Chapter 3 — The 20,000,000 Yuan Villa and the Tham Family's Secret

There was chaos outside for nearly an hour. The mother-in-law made seven or eight phone calls, calling the management, security, calling everyone she knew that she could talk to. The management's attitude is extremely clear. According to the registration system, the owner of apartment number 18, Van Khe Son Trang area is Ms. Co Dien Chi. Any changes related to access rights must have her direct approval and signature. The mother-in-law was so angry that she threw the Hermes on the ground.

“What does it take for her to agree?!”

"This house is in my son's name! The sales contract, house book, and bank loan contract are all in my son's name!"

“Are you all blind?!”

The residential manager is a middle-aged man in his forties, his attitude is still calm and professional:

"Madam, we understand your feelings. But according to the management regulations of the residential area, the right to manage the access system and the resident system will be based on the initial registration information."

"The person who did the registration procedures when handing over the house that year was Ms. Co. In the system, she is the only person with the highest administrative rights."

"If she does not proactively transfer rights, or her side does not have an enforcement document from the court, then our side has no way to intervene."

The mother-in-law immediately became angry:

“What do you mean you just stand by and watch an outsider take over my son's house?!”

Management still maintains the same tone:

“Sorry, but according to the resident management system, the name of the owner of this villa is Ms. Co Dien Chi.”

“And Mr. Tham Nghien Tri is the owner of property rights.”

"These two things are not in conflict. It's just that the right to manage the system is now in the hands of Ms. Co."

Hearing this, I almost burst out laughing right in front of the screen. It's true that being too smart causes self-harm. That year, when buying a house, her mother-in-law, wanting to circumvent regulations restricting real estate purchases, created all kinds of trouble. The sale contract is named Tham Nghien Tri. But the entire house acceptance procedure was thrown at me. Perhaps in her eyes, these menial tasks should have been left to me to do. And her son is so noble that he doesn't even want to appear himself even when signing his name. So from receiving handover, registering residents, entering magnetic door data, accepting repairs, renovating the garden to installing smart systems... All are handled by me. Three years have passed, and everyone from top to bottom in the management board knows me. Every year I bring lucky money for Tet holidays myself. In this Van Khe Son Trang area... There are ten times more people who know Co Dien Chi than people who know Tham Nghien Tri. Surely her mother-in-law wouldn't have thought of it in her dreams... One day, the chores she despised would turn into the reason why she couldn't pass through this gate. At three o'clock in the afternoon, Giang Niem sent me a series of text messages.

“Mom, Mom, Mom, you can't see Dien Chi, your mother-in-law is mad at the management board!”

"She even called a lawyer, saying she wanted to sue you for illegally appropriating property."

“But as soon as the lawyer heard the situation, his expression changed immediately.”

"He pulled your mother-in-law aside and said something. I was far away so I couldn't hear clearly, but it seems like this is not an easy matter to handle."

I looked at the message, the corners of my lips curved up even more clearly. It's not easy to handle. I didn't appropriate anything. I just haven't transferred management rights yet. Legally, the villa truly belongs to Tham Nghien Tri. But the person who has access to the system administrator... These two things are completely not contradictory. It's just that the Tham family never thought that a woman forced to leave empty-handed could make them stuck in this kind of trivial matter. They thought I would cry and leave. Thinking I would be like other divorced women, hugging a few clothes and then completely disappearing from their lives. Thinking that three years of marriage left me with nothing. They are wrong. I leave behind a lot of things. For example, the residential manager's private phone number. For example, Tet envelopes for the security captain. For example, the joint buying group that the wives in the area set up with me. Secrets in every corner of that house. The phone vibrated again. Giang Niem sent a new message.

“Dien Chi, your husband is still standing in front of the house and refuses to leave.”

“Oh no, it's my ex-husband now.”

“He just stood there looking at the camera without saying anything, didn't he look so creepy?”

I switched back to the camera screen. Sure enough, Tham Nghien Tri was still standing at the gate. The mother-in-law was so angry that she returned to the car. The broker also left a long time ago. The management team has all dispersed. Just him standing there. The gray coat was gently swayed by the wind. He put his hands in his pockets and raised his head slightly to look at the camera above the door frame. The expression is very calm. Not seeing happiness, sadness or anger. But I noticed that his right hand in his pocket was unconsciously stroking something continuously. It's a habit every time I think. It's been three years. I understand this man too well. He never let his emotions show on his face. But the small movements of his hands always betrayed him. He is thinking of a way to cope. Looking at the man on the screen, I suddenly remembered the first time we met three years ago. At that time I was an interior designer for a design company. Tham Nghien Tri is a major customer of the company. He spoke very little, but was extremely polite. Completely different from those nouveau riche guys who like to show off. I gave him three design options. He looked at each copy very seriously. Finally choose the simplest option and say:

“This is quite good.”

Later when we were together, I asked him why he chose that version. He said:

“Because in the office, you left me a chair.”

I was still dumbfounded and asked again:

“Is there anything special about that?”

He said, no designer had ever thought about where he would sit to read a book before. Only I thought of that. At that time, I thought he was the type of person who knew how to appreciate small details. Only later did I understand... A person who knows how to enjoy a moment may not know how to appreciate the person who created that moment. After getting married, he never sat in that chair even once. Because the office was turned into a storage room by the mother-in-law. In the camera screen, Tham Nghien Tri finally moved. He took the phone out of his pocket, bowed his head and dialed something a few times. A few seconds later, my phone rang. A familiar name appeared on the screen. Tham Nghien Tri.