Chapter 2 — Two Million Yuan Ends Eight Years of Marriage

Chu Van Bac can visit his child once a week, but must follow the time and place specified by me. I remember the origin of every piece of property after marriage, down to every penny. For this house, the deposit is from my family, the loan is paid by both of us. The car and the initial money were also supported by my family. The other two million savings, at least 1,500,000 yuan, were earned by me. I give up everything, not because I'm generous. It's because I know where Chu Van Bac's weakness lies. He loves his face, loves his pitiful self-esteem. He loves the Chu family even more than me and my son. An agreement to "leave empty-handed" is enough for him to stand in front of his family, continuing to play the role of a person who has been betrayed by his wife but is still perfectly tolerant. He will not hesitate to sign. Because in his eyes, leaving him, I cannot live. As for him, without me as a "burden", it will be easier for him to become a filial son and a good brother. He will think, I won. I finished drafting the agreement, connected the printer and pressed the print button. The printer makes a light buzzing sound, each page slowly slides out. I took the red ink cartridge and pressed my fingerprint clearly on the signature part. When everything was completed, the horizon began to brighten. I turned off the computer and walked into the dressing room. I didn't bring much with me, just my ID and a few clothes I usually wear. I don't keep any of my jewelry. Those are all things he once gave me, but looking at them now I just see them as ironic. I pulled my small suitcase and stood back to look at the house I had lived in for five years for the last time. This place used to have laughter. But more than that, there are endless times of patience and self-pity. Everything should end here. I placed the printed divorce agreement on the tea table, the most visible place in the living room. Then open the door and step out. Never looked back. I'm not leaving town right away. I found a hotel near Chu Niem's kindergarten to stay temporarily. From Monday to Friday, Chu Niem stayed in the boarding class, this was a decision I firmly maintained despite all objections. Looking back now, it was the best choice I ever made. It gave me three precious days to freely organize everything. I put down my suitcase and took a hot shower. In the mirror, my face was pale, my eye circles were dark, but my eyes were strangely bright. It was a feeling of relief after being freed from the chains. The phone rang, it was a call from a used car buying and selling website. My price lowering strategy was very effective, there were people who wanted to see the car immediately. I made an appointment to meet in an hour, right in the parking lot near the old house. I took the car key, the spare key that I had kept for myself, perhaps he had forgotten it a long time ago. Before going out, I sent Chu Van Bac a text message.

“I'm going back to my mother's house for a few days to calm down, don't bother me.”

That message was enough to distract him, giving me more time. With his confidence, he just thought I was angry, and then returned on his own. He won't expect that this time I'll just leave. When arriving at the car park, the buyer is a very decisive person. After checking, he is satisfied with both the price and the car's condition. We signed the contract on the spot, he transferred the money to me. As soon as the money entered the account, I immediately transferred it safe. I handed over the keys and papers to him and watched the BMW that was once filled with family memories leave. There are no waves in my heart. After dealing with the car, I moved to the house. Chu Van Bac will definitely not sell this house. That's his face, what he uses to brag about to everyone. But I have a way of making it an inescapable burden. I opened my phone and called an acquaintance who specializes in mortgage loan services. Because of work, I know many people in this industry. I sent the house information, saying I needed a large loan in a short period of time. I have prepared all the documents a long time ago. The red book is in both people's names, but Chu Van Bac once gave me a copy of his identification papers and household registration, saying it was for convenience in handling matters in the residential area. He never thought that that would become the fulcrum for me to turn his whole life around. The intermediary's performance was very fast, there was a response that afternoon. One party agreed to lend, with a very high limit, up to 3,000,000 yuan. Interest rates are of course also frighteningly high. But I don't care. What I need is just that money. As for the future debt, it will be Chu Van Bac's problem. When he discovered that the house he was always proud of had an additional loan of 3,000,000 yuan with high interest rates, he didn't know how unique his face would be at that time. That was the price he had to pay, for choosing to side with his sister. Friday afternoon, I completed the entire procedure, everything was so neat that it left almost no trace. In my bank account, another large sum of money appeared. I didn't hesitate even for a second and immediately started the next operation. I have carefully researched the money circulation paths for a long time, every step is included in the calculation. Through electronic money, through overseas accounts, through many layers of rotation, that money will disappear as if it never existed. What's left is just an empty debt, and a cornered Chu Van Bac. I sat by the hotel window, looking at the flow of traffic below as if I had never heard of anyone's incident. My phone was silent, Chu Van Bac didn't call or send a message. Perhaps he is still proud of "taking care of the big picture", thinking that he did the right thing. Maybe he thought I was at my mom's house, holding on to my little anger and calming myself down. Little did he know, his sky was about to fall. I looked outside, each light in the city lit up one by one, like a night slowly closing. My phone also started vibrating continuously, new messages flooded in one after another. That is a debt reminder message from the debt collection company. The first credit card payment is due. The bell of judgment officially rang. I know, very soon Chu Van Bac will realize something is wrong. At first there was frustration, then doubt, and finally panic. He would call me frantically. Will run to my mother's house to find someone. Then I discovered that I had never returned there. After all, he will return home, see what I left behind — the final gift. I imagined his face when he saw the agreement, shock, surprise, and disbelief. The corners of my lips finally curled slightly up, a smile cold to the bone. Game, it's begun. Chu Van Bac, are you ready?