Chapter 2 — With only 9 Yuan left in my card, I decided to go abroad

The recipient on the delivery note is: Manh Tu Ky. The address is an apartment complex I've never heard of. Payment method: credit card, ending number 3371. Those are the last four numbers of the supplementary card that Tham Trach Chu is using. But the main card... is in my name. Every month the bill is paid, it is deducted directly from my salary. I stood in front of the tea table, quietly looking at the bill. 52 thousand yuan. Just to buy a necklace. The recipient is not his mother. Nor me. It's a woman named Manh Tu Ky. I know this name. Tham Trach Chu mentioned it several times, saying she was a new investment analyst at the company, graduated from a prestigious school, and had very good abilities. Every time he mentioned that name... His tone was always very gentle, but also carried a vague emotion that was hard to name. At that time I didn't care. But right now, that bill is quietly lying right before my eyes. 52 thousand yuan. For the past three years, I've paid countless credit card bills for him. He used that money to buy a necklace for another woman. I'm not angry. Don't cry either. Just calmly take a photo of the receipt. Then put it back in its original position and close the box lid. Two o'clock in the morning. Tham Trach Chu's regular snores echoed from the bedroom, sounding full of satisfaction. I sat on the living room floor. The light from the phone screen shines on my face. One item at a time… I started removing the payment link. Monthly home loan is 16 thousand yuan. Remove link. Car loan per month is 7 thousand yuan. Remove link. Quarterly management fee is 3,500 yuan. Remove link. Electricity, water, gas bills. Remove link. His secondary credit card has a limit of 250,000 yuan. I opened the bank's customer service section and applied to cancel the supplementary card. The system displays the following notification:

“After canceling the secondary card, it cannot be restored, confirm the operation?”

After that, I changed all my automatic payment accounts... to a joint venture card that only had 9 yuan left. Home loan money deducted from joint venture card. Car loan money deducted from joint venture card. Management fee is also deducted from the partnership card. Everything... Returns to the card named Tham Trach Chu. After everything was done, it was just dawn outside. Faint sunlight crept through the window frame little by little. I stood up, pulled my suitcase out to the mysterious temple. Turned his head to look towards the bedroom one last time. That man is still sleeping soundly. I opened the door. Step out. When the door closed, the lock turned in with a very soft "click" sound. So quiet… He won't hear it. There weren't many people on the high-speed train to the airport. I leaned my head against the glass door, my suitcase propped up next to my feet. Arriving in the waiting room, I found a quiet corner to sit down. Buy yourself an iced coffee. But my mind has never been so clear. Before boarding the plane, I stood in front of the flight information screen. Take out your phone. Post a post to your circle of friends, set to a mode that only I can see. Don't write any words. Post only one photo of the plane ticket. Then press the power off button. The screen goes dark. Between me and the world… It was as if a wall had been erected. I know there will be chaos behind me. But that... It has nothing to do with me anymore. When the plane landed, it was raining in Singapore. As soon as I left the airport, the heat and humidity immediately hit me. Hotel The arranging company is located right in the city center, the room faces south, the view is very clear. I put down my luggage, washed my face, then sat at my desk and opened my computer. That afternoon, I had my first video conference with the Singapore team. The next four days, I almost buried myself completely in work. Discuss options with the team. Go to the factory to check the production line. Correct formulas, adjust processes, write reports. The feeling of being needed, of being recognized... It's been three years, I almost forgot what it tastes like. The phone is always turned off. For four days. On the third day of my arrival in Singapore, I used the hotel computer to log into the company mailbox. Among the pile of work emails, there is a personal email mixed in. Sender: Phuong Minh Vien. My college instructor. The last time I contacted him was a year ago — when I borrowed money for my father's surgery. Emails are not long.

"Van Van, I heard that you went to Singapore, that's very good. There's something I want to tell you. This year's Industry Association's Innovation Product Award has started accepting applications. I've already registered to help you. I previously researched the topic on the stability of plant extracts. The commercialized product later has very good market data, completely qualified to participate in the evaluation. I will prepare the documents for you. If you agree, please answer me. Besides out… don't let yourself suffer anymore.”