Chapter 5 — My Cousin Used My House To Swindle 11,800,000 Yuan, But Didn't Know The House Was Cleared

It's my close friend, sent by Chu Man.

“Do you want to go out to eat tonight?”

I didn't answer, just scrolled back to see the conversation history between the two of us. Chu Man works as an assistant at a law office, specializing in civil litigation. The finger stopped at the chat box for a long time. After a moment of hesitation, I typed a line and sent it over.

"I want to ask you a legal question. If someone steals someone else's documents to cheat them into a loan, is the person who was stolen responsible?

After sending it, my whole body leaned against the window sill. Apartment 903, building 6, Bich Lan Dinh area. After my parents died, I still lived in that house for another three years. The oleander pot on the balcony was planted by my mother. Dad installed the hook next to the door himself. Every corner of the wall seems to retain their sounds. Then the house was demolished. The night the compensation was transferred to my account, I sat on the bed in my rented apartment until dawn. Not because of heartache. It's because I'm thinking... How should I use that money next? Where that money went later, no one knows. Including Vuong Tu Lan. Including Tham Tu Hien. Including uncle Tham Quoc Luong. No one knows. The phone vibrates. Chu Man responded almost immediately.

"What's wrong? Did something happen? Call me."

I didn't call her. But make another call. I scrolled through my contacts for a long time, finally stopping at a number saved as "Lawyer Ha". That was the legal advisor introduced to me by the clearance committee when signing the contract last year. We only met twice, but she left a business card. Phone connected.

"Lawyer Ha, my name is Tham Nhuoc An. Last year when the Bich Lan Dinh area was cleared, you helped me check the documents."

"I remember. What's going on?"

"Someone used my house book that had its ownership canceled to borrow 11,800,000 yuan as a mortgage. The contract was signed in my name, but I didn't sign it. Now the lending company is coming to the door."

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds.

“Have you gotten the original contract yet?”

“Only copies.”

"Okay. Come to my office tomorrow morning."

"Bring the entire release contract, certificate of cancellation of ownership, statement of compensation to the account... as complete as possible."

Lawyer Ha paused for a moment.

“Before everything is completely clarified, don't say anything more to your cousin's family.”

“Don't say anything.”

The call ended. There was no more sound outside the door. Not knowing when, Vuong Tu Lan and Tham Quoc Luong left. I brew a new cup of tea. Sit down in front of the desk and unlock the drawer. The file bag is still there. I took each item out to check. Household registration, also. Diploma, also. Backup photocopy of ID, also available. Only the place for the house book... is empty. The transparent plastic cover that once contained the house book was still intact, but there was nothing inside. I bent down to carefully check the zipper of the file bag. There are no signs of being pried open. That means… The person who opened this file bag has the key. Or know where the spare key is hidden. My master key is always on the key chain, never leaving my side. But this apartment… Besides me, there was also someone who had a spare key. Half a year ago, Tham Tu Hien came to see me once. I said I'd stop by and sit and play. That day I suddenly had something to do and had to go out for about ten minutes. I let him wait in the living room. When I returned, Tham Tu Hien was there sitting on the phone, looking bored as if nothing happened. I used to think… everything was normal. But those ten minutes were enough. I closed the drawer. Pick up your phone, open the banking app, look at the balance in your account. The number on the screen lies silent. A number that is completely inconsistent with the old T-shirt I'm wearing, with this apartment that rents for three thousand two a month, and also inconsistent with my outward life of just being a freelancer taking on sporadic jobs. But now is not the time to use it. Currently, there is only one thing to do. The phone lights up again. This time it's not Chu Man. It's a strange number in Cam city. I picked up the phone.

“Excuse me, is this Miss Tham Nhuoc An?”

The voice was male, neither young nor old, polite but with a sense of distance.

"Hello, I am Phuong Vien from Cam Hoa Asset Management Company. There are a few issues related to the next development phase of Bich Lan Dinh land that need to be confirmed with you. Would you mind coming to the company tomorrow afternoon?"

It is the commercial center built after Bich Lan Dinh was demolished. Cam Hoa Asset Management Company... is the developer of that land.

“What is it?”

“It's not convenient to say clearly on the phone.”

Phuong Vien replied.

"It is related to some benefits arising after her compensation contract that year."

Benefits arise? The contract was signed a year ago and the compensation has been received. What else could happen?

“You just need to bring the original contract from that year.”

He paused for a moment and then said:

“Don't worry, it's not a bad thing.”

The call ended. I looked at the call history and frowned slightly. Too many coincidences. Today Hang Thai Credit came to the door. Today Tham Tu Hien revealed something. Cam Hoa also contacted me today. All crammed into the same weekend. I don't believe in coincidences. I rearranged the entire timeline in my head.