Chapter 3 — Life is Finally Gentle to Me

In just the first week, he spent it all. He started finding excuses to share a car with me to save money on gas, because his car no longer had money to refuel. At noon, I started eating at the company canteen because I had no money to eat out. By the end of the week, his college friend was getting married, and he didn't even have a decent envelope. In the end, I couldn't bear it and used my spare money to help him prepare a lucky money envelope. He took it, his expression complicated, both grateful... and embarrassed.

“Nhan Nhien… how about we talk for a bit?”

That night, for the first time, he proactively entered my office. I'm reading a book, not looking up.

“What are we talking about?”

“Money matters.”

He rubbed his hands, a bit embarrassed.

"This is not good. What about paying the rent next month? Who pays the management fee, electricity and water?"

“Isn't it clearly stated that each person is half in rent?”

I answered very lightly.

“My part, my mother will deliver on time.”

“As for you… you should ask your mother.”

“As for management fees, electricity and water, they were previously all from the joint account.”

“Now there are no more joint accounts, so AA.”

"The bill came, half for each person. Very fair."

“But… I don't have money.”

His voice lowered.

“I don't have money, because my mother didn't give me money.”

“You should go find her, not me.”

I finally looked up, looking straight at him.

“Lin Wei, you are the one who broke the financial trust between us.”

“It's also that you hand over your income to your mother to 'manage'.”

“Then now… you should enjoy the full consequences of that.”

He was silenced by me, stood still for a long time, then quietly left. I know, this is just the beginning. The real storm… is still behind. At the end of the month, one day before the rent was deducted, I received a phone call from my mother-in-law. This was the first time she proactively called me.

"To Nhien, immediately take your salary card back! You have to pay rent tomorrow, Lam Vi has no money in his account!"

Her voice of course sounded like she was giving orders. I laughed.

“Mother-in-law, have you forgotten?”

“Lam Vi's salary card is at mom's place.”

“How much money he has in his account, you should know better than me.”

“My mother has already paid for my rent.”

"As for Lam Vi's part... I have to ask my mother to think of a way."

"What can I do? This month's salary is gone!"

“Is it all gone?”

I pretended to be surprised.

“8,000 yuan…”

“8,000 yuan… one month and it's all gone?”

I raised my eyebrows slightly, my voice full of surprise.

“What did you buy, Mom?”

The other end of the line immediately went silent. Of course she didn't dare say... she used most of the money to buy financial products, and part of it was used to pay off the credit card debt of her nephew - who is also Lam Vi's cousin.

“You don't care how I spend!”

Her voice suddenly rose high.

"Now I can't pay the rent! If this affects Lam Vi's credit score, can you bear the responsibility?"

"The first."

My voice is still calm.

"The house is a pre-marital asset, in both people's names. The credit score is also in both people's names. Something happens... no one can escape."

"Second, Lam Vi's money is with mother. To pay or not to pay, the responsibility lies with mother."

“If a mother really loved her son... she wouldn't have let him fall into this situation This."

I stopped for a moment, my voice cold.

“Of course, if mom doesn't care…”

“Then I have no choice.”

“At most, divorce, sell the house and divide the money. I'm not bad either."

“You… you dare!”

“Then mom, let's see if I dare.”

I hung up. I know, this time she was forced to the limit. She considers money like life, but values her son's "future" even more. She absolutely will not let Lam Vi's credit record be tainted. The next day, I received a bank message on my phone: money deducted successfully. In the end, the mother-in-law still had to pay out of her own pocket to make up for Lam Vi's rent. That moment… I tasted a feeling called revenge. Compared to that feeling, doing SPA ten times... is not as good. After the house rent matter, the mother-in-law was quiet for a few days. Maybe the time she spent her own money hurt her like hell, her eyes looking at me also carried murderous intent. But that was only a temporary truce. The real battle... broke out again in an unexpected place. Birthday party of Lam Vi's sister - Lam Duyet. Lam Duyet went to college in another city, this time he specially flew back to celebrate his birthday. The mother-in-law, who was extremely fond of her daughter, decided to hold a party at a five-star hotel, inviting all relatives and friends, doing it very discreetly. A few days before the party, she called Lam Vi into her room and discussed it in a whisper for a long time. After going out, Lam Vi looked at me with an awkward expression.

"Nhan Nhien... for Tieu Duyet's birthday, mom wants to buy her a new phone, the newest iPhone."

“Yeah, that's good. Buy it.”

I was wearing a mask, too lazy to look at him.

“But… Mom is a bit short of money right now, so she wants the two of us to spend money.”

I almost burst out laughing. Short of money? I don't know who just bought a whole set of gold jewelry a few days ago and showed it off to all their relatives.

“Us?”

I slowly took off the mask.

“I don't have money. My money is all with my mother.”

“You should go find your mother. In her hand… is holding your 8,000 yuan a month.”

“I found it.”

Lam Vi's voice was as small as a mosquito.

“Mom said… that money is the ‘family reserve fund’ and cannot be touched.”

I took the essence and gently patted it on my face.

“So buying a phone for my sister… isn't considered a 'family' thing.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“Are you going to let your sister have her birthday without a gift?”

Lam Vi rubbed his hands and hesitated for a long time. Finally, his eyes stopped on my dressing table.

"Nien Nhien... I remember last time you won the year-end prize, there was a shopping card from the shopping center... it seems you haven't used it yet?"

I smiled coldly in my heart. Finally... the tail is revealed. That card is worth 5,000 yuan, I still haven't had the heart to use it. I turned back to look at him.

“You want to use it… to buy a phone for your sister?”

“Tieu Duyet likes you the most.”

He started saying sweet words.

“If he knew I was giving it to him… he would definitely be very happy.”

I nodded. Lam Vi's eyes immediately lit up.

“But…”

I changed my voice.

“This card is my winning prize and belongs to my personal property.”

“I give it to you… consider it a loan from me.”

"You still have to be clear, not to mention we are husband and wife."

“You write me a promissory note. 5,000 yuan, paid off within a month.”

The smile on Lam Vi's face stiffened, as if someone had just punched him.

“To Nhien… we are husband and wife, do you need to calculate it so clearly?”

"I Just learn from me.”

I shrugged, imitating his usual tone.