your company.”

“In Luc Canh Tham's hand, he has documents approving Hang Vien's real estate project.”

“Those documents…”

“For you or for me... both are very useful.”

I put down the transcript. Raised his head to look at Co Dien.

“How did you get this recording?”

“Vuong Chi Cuong's assistant.”

Co Dien sat opposite me, his voice calm.

"He has been following Vuong Chi Cuong for ten years, and recently he has been very dissatisfied with his way of working."

“It was he who proactively contacted me.”

“How do you plan to use these documents?”

“Depends on you.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are two ways to use it.”

He said slowly.

“First method, hand it over to the police.”

"Phuong Dao showed signs of intimidation, Vuong Chi Cuong used company resources to make personal attacks. That is enough to file an investigation."

“Second way?”

“The second way…”

His eyes stopped on me.

“You use it yourself.”

“Doing material for your next book.”

“Or as a weapon to counterattack Phuong Dao.”

I thought for a few seconds.

“Why don't you hand it over to the police directly?”

“Because the victim in this matter is you.”

"Not me."

“So the decision belongs to you.”

I looked at the man in front of me.

“You help me so much… what is it all about?”

Co Dien looked straight into my eyes.

“In the book you once wrote a sentence.”

“‘True kindness requires no reason, but it must have respect.’”

“I think…”

“What I'm doing now is respect.”

“You're avoiding my question.”

He bowed his head and smiled softly.

“You want a direct answer.”

“I got divorced three years ago.”

He raised his head, his voice very calm.

“The reasons for divorce are very complicated.”

“But the core problem is…”

“Neither my ex-wife nor I understand what true intimacy is.”

“After the divorce, I read all of her books.”

“Your words have helped me a lot.”

“Help you with what?”

“Help me understand something.”

His eyes were very deep.

“A marriage fails not because two people didn't try hard enough.”

“It's because it's not honest enough.”

“Not being honest with yourself.”

"Also not honest with the other person."

He stopped for a few seconds.

“I spent half a year looking for you…”

“Not for cooperation.”

“It's not because of investment either.”

“I just want to say something to you directly.”

“Her words… changed the way a person saw the world.”

“For me, that's very important.”

“So I want to speak for myself.”

The meeting room fell silent. I held the file bag in my hand and looked at the man opposite. He didn't avoid my eyes.

“So the question…”

I asked softly.

“The question that only I can answer?”

“Not yet.”

Co Dien stood up.

"Phuong Dao's story, when you finish thinking about it, tell me."

“Whatever you decide come on…”

“I support it all.”

He walked to the door and suddenly stopped.

“Ah yes.”

“Are you free next week?”

“I have a private dinner party.”

He smiled lightly.

“The participants are all people… who think quite deeply about intimate relationships.”

“If you come…”

“That party will be much more meaningful.”

“I will consider it.”

He nodded and pushed the door open. I sat alone in the empty conference room, opened the transcript and read it again. Then took out his phone and sent Luc Canh Tham a text message.

“If you want to know the truth about Phuong Dao, come to Tan Loc's law office tomorrow at two o'clock in the afternoon.”

“You will know when you come.”