Chapter 5 — When the Ex Returns

"I suggest you make a full confession. If Deputy Commander Pho brought you here, it is proof enough that you have something to hide. Cooperation will be met with leniency; resistance will be dealt with severely!"

"I will say this one more time: I have no idea why Comrade Co Tieu's visa was torn. I am innocent!"

But the interrogator ignored her completely, immediately calling for the guards. "Take her to the mountain mines for hard labor. Let us see how long she can keep that stiff upper lip!"

Despite Lin Shi Xia’s frantic struggles, she was forcibly dragged to the labor camp for three days. On the first day, because she failed to meet the coal extraction quota, she was locked in a disciplinary cell without a single drop of water or grain of rice. On the second day, she was intentionally provoked by others, leading to a punishment that forced her to work late into the night until her palms and the soles of her feet were covered in raw, throbbing blisters. By the third day, she was ambushed by assailants who hooded her and beat her until her face was swollen and bruised, reopening the wounds on her thighs. Every ounce of this suffering stemmed from the "handle it as you see fit" order issued by Pho Tu Tham. Her uncle, Hua Nam Son, learned of her predicament and immediately arrived to post bail. Heartbroken, he intended to confront Pho Tu Tham for an explanation.

"Forget it, Uncle. Let us leave right now. I do not want to have any more entanglements with him!"

What Lin Shi Xia did not say was that the last shreds of affection she had held in her heart had been ground to dust by those three days of torment. After arranging to meet her uncle at the train station, Lin Shi Xia returned to the dormitory complex to collect her final belongings. As she stepped into the courtyard, Aunt Wang from next door called out to her.

"Shi Xia, hurry to the western suburbs! Your family's old homestead is about to be leveled!"

Lin Shi Xia did not hesitate; she immediately caught a ride to the site. When she arrived, Pho Tu Tham was standing there, directing his men as they demolished the walls. Upon seeing Lin Shi Xia, a flash of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Why have you come here? If you were desperate enough to hire beggars to tear up Tieu's visa, you should have known the consequences. It is fortuitous, really; we can renovate this place into a dance studio for her. As for the house..."

Lin Shi Xia was so enraged that she slapped Pho Tu Tham across the face, her shoulders trembling violently.

"Pho Tu Tham, you have no right to do this! The destruction of Co Tieu’s visa has absolutely nothing to do with me!"

Co Tieu approached them, sobbing. "Sister Shi Xia, I know you resent me for winning Tu Tham’s heart, and that is why you target me time and time again. I have swallowed all the bullying and threats you leveled at me in the past. But this time, you have destroyed my dreams. I cannot bear to go on living like this!"

Before she finished speaking, Co Tieu disregarded Pho Tu Tham’s attempt to stop her and made as if to throw herself into the river. Pho Tu Tham’s eyes turned bloodshot as he lunged to restrain her.

"Tieu, don’t do anything foolish! Don’t worry, I will settle this score for you!" He turned to his men, shouting, "Get on with it! Tear it all down!"

Lin Shi Xia watched helplessly as the house—the only place that held the memories of her parents—was smashed to rubble. Her eyes burned with tears. "No, Pho Tu Tham! When you took me in, you promised that you would never let anyone touch this house. You promised..."

Pho Tu Tham held Co Tieu close, glancing at Lin Shi Xia’s tear-stained face with a cold, ruthless resolve. "Lin Shi Xia, it was you who attacked Tieu time and again. If I hadn't taken you in all those years ago, you wouldn't be here today to hurt her. You have brought all of this upon yourself!"

With those words, Pho Tu Tham swept Co Tieu, who was feigning frailty, into his arms and walked away, leaving Lin Shi Xia with nothing but his retreating back. The rain began to fall, though no one could say when it had started. In the downpour, Lin Shi Xia watched slowly as the home that once belonged to her was reduced to a pile of debris. In that moment, every memory of her past with Pho Tu Tham flashed through her mind, eventually turning to ash. Lin Shi Xia knew that all hope was gone. She knelt down, bowed three times in somber farewell, and stumbled away. In the depth of the night, a lone figure left the complex, luggage in hand, never once looking back. Pho Tu Tham, from this day forward, we owe each other nothing!

Pho Tu Tham stayed at the hospital with Co Tieu through the night until her condition was fully stabilized. Observing Co Tieu’s pale complexion, he took the initiative to suggest taking her to see his mother to discuss their marriage. Co Tieu’s lips curled into a delighted smile, and she agreed at once. Half an hour later, Pho Tu Tham brought a dressed-up Co Tieu to the Pho residence. At first, Pho Tu Tham felt a flicker of tension, knowing his mother had never been fond of Co Tieu. But to his surprise, she yielded, even suggesting they marry soon. Seeing Co Tieu’s exuberant expression, an unexplainable sense of loss welled up in Pho Tu Tham’s chest. He glanced furtively toward Lin Shi Xia’s room before quickly looking away. Noting his small gesture, his mother sighed and offered an explanation.

"You two must make your own decisions regarding your future. As for Shi Xia, she boarded a train and left last night!"

The expression on Pho Tu Tham’s face froze instantly. His pupils contracted, and he shot to his feet. "Left? How is that possible!"

The air in the room grew heavy and stagnant. Finally, Co Tieu tugged at Pho Tu Tham’s sleeve, her expression slightly strained.