Chapter 4 — The Last Gift Is Goodbye

"The late president told me to contact you to discuss repaying the loan. He agreed to return the principal within three days, but hoped to reduce the interest for violating the contract."

"The terms are clearly written in black and white on the contract, so you want to negotiate a reduction with me?"

"Miss Lam, we are both adults..."

"Yes, we are all adults. And adults have to work under contracts."

"So what do you mean..."

"Within three days, both principal and interest must be in the account. For just one cent less, my lawyer will start the process of transferring shares immediately."

I hung up. The phone screen popped up with a message from Dao Nhien.

"Niem Niem!!! Have you seen the Weibo hot search? You're on the news!!!"

"I see."

"What are you thinking? Didn't you decide to go to Vienna yesterday?"

"Plans have changed."

"Change? How can you alone compete with the Co family? Behind them there is also the Giang family!"

I typed a text and sent it: "I'm not alone."

"Who helped you?"

I thought for a moment, not answering this question.

"Can you help me look up something?"

"Three years ago, when I participated in the final of the international piano competition, before the competition, someone drugged me, causing my hand to shrink into the drink."

"Haven't you always suspected that it was Giang Uyen Thanh?"

"Doubt is useless, I need proof."

"Where can I find it? It's been three years."

"Backstage at the competition at that time there were surveillance cameras. The organizer was the Vienna Music Association, and the video tapes were kept for five years."

"Are you going to force me to extract the camera? How can I get it? I'm just a small translator..."

"You don't need to do it. You just need to contact someone for me."

"Current President of the Vienna Musical Association, Weidmann."

"Do you know him?"

"He is my teacher's teacher."

Dao Nhien was silent for a long time without responding. Five minutes later, he texted back: "Lam Niem, how many cards do you still have left unturned?" The next evening. There's only one day left until the debt is due. I was arranging documents at my residence when the doorbell rang. The moment I opened the door, I saw the person I didn't want to meet the most. Giang Uyen Thanh. She stood alone in front of the door, no longer wearing her wedding dress but instead wearing a long light gray coat, her face showing a suitable expression of resentment.

"Sister Niem Niem."

I don't get out of the way.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you."

"There's nothing to say."

"That three hundred million, I can pay you."

I'm not closed.

"Go inside and talk."

She walked in, sat down on the sofa, looked around the small apartment of only forty square meters that I was renting. In her eyes, there was a glimpse of undisguised superiority.

"Sister Niem Niem, do you live in a place like this?"

"If you have something to say, say it directly."

She took out a check from her purse.

"Three hundred million, this is the money my father signed."

Giang Uyen Thanh pushed the check onto the tea table.

"Take the money, cancel the contract, and leave Beijing."

I looked at the check, didn't touch it.

"What are the conditions?"

"Jiang Uyen Thanh, you've never lost money in business. Did you suddenly give me three hundred million? Tell me the conditions."

She smiled.

"Miss Niem Niem is truly a smart person."

She took it again pulled out another set of documents from his pocket.

"Sign this confidentiality agreement. All the things that happened between you and Hoai Tham before, including the loan and your hand...are never allowed to be mentioned to the outside world."

"Is there anything else?"

"Also, withdraw from the Beijing music industry. In the future, whether at home or abroad, you are no longer allowed to use the name 'Lin Niem' to participate in any performances or competitions."

After listening, I nodded.

"So what you mean is...use three hundred million to buy my silence, then sell my name and career?"

"I think that's very fair."

I stood up, walked to the door and opened it wide.

"Go out."

"Miss Niem Niem..."

"I said get out."

Her expression changed immediately. That fake gentle shell was shattered.

"Lam Niem, you are really unreasonable."

"When you forced my finger to break, did you ever ask me if I was reasonable?"

Her pupils shrank.

"That's not me..."

"Not you? Who was it at that time who told Co Hoai Tham: 'Her hand is no longer of any use, so why not just destroy it'? Do you think I don't know?"

Giang Uyen Thanh took a step back.

"You're talking nonsense."

"Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, you'll know when you can extract the surveillance camera."

"What camera?"

I don't answer.

"Get out, don't make me say it a third time."

She tightened her grip on the check and the stack of documents, gritted her teeth and walked out the door. Before the door closed, she looked back.

"Lam Niem, you will regret it. Three hundred million is the last respect I have for you. If you don't accept it, don't blame me."

The door slammed shut. I stood behind the door, leaning my back against the cold wood. Three years ago, when I broke three fingers, lost the competition, lost everything, no one asked me if I regretted it or not. The phone rang again. This time it's Tham Dien.

"Is she gone?"

I was stunned: "How did you know she was coming here?"

"My people are always downstairs."

"You sent someone to follow me?"

"Not following you, but following her. This afternoon Giang Uyen Thanh went to her father's company, stayed there for two hours and then went straight to you."

"She gave me a check for three hundred million, made me sign a confidentiality agreement, and never used the name Lam Niem again."

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds.

"You didn't sign."

"Excessive talk."

"So what do you plan to do about tomorrow?"

Tomorrow is the deadline. He either pays the money or hands over the shares."

"He'll pay."

"Are you sure?"

"Because this afternoon Giang Duc Vinh approved an expenditure of three hundred million. The money from Giang Thi Group's account has already been transferred to Co Hoai Tham's personal account."

"You even know this?"

"Lam Tieu Thu, do you think I just came to watch the play?"

He paused for a moment.