Chapter 14 — After Seeing Through It, I No Longer Love You

I whispered in my heart. The lock "clicked" once, decisively and clearly. I dragged my suitcase downstairs, the early morning wind was a bit cold. The city has just woken up, the streets are still sparsely populated, occasionally people jogging pass by. I called a car and gave the address.

“Go to the Front Street Cong Quan area.”

The driver responded once, and the car slowly merged into the sparse traffic. All the way, I leaned against the chair, watching the scenery pass through the glass window. I remember the day my dad gave me the card.

“This is my dowry… it is also something for me to rely on.”

At that time, I laughed and told my father that he was overdoing it and that it was not right to marry into the royal palace. Dad just patted my shoulder and said one sentence.

“Just remember one thing, the money is in your hands... you have the right to choose.”

“You can choose the wrong person, but don't let someone else choose the wrong path for you.”

That sentence was like a string, pulling me right back to the edge of the cliff. The car stopped in front of the gate of the house. This area has just been handed over, the air still has the faint smell of a new house, and the trees have not yet grown. Walking past the rows of ginkgo trees, the leaves gently swayed with the wind. I dragged my suitcase into the elevator. The apartment is empty. White walls, gray floor, only a few cardboard boxes lying in the corner, left over from previous measurements. The light from the large glass door poured into the living room, covering the floor, so bright it was blinding. I've never actually lived here. But at this moment... a strange feeling of peace spread from the bottom of my feet up. There's no one else here. There is no calculation. There is no coldness. It's just me. I dragged my suitcase into the master bedroom, opened it, took a few clothes and hung them in the closet. I never thought... I would move here this way. But when the first shirt was hung up, I suddenly felt... like my feet touched the ground. This is my place. My life is still, at least partly, decided by me. The phone in my pocket vibrated. It was a call from his mother. I paused for a moment then picked up the phone. On the other end of the line, the voice was still gentle as before, but underneath was impatience.

"Ninh Ninh, I've been so busy these past few days that I haven't been able to call you. How are you and Tieu Ngang?"

“It's still okay.” I replied evenly.

"What's wrong? Young people love each other, everyone quarrels, don't be too picky, we're all one family, is there anything we can't sit down and talk about properly?"

I listened silently, every sentence and every word now heard so clearly it was deafening.

“One family.”

“Speak kindly.”

“You young people.”

In my mind, the sentence from yesterday's chat flashed through: "Women don't say anything with their mouths, but still like to listen to sweet words." My palms clenched unconsciously.

"Miss." I interrupted, "There's something I want to clarify first."

“You say it.”

“I have decided.” I said slowly, each word clearly, "That house, will not add anyone's name, nor will it be destroyed."

The other side was silent for a beat, then burst out laughing.

"Oh this girl, why are you so stubborn? I told you, my family only has one son. It's not easy for my parents to work all their lives. The family writes down our names. Only later will it feel like a family. You keep it like this. Later on, people will find out and say you don't understand."

"Understanding or not... it's not about looking at how many names are on the red book." My voice was very calm, "At least, that's how it is for me."

"What do you mean by that? Were you instigated by that best friend? Don't you know how Tieu Ngang is to you? You don't know? Just for a house, do you sacrifice your emotions?"

“It's not like you're willing to trade your feelings for a house.” I took a deep breath, "But you guys... because of that house, you trampled your feelings to the ground."

The other side immediately fell silent.

“What are you talking about? I don't understand.”

“So you speak frankly.” I said coldly, "Miss, last night at after eleven o'clock, what you texted Tu Ngang... I saw it all."

The other end of the line was eerily silent. Then there was the urgent, hasty voice.

“You… you looked at his phone? Why would this girl do that, looking at a man's phone is a taboo, it's a basic matter of trust, if you do that, what's the point of getting married?"

“I originally didn't intend to talk about marriage anymore.”

“What did you say?”

"Miss." I said clearly, "I will explain everything clearly to Tu Ngang, and will also propose to break up. In the future, you can judge me however you want, say you don't understand things or criticize me for being poor and wanting to be rich, it's all up to you. But that house is my father's dowry and my personal property. I will not make a decision that I will regret because of any pressure."

The other party choked for a moment, then forced out a voice after a few seconds.

“Ninh Ninh, don't be impulsive. Women are quick-tempered when they are young. Only when they are older do they realize how difficult it is to live without a man's support. Tieu Ngang is wrong, but you can't help but leave a way out, no feelings are without calculation, everyone has to think for themselves, when you say goodbye, you say goodbye, do you still plan to get married in the future?

“I will get married.” I replied, “but I won't marry someone who treats me like a cash machine.”

The other party was silent, breathing was clearly heavier.