Chapter 8 — Want the house to be named after your father? So You Pay The Money

“Yes, I bought it.” I nodded, my voice was low and steady, "total price 4,200,000 yuan, deposit 1,680,000 yuan, I'll pay it myself."

“An Ninh…” his voice trembled, like a lost child.

“Trieu Hao, stop here.” I stood up, carried my bag, the bag strap slipped through my fingertips, "from now on everyone will live well on their own."

“An Ninh, don't go!” He also stood up, reaching out his hand to hold it.

I leaned away, my voice a little colder, "Trieu Hao, don't let the last bit of dignity be lost." I pushed open the glass door of the coffee shop, the noon sunlight poured down vertically, so bright that I had to squint my eyes. I took a deep breath, tears still falling uncontrollably. Not because he still lingered on him, but because he felt sorry for himself—the person who once trusted with all his heart, thinking that if he just gave, he would get a response. The phone vibrated, the screen lit up, it was a text message from To Tinh

"Are you done yet? How's it going?"

I bowed my head to answer

“It's over.”

She immediately texted back

"Where are you? I'll come pick you up."

“No need, I want to go alone for a while.”

I walked slowly along the sidewalk, the shadows of the sycamore trees moving under my feet, like old movies being pulled slowly. Three years ago, when I first met him, he invited me to drink coffee and I tried to pay him. The first time we went out, he said he had to save up to buy a house. I laughed and said, "Let me book a hotel." For his parents' birthday, I chose the most expensive box of bird's nest, he just blandly said "I'm satisfied". His cousin got married, I gave him 8,800 yuan in lucky money, he patted my head and complimented me, "You understand the truth." I used to think that liking is supporting each other. Later I realized, I was just tiptoeing alone. The phone rang again, this time it was Trieu Truong Lam calling. I looked at the screen for three seconds, then pressed listen.

"An Ninh, Tieu Hao just called me and said you two had met."

Trieu Truong Lam's voice was even, as if chatting casually

"I know that in your heart you still have problems with my family, but today I want to say a few words from the heart."

“Just say it.”

I leaned over, leaning my back against the trunk of the sycamore tree. The rough bark stuck through the thin shirt, causing a slight pain in my spine.

“Don't always think of us in a bad way.”

He paused, as if choosing words

"I'm still young, I don't understand my parents' feelings yet. That house is really not because of my greed for money."

I smiled softly

“Uncle Zhao, the house is 9,300,000 yuan… in your mouth it turns out to be ‘a little money’.”

“I said your deposit.”

He lowered his voice

"I spent 930,000 yuan, Tieu Hao paid in installments, so... the real person is still your family."

“What kind of damage?” I asked.

"The house is in my name, both of our lifetime assets are invested in it. The price increase in the future is not for us to enjoy."

He said it very matter-of-factly

“Isn't that helping you two keep the house?”

“But I don't intend to spend any money.”

I speak frankly

"You pay the deposit, the loan is for Trieu Hao to bear, you just need to sign."

He choked for a moment, then snorted coldly

"Young people today calculate everything to the smallest detail. In our time, if we were a family, it wouldn't belong to my brother."

“But you let me spend money… and didn't give me a name.”

I looked straight

"In my eyes, it's 'no discrimination', but according to the law, you're giving me your property for free."

“Why do you keep saying 'law'?”

His voice started to get annoyed

“Marriage is not a business, it doesn't need so many regulations So. Besides, when we become a family, these things will happen sooner or later."

“Therein lies the problem.”

I adjusted the bag strap

“I don't want to be one with a family that doesn't even have basic justice.”

“Chu An Ninh, don't be unreasonable.”

His voice was cold

“Tieu Hao's degree is not low, his job is stable, and his appearance is not bad. For the past three years, we have not mistreated you. Now when you say goodbye, it's all over?"

I repeated, my voice light

“Do you remember the past three years, who transferred money to whom, who bought things for whom, who spent more time and money?”

“You mean you really?” he immediately caught it again.

"I can't say whether it's true or not."

I'm calm

“I just remember, the times I transferred money to Trieu Hao, he never transferred it back once. Every time I come to your house to eat, I prepare a gift in advance, and you... like to mention my old car."

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds, then there was a light cough.

"An Ninh, women are too calculating... it's difficult to get married."

He speaks slowly

“I'm over thirty, my appearance is okay, but my conditions are just the same. If you miss Tieu Hao, you may not meet someone more suitable in the future."

"That proves even more... we're not compatible."

I smiled slightly

“Someone treats me like a discounted product, I really don't dare to hand over the next half of my life.”

“This girl is really stubborn.”

He was clearly angered

“Okay, I don't advise anymore. Don't regret it later."

"Don't worry."

I lowered my voice

“The thing I regret the most… is not seeing the problem between us sooner.”