Chapter 16 — The Final Flip: When I No Longer Have Patience

Chief Luu's words were like lightning tearing through the fog, all the pieces of the puzzle immediately fit together in my head in a cold and terrifyingly clear way. The so-called "hole"... was never mine. It's a trace left by Chu Minh himself three years ago. At that time, the company had a green tree project in cooperation with the government. Chu Minh was the project manager, and I was in charge of finances. The two people stood at opposite ends of a cash flow that was supposed to be absolutely clean. In the middle of the process, he told me that there was an amount of thirty thousand that needed to be paid urgently. The supplier requested cash and could not issue an invoice. He used the excuse of "hidden rules in the industry" and then told me to handle the books first and add documents later. At that time, I had just married him, and I trusted him so much that I went against the rules and used accounting techniques to legitimize the expenses, like someone who personally opened the door for risk to enter. After that, he never gave the bill. I did ask. Then leave the project. And that matter... was left behind like an unremoved thorn. Now that I think back, that was never green tree money. That's the money he took out. Leave no trace… other than your own signature. He thought he hid it very well, thought it was my only "weakness" so he denounced it, wanting to drag me down with him. But he forgot one important thing. The person who signed the request to pay is him. The person receiving the money is also him. The entire chain of evidence… points directly to him. I put down the cup of tea, looked straight at Department Head Luu, my voice was calm but each word had power.

“About this matter, I need to explain clearly.”

I recounted the entire process that year, without hiding any details, and made it clear that all relevant records were in the three boxes of documents I brought. Mr. Luu immediately called more people. We flipped through each file, looking for old projects, each yellowed page appeared as if telling a buried story. Application for payment. Payment receipt. Chu Minh's signature. Indisputable. The atmosphere in the room became serious.

“Miss Tu, thank you for your cooperation,” Mr. Liu said, his tone was no longer the usual official one, but a confirmation of a turning point.

“This case has gone beyond the scope of taxes.”

"This is a sign of misappropriation of property at work, which is criminal."

“We will transfer the file to the economic investigation department.”

I nodded.

“I am willing to cooperate with the police as a witness.”

Stepping out of the tax office, the sky seemed brighter. Not because of the sunlight. But because everything… became clear. I'm not going home right away. But drive to the suburbs. Go to a quiet cemetery. I found Zhu Weiguo's grave. In the photo on the stele, he is wearing a military uniform, smiling gently and frankly, like a person who has never known the dirty calculations of the world. I put down a bunch of white daisies.

“Uncle… thank you.”

My voice was very light, as if afraid of disturbing someone's peaceful sleep.

“Thank you… for letting me see everything clearly.”

“Thank you too, uncle… for leaving me a way to protect myself.”

“I did not disappoint you.”

“The person who hurt you… and I… will pay.”

“The law... will reclaim justice for us.”

I stood there for a moment, then turned away. From that moment. Every last contact between me and their family Chu… It's over. I returned home. Preparing to cook dinner. The doorbell rang. I look through the camera's eyes. Two people in police uniforms stood there. Like a final chapter… preparing to open.