Chapter 12 — A Debt of Filial Duty

The fact that they dared to submit this document proves there must be someone behind the scenes coordinating with them.

I stared at the handwriting on the loan agreement. Those three characters did indeed resemble my name—not entirely identical, but enough to easily deceive anyone at a glance. Suddenly, a memory from many years ago surfaced in my mind. When I had just started my first job, my mother once asked me to write out a few birthday greeting cards for her. She told me my handwriting was graceful and that it would make her look good in front of our relatives. At the time, I did not think much of it. Looking back now, if someone is truly determined to plot against you, even a scrap of paper from over a decade ago can be weaponized into a blade. Lawyer Tan instructed me to organize my entire archive of property purchase records.

Especially the very first apartment.

Right now, they are trying to prove that the funds used to buy that specific property came from them.

Once they manage to sink their teeth into the first apartment, they will be able to latch onto all the subsequent ones.

I pulled out my external hard drive. Inside were my bank statements, salary certificates, project bonuses, and loan agreements accumulated over the years. I had always held onto these documents—not because I possessed the foresight to anticipate this exact day, but because I had lacked a sense of security since childhood. My parents never made me feel as though anything truly belonged to me. I grew accustomed to preserving evidence for the origin of every single penny. Back then, it simply felt exhausting. Now, it was saving my life. After reviewing the files, Lawyer Tan’s voice softened slightly.

The cash flow is exceptionally clear.

The vast majority of the down payment came from your post-graduation income and formal loans.

Their loan agreement is riddled with loopholes.

The most fatal flaw is that, at the time, they simply did not possess three million eight hundred thousand yuan.

I asked, Have my parents’ old house been sold yet?

Not yet.

Their retirement pensions are not particularly high either.

Then where did that sum of money supposedly come from?

Lawyer Tan replied, Exactly.

They are going to have to explain that.

Originally, I assumed there would be a mediation session prior to the formal trial. To my surprise, on the third day, the court notified both parties to appear. My parents arrived very early. When I got there, they were already seated in the mediation room. Peng Peng had come as well. He sat beside his mother, playing with a tablet at maximum volume. A staff member reminded him to turn it down, but my mother immediately rushed to his defense.

He is just a child; he cannot sit still.

The staff member said nothing further, merely casting a cold glance at her. I sat directly opposite them. My father’s hair seemed to have turned overwhelmingly gray overnight, yet the gaze he fixed upon me held not a trace of warmth. My mother spoke first.

An Hoa, if you just admit your mistake right now, we can withdraw the petition.

I asked, Admit to what? She stared at me.

Take back the lawsuit.

Hand over at least three apartments to Peng Peng.

From now on, the monthly living allowance you give us must be increased to thirty thousand.

And another thing, you must go to the school and clarify things with the teacher.

Tell them that incident the other day was merely a misunderstanding.

I looked at her.

My parents sued me for evading my duty of support.

Yet the moment you open your mouths, you are still demanding real estate.

My mother’s expression stiffened. My father said in a deep voice, Do not deliberately distort the narrative.

Those properties rightfully contain a share belonging to the family.

I retorted, Based on that fraudulent loan agreement? My father’s eyelids twitched.

You wrote those very words yourself, yet you still attempt to deny them?

I looked straight at him.

Father.

Do you even know the legal consequences of submitting falsified evidence?

My mother slammed her hand down on the table instantly.

Who do you think you are trying to intimidate?

Do you simply think you are invincible just because you hired a lawyer?

Let me tell you, all our relatives can serve as witnesses.

When you bought that first apartment back then, it was your father who provided financial assistance.

No sooner had those words left her mouth than the door to the mediation room was pushed open. My eldest aunt and second uncle walked in. I was entirely unsurprised. They sat down behind my parents, not daring to meet my gaze. The staff member inquired about their identities. My father announced, They are our witnesses. I nearly laughed aloud. This was a mediation room, not a courtroom, yet they had already eagerly rehearsed this entire charade. My aunt spoke up first.

When An Hoa bought her house back then, the family did indeed lend a helping hand.

I asked, How much money did they help with? She froze.

Well... the specifics, I am not entirely clear on.

I turned my gaze to my second uncle.

Are you clear on it?

My second uncle let out a dry cough.

At any rate, your parents lived very frugally during those years.

I said, Can living frugally save you three million eight hundred thousand yuan? My second uncle’s face flushed crimson.

Such an unfilial child, how can you speak to your elders in this manner?

I pulled out a pre-printed bank statement.

The year I purchased my first apartment.

My father’s monthly pension was four thousand one hundred.

My mother’s monthly pension was three thousand six hundred.

Would anyone here care to calculate for them how many years it would take to save three million eight hundred thousand yuan?

The room fell into a heavy silence. My father’s face turned ashen. My mother’s fingers gripped the straps of her handbag so tightly they looked ready to snap. The staff member looked at them.

Regarding the source of the alleged loan, the two of you will need to submit concrete evidence later.

My father gritted his teeth and said, We have it.

Of course we have it.

I looked at him.

What kind of evidence?

He did not reply. Instead, my mother suddenly let out a cold laugh.

Meng An Hoa, do not celebrate too early.

Do you really think the only piece of paper we have is that loan agreement?

Have you forgotten who went and paid the deposit for you the year you bought the house?

I froze for a brief moment. The deposit. The deposit for the first apartment had been paid by myself. However, at that time, I was away on a business trip in another city and had indeed asked a family member to drop off the paperwork at the sales office on my behalf. Seeing my silence, a look of triumph finally surfaced in my father’s eyes. He pulled yet another piece of paper out of his file folder. It was a replica of a receipt.