Chapter 18 — Marriage Is A Trap

“Nor is it the stimulating feeling of love.”

“But it's deeper than friendship…”

“And is it more sincere than friendship?”

“What do you mean, what are you asking?”

“I was asking…”

He looked at me.

“You have studied intimate relationships for so many years.”

“Is there any type of relationship that makes you feel…”

“Is this what I want?”

The wind blew across the lake. It's a bit cold.

“What kind?”

“Like tonight.”

He didn't say anything. But I know he's looking at me.

“A group of people who have all been hurt.”

“Sit together and tell the truth.”

“No judgment.”

“Don't avoid it.”

“No disguise.”

“This kind of relationship…”

I breathed out softly.

“Rarer than marriage.”

Co Dien nodded slightly.

“So do you want…”

His phone suddenly rang. He looked at the screen and then picked up the phone.

“… Now?”

“… Okay, I'll be right there.”

After hanging up the phone, his face changed.

“There's something you need to know.”

"Phuong Dao at the detention center... has added some new information."

“What information?”

"She said there was someone else behind Vuong Chi Cuong."

“And that person…”

His eyes stopped on me.

“It has something to do with you.”

“It has something to do with me?”

“Phuong Dao declared that…”

“It was not his intention for Vuong Chi Cuong to target Hengyuan's land.”

“Someone provided him with information and capital.”

“The terms of the exchange were that he had to do something.”

“There is one thing in there…”

“Thinking of a way to destroy your reputation.”

“Phuong Dao said she didn't know her name.”

“But we met once.”

“A woman over fifty years old.”

A woman in her fifties. A name immediately appeared in my mind.

“Who do you suspect?”

“Currently I do not have enough information to draw conclusions.”

Co Dien looked at me.

“But you can think about it…”

“Who cares about your reputation…”

“Are you interested in Hang Vien's land?”

I stood by the lake. The wind blowing from the water made my mind feel a little cold. Woman over fifty. It has something to do with my reputation. A thought slowly emerged. But I don't want to believe it.

“I need to think more.”

“If you have any problem, please contact me at any time.”

Co Dien got in the car. The taillights quickly disappeared into the night. Returning to the apartment, I sat down in front of my desk and took out a blank piece of paper. Then write some names on it. Luu Phuong Anh. Luc Canh Tham's mother. Fifty-three years old. But she is just an ordinary retired worker. No money. Nor does he have the ability to be behind the manipulation of such a big matter. I wrote the second name. To Hoa Anh. My aunt. Fifty-six years old. The tip of my pen stopped. It's been twelve years since I've had any contact with them. When I was seventeen years old, my parents passed away. My aunt — To Hoa Anh — raised me for a year. At the age of eighteen, when I passed the university entrance exam, she gave me some tuition money and said one sentence.

“From now on, you go your own way.”

“Don't come back again.”

"The To family's affairs... have nothing to do with you."

From then on, I never saw her again. But I know... The To family has never been simple. Before he passed away, my father — To Kien Hoa — was the founder of a medium-sized publishing company called "To Thi Van Hoa". In the nineties, the company used to be very influential. After my father passed away... The company was handed over to my aunt, To Hoa Anh, to continue management. At that time, Nam Son's first book also became famous in the publishing world. If To Hoa Anh knew I was Nam Son... Would she think I was taking advantage of the To family's "legacy" in the publishing industry? Does she think... My success is threatening To Thi Van Hoa? I picked up the phone and called Chu Van.

“Miss Chu, help me investigate a company.”

“Which company?”

“To Thi Van Hoa.”

“To Thi Van Hoa?”

The other party was a bit surprised.

“Is that an educational publishing company?”

“Who is in charge now?”

“Let me ask.”

Half an hour later, Chu Van called back.

“Looked it up.”

“To Thi Van Hoa's current legal representative is To Hoa Anh.”

“But the company's business has been very bad for the past two years.”

“The debt exceeds 30,000,000 yuan.”

“At the beginning of the year, it was almost acquired.”

“Who wants to buy?”

“A company named Thinh Dat Van Hoa.”

“Even though the deal ultimately failed, the other side used to press hard on the price.”