Chapter 6 — Marriage Is A Trap

She stopped for a few seconds.

“But there is no warmth.”

I didn't speak up.

“Mr. Canh Tham once said something.” Phuong Dao looked at me. “He said… ‘Being with To Niem, it doesn't feel like husband and wife, but more like I'm becoming her experimental subject.’”

Those words made my heart flutter. Not because of pain. But because it's so accurate.

“Are you done talking yet?”

“There's one more thing.”

Phuong Dao hesitated for a few seconds.

"Recently Mr. Canh Tham's company has had some problems. The project he is in charge of lost more than 3,000,000 yuan, the boss forced him to make up for that shortfall. Right now the pressure on him is huge... but he didn't tell me."

“Why didn't he tell me?”

“Because every time I ask about work, my eyes look at him like I'm analyzing data.”

Phuong Dao gently squeezed her hand.

“He's afraid of you.”

I sat there, my fingertips lightly tapping twice on the table.

“Phuong Dao.”

I looked at her.

“You told me these things… to make me feel sorry for him?”

"Not."

She shook her head.

"I just want you to understand, your marriage has been having problems for a long time. It's not because of me. I'm just the result, not the cause."

I stood up.

“You're right.”

“From beginning to end, you were never the cause.”

Phuong Dao didn't seem to expect that I would answer like that, and was momentarily stunned.

“But you're not a nice person either.”

I picked up my bag.

"A person knows clearly that the other person is married but still takes the initiative to step in, no matter how good the reason sounds... essentially it's still taking advantage."

I turned around and took two steps then suddenly stopped.

“Ah yes.”

I turned my head to look at her.

“You said Canh Tham's project lost more than 3,000,000 yuan?”

“So do you know how much your Maldives trip cost?”

Phuong Dao's expression immediately changed very slightly.

"I looked it up. The presidential room at that hotel costs 80,000 yuan a night. He booked for five nights. Plus airfare and other expenses, the total is about 300,000 yuan."

I laughed.

“The project lost 3,000,000 yuan, he didn't have the heart to tell his wife.”

“But spending 300,000 yuan to take her out doesn't hurt at all.”

“Phuong Dao…”

I looked straight into her eyes.

“Do you think that's called love?”

Phuong Dao's face turned pale.

“He didn't spend his money.”

“He is consuming your feelings.”

“Wait until the new feeling passes... he will also see that you have 'no warmth'.”

I walked out of the dessert shop. The sunlight outside was so bright it hurt my eyes. The phone vibrates. It's a message from Tan Loc.

“Luc Canh Tham signed it.”

Below is a photo of the last page of the divorce agreement. His signature… Much sloppier than the signature on the marriage certificate. Divorce procedures are done very quickly. Tan Loc came with me to the civil affairs department. Luc Canh Tham came alone. The whole process took less than half an hour. When the staff took back the marriage certificate, Luc Canh Tham suddenly spoke up.

“To Niem, you will regret it.”

After I pressed my fingerprints on the divorce certificate, I didn't even lift my head.

“Canh Tham.”

I smiled softly.

“You should save this sentence and tell yourself later.”

Stepping out of the civil affairs department, the sunlight is very beautiful. Tan Loc stood next to me and looked at me.

“How does it feel?”

“I feel lighter now.”

Tan Loc patted my shoulder.

“Come on, I invite you to dinner.”

She smiled meaningfully.

“Congratulations on your ‘field survey’ officially ending.”

In the afternoon, Lam Kha called.

“Miss To, are you done with the divorce procedure?”

"Done."

“So about the autograph session…”

“Just proceed as planned.”

"Yes. One more thing, this morning a person claiming to be Luc Canh Tham's colleague contacted the publishing house, asking if he could buy a batch of 《100 Truths About Intimate Relationships》 as employee benefits."

“How many books?”

“500 volumes.”

“Which company?”

"Mr. Canh Tham's company. A company called Hang Vien Real Estate."

I paused a bit. Luc Canh Tham works as a project manager at a real estate company. His colleague… wants to buy my book?

“Did the other party leave contact information?”

"Yes. A person named Chu Loi."

“Tell the publisher to just deliver normally.”

After hanging up, I thought for a few seconds and then called someone. Is a former colleague of mine at the previous magazine, currently doing administrative work at Hang Vien.

"Hello, To Niem? Long time no see!"