Chapter 3 — The Day I Revoke Eighteen Patents, Is Also the Day I Let You Go

Co Thua Nghien called more than twenty times. Bach Tieu Hoa sent more than ten messages.

"Director Tham, I'm sorry."

"I've already returned the reward."

"Please don't hurt General Manager Co because of me."

"General Manager Gu's stomach is not good, he hasn't eaten anything yet tonight."

I looked at the last sentence and burst out laughing. She knows how to poke people's hearts. During the past five years, every time Co Thua Nghien had a stomach ache, I cooked porridge and gave her medicine. I know better than he himself which drawer his medicine is in. I answered her one question:

"If his stomach is not good, you feed him."

The other person doesn't text back anymore. Ten minutes later, Co Thua Nghien sent a text message.

"Nam Chi, tomorrow my mother will come to Kinh Thi."

I stared at that text. He's still the same. I couldn't finish talking myself, so I pulled my mother out. Vuong Guifen. Mother of Co Thua Nghien. During this marriage, she also made me understand earlier than Bach Tieu Hoa that self-pity is something that can never satisfy a person. The first year after getting married, she went to Kinh Thi to stay for two months. I go to work during the day and come home at night to cook for her. She criticized my cooking. Criticize me for coming home late. Criticize me for not giving birth to children for the Co family. One time, I worked overtime continuously until dawn, and she turned on all the lights in the living room and waited for me.

"What do women do to earn so much money?"

"You can't even give birth to a child, what does Thua Nghien need you for?"

Co Thua Nghien sat next to him, looking down at his phone. I looked at him. He just said:

"Nam Chi, my mother is old, please give her a little help."

From that day on, I understood. His silence is not because he cannot speak. But every time he was silent, he stood on the opposite side of me. Nine o'clock the next morning. I arrived at Luc Tri Hanh's law office on time. He sat in the conference room, wearing a gray suit, with two glasses of hot soy milk on the table.

"Have you had breakfast yet?"

I sat down. He pushed the glass of soy milk to me.

"Drink first."

I take it.

"You don't look like a lawyer."

"So what kind?"

"Like a butler."

He smiled softly.

"Only take care of important customers."

I gave him the file bag.

"It's all here."

Luc Tri Hanh opened it. Inside there are photos of Co Thua Nghien and Bach Tieu Hoa entering and leaving the apartment. There is proof of payment for him buying a car for Bach Tieu Hoa. There is an invoice using the company's name to pay for her jewelry and hotel. There is also a photocopy of the real estate transfer contract. The apartment we bought after we got married was transferred by Co Thua Nghien at a low price to a small company. The legal representative of that company is Bach Tieu Hoa's uncle. Luc Tri Hanh finished reading and looked up at me.

"You are very well prepared."

"If anything is not complete, I'll add it."

He put the divorce agreement in front of me.

"Do you want shares, real estate, or cash?"

"I want him to admit adultery, publicly apologize, and refund all benefits from my achievements."

Luc Tri Hanh looked at me.

"What about money?"

"The part he deserves, I won't take a penny."

He frowned slightly. I continued:

"But what he shouldn't take, don't expect to keep even a penny."

Luc Tri Hanh burst out laughing.

"That's just like you."

The meeting room door was knocked loudly. The assistant poked his head in.

"Lawyer Luc, Mr. Co Thua Nghien has arrived. There is also a woman, said to be Ms. Tham's mother-in-law."

I drank an entire glass of soy milk.

"Let them in."

Luc Tri Hanh looked at me.

"Are you sure?"

"Enough hiding."

Co Thua Nghien walked in first. One sleepless night, his eyes were already dark blue, but he still tried to save his last bit of dignity. Vuong Que Phan followed. As soon as she saw me, she immediately rushed forward.

"Tham Nam Chi, do you still have the face to sit here?"

Luc Tri Hanh raised his hand to stop her.

"This is a law office, please don't move your hands or feet."

Vuong Que Phan pointed straight at me and scolded:

"What if I hit it? She married into our Co family, so she is a member of the Co family."

I still sat still without moving.

"It's almost gone."

Vuong Que Phan was stunned. Co Thua Nghien said in a low voice:

"Mom, please stop saying a few words."

She immediately screamed.

"Look at what it has done to you? This morning, the company's stock price just opened and plummeted. My father and I in the countryside were so angry that we couldn't even swallow food."

I calmly asked:

"Doesn't your father only eat porridge every morning?"

Vuong Que Phan choked. Luc Tri Hanh almost laughed out loud. Co Thua Nghien's face became even more unsightly.

"Nam Chi, don't argue with mom."

"So what are you two doing here today?"

Co Thua Nghien placed a file on the table.

"Restore your license first. Divorce... we can discuss it slowly."

I glanced at the document.

"You should still discuss licensing rights first."

He tried to suppress his emotions.

"Tomorrow the partner will come to the company. Without the right to use those results, the signing will be canceled."

"Then cancel."

"Van Khai is the heart of both of us."

"That's why you gave my contribution award to Bach Tieu Hoa?"

Co Thua Nghien paused for a moment.

"I told her to return the money last night."

I looked straight at him.

"What about the watch?"

Vuong Que Phan immediately asked in a shrill voice:

"What clock? What car?"