The next morning dawned bright, the streets buzzing with vendors calling out the day's wares. Su Wanqing walked beside her parents and younger brother, a small envelope tucked safely in her bag.
Her mother fussed lightly as they walked. "Qingqing, you didn't even let us prepare. Buying a house so suddenly… my heart is still uneasy."
Her father's tone was calm, though his stride was firm. "Since it's already done, let's at least go and see. If it truly is ours, we'll sign it properly today."
Su Ning skipped ahead, too excited to stay in step. "I'm going to pick the biggest room! You can't stop me!"
Wanqing smiled faintly. "We'll see."
---
The Riverside Apartments stood tall and clean, the morning sun glinting off fresh glass windows. When they stepped through the gates, her mother's eyes widened.
"This place is so… tidy. The air feels different," she murmured. She glanced at her husband, as though afraid to believe it.
Her father's gaze was steady, taking in the surroundings carefully. "New construction. Good location. You chose well."
Inside, the saleswoman who had handled Wanqing's purchase greeted them warmly. "Welcome, welcome! Miss Su, you must be here with your family to finalize everything. Please, come this way."
She led them upstairs to the apartment.
---
The moment the door opened, Su Ning bolted inside with a shout. "This one's mine!" He ran straight into a sunlit bedroom, throwing himself dramatically onto the floor as though declaring ownership.
His mother laughed through her tears. "Silly boy. You haven't even looked around yet."
Wanqing's father stepped slowly into the living room. He laid a hand against the wall, fingers brushing the smooth paint. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he gave a quiet nod. "It's solid. It feels like home."
Her mother pressed her hands together, her eyes moist. "All these years, I only dreamed of a place we could truly call ours…"
Wanqing's gaze softened. "Now it's not just a dream."
---
After walking through each room, they made their way to the Property Bureau. The building was crowded, people queuing with papers in hand. When their turn came, the clerk reviewed the documents and looked at her parents.
"Sign here," the clerk instructed.
Her father picked up the pen. For a moment, his hand hovered above the page. Then, slowly and firmly, he wrote his name: Su Weiguo.
Her mother followed, carefully writing Lin Mei.
The clerk stamped the papers with a loud thud. "Registration complete. Congratulations, this property is now legally under your names."
Her father held the document for a long time, his usually stern face softened. He let out a quiet breath. "So this is what it feels like… to hold something truly our own."
Her mother dabbed at her eyes, smiling through tears. "Qingqing… you've given us more than we ever dared hope."
Wanqing's heart warmed, but her voice was steady. "This is just the start. We'll build more, step by step."
---
By the time they returned home, Su Ning was still chattering about his "room with the best sunlight." Her parents' steps were lighter, their expressions gentler.
And in the distance, unnoticed by them, a neighbor had seen the envelope in her father's hands — the red stamp still visible at the corner. In small communities, news never stayed quiet for long.
---
Wanqing watched her family laugh together as they entered their old apartment for the last time.
Today, they signed their names on a roof of their own. Tomorrow, whispers may start. Let them. This time, no one will take what belongs to us.
---
✨ End of Chapter 4 ✨