Chapter 2 — Want the house to be named after your father? So You Pay The Money

“An Ninh, thank you for taking a step forward.”

I raised my cup of tea and took a sip. The tea has cooled. The acrid taste gradually spreads on the tip of the tongue, like sucking on a dry leaf that has been dried out.

“When is the contract signed?” Trieu Truong Lam asked.

“The seller said the procedures can be done this weekend.” Trieu Hao replied.

“Then it's over tomorrow!”

Trieu Truong Lam decided immediately

“Do it early, save trouble.”

I nodded

“Okay, tomorrow at two o'clock in the afternoon, meet at Van Ngan Phu sales center.”

After eating, Trieu Hao drove me back to his rented house in the west of the city. The street lights turned on one after another, lengthened and then tore the car's shadows under the road surface. He looked like he wanted to say something several times, his fingers unconsciously tapping the steering wheel. Finally, just say a low sentence

“An Ninh, don't take it to heart.”

The car stopped below the house. I unfastened my seat belt, put my hand on the door handle, then suddenly turned around

“Trieu Hao, do you really think your parents are planning on us?”

He paused, his eyes wavering

"An Ninh... I know you feel uncomfortable. But they are just like that, stubborn. Don't worry too much, wait until the registration is finished, sooner or later the house will be ours."

I smiled lightly, didn't say anything more, pushed the door open and got out of the car. High heels clicked on the cement floor, making a clear, steady "click" sound as if counting. When I got home, I kicked my shoes aside and stepped barefoot onto the slightly cold wooden floor. The phone in my pocket vibrated. It's a message from To Tinh

"Chu An Ninh! In the middle of the night, you texted 'come with me to the house sale room tomorrow', it startled me!"

I leaned against the window, looking at the stream of cars on the street, the lights connected together in chains like a school of goldfish swimming. Fingers slowly type

“Nothing, just wanted you to see it with your own eyes.”

The phone rang immediately. From the other side came rapid breathing

"What happened? Tell me clearly!"

“You will know tomorrow.”

I finished speaking quietly, then hung up. I stood still in front of the window. Outside, the neon lights flickered and the line of cars on the highway in the distance formed a long strip of light. Over the past three years, I have always seen Trieu Hao as a place where I can anchor, as someone who can spend the rest of my life together. But tonight, the shape of that stop became blurred for the first time. 9,300,000 yuan, is not an arbitrary number. But what it can exchange for... is probably a mirror. See people's hearts. Reveal the silence. And also the unspoken concessions and deviations that existed early on. The next afternoon, at half past one, I arrived twenty minutes earlier than the scheduled time and stood in front of the glass door of the Van Ngan Phu sales center. The early summer wind brought with it a bit of sultry, blowing the hem of her dress gently. I raised my hand to push back the strand of hair on my forehead that was sticky with sweat. To Tinh was already standing at the door. A neatly tailored cream-colored suit, hair tied in a bun, a dark brown calf leather bag in hand. She looks like she just stepped out of an urban movie.

"What's going on? You mysteriously called me here without saying anything clearly?"

She grabbed my wrist, her fingertips squeezing gently into the skin. I recounted the entire meal last night, without adding or subtracting a word. After listening, her pupils shrank and her face turned pale

"Chu An Ninh! 9,300,000 yuan? That's not right... it's nine hundred and thirty thousand! Did you really put the name Trieu Truong Lam in the house book? Did you have a short circuit or did you bump your head?"

“I'm not crazy, nor do I have a fever.”

I curl slightly corners of the lips, a cold smile that did not reach the bottom of the eyes

"Today, you just sit on the side and be a quiet audience. Don't interrupt with a single word."

“What are you planning anyway?”

She lowered her voice, even her breathing slowed down, as if she was afraid of doing something wrong.

“In five minutes, there will be an answer.”

I looked down at the clock, the second hand ticked, cold but precise. Exactly two o'clock. A black Audi stopped in front of the center door. The car door opened, Trieu Hao got out first, went around to the back seat to help Trieu Truong Lam. He wore a dark gray short-sleeved shirt, the cuffs were buttoned, and his back was straight, like an old tree trunk that had never bent for decades. Trieu Cam wears cream-colored low shoes, small pearl earrings that shine softly, light lipstick, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes are very well covered.

“An Ninh came so early!”

Trieu Cam smiled and walked over, his eyes glanced at To Tinh then paused, his smile stiffened for a moment.

“Er… who is this?”

“My best friend, To Tinh.”

I leaned over to introduce myself, my voice calm

“She's going with me today to finish the job.”

Trieu Truong Lam just nodded slightly at To Tinh, his lips pursed into a thin, hard line, neither saying more nor looking for long. Manager Vuong, in his late thirties, with neat short hair and sparkling silver earrings, quickly walked out to greet him. High heels clicked on the stone floor, resounding several decisive sounds like a countdown.

"Miss Chu is finally here! I have prepared the contract, ownership certificate, payment process. Shall we go to the VIP room to discuss?"

Her smile almost spilled out of her face.

“Manager Vuong, what I told you yesterday, is everything okay?”

As soon as Trieu Truong Lam sat down, he spoke in the familiar tone of an acquaintance giving orders.

"Mr. Tong, rest assured, the owner's entry clearly states 'Trieu Truong Lam', without a single mistake."

Manager Vuong opened the file, the sound of paper flipping was crisp. Trieu Truong Lam nodded and accepted the contract. His glasses slid down the bridge of his nose, he bowed his head and read each line, his fingers slowly rubbing across the paper. Trieu Cam leaned closer and pointed to the printed name, his voice full of certainty

“That's right, that's right, Trieu Truong Lam, every word is correct!”

Trieu Hao sat diagonally across from me, his eyes stayed on my face for three seconds. The pharynx moved slightly, but in the end remained silent. I raised a cup of green yeast tea. The temperature from the cup transferred to my palm, the tea was clear, I took a sip, my eyelids did not lift. To Tinh sat on my left, her right hand clenched the bag strap, her knuckles turning white. Her shoulders were as tense as guitar strings, I even heard the slight grinding of her teeth.

"No problem."

Trieu Truong Lam closed the contract and made a light "click" sound

“You can sign now.”

Manager Vuong immediately pushed the signature page in front of him. The pen has been opened for a long time, the tip of the nib has a small drop of blue ink

"Mr. Tong signs his name, then fingerprints his right index finger."

Trieu Truong Lam did not hesitate. The pen nib glides across the paper, making a rustling sound, the letters are square and sturdy. Then he dipped his finger into the red ink and pressed down firmly.

"Alright!"

Manager Vuong smiled brighter

“Next is the payment step—total price 9,300,000 yuan, forty percent deposit, or 3,720,000 yuan, the remaining 5,580,000 yuan borrowed from the bank.”

“The money matters are for An Ninh to handle.”

Trieu Truong Lam put the pen back in the tube, turned to me, her voice was friendly as if she was instructing her own daughter. I nodded, unzipped my bag, and pulled out a dark blue bank card, the surface reflecting the cold light. Manager Vuong extended his hand

“Miss Chu, shall I take you to the finance department to swipe your card?”

“Wait a minute.”

I suddenly withdrew my hand, gently turned the card between my fingers, looking straight at Trieu Truong Lam

“Uncle, I have a small problem. I want you to confirm first.”

He frowned

"Huh? What's going on?"

“This house, on the certificate of ownership, does have your name written on it, right?”

My voice was very low, but like a stone thrown into still water.

"That's right! Didn't you make it clear yesterday?"

His voice began to show impatience, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table.