Chapter 7 — Thirty Million And One Man's Worth

Male voice, very polite.

"Hello, I'm a lottery center employee. Have you recently come to claim your big prize here?"

My hand stopped in mid-air.

"What's up?"

I asked, my voice still calm.

"Someone is looking for information about recent big prizes. According to regulations, we do not reveal the identity of the winner, but to ensure privacy, we want to inform you."

“Who is that person?”

I asked directly.

"That person claims to be my relative, last name Thai."

My heart sank a beat. Thai Quoc Cuong. I stood in the middle of the warehouse, clutching my phone. How did he know? I quickly remembered— The day I bought the lottery ticket, I bought it at a counter near my house. The counter lady knew a spa employee of Thai Quoc Cuong. The news that someone won a big prize, she definitely knew. Although I don't know exactly who. If Thai Quoc Cuong inquires, matches the time, determines the area— He's not sure it's me. But he's looking. I hung up and immediately called the lottery center again.

“Can you make sure my information is not leaked?”

"We have very strict security procedures. But if the other party uses another channel..."

The other end of the line stopped.

“I understand, thank you.”

I hung up. Stand still for three minutes. To Dinh pushed the door and walked in.

"Hieu Hieu? Why is your face so white?"

“If someone asks who opened this store, what would you answer?”

I looked at her.

"I said I would open it. The money was lent to me by my parents."

She answered immediately, without hesitation.

"Serious?"

I asked again.

"I swear I won't sell you out. What's going on?"

She frowned.

“Thai Quoc Cuong is investigating the story of my winning the prize.”

I speak slowly. Her face immediately changed color.

“How did he know?”

“Lottery counter.”

“So what to do?”

She was a little panicked.

"Nothing needs to be done yet. He has no evidence. The center did not reveal it. He just suspects."

I analyze.

“What if he comes to this store?”

She continued asking.

“The license has our names on it, but the cash flow…”

I opened my phone to check. The money to open the shop was transferred from my new account to To Dinh's account, then she paid. There is no direct link to the winning amount.

“Hard to find out.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. But I don't. A person like Thai Quoc Cuong, when cornered... will have no limits. He is like a sinking man who will cling to anything. I opened my phone and did two things. First, transfer all the cash in the account to another account—a new account I opened at another bank. Second, text a lawyer friend.

"I need to make a contract to divide assets during marriage. Help me prepare."

Thai Quoc Cuong did not seek me directly. He chose a more roundabout way. He looked for Chu Minh Vien. That day, Chu Minh Vien got off work at nine o'clock and met him right at the company. He invited me out for coffee. At night, Chu Minh Vien's face looked very strange. Like something is swirling inside.

“Understanding.”

He called me. I'm back.

“Recently… are you hiding anything from me?”

My hand that was pouring water stopped for half a second.

“What do you mean?”

I kept my voice normal.

"Quoc Cuong found me today. He said..."

He stopped.

"He said recently someone won the first prize of more than thirty million, the same time as when I was fired. He is investigating."

Older brother look at me.

“Why is he investigating?”

I smiled slightly.

"He said... if you're an acquaintance, you can get a revolving loan."

His voice lowered slightly. I laughed.

"The person who owes 1,200,000 still wants to borrow more? Who lent him?"

“I said the same thing.”

Chu Minh Vien sat down and exhaled.

“But what he said… made me feel uncomfortable.”

He looked at me.

“Where is the discomfort?”

“As he left, he said one sentence—‘Little brother, the day your wife was fired… did you stop by that lottery counter?’”

The whole living room fell silent, the air was heavy as if something was hanging between the two of them. I put down the glass of water, my movements were slow, but my heart ached.

“Minh Vien, do you think I won thirty million?”

He looked at me, his eyes not avoiding but not completely steady either.

“I don't think so.”

“But Thai Quoc Cuong thinks.”

“So how do you answer him?”

I continued asking, my voice calm as if I was asking about a very small matter.

“You said I would go straight home that day.”

He replied, but his eyes said something else. He answered. But I'm not sure.