Chapter 24 — Married 8 days, I bought a house in my own name

On the day the company completed one year of operation, the results of Cam Thanh's emerging creative company election were officially announced.

“Thieu Quang Sang Sang” entered the top eight best units.

Finally won second prize. When Doan Hao brought the trophy back to the company, the whole office applauded loudly. At that time the company had six people. More than at the start four new designers and account managers. I stood at the door looking at the not too big office. Warm yellow light filled the room. This year... The company's revenue has exceeded eight million yuan. Not a terrible number. But for a small company that used to have only two people and a forty square meter office... That was more than enough. Ninh Giai came to the company that day. Bring a huge bouquet of flowers. So big that it's almost impossible to hug.

"Happy birthday."

She said smiling.

“It's not my birthday.”

I laughed.

“It's your company's birthday.”

Ninh Giai looked at me proudly.

“Tong Thieu Hoa.”

“You finally did it.”

I received the bouquet of flowers and said softly: That evening, I returned to the apartment. The breeze on the balcony is just beautiful. On the other side of the Cam Giang River, the direction of building number 22 still lights up in every window. The fifteenth floor also has light. I don't know who lives there now. I looked for a moment then withdrew my gaze. The phone rang just in time. It's Tran Chi Vien.

“Thieu Hoa.”

“Congratulations to your company on winning the award.”

"Thank you."

He was silent for a few seconds then continued:

“Thieu Hoa…”

“I told dad something today.”

“What?”

“I want to move out and live on my own.”

“It's not about cutting ties.”

“I'm also thirty years old.”

“I can't stand behind him forever.”

“What did your father say?”

“He doesn't talk much.”

Tran Chi Vien's voice is much lighter than before.

‘It should have been like this a long time ago.’”

I laughed softly.

“There's one more thing.”

He continued.

“I told dad…”

“My apartment was bought by myself.”

“I live there very well.”

“Before, he forced me to return the apartment…”

“It was him who was wrong.”

“He has to admit it.”

“How did your father react?”

“He did not object.”

Tran Chi Vien smiled softly.

“He just nodded and said three words.”

“What three words?”

“‘I know.’”

I stood on the balcony. The night wind blew through my hair.

“Chi Vien.”

“Around this time…”

“I've been thinking a lot about something.”

“What?”

“I asked you before…”

“Is there any possibility between us?”

I looked at the light reflecting on the river surface and slowly said:

“I have the answer.”

The other end of the line immediately went silent.

“There is still a possibility.”

He did not speak. But I heard it very clearly... The sound of him sighing deeply on the other end of the line.

“But there are conditions.”

I continued.

“You say it.”

"The first."

“I will not move into any house that is in someone else's name.”

“I'm at my apartment.”

He replied without hesitation.

“The big story between you two later…”

“It has to be discussed by both of you.”

“You cannot pass the message on behalf of your father.”

“It's also not allowed to make decisions for him.”

Tran Chi Vien responded almost immediately. I leaned against the balcony railing, my voice very soft.

“Confidence wants to be rebuilt…”

“You have to start from scratch.”

“From now on, everything you do…”

“I will look.”

“If you do it right, it counts.”

“It's not like I said it was okay.”

He laughed softly.

“Thieu Hoa…”

“You all agree.”

I looked at the lights across the river.

“Start again from the beginning.”

“Slowly.”

This time his voice was finally no longer as reserved and careful as before.

“Thieu Hoa…”

“Thank you.”

“Don't thank me.”

I curled my lips slightly.

“Thank yourself.”

Five years later.

“Thieu Quang Sang Sang” has moved offices three times.

From the initial small room of forty square meters... To one hundred and twenty square meters... Then now it's a three hundred square meter office. Annual revenue is stable at over thirty million yuan. Team of twenty-four people. Clients also expanded from hotel groups to restaurant chains, tourism real estate and consumer brands. Doan Hao became a shareholder and design director. Ninh Giai is the company's long-time legal advisor. Tran Chi Vien still does technical work at his old company. Stable job. Every weekend he goes to the apartment to cook. We did not go to register our marriage again. Because I have never been divorced. But everything... It really started again from that night. The apartment is still the same apartment. It's just that there are so many more things inside. There is almost no space left for books on the shelves. The betel pots on the balcony have been replaced five or six times. The pot that grows best... is a branch separated from the pot of the mother plant that my mother brought five years ago. Separated three times already. My father comes once a month. Still keep the habit of standing on the balcony looking at the Cam Giang river. Every time I looked at it, I said the same thing: My mother, who was next to me, would immediately add:

“What's good is good.”

“The balcony is so dusty…”

“Your daughter doesn't even know how to clean.”

After saying that, she went to clean it herself. Hua Dai Thanh's story gradually stabilized later. He paid off more than half of his debt. Then he went to work as a consultant for a friend's construction materials factory. Income is not high. But life is still enough to get by. Mother-in-law is next to him. The two lived in a small house on the outskirts of Cam Thanh. The rent is paid by Tran Chi Vien. From then on... They never repeated any words related to "adding names" or "returning the apartment". One year we celebrate Tet. Hua Dai Thanh drank too much. Suddenly said something at the dinner table:

“Thieu Hoa…”

“If that year really adds my name to the wedding house…”

“That would really harm you.”

“The house was mortgaged…”

“My 880,000 yuan is also gone.”

The whole dining table immediately fell silent. I looked at him and slowly said:

“Dad didn't give me any more names that year…”

“It's not because I want to protect my money.”

“But for another reason.”

“This…”

“We all understand in our hearts.”

Hua Dai Thanh paused for two seconds. Then burst out laughing.

“It was Dad who was wrong.”

The mother-in-law sitting next to him immediately gave him a light kick.

“If you drink too much, stop saying a few words.”

At the other end of the table, my mother gave my father a piece of fish. Say nothing. But the corners of his lips curled up happily. Later I told that story to Ninh Giai. After listening, she asked me the last question:

“Thieu Hoa…”

“That year when you bought that apartment…”

“Have you really thought it through?”

I thought for a long time. Then burst out laughing:

“At that time, I just wanted a place…”

“Write your own name.”

“What about later?”

Ninh Giai asked. I looked at the river outside the window and said softly:

“I'll understand later…”

“It doesn't really matter where you write your name.”

“The important thing is…”

“Where do I stand?”

Ninh Giai looked at me. Then laughed very lightly.

“You know what?”

“Five years ago…”

“When you called me while crying at the market…”

“I knew you would live a very good life in the future.”

Ninh Giai propped her chin up and looked at me.

“You finished crying…”

“Still remember to buy food.”

"After crying, people still know how to go buy food..."

“Then you won't lose.”

I looked at her. Then burst out laughing. Outside the window, Cam Giang is still Cam Giang. The bend in the river... There are still boats passing quietly. The apartment is still the same apartment. It's still windy outside on the balcony. On the home ownership certificate... It's still those three words: Tong Thieu Hoa. Complete text.