Chapter 6 — After Seeing Through It, I No Longer Love You

"Baby, what are you doing? Going for a walk on the weekend? I just received the royalties, I invite you to drink milk tea!"

The back also includes a lovely shaking icon. I looked at that text, my nose stinging again. Hesitating for a few seconds, I answered.

"Tinh Tinh, are you free? I want to see you."

Almost immediately, a reply message arrived.

"Free! Where are you? I'll be right there!"

I sent the location. About forty minutes later, Han Tinh ran over panting. She carried two cups of hot milk tea, pushed the door open, saw me sitting on the floor and stopped.

"Oh my god, why are you sitting on the ground? It's so cold!"

She stuffed a cup of milk tea into my hand, then pulled me up.

"What's wrong with you? Your eyes are swollen like walnuts, did you have an argument with Tham Tu Ngang?"

I held a cup of warm milk tea in my hand, looked at my best friend's worried face, and as soon as I held back my tears rose again. I told her everything. From his father giving him money, to deciding to buy a house, to the scene of Tham Tu Ngang angrily banging on the door and leaving, and finally to the "confidence" dinner tonight with his mother. After listening, Han Tinh was silent for a while. Then, she smiled coldly.

“It's really great, the whole family's acting coordination is so smooth.”

I sniffed: "Tinh Tinh... did I really do something wrong? Was I too selfish, not thinking about his parents?"

“Are you selfish?” Han Tinh, as if listening to a fantasy story, reached out and gently poked my forehead, "Lam Ninh, are you so mad at them? The money your father gave you, you can use it however you like, what does it have to do with them?"

“But his parents are really old, and they don't live well…” My voice was very small.

"They don't live well because their sons aren't capable enough. What does it have to do with you?" Han Tinh interrupted, his voice blunt, "For many years Tham Tu Ngang has worked, has he saved up money to buy a house for his parents? No, right? So what right does he have to ask you to use your father's sweat and tears to improve his family's life? Based on your mouth?"

“He said… it was money he saved for his parents to take care of their old age…” I said softly.

“Nonsense.” Han Tinh was so upset that he blurted out a curse, then lowered his voice, "Does that money have his name on it? Legally it has nothing to do with him, yet he still dares to accept it? Call it retirement money? Why don't you just say it's future lottery money to go quickly?"

“And his mother!” The more she spoke, the angrier she became, "One meal and playing all sorts of moral games. What is being a family without discrimination, what is being filial, what is thinking about the big picture. To put it bluntly, it's wanting to catch the enemy with your bare hands, wanting to share half of your house for free. And pretending to be noble and say 'I'll take care of the taxes'... it sounds funny. Spending several hundred thousand in taxes, in exchange for several hundred thousand in benefits, it's really a calculation that's not off by an inch."

I was speechless to the point of being speechless.

“But… she said if I don't add my name, there will be trouble in Tu Ngang's heart, and it will be difficult for the family to have peace in the future…” My voice trailed off.

"If you don't add a name, there will be problems. If you add a name, will the sky be clear?" Han Tinh rolled her eyes, "Lam Ninh, calm down. What they want is not peace, but control. It's to treat you like a ready-made wallet!"

She grabbed my shoulder, looked straight into my eyes, and said word by word:

"Ninh Ninh, remember clearly. That 500,000 yuan is the dowry your father gave you, your personal property before marriage. You pay for this house. One-time money, in your name alone, it's yours."

She paused for a moment, then changed her voice to a lighter one.

“These things are obvious, no one has the right to say you are wrong. Tham Tu Ngang and his mother... basically have no right to ask you to share it with them, not even a little bit."

“They now talk about feelings, talk about filial piety, talk about the so-called 'family', because they know that if they speak rationally, they cannot stand. That's why I had to go another way to force you to nod."

“If today you are soft-hearted and agree to add the name, I'm sure tomorrow they will think of something else and extort everything they can from you!”

I looked at her bewilderedly, my mind as confused as silk. Han Tinh's words were like a knife blade, cutting through the shell that I deliberately did not want to face, revealing everything before my eyes.

“So… what should I do?” I heard myself ask, my voice as light as the wind.

“Do what?” Han Tinh let go of my hand, put her hands on her hips, and walked back and forth in the empty room, "First, there are absolutely no names allowed on the house book. This is your limit, don't give in one bit."

“Second, isn't he being cold towards you? So leave it alone. Don't proactively call or text. Live your life. Whoever can't stand it first, loses."

“Third, if his mother continues to pressure you, then discuss family matters with your father, tell you that you can't make your own decisions, and use your father as a shield. Someone who can take out 500,000 yuan at a time is definitely not the type to be bullied, and she doesn't dare to overdo it."

“Finally, and most importantly,” Han Tinh turned back to face me, her face serious, “Ninh Ninh, you have to think clearly, what kind of person is Tham Tu Ngang. After three years together, just for a sum of money that didn't belong to him, he could turn around, say such things, and coerce you with his mother... is someone like that really worth betting your life on?"

My heart sank. I opened my mouth, wanting to say a few words to help him, wanting to say that he also had a good side. But the words reached my lips, but I couldn't say them. The gentleness from before was real. But the current calculation and coercion... are also naked right before our eyes. So in the end, what is your true self? Or... the good things before, just because I haven't touched your true interests?

“I… don't know anymore…” I bowed my head, tears falling again, “Tinh Tinh, my head is so confused…”

Han Tinh sighed, hugged me, and gently patted my back.