Chapter 21 — Behind the Door is Still Home

“It's not easy for me to go out alone and struggle.”

“If you put your name on it, you will have some support in your heart.”

"After I get married, this house will be considered my dowry."

“Back then, it was my parents who told me not to waste thousands of yuan of money transferring money.”

I looked at the two of them.

“If you say that you are one family, write everyone's name.”

"If you laugh, I'm too careful. I want to write everything down clearly."

“It's what my parents said.”

Mother bowed her head.

“My parents also didn't think… it would turn out like this.”

“What… is this?”

I asked back. No one answered. The air froze. Tri Tinh finally recovered a bit and pursed her lips.

“Then it's easier to say.”

She tried to make her voice sound reasonable.

"The house was originally bought by my parents. At that time, I only helped with the procedures, it was only in my name temporarily."

“Now you should return it.”

When she said the word "return", her voice unconsciously became a bit heavier. I looked at her, her eyes were very calm.

“You are so right.”

I nodded.

“The house was actually bought by my parents.”

As soon as this sentence came out, Tri Tinh's eyes immediately lit up. But I haven't had time to be happy yet... I continued:

"So this house... should be in the parents' name."

I looked at the two of them.

"This time when I come back I want to transfer the red book back to my parents' name."

The living room fell into a deadly silence. Dad sat there stunned, as if he didn't understand what I just said. Mom was also stunned, her lips trembled slightly.

“Tri Dao… what did you say?”

Her voice was dry.

“You want to move this house... back to your parents' name?”

I answered very decisively.

“It should have belonged to the parents.”

Tri Tinh jumped up and stood up.

“What about us?”

She almost screamed.

“So where are we?”

I don't back down.

“Aren't you two still here now?”

I looked at her.

“I didn't say I would kick you two out.”

“Not the same!”

Tri Tinh's voice became shrill.

"The house is in your name, how can we live here with peace of mind? What if you get married in the future and need to use the house, or if you buy a house outside and lack the deposit, what will we do if you sell this house?"

“So you two have always thought that way.”

I looked straight at her.

“That's why he wanted me to 'don't come back', so he said the words 'outsider' on the phone."

Tri Tinh opened her mouth, but her throat was blocked so she couldn't say a word.

“These past few years…”

I continue.

"Every year I send living expenses home, give lucky money to my parents during Tet holidays, and buy things to send home wherever I go on business trips."

"In the family group, two people also often say 'Miss Tri Dao understands', saying 'You have worked hard'."

My voice is not loud. But each word slowly weighed on the silent atmosphere in the living room.

“But in your hearts…”

“I'm still just an 'outsider'.”

“Don't distort my meaning.”

Tri Tinh blushed.

“I just accidentally spoke.”

“So I asked you.”

I stared at her.

"Who instigated Chu Hao to tell my parents about transferring this house to you while I wasn't home?"

Tri Tinh's expression immediately stiffened. Chu Hao also suddenly turned to look at his wife.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Tri Tinh was both angry and embarrassed.

“Do you have proof?”

I bowed my head and took out a small tape recorder from my pocket. That's the recording I saved before the call ended that day. I don't keep it in my phone for too long. At that moment it changed audio recorder, and an additional backup on the computer. The recorder is located in the middle of the tea table, glaringly prominent. Tri Tinh took a step back, her face pale.

“Are you recording us?”

“When you two sat behind me calculating…”

I said coldly.

“Why didn't you think about this?”

I pressed the play button. A familiar voice suddenly rang out in the living room. The scene on the other end of the phone that day appeared clearly again.

"It's better if he doesn't come back. This house will have to be transferred sooner or later. Take advantage of the time he's not home and do the paperwork quickly, so he won't come back and fight with us."

Tri Tinh's voice echoed in the air. There is no longer any way back to deny it. After the recording ended... The whole house fell into dead silence. In Tri Tinh's eyes, panic, regret, and even a trace of resentment flashed through.

“I was in a bad mood that day.”

She gritted her teeth.

“You keep saying this, why don't you write down when I compliment you?”

“I don't need your praise.”

My eyes left Tri Tinh and turned to Chu Hao. I rarely call him by his name like that. When I was little, I often called him "Mr. Hao". From now on, just call me "brother". Then gradually, there was almost no chance to call anymore.

“Do you know about this?”

“Know what?”

Chu Hao felt a little guilty and avoided my eyes.

"It's about transferring the title of this house to my wife."

I speak frankly.