Chapter 11 — After Seeing Through It, I No Longer Love You

I'm afraid my dad will worry, I'm afraid my mom will be sad, I'm afraid of being told that I don't look right. But at this point, I have no way to avoid it anymore. After work, I don't work overtime. Pack your things and leave the company on time. On the way home, I sent my dad a text message.

"Dad, are you free tonight? I want to video chat with you."

Almost immediately, Dad called back.

"What is up?" His voice was still calm as always, "Did something happen?"

I laughed.

“Dad, how do you know?”

“Normally, I never actively look for dad.” He snorted softly, "Tell me, is it about work or about love?"

I hesitated a bit.

“Can I go home and video with dad?”

He was silent for a second, not asking any more questions.

“Okay, then go home, remember to be careful on the road.”

Hanging up, I picked up my bag, stopped at the supermarket to buy some things, then went to the market to buy some vegetables. When I got home, there was still empty space. Tu Ngang did not return. There wasn't any movement either. I did as usual, washing vegetables, washing rice, serving rice, chopping food, each familiar movement as if everything had never changed. Then put the phone on the tea table and open the video call. The other party picked up the phone very quickly. Dad's face appeared on the screen. He wears old glasses, behind is a familiar living room in the countryside, the old TV corner is still there as if it had never been changed for many years.

“Say it.” He took off his glasses, squinted at me, "Your face doesn't look right, did you cry?"

I originally intended to try my best and pretend like nothing happened. But just that one simple question— My throat tightened. The bridge of the nose stings. Eyes immediately turned red.

“Dad…” I called softly.

Tears immediately fell. My father frowned, his voice lowered.

"What's wrong? Who bullied you?"

The sound was not loud, but contained a layer of compressed anger. I took a few deep breaths, trying to force my emotions down. I don't want to cry like a baby in front of my dad. It only makes him more worried.

“Dad, do you remember the other day you called me to ask me about money with the family?”

“Dad said, the money is yours, the house is also yours, tell you to make your own decisions.”

"YES." My father nodded, "I remember."

“That day, I thought Dad was worrying too much.” I smiled bitterly, "Now that I think about it... I was too naive."

I told you everything. Ever since I held the red book, I was so happy that it felt like the road for our future had been paved. Tell Tu Ngang's reaction, saying "that's money I saved for my parents to take care of their old age". Tell me about your mother's "filial" words, that dinner. Even when I sat alone in my new house and cried. And finally… are the text messages from last night. Including the phrase "gentle people, easy to control". At first, on the other side of the screen I could still hear my father making an occasional "uh" sound. After that, he was completely silent, his face increasingly gloomy. After I finished speaking, both sides were silent for a few seconds.

“So that means,” my father spoke up, his voice low, “they want you to use the dowry money I gave you… to buy a house for the other parent, and also want to add that guy's name to the house book?”

“Is that so?”

“Almost…” I replied softly.

“What do you think?” He did not rush to conclusions, but asked the opposite.

I pursed my lips.

“I was hesitant.”

“I think… if I give in a step, maybe things will be more peaceful.”

“But after reading those messages… I understand.”

“This is not a step.”

“But once you get pushed back the first time… there will be a second and third time.”

“Until you have nothing left.”

I wipe the water eye.

"So I've made it clear, no more names, no cancellation of the house."

A word "okay" from my father made me freeze. Don't get angry, don't scold. Just one definitive word.

“Dad… aren't you angry?” I was surprised.

"Angry." His voice was cold, "I'm so angry that I want to hit the table."

“Angry with their whole family.”

“I'm also angry at my father.”

"When you said you wanted to know that guy before, I thought it wasn't right."

“But seeing that you like it, I think it's good to let you stumble on your own once.”

“Now it seems... Dad still respects them too much.”

He took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Ninh Ninh, listen clearly.”

“That 500,000 yuan is money that dad has worked hard to get for many years.”

"Sometimes we lose money, sometimes we almost break down, and in the end we get back up."

"Dad gave it to me, not for someone else to take to feed their parents."

“And don't let others count you like a cash machine.”

"Dad gave me... so I could have a way out."

"In the future, no matter how bad people or things are, as long as you have money and this house, you won't be forced to a dead end."

He stopped and looked straight at me.

“Dad once told you something, do you remember?”

I was stunned.

“Which question?”

“A woman can only rely on herself throughout her life.”

"Other people being good to you is luck."

"Other people are not good... and they are not worth sacrificing your life for."

His voice was not loud, but each word was heavy.

“So, you did the right thing in this matter.”

“That house, not a single word can be touched.”

“Money, not even a penny, is allowed.”

“If they feel it's unfair, they'll go find it themselves.”

“Dads have no obligation to support other people's parents.”

My eyes turned red again.

“Dad… I'm sorry.”

“No need to apologize.” He waved his hand, "You're not wrong."

“If anyone is wrong… it's that dad pampered me too much before.”

“Let me think that just liking it is enough.”

“Now you see clearly… it's not too late.”

He stopped for a moment and asked:

"What about Tu Ngang? How is his attitude now?"

“He called, I didn't listen.” I told the truth, "On WeChat, they said I was overdoing it and blamed me for looking at my phone."

My father laughed coldly.

“That's really cool.”

"I don't see anything wrong with what he did, but he blames me."

“How are you going to handle this?”