Chapter 14 — The Day I Locked the Villa Door

The lights around the villa turned on one by one. Warm golden light covers the stone path. In the distance, the sound of ocean waves lapping the shore was heard. Every beat is steady. When I went downstairs, I passed the living room. On the TV cabinet there is a photo frame. I walked over and picked it up to look. Empty. The photo has been taken away from me. It's a wedding photo of me and Chu Huc. Last week I pulled the photo out of the frame. Put it in a moisture-proof bag. Store in the basement in a box. It's not because I can't bear to give up. Just put it away. Maybe I won't open it again in the future. But I haven't thrown it away yet. Even I don't know why I haven't thrown it away. Thursday morning. I went to the police station to take a statement. It took about an hour and a half. Korean police work very professionally. Time to buy each item, price, origin... All are recorded in great detail. Green jade bracelet: Given by grandmother Tran Tu Lan, many years old, estimated market price is about 120,000 yuan. Pearl earrings: Bought at a jewelry store two years ago, still keep the receipt, worth 8,600 yuan. Gold necklace: Purchased one year before marriage, weighs fifteen grams, worth about 6,000 yuan. It was almost noon when I finished the minutes. I stood on the steps in front of the police station for a while. The sun is very beautiful. But the wind is a bit cold. The phone rang.

"The matter you told me has been investigated."

“Chu Dai Quoc, fifty-four years old, deputy director of the urban construction department, major faculty level.”

“He has been in this position for seven years.”

“Be a skillful person, have wide connections.”

“But there's no context that's too hard.”

“The reason he helped Chu Huc…”

“It's not because of how deep the love between uncle and nephew is.”

“And because last year Chu Huc helped him do something.”

“What?”

“Chu Huc works as a sales manager at a construction materials company.”

“Last year he took advantage of the company's resources to help an acquaintance of Zhou Dai Quoc get a batch of materials at low prices.”

“There's a bit of confusion in this deal.”

“The amount is not too large.”

“But the nature is not clean.”

“Chu Daguo owes Chu Huc a favor.”

“Now something happened to Chu Huc…”

“If he doesn't help…”

“Chu Huc is likely to turn back the old story.”

I finished listening.

“So Chu Dai Quoc didn't want to help Chu Huc.”

“But I was afraid Chu Huc would drag him into the water.”

“It can be understood that way.”

“Aunt Phuong.”

“That thing about construction materials…”

“Is there any evidence?”

“Our people have looked up some import and export records.”

“If necessary, it can be organized into documents.”

I stood in the sun. The wind blew my hair onto my face. I reached out and pushed my hair back.

“Not needed for now.”

“Save it first.”

“There's one more thing.”

“The old lady wants to see you.”

“Are you free this weekend?”

I was silent for two seconds.

“Saturday morning.”

“I will send someone to pick you up.”

"No need."

“I drove there myself.”

“That's fine.”

“The old lady told me…”

“Make her eat lunch before she can go home.”

I quietly said "yes". Leaving the police station, on the way back to the company, I passed a flower shop. I stopped walking. Stand in front of the store for a while. Then go in. When I walked out, I had two more pots of mint in my hand. Green leaves. Full of life. I put two potted plants on the back seat of the car. Put seat belts on them. While driving, you can still see that blue color through the rearview mirror. Under the afternoon sun, so bright it was blinding. While going to work in the afternoon, I received a call unexpected. Screen displays: I picked up the phone.

“Hello Miss Lam.”

“I am Tran Hao.”

“Chu Tieu Man's ex-fiance.”

He stuttered.

"What is up?"

“There is something I want to tell you directly.”

“If it's convenient... can we meet up this afternoon?”

“What do you want to say?”

“Regarding the wedding day.”

“The situation on Chu Xu's side.”

“I thought you should know.”

I thought for a few seconds.

“Five o'clock in the afternoon.”

“The coffee shop downstairs from my company.”

“Thank you.”

The call ended. Exactly five o'clock. I walked into the coffee shop. Tran Hao arrived first. He sat in the innermost corner. Wear a dark gray sweater. Looking thinner than the day of the wedding. His face looked very bad. The type of person who can't sleep every night. I sat down. Tran Hao took a deep breath.

“First I want to apologize.”

“About the wedding day… I also have responsibility.”

“Tieu Man said that villa belongs to her brother.”

“I'm not going to verify.”

“My mother also believes.”

“Now I know.”

“I know.”

He nodded.

“So today I came to tell you two things.”

“First thing.”

“After the wedding, my mother asked for an annulment.”

“The reason is that the Chu family hid the situation of their assets.”

"Furthermore, the wedding venue also shows signs of illegal use of other people's property."

“Agreed.”

As he said those words, his eyes remained on the table.

“What's the point of telling me this?”

“Because the second matter is related to you.”

Tran Hao raised his head.

“After the annulment was decided…”

“Chu Huc once looked for me.”

“He wants me to help advise you to delete the video.”

“I refuse.”

“Then he threatened me.”

“Say if I cancel the engagement…”

“He's going to put some of my personal information online.”

“What information?”

“I was in a relationship.”

“The other party is a man.”

“At our place…”

“It's still very serious.”

“I don't know how Chu Huc knew.”

“Then use it to threaten me.”

I looked at him.

“You came to remind me…”