Chapter 7 — One Key, Turns the Whole Family Over

Director Vuong is about fifty years old, his face is serious, his eyes carry professional judgment. He pushed his glasses and said to me: "Hello, family members do not need to worry, we are just conducting a normal evaluation." Chu Duc Minh stood next to him, adding fuel to the fire, pretending to be heartbroken.

“Director Vuong, you are an expert, look at my wife, how decent she used to be, now even my son and I don't recognize it, yesterday I even injured Chu Hao.”

Sister Liu also immediately contributed.

“That's right, she doesn't sleep at night, talks to herself, sometimes screams, and refuses to cooperate when eating or drinking.”

Every sentence she said was a lie. They coordinated well and deliberately led the doctor to believe that her mother-in-law was beyond help. I clenched my hands so hard that my nails dug into my skin. I cannot refute. Now, whatever I say is considered a cover-up. I can only play the role of a worried bride, helplessly watching everything happen.

“Homeroom, your mother… can she really get better?” I asked with red eyes, my voice choked.

Director Vuong glanced at me, didn't answer, walked straight to my mother-in-law who was sitting on the sofa. The assessment begins.

“Grandpa, hello, what is your name?” His voice was very gentle.

The mother-in-law raised her head, her eyes were empty, the corners of her mouth were crooked, and drool was flowing down. She didn't speak, just smiled stupidly.

“Do you still recognize him?” Director Vuong pointed at Chu Duc Minh.

The mother-in-law looked at him, her eyes blurred for a moment, then suddenly raised her hand, stammering like a child: "Candy... eat candy..." The acting reached perfection. Chu Duc Minh's facial muscles twitched slightly, but he still cooperated and sighed: "Now she only remembers to eat." Headmaster Vuong asked a few more questions, but the mother-in-law responded with a blank smile, silence, or mixed answers. The whole process resembles an absurdist play. But my heart was hanging in the balance. I have to take advantage of this opportunity to go to the old house. Everyone is focusing on my mother-in-law, this is my only chance. I quietly approached Chu Hao, he was still frowning after being beaten yesterday.

"There's no soy sauce in the kitchen. I'll go down to the supermarket to buy a bottle." I lowered my voice.

He was looking at Director Vuong angrily, waving his hand in annoyance: "Go quickly and go home." I felt liberated, grabbed my wallet and keys and rushed out. I didn't go to the supermarket, but ran straight to the other side of the house. That building was right in front of me. I stood in front of the door, took a deep breath, and took out the spare key. I'm not sure it's still usable. With trembling hands, he put the key into the lock.

With a "click" sound, the door opened.

Chu Duc Minh did not change the locks. Perhaps he was too confident, thinking that I couldn't know the safe's password, so he ignored this detail. I slipped inside and locked the door. The house was covered with a thin layer of dust, the air was heavy and difficult to breathe. I didn't dare stop and went straight to the office. I remember my mother-in-law said there was a landscape painting in the room. I found it, took it down. Behind the painting, a metal safe is revealed. I opened my phone and entered each number I recorded. When the last number is entered, the safe makes a very soft "beep" sound. My heart beats like a drum. There wasn't much inside, a few files and a thick album. That's it. I picked up the album and flipped through it quickly. The front is full of pictures of normal families, mother-in-laws Young and very beautiful, Chu Duc Minh also looks decent. I turned to the last pages. In a transparent plastic bag, clip a few photos that don't belong here. In the photo, Chu Duc Minh, twenty years younger, hugs a strange woman very intimately. The background has a beach, a hotel room, and one shot is of a woman leaning against his chest, wearing a large diamond ring. That person is Cao Tue. This is irrefutable evidence. I was just about to take out the photo when I realized there was a folded piece of paper tucked behind it. I carefully took it out and opened it. Not a letter, not a document. It's a receipt. Warehouse rental receipt of "Hong Thai Private Storage", dated three months ago. Signed by tenant: Cao Tue. Not only did the mother-in-law know about the affair, she also discovered the warehouse where their belongings were hidden. Just as I was about to take a photo and receipt, there was the sound of a key being turned into the lock outside the door. Someone's back. My blood rushed to my head. I'm stuck in my office.