Chapter 16 — Married 8 days, I bought a house in my own name

Tran Quoc Dong called me back.

“If you have any business needs in the future…”

“You can find me.”

I looked at him and then nodded slightly.

“I will remember.”

When I stepped out of the tea house, the afternoon sunlight in Cam Thanh just fell on me. Strangely warm. I stood on the steps, replaying today's entire conversation in my head once.

"Conscious."

He used that word to describe me. Compared to "benefits and harms"... Truly much more accurate. Returning to the apartment, I immediately texted Ninh Giai, recounting the entire meeting with Tran Quoc Dong. Ninh Giai answered very quickly:

“He's looking for your bottom.”

“But you weren't led away by him.”

Then she added another message:

“But Thieu Hoa, there is one thing I have to say frankly.”

“Tran Quoc Dong is not a bad person.”

“But his goal has always been profit.”

“He said you were ‘awake’, which is true.”

“But today he came to find you…”

“It's also investing in a potential relationship.”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

In the business world in Cam Thanh, knowing someone is valuable... It is an asset in itself. I replied.

“I don't intend to have any deep connection with him.”

“But what he said today reminded me of something.”

“What?”

“If there really is a problem on Hua Dai Thanh's side…”

“The processing time afterward will certainly be very chaotic.”

“Meanwhile…”

“Phuong Tu Tran and Tran Chi Vien will both have a very difficult time.”

Ninh Giai did not answer immediately. A moment later she texted:

“You are worried about Tran Chi Vien.”

"Not necessarily."

I looked at the phone screen.

“I was just thinking…”

“In this matter, what can I do?”

“Something I shouldn't do.”

Ninh Giai replied very quickly:

“What you should do is keep your own life in order.”

“Keep your apartment.”

“Keep the remaining money in your hand.”

“Other things…”

“It's not your responsibility.”

I answered softly.

“Thieu Hoa.”

Ninh Giai suddenly asked.

“Have you ever truly loved Tran Chi Vien?”

I was silent for a long time. It took a long time to reply:

“So what now?”

“I don't know.”

Ninh Giai did not ask any more. She just texted:

“Then first handle your own matters well.”

“Wait until you really think about it…”

“Then tell me.”

Three days after Tran Quoc Dong found me, Hua Dai Thanh came. Don't call ahead. He went directly downstairs to the apartment and asked the security guard to call. I let him go upstairs. When I walked in the door, for the first time I saw that his face no longer had the characteristic calmness of a businessman. There is clear fatigue in the eyes. Compared to the last time we met... He seemed to have aged a few years. Hua Dai Thanh stood next to the sofa, not sitting down. He looked at me and said:

"Dad, I heard Dai Thanh say... you met Tran Quoc Dong."

I nodded.

“He came to me to talk to me about something.”

“I have also made my stance clear.”

“What did you say?”

“I said I don't have any requests for that house.”

“It's up to everyone to handle it.”

Hua Dai Thanh looked at me for a long time. In those eyes that always strongly pressed against the other person... For the first time, an emotion appeared that I had never seen before.

“Thieu Hoa.”

His voice was much lower.

“Do you…do you hate Dad?”

I thought for a few seconds then replied:

“No regrets.”

He stopped.

“So what kind of person do you think dad is?”

“Child think…”

I looked at him.

“Dad is a very good person.”

“Doing business for so many years.”

“Then we encountered a very difficult situation.”

“Then dad used his most familiar method to solve it.”

“Use all available resources.”

“Including children.”

“Including Chi Vien.”

“Including the wedding house.”

I paused for a moment then continued:

“But dad missed something.”

“What?”

“You are not as easy to be used by others as I thought.”

I said very calmly. Hua Dai Thanh was silent for a long time. Then he said something that completely surprised me:

“Thieu Hoa…”

“Dad, I'm sorry.”

This is the first time I heard Hua Dai Thanh say "sorry". Not with Phuong Tu Tran. Which is with me. I looked at him and slowly said:

“You should tell Chi Vien better.”

He nodded. A moment later, he spoke up:

“That house…”

“There is indeed a problem.”

“Dad will handle it himself.”

“It won't involve you two.”

“I know it won't involve me.”

I looked at him.

“You didn't let yourself get caught up in it from the beginning.”