Chapter 16 — The Door Lock Changes, Marriage Also Locks

"Do you really want to do that?"

"Does it require written confirmation from both of us to later repair, deliver, buy a light bulb or call someone to repair it?"

"Things related to the shared house, shared expenses and long-term use must be confirmed."

"What if it's just a temporary thing?"

"Emergencies can be handled first, then you must notify the other person."

"Who defines what is urgent?"

"For example, water leaks, power outages, gas leaks."

Chu Canh Hanh put down two pieces of paper.

"Now I'm turning my family life into a business."

I looked at him.

"Isn't it always like this before?"

He frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you always handle things the way you manage a project?"

"You are responsible for the results."

"Trinh Vu is in charge of the scene."

"And I just need to take a look at the end."

“Now I just put that process back into writing.”

"So that in the future, no one will make decisions for me anymore."

His expression immediately darkened.

"Do you have to say that?"

"I have no other choice."

"If I don't say it clearly, you will always think that I am just angry because of Trinh Vu."

Chu Canh Hanh was silent. I pushed the second piece of paper a little more towards him.

"First, all rights of a third person related to the shared house must be confirmed by both."

"Second, any future expenditures, changes, deliveries and contact persons cannot be left to the discretion of one person."

"Third, Trinh Vu is not allowed to use any excuse to enter this house, sign, connect with work or represent this house anymore."

"Fourth, all changes and costs incurred must be reconciled according to the truth. Who confirmed, how much money was spent and how to handle it later must be clearly listed."

Zhou Jingxing stared at the third clause.

"I want to push Trinh Vu out of everything."

"I'm just taking her out of a position that doesn't belong to me."

"She's just your classmate."

"Then keep your boundaries as a classmate."

"She has helped so much, now you won't even let her enter the door?"

"This is my house and yours."

"You can have classmates, friends, colleagues."

"But no one should, because of your tacit permission, become the third person deciding everything in our family."

Chu Canh Hanh's breathing became heavier.

"Do you think there's something between me and her?"

"I never asked about that."

"But everything you do seems like you're wary of her."

"The person I'm wary of is you."

"I'm wary of you arbitrarily opening the door for me."

He raised his head to look at me. I continue:

"Whether or not Trinh Vu can enter is not the most important thing."

"The important thing is why do you think that as long as you agree, she can come in."

"Why do you think that just because she understands you better than me, she can decide our family's life for me?"

Chu Canh Hanh said nothing. The sound of rain outside the window became louder and louder. A long time later, he spoke up:

"I admit that in the past I didn't handle things with enough respect for you."

"But am I doing this too harshly now?"

"Heavy hand there Which?"

"How should you treat her in the future?"

"Just treat it normally."

"What if she really needs your help?"

"It's okay to help me."

"But not helping us."

Chu Canh Hanh's face darkened again.

"What you said is like considering her an outsider."

"She was originally an outsider."

He suddenly raised his head. I never avoided those eyes.

"Chu Canh Hanh, outsider is not an insult."

"Outsiders can still be respected, thanked, and treated kindly."

"But outsiders cannot accept my house for me, sign my application or explain for me whether I care or not."

He was silent for a long time. I saw the veins on the back of his hand gradually emerge. It's not that he doesn't understand at all. It's just that he still feels that if I push Trinh Vu back to the other side of the boundary, he will lose face. Force him to admit that the things he calls convenient, effective, or afraid of bothering me... are actually unfair to me.

"You can agree so that she won't come to the new house in the future."

He finally spoke.

"But what you write doesn't have to be so rigid."

"Between husband and wife, there should be some space left."

"The space is for us to discuss."