Chapter 17 — The Door Lock Changes, Marriage Also Locks

"It's not so that you will continue to make decisions for me in the future."

Chu Canh Hanh raised his hand and folded two pieces of paper.

"So from the beginning you no longer wanted to continue this marriage?"

I didn't answer right away. In the old rented house, there is still a sofa that we chose to buy together. On the tea table, there was still the coaster he bought for me, the edges were curled up. In the kitchen there is still half a bag of noodles that he likes to eat. Of course, it's not like one day I suddenly didn't want to live with him anymore. It's just that since I stood in front of that door, I realized for the first time... The so-called "us" in my heart has long been a part of him that he entrusted to others to manage on his behalf.

"Now I can't move into a new house."

Chu Canh Hanh's face immediately turned pale.

"Chieu Ninh."

"I will start looking for a lawyer to advise me on how to handle the marriage and the house."

"Are you going to sell the house?"

"For now, I'm only going for consultation."

"Just because of these things?"

I looked at him.

"Password."

"Desk."

"Contact person."

"Chat history."

"I think it's all just small things."

"But it was those little things combined that made me realize..."

"In this marriage, I no longer have a place."

Chu Canh Hanh did not say anything more. He placed the two pieces of paper back on the table. They are not signed. I also didn't force him to sign. That night, he slept in the living room. I lay in the bedroom, listening to the rain falling outside the window. I listened for a long time but he still didn't move. But this time... I was no longer the same as before, a door away from asking him if he was cold. A week later, I went to see a lawyer for advice. I didn't take Zhou Canh Hanh with me. I just prepare the home ownership certificate, down payment statement, repair contract, general account history, appliance order, and balance sheet in advance, and put it all in a folder. After watching, the lawyer did not rush to draw any conclusions. She just asked very carefully. Who will be the first to win the house? How is the deposit paid? Who is currently paying the mortgage loan? Repair costs are agreed upon in writing or not. Any household electrical appliances are jointly purchased assets. Which equipment is at one's own expense. Currently, the house still has unfinished orders. How much money is still outstanding? I answer each question in turn. When talking about the audio-visual equipment cabinet in the office, I paused a bit. The lawyer raised his head and looked at me.

"Is this cabinet very valuable?"

"Not really."

"So why did you mark this category separately?"

I was silent for two seconds.

"Because that place was originally my desk."

The lawyer did not ask further. She just wrote that item in:

"Changes in the repair process and future treatment plans."

When I left the lawyer's office, it was already dark. Standing in the elevator, looking at my own reflection in the mirror, I suddenly felt a bit strange. Before, I always thought... Consulting a lawyer, comparing assets or discussing solutions are just things people do when the relationship has completely broken down. When it was my turn to go through it, I realized that all those procedures were not as dramatic as I thought statue. They just calmly tell you the truth. If two people cannot continue to live together... Then they must find a way to separate what they once owned together. Back at the company, I sent Zhou Canh Hanh an email. The title is:

"Plans for handling new homes and marital relationships."

The content is not long. First, within a certain period of time, Chu Canh Hanh will decide whether to buy back my interest in the house or not. If you can complete the purchase based on the valuation and payment plan you both agree on, the house will be yours. Second, if it is not possible to buy back, both parties will jointly list the house for sale. House sale proceeds, bank loans, repair costs and unpaid orders will be compared against actual data to negotiate division. Third, before the home treatment is completed, stop all unnecessary repairs, do not add any third-party contacts or management rights. Fourth, after the plan to handle the house is clearly determined, the two parties will negotiate to complete the procedures to terminate the marital relationship. After sending the email, I did not receive an immediate response. It was not until after ten o'clock at night that Chu Canh Hanh arrived at the old rented house. He didn't knock on the door for too long. As soon as the door opened, he stood in the doorway, holding the printed plan in his hand.