Chapter 2 — A Diary, A Fallen City

"It's you! It's this unlucky woman! What have you done to my son?!"

She jumped up, bared her fangs and claws and rushed towards me, trying to grab my hair. I took a step back, looked at her, my voice cold to the bone: "You better not touch me." Trieu Xuan Mai's movements stopped in mid-air, perhaps this was the first time she saw me like that. Before, I was always obedient, polite, and listened to almost everything I said.

“You… you dare talk to me like that?” she couldn't believe it.

“Why Chu Minh Khai is like this, you should ask him himself,” I pointed down to the person lying on the ground, “or ask your beloved daughter, Chu Hieu Hieu.”

When mentioning Chu Hieu Hieu, her aura became even higher.

"Do you still have the face to mention Hieu Hieu? If you weren't your sister-in-law and saw her die without saving her, would she have been pressured to that extent by debt collectors?!"

"We're just family! His money is the Chu family's money! You're just an outsider, what right do you have to manage it?!"

“One person?” I repeat those three words, I just find it funny.

“Trieu Xuan Mai,” the first time I called her directly by name, “maybe you forgot, I contributed half of the money to this house, and every salary on Chu Minh Khai's card, half is mine.”

“And my so-called money…”

I stopped for a moment, looking at her face contorted with anger.

“It's my own money, there's not a penny related to you, or your so-called Chu family.”

“You talk nonsense!” Trieu Xuan Mai shouted, "You married Minh Khai, your people, your money belongs to the Chu family! Do you want a divorce? Fine! Go away empty-handed!"

I looked at her, my eyes cold as if I was watching a farce. Who said I want a divorce? Letting them escape so easily... how could I bear it? Before I could say anything, Chu Minh Khai suddenly jumped up from the ground and grabbed Trieu Xuan Mai's hand.

"Mom! Stop talking!" His voice was hoarse, almost crying.

"Why are you afraid of him? Tell him to go away!" she was still screaming.

“I said stop talking!” Chu Minh Khai almost roared, pulled her hand tightly, his eyes full of fear looking back at me, "Mom... we can't fight her... we're done..."

Trieu Xuan Mai was stunned. She looked at her lost son, then looked back at me. I stood there, slowly smiling. At that moment, the doorbell rang again. This time, lighter, with a clear rhythm. I walked over, looked through the cat's eyes, and saw a carefully made-up face, but clearly showing impatience and frustration. Zhou Xiaoxiao. She... has also arrived. I opened the door. Chu Hieu Hieu stood outside. As soon as he saw me, his eyes immediately showed disdain, as if I was not worthy of standing here. She didn't bother to pay attention to me, just passed by, went inside and called out loudly:

"Brother! Mom! Have you got the money yet? The others are urging you again!"

The voice was sharp, carrying the feeling of being pampered to the point of taking everything for granted. She did not see Chu Minh Khai sitting on the ground, nor did she pay attention to Trieu Xuan Mai's pale face.

“Scream something!” Trieu Xuan Mai lowered his voice and shouted.

Only then did Chu Hieu Hieu realize that something was wrong with the atmosphere in the room. She saw her brother's dazed appearance, paused for a moment, then immediately turned her nose towards me.

“Hua Tinh, are you playing tricks? Are not? My brother asked you for money, did you not give it?”

I closed the door, leaned my back against the door, crossed my arms across my chest, and calmly watched her act.

“You really are cruel! That's my brother's money, what does it have to do with you if he wants to give it to me?"

“You always say you love my brother, but now our family is in trouble, and you still refuse to take that money out? Is your heart made of stone?”

She spoke in a row, quickly and urgently, as if she had practiced countless times. Trieu Xuan Mai stood next to listen, nodding continuously, as if finding support.

“Hieu Hieu is right! You are truly ungrateful! Our Chu family has raised you for so many years, you…”

I interrupted her. My voice wasn't loud, but cold enough to silence both mother and child at the same time. I walked to the coffee table, pulled out the bottom drawer, and took out a thick notebook. That's the expense notebook I started writing from the first day I got married. I opened the first page.

“June 3, 2019. Chu Minh Khai, monthly salary 8,200 yuan. General family expenses 3,100 yuan. There are 5,100 yuan left.”

I turned to the next page.

“July 10, 2019. Ms. Trieu Xuan Mai took 5,000 yuan from Chu Minh Khai on the grounds of 'being unwell'.”

Trieu Xuan Mai's face immediately changed. I didn't look at her and continued reading.

“March 2020. Zhou Xiaoxiao took 12,000 yuan under the pretext of ‘graduation travel’.”

“May 2021. Zhou Xiaoxiao took 100,000 yuan under the pretext of 'starting a business'. Note: the store has not opened yet.”

“September 2022. Chu Minh Khai's birthday, family dinner costs 1,200 yuan. On Trieu Xuan Mai's birthday, Chu Minh Khai transferred 8,888 yuan. My birthday, family expenses: buying food cost 68 yuan and 5 dimes.”

My voice was even and calm, as if I was reading a report that had nothing to do with me. Chu Hieu Hieu's face turned from defiant to wavering, Trieu Xuan Mai's lips began to tremble, and Chu Minh Khai bowed his head lower and lower. I turned to the last page, where there was only one line of text.

“March 12, 2024. Chu Minh Khai voluntarily transferred 380,000 yuan to Zhou Xiaoxiao to repay the online loan.”

I closed the notebook, placed it on the coffee table, and made a soft "click" sound.

“Mrs. Trieu Xuan Mai,” I looked at her, my voice neither fast nor slow, “just now you said the Chu family adopted me?”

“From the time they got married until now, mother and daughter have taken a total of 786,000 yuan from this house. Not counting the cost of food and furniture every time she comes and takes it away."

"As for me, other than basic living expenses, I have never used a penny of the so-called 'house rent' for myself."

“Now tell me… who is raising whom?”

The living room was silent, terrifyingly quiet. Chu Hieu Hieu's face turned pale, and Trieu Xuan Mai pointed at me, his hands shaking like fallen leaves.