Chapter 3 — Twenty Years of Payment

The sound of the blade stabbing into flesh echoed clearly in the quiet factory. I don't avoid it. On the contrary, I actively rushed straight into the knife. Severe pain immediately engulfed the whole body. I tightly grabbed Tham Tu's wrist, the corners of my lips curled up into a strange smile.

“Tham Tu… you killed me… you will never get that money again.”

Tham Tu was stunned. He looked at the blood seeping from my stomach, a flash of panic flashed in his eyes.

"What are you doing? Do you think you can threaten me by stabbing yourself?"

“It's not suicide…” I leaned close to his ear, my voice weakened but each word was still clear. “It was attempted murder.”

"The terms attached to the savings book clearly state that if the depositor dies unexpectedly without appointing an heir, the entire amount will be donated to charity."

I looked straight at him, my eyes extremely cold.

“And you, Tham Tu… are now a dead person.”

“A dead person… has no right to inheritance.”

Tham Tu's whole body was shocked.

"You're lying to me! There's no such thing as that kind of clause!"

"If you don't believe me, ask To Man. She saw me sign with her own eyes."

I pointed into the distance. To Man was being held tightly by Co Dinh's men, her face as white as ash.

"To Man! Tell me, is what she said true?"

Tham Tu roared. To Man nodded tremblingly:

"While at the bank... she actually signed an addendum. I thought it was just normal insurance..."

"You untouchables! All of you are untouchables!"

Tham Tu went completely crazy. He pushed me hard and fell to the ground. Blood from my stomach quickly stained the dust below red. He rushed towards Doa Doa, raising his knife again.

“If we don't get the money... we all die!”

“Tham Tu, stop!”

Co Dinh's voice rang out from the door. At the same time, the sound of footsteps rushed in. The police poured into the factory, red and blue lights tearing through the darkness.

"Don't come closer! Come closer and I'll kill it right away!"

Tham Tu put the knife to Doa Doa's neck and backed away, his face distorted with madness.

“Tham Tu, I'm at my wit's end.”

Co Dinh looked at him coldly.

“If Doa Doa loses a strand of hair… I guarantee you will live worse than death.”

"Stop talking nonsense! Prepare a car for me, with 500,000 yuan in cash, otherwise I'll take this girl with me to death!"

Tham Tu screamed, the blade of the knife cut a thin streak of blood on Doa Doa's neck. I lay in a pool of blood, my heart felt like it was being ripped out.

“Doo Doa… don't be afraid…”

I tried to get up. But he kicked him away.

“Get away, you crazy woman!”

He stared at Co Dinh, his eyes were desperate and crazy.

"Co Dinh, you won... but you can't even get that money!"

“I never wanted that money.”

Co Dinh said calmly.

“I just want to watch you… die miserably in the mud.”

Tham Tu burst into crazy laughter. Laughter echoed in the crematorium like a demon's voice.

"Okay! Then let's go to hell!"

He clenched his fists, preparing to slit Doa Doa's throat. At the moment of life and death— I suddenly took out something from inside me and threw it hard at him. That's a copy of the autopsy report I got at the hospital. Inside... there's a bottle of anesthetic spray. A stream of white smoke sprayed straight into Tham Tu's face. He didn't have time to prepare and took a breath. The body immediately stiffened. Co Dinh seized the opportunity, rushed up, threw a strong kick, knocking the knife away his hand. The police rushed in and pinned him to the ground.

“Ma… mom!”

Doa Doa burst into tears and rushed into my arms. I hugged her tightly, tears mixed with blood dripping onto the ground.

“It's okay… it's okay again…”

Tham Tu was pressed to the ground, groaning like a wounded animal.

“Lin Khe… you kill me… kill me…”

I raised my head, through the blur of tears, looked at him. His eyes were cold to the bone.

“Kill you?”

I smiled softly.

“So… it's too easy for me.”

I picked up the cancellation form, right in front of him, slowly tearing it into pieces.

“I told you… I will block your life for 20 years.”

“That amount of 6,115,000 yuan, about 21.4 billion VND... will stay in the bank for 20 years.”

I looked straight at him.

“In prison… watching it little by little become something you can never reach.”

Tham Tu's eyes opened wide. In there... there's only despair and fear left. At this moment— To Man, who had been silent, suddenly shouted.

"No! Tham Tu can't go to jail! If he goes... the creditors will kill me!"

I turned around and smiled coldly.

“It seems like you two… owe quite a bit.”

To Man fell to the ground, her face as gray as ash.

"Tham Tu embezzled public funds and borrowed at high interest rates... He intended to take this money and flee abroad to avoid debt..."

I closed my eyes. Pain from the abdomen spreads throughout the whole body. But inside... I felt relief like never before.

“Lin Khe, you won.”

Co Dinh stood next to him, his voice low. I opened my eyes and looked at him, smiling slightly. I raised my hand and pointed to the crematorium in the distance.

“Tham Tu… don't you like pretending to be dead?”

“Today… I'll show it to you for real.”

Tham Tu looked at the black furnace mouth and his whole body trembled.

"What do you want to do? Lam Khe... murder is illegal!"

“Who said I killed you?”

I leaned closer, my eyes burning.

“I just want you… to see for yourself how beautiful the funeral you chose… is.”

I pulled out the lighter. Small flames danced on the fingertips.

"Tham Tu... These 20 years, just enjoy it slowly."

I let go. The lighter fell to the ground. The fire flared up, swallowing flammable objects around. The firelight reflected his terrified face.