Chapter 1 — Three Years After Divorce, He Found Out He Had Two Children

Three years after our divorce, I just want to know how my ex-wife's life is now. But exactly one hour later... The assistant's report placed in front of me left me speechless. It turned out that she quietly gave birth to a pair of dragon and phoenix fetuses.

"You two are two and a half years old now."

Chu Minh brought the photo over.

"The photo was just taken this morning. These two children... look so much like you that you can recognize them at a glance."

Tham Nghien Thanh did not reach out to receive it. He leaned back in his chair, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the table. Then two. On to the third one. Chu Minh still maintained the same position, not daring to withdraw his hand, and even less daring to open his mouth to urge him. The whole office was quiet and stuffy. Only the soft sound of the air conditioner rang out.

"Are you sure?"

A long time later, Tham Nghien Thanh spoke. His voice was hoarse, as if every word was forced out of his throat.

"No DNA results yet."

Chu Minh put the photo on the table.

"Just look once and you'll understand."

Tham Nghien Thanh still did not move. His eyes slowly stopped on the photo. In the sunny frame, a young woman is pushing a double stroller under a row of sycamore trees. She is much thinner than before. The chin is also more elegant. Her waist-length hair has now been cut short. But with just a glance... I still recognized it immediately. That's Khuong Tri Y. It's his ex-wife. The two children in the stroller were both wearing sun hats so their faces could not be seen clearly. Only her white hands and feet were exposed to the sunlight.

"When did she leave this city?"

Tham Nghien Thanh asked softly.

"That afternoon, the two of you filed for a divorce."

"That same day?"

Chu Minh opened the file.

"The procedure is completed at eleven o'clock in the morning."

"She went back to pack her luggage, called the moving company, and got on the high-speed train to Xi'an at 3 p.m."

Tham Nghien Thanh remembers that day very clearly. Leaving the Civil Service Department, he immediately went to the company because there was still an important merger deal to negotiate. At the gate of the Civil Affairs Department... Khuong Tri Y only said one sentence to him.

"Goodbye."

Not even once looked back. He got in the car and left. At that time, he still thought everything would be the same as before. She was only angry for a few days. Wait for him to take the initiative to comfort you and then he will return. But this time... She really disappeared. Don't come back anymore.

"When were the children born?"

"Six months after you two divorced."

"At the First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University."

"One boy and one girl."

"The baby boy was born first."

"The baby girl was born later."

"They both weigh six pounds and two ounces."

Tham Nghien Thanh's fingertips were resting on the table... Suddenly stopped. Six months after the divorce... That means... When Khuong Tri Y was pregnant, the two were still husband and wife. Tham Nghien Thanh slowly closed his eyes. The memories of three years ago suddenly flooded back like a tide. She often feels nauseous. He thought she had a stomach ache. She once said she wanted to go to the hospital for a checkup. And he just coldly replied one sentence.

"You go yourself, I have a meeting this morning."

She took the pregnancy test and walked out of the bathroom. At that moment he was on the phone with a customer. He just waved his hand to tell her to go out first. His mother came. She blamed the two of them for being married for two years but still had no children, and also forced Khuong Tri Y to have a health check-up. She just sat quietly on the sofa. Not a word of explanation. Wear it again Of course, that is an admission. And then after that... His mother every day brewed Oriental medicine for her to nourish. Three bowls of bitter medicine every day. She drank until her tears kept falling. But... During that time. He never asked her a single question.

"What's wrong with you?"

"General Manager Tham?"

Chu Minh's call pulled him back to reality.

"Is it necessary to continue investigating?"

Tham Nghien Thanh opened his eyes. He picked up the photo and enlarged it. This time, the little girl's profile appeared more clearly. Chubby face. High nose bridge. The corners of the lips curl slightly. Just like Khuong Tri Y... Also exactly like him when he was young.

"Investigate."

He put the photo down.

"Investigate everything."

"Where has she lived in the past three years, what did she do, who did she know..."

"I want to know the whole thing."

As soon as Chu Minh turned around, he was called back.

"For now, don't let anyone know about this."

Chu Minh nodded and quietly left. The door closed. Tham Nghien Thanh picked up the photo again. On the back of the photo is a line written in pencil. September 15, 2024. Khuc Giang new area. Nam Ho Park. He opened the phone. Look up the high-speed train route from here to Xi'an. Three and a half hours. Only three and a half hours. The distance between him and his two biological children... Turns out it's only a high-speed train ride away. But for the past three years. He was completely unaware. Right at that moment. The phone vibrates. It's a message from your mother.

"Come home for dinner tonight."

"Aunt Vuong's daughter just returned from England. Let's meet."

Tham Nghien Thanh conveniently threw the phone on the table. No reply. If Tham Ngoc Cam knew she had grandchildren and nieces... What would happen? Impossible. It's still impossible for her to know now. No one understands your mother better than yourself. Just need to know the story. The first thing she will do will definitely be to run to Xi'an to get the two children. Cornering Khuong Tri Y into a corner. Exactly like previous years. He pulled out the drawer. At the bottom... is a bright red glass certificate. In the photo. Khuong Tri Y wears a white shirt. Tie your hair in a ponytail. The smile is so forced that it makes others feel pain. When signing... Her fingertips were still shaking. Then he kept thinking... She was just nervous. Now remember... In her womb she was carrying their two children. Walking into the Civil Affairs Department alone. Signed alone. Take your fingerprints alone. Alone, I dragged my suitcase to the train station. Going to Xi'an alone. Giving birth alone.