Chapter 13 — Three Thousand Yuan Every Month, In Return The Whole Family Is Ruined

“I give you two options.”

"One is to sign now, I'll keep your affair a secret, so you can have some dignity."

"Second, go to court, I'll make you empty-handed and famous in a way you don't want."

Having finished speaking, I turned away, opened the door and entered the house. Chu Minh stood silently for a few seconds, then, like a soulless corpse, followed behind. In the living room, Vuong Lan stood up, looking at me with strangely complicated eyes, both surprised and suspicious, but deep inside... there was a bit of gloating. It was as if seeing me in trouble made her feel more relieved than escaping her own suffering. I don't bother looking. I threw my bag on the sofa, my voice clear and decisive.

“From today, live AA style.”

I looked at each of them one by one.

“Chu Minh, Vuong Lan, listen carefully.”

“If you want to stay in this house, okay.”

“Each person pays 1,000,00 yuan in rent every month.”

“Electricity, water and gas management fee, divided equally between three people, paid at the end of the month.”

“Everyone buys and cooks their own food, no one can touch anyone else's food.”

"My room, my things, don't touch them."

“One violation…”

I stopped, my eyes were so cold that I didn't need to raise my voice.

“Get out of here immediately.”

“Do you hear me?”

My eyes glanced at Chu Minh and Vuong Lan in turn, one bowed his head silently like a defeated chicken, the other his lips trembled and wanted to argue back but didn't dare, because they all understood that I had nothing left to lose, and a person with no support was the scariest person. A long time later, Chu Minh gritted his teeth and blurted out the word "Okay", as if swallowing his pride down his throat, because he had nowhere else to go and didn't dare to bet with me anymore. Seeing that her son had given up, Vuong Lan did not dare to resist. She could only reluctantly nod, her eyes full of resentment. I smiled.

“Then start a new life from today.”

I walked into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator full of food, took out a few items, then right in front of the two of them, I took out a cute little combination lock, and with a "click" sound, locked the door tightly.

“Oh, I forgot to say.”

I gently shook the key in my hand.

“To avoid people not being able to control their hands and mouth.”

“This refrigerator belongs only to me from now on.”

“Your belongings, leave them on the balcony.”

“It's fall… it probably won't be bad yet.”

My action was like an invisible slap, hitting the two of them straight in the face. Vuong Lan's eyes immediately turned red, she trembled and pointed at me.

"Tham Duyet! You... you're too much!"

Chu Minh also turned pale, perhaps he had never suffered such humiliation in his life. I raised my eyebrows and looked at them.

“If you have an opinion, get out.”

“This house, now I decide.”

My coldness crushed their last bit of resistance. Vuong Lan stammered for a while, and in the end could only say a weak sentence.

“Then you will meet your retribution…”

Having finished speaking, she pulled Chu Minh into the room like two defeated quails. I laughed coldly. If there is retribution... Then they must be the first to receive it. I carried the things into the kitchen and leisurely cooked as if nothing had happened. From that day on, this house became a place so strange that it was laughable. Three people live under the same roof... but like three strangers. Don't talk. Not interested. There is only silence and caution. The kitchen becomes the clearest boundary. My refrigerator is always locked, inside is fresh and expensive food. As for their "fridge"... is a Styrofoam box on the balcony, containing a few bunches of discounted vegetables and some cheap meat. We cook and eat ourselves. Pair when, I sat in the dining room, leisurely eating a steak. As for them, holding a bowl of thin noodles, huddled in the corner of the living room. The distance is only a few meters. But like two worlds. One side is full. One side is miserable. Vuong Lan became visibly thinner. Already skinny, now more shriveled, skin covered with bones, wrinkles deeper, eyes no longer sharp but only a dull gray color. She's out of money. The pension is not enough to pay for housing and expenses. She must have found Chu Tinh. But looking at the current appearance... The result is too obvious. The daughter she cherished... still left her in the end. Chu Minh is no better. He came home more and more late, and some days he didn't even come home at all. Not because I'm busy. But because of hiding. Escape this house. And hide from me. Three thousand yuan a month, to pay rent, electricity and water, take care of food, and take care of a lover. His life... is probably rotting away day by day. But what does that have to do with me? It's all their choice. Life becomes surprisingly simple and clear again. During the day, I frantically submit my CV and look for a new job. At night, I cook delicious food, watch movies, read books. Little by little I am rising from the ashes.