Chapter 1 — Want the house to be named after your father? So You Pay The Money

My father-in-law's voice was firm, "This wedding house, my name must be written on the book." I asked: "So... this 9.3 million yuan (about 32.5 billion), did you swipe the card or transfer it?" I squeezed the house registration form tightly, the edge of the paper rubbing against my fingertips until it felt hot. The future father-in-law, Trieu Truong Lam, sat on a single chair in the living room, his back straight, looking like a newly polished bronze plaque. As soon as he opened his mouth, his voice carried a firmness that did not allow anyone to refute

"This wedding house, my name must be written on the book."

The reason he gave sounded extremely "reasonable"

"If something happens to the two of you in the future and you break up, this house won't float away with the water."

I slightly curled my lips and replied lightly, as if I had just finished speaking

“Okay, okay, write whatever you want.”

Trieu Hao clearly breathed a sigh of relief. My breathing became lighter, my shoulders dropped as if a burden had been lifted. Luu Cam also smiled brightly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes relaxed, holding a bowl of soup and looking clearly considerate. The light in the sales room was blindingly white. On the ground-level glass, the silhouettes of the three of us were clearly reflected: Me, Trieu Hao, and Trieu Truong Lam. The salesperson brought two contracts. The paper was flat, the edge of the paper under the light shone a thin streak of light. I reached out my hand to receive it. The finger gently glides over the total value line. 9,300,000 yuan, about 32.5 billion VND I slightly raised my head, my eyes still as calm as water. The voice was soft, but each word was so clear that it was impossible to pretend not to hear

“So… this 9,300,000 yuan, did you swipe the card or transfer it?”

It was a Saturday afternoon, the sunlight slanted down onto the floor. Trieu Hao and I walked side by side out of the house sales center in the Tan Giang area, Hangzhou, in the wind there was still the smell of newly cut grass, young and fresh. He walked lightly, even the last syllable of his sentence was raised

"An Ninh, do you see that apartment? South facing, sunny all day, very warm."

He squeezed my hand, his palm was hot, his eyes were as bright as the surface of West Lake covered with a layer of crushed gold. I nodded, not accepting the compliment, just said leisurely

“The layout is really pleasant, it's just that the price is a bit suffocating… round 9,300,000 yuan.”

“We share the burden!”

He patted his chest, speaking firmly

"You put in a little more for the deposit, I'll take care of the loan, you don't have to worry about repaying the debt."

I have been working at an architectural design institute in Shanghai for eight years. Drawings are piled up in stacks, projects are completed one after another, year-end bonuses plus project profit sharing, each year is stable at about seven or eight hundred thousand yuan. Over the past few years, I have quietly accumulated more than two million, all in a bank card that I have never mentioned to anyone. As for Trieu Hao, he works at a district agency in Hangzhou, has a normal position, his monthly salary is less than nine thousand, and his credit account has not yet reached the hundred thousand mark. I can calculate these numbers with my eyes closed. But I don't say it out loud, nor do I weigh it up. After all, we've been together for three years, and even the wedding photography shop sneaked adults to visit twice.

"Go tell your parents, it's a big deal anyway."

When Trieu Hao mentioned it, there was a bit of scrutiny in his voice. I thought for a few seconds, then finally nodded. We bought the house with our own money. But the proper etiquette should still be maintained, and the adult's dignity must also be taken into account. That evening, at exactly seven o'clock, the doorbell rang three times in a row. Liu Cam was tying a flower apron. As soon as he lifted the lid of the clay pot, the smell of red braised pork ribs immediately overflowed. Trieu Truong Lam sat neatly on the sofa in the middle of the living room, the news was playing on the TV, the volume was low, like the sound of rain falling steadily in the background. Seeing us coming in, she immediately wiped her hands and came out to greet us

"Oh, An Ninh is here? Come in quickly! The soup just finished stewing, the meat is very tender."

“Hello, uncle.”

I smiled and placed the fruit basket I brought on the small cabinet at the entrance. Trieu Truong Lam took the remote to turn off the TV, "click" and put it on the tea table

“Tieu Hao brought An Ninh back, there must be something to talk about.”

Trieu Hao rubbed his hands, his knuckles were slightly white

“Dad, Mom, An Ninh and I saw a house and want to hear your opinions.”

Trieu Truong Lam leaned forward slightly, raising his eyebrows

"Which project? How much area?"

“Van Ngan Phu, Tan Giang area, 130 square meters, three rooms, two halls, two bathrooms.”

Trieu Hao answered very quickly. Liu Cam's eyes immediately lit up

"Van Ngan Phu? There's a lot of competition in that area! How much is the total price?"

I continued, speaking slowly

“9,300,000 yuan.”

The living room was suddenly silent for two seconds. The ceiling light cast a pale yellow halo on the tile floor, and even the sound of cicadas outside the window stopped for a moment. Trieu Truong Lam frowned, as if seeing a design error

"That high? Do you two really have enough money for a deposit?"

“An Ninh paid most of the deposit, and I shouldered the loan.”

Trieu Hao spoke honestly, his voice was not loud but every sentence was clear. Liu Cam's eyes shifted to my face, looking from top to bottom as if measuring its size

“An Ninh, you work as a designer in Shanghai. You must have saved quite a bit over the past few years, right?”

“For now.”

I smiled slightly

"With many projects, bonuses also increase accordingly."

I didn't say the specific number, nor did I mention the amount of money on that card—every penny was exchanged for sleepless nights. Trieu Truong Lam slowly lifted the cup of tea and blew gently, hot steam rising

"It's good for young people to buy a house, but the name on the book must be calculated carefully."

My heart calmed down slightly, but on the outside I remained calm

"You and Trieu Hao have discussed it, it's most appropriate to write down your names."

“Not good.”

He put down the teacup, the porcelain bottom touched the glass with a crunching sound

"We haven't registered our marriage yet. If something happens in the future, how will this house be divided?"

Trieu Hao paused, his lips moving

“Dad… what do you mean?”

“I'm leaving a way out for you two.”

Trieu Truong Lam turned to look at me, his tone was steady as if he were reading an official document

"An Ninh, I don't doubt you, but now a divorce is faster than signing a contract, so you have to be a little defensive."

Liu Cam immediately responded

"That's right, An Ninh, if you're willing to pay, we won't stop you, but the name on the book must be written securely. Otherwise, just write Tieu Hao's name, or... write his parents' names directly, that way you can feel secure."

I clenched my teacup tightly, my knuckles tensed slightly, my fingertips turned white. Trieu Hao glanced at me, then looked at his parents. The pharynx moved up and down slightly, but in the end he still couldn't utter a complete sentence intact.

"Uncle and aunt, this house will be used as our wedding house in the future."

My voice wasn't loud, but each word grew harder

“Isn't it obvious to write two people's names?”

Trieu Truong Lam waved his hand, as if brushing off a small matter

"I don't understand the law of marriage these days. When a house is bought before marriage, whoever puts in the money and puts that person's name on it, it belongs to that person. I put in all the money and then put in his name. Something really happens later, and he doesn't get any money... do you think that's reasonable?"

I looked up and looked straight at him

“So is it reasonable to call your aunt and uncle's name?”

“Writing our names is to save some inheritance for Tieu Hao.”

He replied very naturally

"Do biological parents still deal with their children? After the two of them settle down, transfer the names to the children, it won't affect anything."

Liu Cam breathed a sigh of relief, his voice softening

"An Ninh, you should also understand your parents' feelings. When Tieu Hao was young, he had a high fever of up to forty degrees, so I carried him around the hospital all night. When he was studying for the civil service exam, I cooked silver-eared cypress soup for him every day. Now that he's about to get married, how can we not take care of him?"

I tilted my head and looked at Trieu Hao. He lowered his eyes, his eyelashes falling under the light forming a small shadow, as fragile as a reed stalk that only needs to be blown by the wind to break.

“Tieu Hao, say something.”

Liu Cam reached out and gently pushed his arm. He raised his head, his eyes met mine, his lips parted and then closed again

"An Ninh... or... should we slow down a bit? Your parents... are really thinking about us."

I curled my lips slightly, this time my smile was even more natural than before

“Okay, then it's as you wish—the house book has your name on it.”

Trieu Truong Lam and Liu Cam looked at each other, a smile spreading from the corners of their eyes to the corners of their lips.

“An Ninh really understands things.”

Liu Cam held my hand, his palm was warm

“I have long seen that you are a thoughtful person.”

Trieu Hao also clearly breathed a sigh of relief, his voice lighter