Chapter 7 — Life is Finally Gentle to Me

The next morning, Lam Vi woke up very early. The dark circles under his eyes were very obvious, but his gaze became alert and determined. He stood in front of the dining table, bowing deeply to my parents.

“Dad, mom… I'm sorry.”

"Before, I was an idiot, making To Nhien suffer."

My father looked at him and sighed.

“It's good to know what's wrong and correct it....”

“Be nice to Nhien Nhien from now on.”

My mother didn't say anything, just quietly spooned him a bowl of porridge. After eating, Lam Vi turned to me.

“Nien Nhien, let's go home.”

“About… our house.”

We returned to the house that once made me suffocated. Mother-in-law was not there. Perhaps he went back to his own home, or to a relative's house to complain. The living room had been cleaned, but the smell of gun smoke still lingered in the air. Lam Vi pulled out his suitcase and started packing his mother's things. Clothes, shoes, massage chairs, all kinds of functional foods...

“What are you doing?”

“Take her away.”

He didn't stop.

“From today, in this house… there is only one female owner.”

“No one is allowed to bully you anymore.”

He gathered all the things, called a moving truck, and sent them directly to his uncle's house - the residence of the nephew whose mother-in-law was always biased. Then he sent a message:

"Mom, I've already moved all your things to my cousin's house. You can rest assured that you'll be there to take care of your old age. I'll send you money for support every month, but things at home... you don't need to worry anymore."

Having done everything, he felt like a burden had been lifted. The whole person felt visibly lighter. He walked up to me, took out his salary card from his pocket, and solemnly gave it to me.

“Nien Nhien, from now on… I will keep this card.”

I don't accept. I looked at him, my voice serious.

“I don't need your salary card.”

“I don't want to manage money either.”

“What I need… is a husband who can stand on equal footing with me and shoulder everything with me.”

“Not a person… who makes me always have to be on guard and calculating.”

I took out my card. Place next to his card on the table.

“From today… we start again.”

I looked at him, my voice slow but steady.

“Let's open a joint account.”

"Every month, each person deducts a part from their salary and transfers it there."

“Used for family activities, rent and savings.”

“The rest… everyone manages themselves.”

“Large expenses in the house... must have the consent of both parties.”

“Do you agree?”

Lam Vi looked at me, his eyes gradually turning red. He nodded strongly, hugging me tightly.

“I agree.”

“Nhan Nhien… thank you.”

“Thank you… for not giving up on me.”

I buried myself in his arms…shed my first tear in months—a tear…of real relief. I know, this long battle…has finally ended with my victory. But I also understand—between Lam Vi and I, there is still a long way to go. Trust… takes time to rebuild. Wounds… need patience to heal. But at least—we got off to a good start. A "new" life begins... not so brilliant, but strangely real. Lam Vi seems to have completely changed. He began to actively do housework. After work, I no longer lie on the sofa typing on the phone, but roll up my sleeves and put on an apron and walk into the kitchen. Even though the food he cooked was sometimes salty and sometimes bland...I still ate it all and didn't leave any leftovers. We actually set up a joint account. Every time I receive my salary, the first thing I do is: transfer money there. Watching the number in the account increase little by little—the feeling of building a future together…stable and warm. The remaining money is free for each person to use. I still go to yoga and buy things I like. And Lam Vi also returned to his life—sometimes drinking with friends, going fishing. He no longer has to bow his head and beg anyone for a few hundred yuan. The whole person... also becomes more confident and comfortable. We started dating again as a proper couple. On weekends, go see new movies, try new restaurants, hold hands and walk to the park. We talked about work, friends, future trips. The warmth that was once eroded...is slowly returning. Of course—my mother-in-law didn't completely disappear from our lives. After "losing power" in the house, she actually moved to her nephew's house. At first, she still wanted to manipulate Lam Vi. Called and cried, saying my nephew treated me badly, and the daughter-in-law over there was cold. But Lam Vi just calmly replied:

“Mom, that's also your relative.”

“Mom used to love them so much… now it is right that they are filial to mom.”

"We're busy with work and can't come over."

“Child support money will still be sent on time.”

It happened several times—the mother-in-law finally understood. The son who used to listen so well... has truly grown up. No longer under her control. She changed tactics. Turn the spear to me. She created a new family group, bringing in all the relatives—except me. In the group, they cried every day, called me an "evil daughter-in-law", kicked her out of the house, and destroyed the mother-daughter relationship. Some relatives, not knowing what was going on, began to follow suit, scolding Lam Vi for being "unfilial". But this time—Lin Wei didn't get angry. Also no explanation. He just…sent all the evidence. Recordings during arguments. The times his mother pressed him for rent. Even the savings books were in her name. Then he texted a paragraph: