Chapter 2 — The Last Gift Is Goodbye

"Changed my mind."

"But... your name is not on the guest list."

Her eyes glanced at Tham Dien, her eyes filled with exploration. Tham Dien didn't say anything, didn't even bother to glance.

"I'm Mr. Tham's companion." I replied, "The invitation has been checked by your receptionist, is there a problem?"

Giang Uyen Thanh's smile stiffened.

"Of course there's no problem, it's just... I'm afraid seeing this scene will hurt your heart."

"You worry too much."

I lifted the glass of champagne on the table and took a sip.

"I came to give you a gift."

Her eyelids twitched.

"Wait until the ceremony starts and you'll know."

She stood in place, as if she wanted to say something more, but Co Hoai Tham came from afar and grabbed her wrist tightly.

"Let's go, don't stand here and embarrass yourself."

His voice wasn't loud, but loud enough for me to hear clearly. I put down the glass of wine. Okay, so let's see who's the one losing face today. The ritual begins. The host on stage was reciting flowery cliches.

"Today is the day Mr. Co Hoai Tham and Ms. Giang Uyen Thanh walked down the wedding hall together—"

I sat in the seventh row, not far from the stage. The kraft paper bag was placed right on my knee. Tham Dien glanced at that bag.

"I've been curious for a long time, what exactly did you prepare?"

"A contract."

"What contract?"

"The contract Co Hoai Tham signed with me three years ago."

He didn't say anything, waiting for me to continue.

"Three years ago, Co Thi Group broke its capital chain and almost went bankrupt. I used all my savings - three hundred million, to loan Co Thi to turn things around."

"Interest rate?"

"There is no interest. He said he would pay me back when the company stabilized. Five months later, Co Thi was revived, and he got engaged to Giang Uyen Thanh."

"Where's the money?"

"He said he didn't have money to pay."

Tham Dien was silent for a few seconds.

"What happens after that?"

"Then he asked someone to press my hand against the piano lid, breaking three fingers."

I raised my left hand. Middle finger, ring finger, little finger. Three fingers are slightly bent, and there is a pale scar on the joint.

"He said, a woman who can't play the piano anymore is no longer useful."

Tham Dien's expression did not change, but his fingers resting on the armrest slightly curled.

"When is the return date on the contract?"

"Three hundred million, due today?"

"Furthermore, it clearly states the terms of violation. If you fail to pay the due date, thirty-five percent of Co Thi Group's shares will be automatically transferred to me."

Tham Dien finally turned to look at me.

"Three years ago, did you plan for today?"

"Not necessarily."

I watched the couple on stage exchange rings.

"At that time, I was truly sincere in lending. But he taught me a lesson — to be a good person, you also have to have teeth."

The ring exchange has ended. The host raised the microphone: "Next, please let the bride and groom make a few statements—" I stood up. Hundreds of eyes in the hall simultaneously turned towards me.

"Lam Niem, what are you doing?" Co Hoai Tham's voice echoed down from the stage, carrying suppressed anger.

"Give me a gift?"

I walked up the aisle, my high heels hitting the carpet, step by step, extremely steady. Giang Uyen Thanh instinctively took a half step back behind Co Hoai Tham.

"It's not like I said it first When I left, did I leave a big gift?" I stopped three meters from the stage, "I was afraid the courier was unreliable, so I brought it myself."

I opened the kraft paper bag, pulled out the contract, and held it high.

"This is a loan contract of three hundred million that Co Hoai Tham borrowed from me three years ago. The day of repayment — is today."

The whole hall was buzzing. Co Hoai Tham's face changed completely.

"Are you talking nonsense?"

"The black and white paper, your signature, your fingerprints, have all been recorded by the notary office." I turned to the last page, "Do I need to read the violation clause as well?"

He said nothing.

"If past due date fails, the borrower voluntarily and unconditionally transfers thirty-five percent of the shares held by Co Thi Group to the lender, Lam Niem."

The guests below exploded. Thirty-five percent — that's Co Hoai Tham's controlling shares. Adding other small shareholders, this means that once transferred, even the position of chairman of the board of directors of his company, it will be difficult for him to sit firmly. Co Hoai Tham clenched his fists.

"Very well."

"It doesn't matter if I get it or not." I folded the contract and put it in my pocket.

"The important thing is, will you pay today?"

The chaotic scene took two minutes. Chu Ngoc Lan rushed over, the makeup on her face was completely smudged.

"Lam Niem! Stone porridge food! At first Hoai Tham was with you, how many blessings did you enjoy, and now you're asking for money?"

I looked at her.

"Uncle, those three hundred million are the money I earned from selling a three-year performance contract at the Vienna theater. I don't know whether I will enjoy your son's blessings or not, but that money is a loan, not a gift."

Chu Ngoc Lan's throat was blocked. Someone next to him whispered: "Three-year gig? Was Lam Niem formerly Lam Niem in Vienna?"

"It seems like that, the gold prize winner of the international piano competition."

"Oh my god, she sold her performance contract to lend money to Co Hoai Tham?"

The chatter grew louder and louder. Giang Uyen Thanh squeezed out of the crowd and grabbed Co Hoai Tham's arm.

"Hoai Tham, she definitely faked it, let's call the police!"

"Fake it?" I laughed.

I pulled another piece of paper out of my pocket.

"This is a confirmation receipt from the notary office, with a code on it. If Ms. Giang doesn't believe it, you can call to check now."

Giang Uyen Thanh's hands trembled. She didn't call. Because she knows it's real. Three years ago, when that money was transferred to Co Thi's account, she was the person standing next to it.

"Co Hoai Tham." I called him by name, "You have two choices. One, pay on the spot today. Two, tomorrow, my lawyer will come to complete the procedures for transferring shares."

His temples twitched repeatedly.

"Lam Niem, don't be too harsh."

"Too much?"

I raised my left hand, three crooked fingers pointing straight at his face.

"When you ordered someone to break my arm, why didn't you say it was too much?"

The noise in the hall fell silent. Everyone was staring at my hand. Three fingers were broken. The hands of a pianist. Tham Dien was still sitting on the chair, not moving at all. But his driver was waiting at the door.