Chapter 10 — Old Love Turns to Ashes

“Does the defendant have any opinion on the above facts?”

Giang Tu Nien sat there, looking down at the stack of documents, not moving for a long time. In the audience, there were a few people whispering. After a long silence, he finally opened his mouth, his voice hoarse:

“No comments.”

The judge asked again:

“Do you accept the refund plan proposed by the plaintiff?”

Giang Tu Nien nodded:

“Accept.”

From beginning to end, Giang Tu Nien did not look up at me once. When answering the judge's questions, his voice was very low. When the lawyer mentioned his affair and academic fraud, he did not refute, just said:

“This is not related to the case, I don't want to say much.”

The trial went more smoothly than I expected. Leaving the court, the white sunlight was blinding. I walked down the steps and hadn't reached the sidewalk when I heard footsteps following behind me.

“A Mien.”

I stopped and didn't turn around. Giang Tu Nien stood two steps behind me, his voice very soft:

“I'm sorry... I didn't want things to turn out like this.”

“I don't need your apology.”

I turned to look at him.

“I just need you to pay me, once it's paid, we've paid off the debt.”

He parted his lips, as if he had a lot to say, but in the end he just called my name:

“A Mien…”

I didn't wait for him to finish his sentence, turned around and walked away. This time, I didn't turn back. * Chapter 9 Giang Tu Nien stood on the steps, watching To Mien's back gradually disappear among the traffic. He stood motionless for a long time. He still had the court documents in his pocket, but the edges of the paper were scrunched up by him. She had never left so decisively before. Arguing to carry the suitcase to the door, she always stopped, waited a little longer, waited a little longer, waiting for him to open his mouth to call her back. He didn't call, she pulled the suitcase back herself, her eyes red and said:

"Why don't you know how to comfort me?"

He thought she would always be like that, no matter what he did, she would never leave him. This time he was wrong. No one stood in one place forever waiting for him. When Giang Tu Nien arrived home, he heard noise as soon as he reached the hallway. Van Van's voice was shrill and screaming. The door opened slightly, a middle-aged couple stood in the mysterious entrance. The man was holding a contract to buy a house, which Van Van grabbed and tore into pieces, the pieces scattered all over the floor.

"This house is mine! I won't sell it, get out!"

Giang Tu Nien walked in, shielded the couple behind him, and lowered his voice to apologize:

"It's so embarrassing, I have to discuss it with her a bit first."

Waiting for the person to leave, he closed the door and turned around. Van Van sat on the sofa, glaring at him with immense anger.

“Why are you planning to sell the house?”

“The amount owed to To Mien is not enough to pay, this house must be sold first.”

Van Van suddenly stood up:

"Sell my house to pay off that bitch's debt? So where are my mother and I?"

Giang Tu Nien soothed:

"I've rented the house, I'll move in in a few days."

"Don't worry, this is only temporary, wait until I officially go to work, buy the house, and I will take care of you and your mother."

Van Van stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly burst into laughter. A finger with a long nail almost poked the tip of his nose:

“What do you get to feed? Now Now he has been given a school-wide disciplinary notice, his reputation is all rotten, which university needs him? Which organization dares to cooperate with you? Jiang Si Nian, you are a waste now, do you know that?"

“The only thing of value is this real estate, and now you're planning to sell it?”

Giang Tu Nien turned away, not moving. Van Van in his impression is not like this. She is gentle and thoughtful, honest and understanding, and is his flower of interpretation.