Chapter 4 — The Day I Stopped Fasting, They Lost Everything

Luu Ngoc Mai's face was distorted with aggression, standing in my living room looking even more ugly. She seemed to hold the last straw that saved her life. Either pay the house, or pay the money. That logic is brazen to the extreme. Chu Hao stood behind, his eyes clearly showing approval. He obviously also thought that that was what the Chu family should have. I haven't had time to speak yet. The office door behind me opened. My father, Hua Kien Quoc, walked out with a gloomy face. In his hand he held a black leather notebook. My mother followed behind, her eyes clearly showing gloating.

“Master, your voice is really loud.”

My father's voice was not loud, but it carried an aura that made people not dare to protest. That is the pressure that has accumulated after decades of struggling in the market. Luu Ngoc Mai's momentum immediately dropped by half.

“Th… in-laws, are you at home too?”

Apparently she didn't expect my parents to be present. In her scenario, I was alone today, easily coerced. Unfortunately, she miscalculated. My father walked over, made a "click" sound and placed the notebook on the tea table. The sound was not loud, but it startled Liu Ngoc Mai and Chu Hao.

“You said just now, tell Tieu Tinh to return the house, or pay 300,000 yuan as bride price?”

My father's gaze was like a blade, sweeping straight through Luu Ngoc Mai's face. She swallowed hard, trying to defend herself.

“That… that was the original agreement, now he wants to annul the marriage…”

“Deal?”

My father interrupted and opened the black book.

“I also have something called an ‘agreement’ here.”

“We calculate each item one by one.”

He pointed to the first line.

“Three years ago, Chu Hao just started working and wanted to buy a car to get around but lacked money.”

“I told Tieu Tinh to send him 80,000 yuan as a deposit.”

“It said it was a loan and would be repaid in two years.”

“Now I ask, where is the money?”

Chu Hao's face immediately turned pale. He stammered.

“Uncle… uncle, at that time… later we fell in love, so that…”

“So we shouldn't pay, right?”

My father smiled coldly and continued reading.

“Two years ago, she liked a designer bag, priced at 58,000 yuan.”

"Chu Hao said he wanted to be filial, but didn't have enough money, so Tieu Tinh transferred another 30,000 yuan to her."

“He said it was his money to give to you, but it was actually my daughter's money.”

Luu Ngoc Mai's face also began to change, her eyes avoided.

"Last year, her relatives wanted to do business and lacked capital."

"She told Chu Hao to come find Tieu Tinh to borrow 100,000 yuan, promising to pay it back within a month, plus interest."

"It's been almost a year now, both principal and interest, I haven't seen a penny."

Every time my father read another paragraph, the other two people's faces turned even more ugly. The notebook is dense with numbers. A large amount of several tens of thousands. A small amount of a few hundred congratulatory money. Each account has a date and a photo of the transaction.

“Also, your old house cost 150,000 yuan to repair last year.”

"Chu Hao told him to pay, but ended up secretly swiping two of Tieu Tinh's credit cards."

“Then it was my daughter who had to pay in installments little by little.”

“Chu Hao, tell me, is this something a man should do?”

My father's eyes turned to Chu Hao. He bowed his head, not daring to look at anyone. Like someone whose spine has been ripped out. My mother stood next to me and added coldly.

"Don't say we are bullies, we haven't even counted the petty expenses like eating, drinking, and watching movies."

“Just count these big amounts.”

My father pushed the notebook towards them.

“Borrow, transfer account, pay by card instead, totaling 388,000 yuan.”

“Liu Ngoc Mai, now do you still think Tieu Tinh owes you 300,000 yuan?”

“Even if that 300,000 yuan is yours, you still have to pay us back 88,000 yuan!”

"Today I make it clear that this is the end of the marriage."

“This 388,000 yuan, in three days, transferred to Tieu Tinh's account.”

“If not, see you in court.”

"I Hua Kien Quoc may lose face, but my daughter absolutely must not suffer loss!"

The whole living room fell into dead silence. Luu Ngoc Mai and Chu Hao stood still as if struck by lightning. Perhaps from beginning to end, they never thought... In their eyes, that "cash machine" turned out to also carry a notebook. They calculated my bride price, calculated my house. But without knowing it, my father had clearly calculated each of their family's accounts for a long time. Luu Ngoc Mai's lips trembled, she couldn't say a word. The speaking talent she is still proud of, in front of those black and white numbers, is no longer worth anything. Chu Hao is even more pathetic, his face as gray as ash. He looked up, looking at me with almost pleading eyes.

“Tieu Tinh… you… we…”

I looked at him, without any emotion in my heart. I just feel that my past three years have been truly blind. I stood up. Go to the door, open it wide.

“My father's words are also my words.”

“The statement, my lawyer will send it to you tomorrow.”

“Now, please leave my house.”

“I don't want to see you guys ever again.”

My voice was cold as ice, leaving no room for negotiation. 05 The screaming of Liu Ngoc Mai's younger sister and Chu Hao being "invited" out by my father's bodyguards. When they left, the two of them were as lost as chickens in battle. The living room became quiet again. My mother held my hand, filled with sadness.

“Tieu Tinh, you have suffered a loss.”

I shook my head, leaning on her shoulder.

“Mom, I'm not bad, I just feel lucky.”

Luckily, before registering the marriage, I could clearly see the true face of that family. My father walked over and patted my shoulder.

“This isn't over yet.”

“With Liu Yumei's personality, she won't stop.”

“There will definitely be other tricks.”

My father is not wrong. The next afternoon, I received a strange call. As soon as I picked up the phone, a sour young girl's voice rang out.

“Is that Hua Tinh? You bastard!”

The future sister-in-law that I have only seen in pictures. The tone was exactly like her mother's, harsh and defiant.

“On what basis did you bully my mother and my brother?？”

“Isn't it based on your family's dirty money? What's so terrible?

"I'm telling you, it's your blessing that my brother agrees to marry you. Don't be one of a kind!"

Hearing her turn white into black, I was so angry that I burst out laughing.

“Is that Chu Le?”

“Before defending your mother and brother, have you asked them what they did?”

“Have you asked why they added your name to our wedding house?”

The other end of the line was silent for a second. Then Chu Le's voice became even more defiant.

“How about adding my name?”

“That's my brother's house! He gives it to whoever he wants!”

“I am his biological sister, we are family! What are you? Just an outsider!”

Outsiders. In her eyes, I - the soon-to-be bride - was an outsider. And she, without spending a dime, became the homeowner. It's exactly the same logic as my mother.

“Okay, she said correct." I said coldly, "Since you're an outsider, your family matters have nothing to do with me."

“I used my own money to buy my own house, what does it have to do with you?”

“What right do you have to call and scold me?”

“You…” Chu Le choked on her words.

Maybe she didn't expect that I wasn't easy to bully. She took a deep breath, changed her voice, and began to pretend to be pitiful.

“Sister-in-law… I was wrong, don't be angry.”

"My brothers really love you, my whole family loves you too."

“Adding your name is just for peace of mind.”

"I'm a girl, I just graduated from school, and my mother doesn't feel secure about renting a house outside."

"She's afraid that when you get married in the future, I won't tolerate you and will kick you out."

It sounds both fake and nauseating. Their greed is wrapped up in my "foresightedness".

“Chu Le, stop doing that.”

"It's your brother's business to buy the house and whoever you want to give it to, I don't care."

“But if you want to use my money to buy a house and put your name on it, that's a dream.”

“Also, don't call me sister-in-law, I feel terrible when I hear it.”

“Tut… tut… tut…”

I hung up straight away. Saying one more word to that kind of person would be wasting my life. But I didn't expect that their brazenness didn't stop there. An hour later. My doorbell rang again. My mother looked through the camera, her face immediately changed. This time, not only Liu Ngoc Mai and Chu Hao came. There is also a young girl dressed flashily, who is Chu Le. It's even more outrageous. They also dragged two large suitcases.

“What else do they want?!” My mother was so angry that she was shaking.

I smiled coldly: "What else should I do? Just force the door to move in." I told my mother not to open the door. Then call the house security directly.

“Hello, security side?”

"In front of my house, there are some strangers, standing still and not leaving, harassing me."

“Please come up and help me handle it.”

We are in a high-end area, security is very strict. Less than three minutes. Two uniformed guards stood in front of the door. I opened the door. Outside the door, Luu Ngoc Mai was pointing at my house and saying something to Chu Le. Chu Le's face was full of discomfort, and she kicked her suitcase hard. Seeing me open the door, there was a security guard behind me. The three of them all froze.

“Hua Tinh! What do you mean? Call security to deal with us?” Luu Ngoc Mai screamed.

Chu Le also rushed forward, pointing straight at my face.

“You are such a cruel woman! We came to apologize and you treated us like that!”

She also looks pretty, with a pitiful appearance. From the outside looking in, one might actually think I was bullying her. I haven't said anything yet. The security captain stepped up, his voice serious.

“You three, the landlord has filed a harassment complaint against you.”

“If you don't leave, we will report it to the police.”

“Report to the police?” Luu Ngoc Mai smirked as if hearing something ridiculous.

“Just report it! I'm not going today!”

“This is my son's house! This is my future daughter-in-law's house! It's natural that I'm here!”

As she spoke, she pushed her way inside. Chu Le pulled her suitcase, intending to follow.

“That's right! My brother's house is also my house!”

“I have to move in today!”

“See who dares to stop!”

The mother and daughter were like two crazy animals, causing chaos without restraint. Chu Hao stood next to him, his face full of awkwardness but not daring to speak. I looked at that scene and just felt nauseous. I took my phone and turned on video recording. Then look straight at them, say each word clearly.

“First, this house is in my parents' name, and has nothing to do with the Chu family.”

“Second, me and Chu Hao is not married, legally we have no relationship."

“Third, your current actions constitute illegal intrusion and disorder.”

“Guard, please report to the police immediately.”

“I want to see if you guys still dare to be rude when the police arrive.”

Just finished speaking. Chu Le seemed crazy and rushed straight towards me.

“I tore this bastard's face off!”