AFMWDX Chapter 17

TL: Hua

Chapter 17: House

This is a famous high-end residential area in Yangcheng, known for its beautiful environment and convenient transportation, not far from both the TV station and the Provincial Hospital. Besides two high-rise buildings, all other buildings are low-rise apartments.

The community was completed three years ago, with no new houses for sale. Yu Qingtang didn’t mind a secondhand place. They would renovate upon moving in, but the layout was the most important thing.

Xu Baizhang led him to the apartment area, which featured a uniform duplex style. The lower floor was for daily living, and the upper floor was a leisure area, half indoors and half an open-air terrace.

The house was fully furnished and decorated, with no signs of previous occupancy, and even lacked furniture. The decor was simple and elegant, with great care taken in the materials and design.

The bedroom was well-lit, and the living room was bright and spacious. The interior and exterior were clean and tidy; with just a few pieces of furniture, they could move in immediately.

What Yu Qingtang loved most was the upper floor. The outdoor terrace was very wide. Not only could he grow flowers, but the area was large enough to be converted into a small flower garden.

The view here was excellent, with an artificial lake and a fountain outside. If they filled the garden with vibrant plants and reserved a spot for drying herbs, the house would be filled with a comforting scent.

The original homeowner was clearly someone who understood how to enjoy life, having even built a private cinema with a starry-sky ceiling. On days off, they could water the flowers in the garden, feed the fish downstairs, and after dinner, find a favorite movie to watch until they fell asleep.

In previous years, Yu Qingtang had been too busy with work to focus on life. Standing here, he suddenly looked forward to a relaxed pace and having time to share joy with his family.

The house was perfect in every way, but there was a practical question. Yu Qingtang asked, “How much does it cost?”

The number Xu Baizhang mentioned sounded light, but Yu Qingtang couldn’t help but gasp. “It’s not cheap, as expected.”

Xu Baizhang: “Do you like it?”

Yu Qingtang nodded. “I love it.”

Xu Baizhang: “If you love it, it’s not expensive.”

At this price, the house was a bargain—they were actually getting a good deal.

Yu Qingtang wandered through the rooms. “Such a great house—why would the original owner be willing to part with it?”

Xu Baizhang: “He wasn’t willing to.”

Yu Qingtang looked at him inquiringly.

“The homeowner’s spouse is my patient. They heard I was getting married and urgently needed to buy a house. To thank me for curing his wife’s illness, he reluctantly sold it to us.”

Yu Qingtang gave him a thumbs-up. “My family’s Dr. Xu is amazing.”

With the house decided, Xu Baizhang contacted the owner to finalize the transfer process. There weren’t many people that day, the process was straightforward, and the paperwork was completed quickly.

Yu Qingtang held the property deed with both their names on it and asked the original homeowner, “How should we pay?”

The original homeowner paused, then laughed heartily. “Dr. Xu already paid for it a long time ago. I wish you two a happy marriage and a long, happy life together.”

Yu Qingtang was also stunned, but he noticed the owner’s reluctance. “Thank you for being willing to sell us such a wonderful house.”

The original homeowner replied, “My wife loves your program, and our whole family is very grateful to Dr. Xu. The house was designed by my beloved, and all the materials were personally selected by her. We are relieved and happy that it will be yours.”

“Thank you, and I also wish you and your spouse good health and a loving, happy life.”

After bidding farewell to the homeowner, Yu Qingtang organized his thoughts and prepared for his “reproach” plan. “The deed has both our names, so why did you pay for it alone?”

Yu Qingtang married Xu Baizhang with the intention of being together for a lifetime. They hadn’t done a prenuptial agreement, nor did they plan to keep things strictly separated. He knew Xu Baizhang felt the same way. But for such an expensive house, it was only right to share the cost.

“Does it matter if you pay or I pay?” Xu Baizhang pointed to the marriage certificate in Yu Qingtang’s hand.

As legal spouses, a house purchased after obtaining the marriage certificate is considered marital property. Regardless of who paid for it, it belongs to both parties jointly.

Yu Qingtang felt warmth in his heart, but he still felt like Xu Baizhang had tricked him. He suspected the other man intentionally brought him to buy the house only after they got their certificate.

Before this wave of joy was over, Xu Baizhang handed him a bank card.

Yu Qingtang was puzzled. “What’s this for?”

Xu Baizhang: “My salary card. I have to submit it on time.”

Yu Qingtang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I have my own salary. What would I do with your card?”

Xu Baizhang tucked it into his hand. “The old saying goes, voluntarily handing over your salary helps family harmony.”

“What old saying?” Yu Qingtang followed him and stuffed the card back into his jacket pocket. “My mother also said that if you don’t control your partner’s money, he’ll have money to spend on you.”

Xu Baizhang: “Okay, I’ll listen to Auntie.”

“Still calling her Auntie?” Yu Qingtang shook the marriage certificate. “Dr. Xu is a little clueless.”

Since the age of eight, that title felt like a Pandora’s box he dared not open. Not because he feared a nightmare would come out, but because he knew it was already empty inside.

Xu Baizhang unclenched his fist, a smile like powdered sugar gracing his lips. “Okay, I’ll listen to Mom.”

Yu Qingtang smiled back at him, like the most beautiful flower in the garden. “Mom also said that listening to your spouse helps family harmony.”

“Mhm, I’ll listen to that, too.” Xu Baizhang not only wanted to be obedient, he wanted to give him the whole world.

Yu Qingtang: “I’ll pay for the furniture.”

A colleague had recommended a home furnishing company to Yu Qingtang that could provide proposals based on the customer’s needs. It wasn’t the traditional template approach but was entirely personalized and customized according to the homeowner’s preferences, down to the small household items like pots and pans.

You get what you pay for, and good service naturally comes at a high price. But such a beautiful house deserved the most satisfactory furnishings.

They stated their requirements, paid the deposit, filled out the intention form, and didn’t have to worry about anything else; they would officially move in half a month later.

Yu Qingtang tucked the contract away, and Xu Baizhang drove toward his parents’ place.

They had only planned to get their certificate today, but unexpectedly, the house and the furnishings were all taken care of, making it quite late.

The car stopped at the community entrance. Yu Qingtang saw his mother, Ms. Chen, from a distance, carrying a grocery basket and chatting with neighbors. Judging by her expression, the neighbor was probably talking about a topic she didn’t like again.

Although his mother was retired, Yu Qingtang knew she loved her work more than the neighborhood gossip downstairs.

Perhaps she was frequently coming downstairs to meet new neighbors in an attempt to adapt to retirement life more quickly, but tonight’s “adaptation” plan didn’t seem very successful.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Baizhang saw him looking outside, hesitant to get out of the car.

Yu Qingtang unbuckled his seatbelt. On such a happy day, even if his mother wasn’t adapting well, he needed to make her happy.

“Baizhang, you have to play along with me.”

*

On the way back after buying groceries, Mother Yu received a text from Yu Qingtang saying he would be arriving late. Old Yu wouldn’t be home from work until later, so she walked home slowly, only to be stopped by a neighbor halfway.

“Xiao Chen, how old is your son again?”

Mother Yu: “He’ll be thirty after the new year.”

“Oh my, that’s not young.” The neighbor, Sister Feng, said, “What does he do for work?”

Mother Yu: “He works at the TV station.”

“That’s really good. What does he do at the TV station? A reporter or a host?”

Mother Yu didn’t want to talk too much, so she brushed it off. “He’s just a small staff member, nothing to mention.”

“Anyone who can get into that kind of unit is great—an iron rice bowl, good benefits, and I hear the year-end bonus is quite sumptuous.” Sister Feng smiled. “Has your son found a partner? My daughter works for a state-owned enterprise; she’s twenty-six, tall, looks like her dad, and is very pretty. How about we try to match them up?”

Mother Yu quickly waved her hand. “No, thank you. My son likes men, and he’s already married.”

“Oh, is that so? I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. He just got his certificate recently.”

Xiao Li, who was nearby, interjected, “Sister Chen, we’ve only heard you talk about him, but we’ve never met your son…”

Halfway through the sentence, the person next to her quickly signaled with a look.

Xiao Li realized and quickly changed the subject. “Hey, Sister Chen, how much are pork ribs per pound today? I bought some the other day, and they were so expensive.”

Mother Yu replied casually, knowing this was all the result of Xiao Wang’s gossip.

Mother Yu had moved here over half a year ago and got along well with the neighbors. This kind of life, walking around, chatting, playing shuttlecock, and buying groceries every day, was different from before but generally acceptable.

When others talked about their sons, daughters, or husbands, she also talked about her son and husband. But while Old Yu could be discussed freely, Xiao Yu couldn’t be talked about openly because of the nature of his work.

She didn’t want to reveal exactly who her son was, let alone talk too much about his work. As Mother Yu talked, she occasionally found herself unable to provide a satisfying answer. It wasn’t a big deal among neighbors, who generally didn’t mind, but there was this Xiao Wang who loved to spread rumors and gossip.

Mother Yu wasn’t sure what the first version of the rumor was, but the final version that reached her ears was that her son had gotten into some trouble outside and was locked up and couldn’t get out, which was why he hadn’t been seen for more than half a year.

The rumor made Mother Yu both angry and amused. Her son always drove into the underground garage when he visited, and as a public figure, he intentionally avoided crowds, so it was natural for them not to see him easily.

She didn’t want to stoop to Xiao Wang’s level, but this “little loudspeaker” was constantly spreading rumors and disrupting the domestic affairs of other neighbors, which was truly annoying.

Mother Yu checked her watch. “I’m done chatting; I need to go back and cook.”

“What’s the rush? Your family Old Yu doesn’t get off work until seven.”

Mother Yu: “My son and my son-in-law are coming over today, so I need to prepare earlier.”

“Oh, why not just eat out then? It’s so tiring to go through all that trouble.”

“My son has a delicate stomach. Outside food is too oily, and homemade food is cleaner and more sanitary.”

Xiao Wang’s rumors were deeply entrenched; a lie told three times became a fact. Clearly, everyone thought she was trying to save face.

Forget it; she was too lazy to explain. “Let’s chat another day. My son is waiting for me.”

Before she could turn away, a familiar call came from behind her: “Mom.”

Everyone’s attention shifted to the man in the suit.