Chapter 25 — After My Roommate Robbed My Dad

Half a year later. I received a letter. There is no sender address. Inside there was only a very thin sheet of paper. It's Lam Vy's handwriting.

“Hua Giai.”

“I used to hate you.”

"I hate you, you clearly have everything, but you still live more gently than anyone else."

“I understood later.”

“What I lost to you was never money.”

“When you stand before the abyss, you choose to raise your head and move on.”

“Push yourself down there again.”

“I'm about to leave this city.”

“We probably won't see each other again in this life.”

The paper is very short. Unsigned. But I know it's her. I looked at the letter for a long time. Finally put it in the fireplace. The orange flame slowly swallowed every line of text. Paper ash flew up into the air. Like that rotten youth. It's completely over. I watched the three of them leave, feeling extremely nauseous. The villa door closed. The living room fell silent again. The signed statement lay silently on the tea table. Like a death sentence.

“Dad, do we really want to do that?”

I asked softly. My father nodded.

“Deal with poisonous snakes, or don't do anything at all.”

"If you still attack... then you have to be beaten to death."

“If we forgive him, he will only think we are soft-hearted.”

“In the future, I will still find ways to come back and bite you.”

“Only if we make it truly afraid, making it no longer have a place in this society…”

“It will no longer have a chance to harm you.”

I got it. This is how dad protects me. The next day. Lawyer Qin's team released the entire statement to the public. A stone thrown into the lake immediately raises thousands of waves. All major media simultaneously reposted it. The whole social network exploded because of the name Lam Vy. But this time... No one pitied her anymore. Everyone is cursing. Contempt. She became a rat running on the street. A scammer. A disgrace to the academic world. Our university also took this opportunity to conduct comprehensive reforms. Director Vuong was dismissed and expelled from the system. Professor Ly's name was permanently removed from the academic cooperation list by Oxford. All files that were touched by Liu Diem Hoa and director Vuong were re-investigated from the beginning. Students who used relationships to secure research or keep jobs at school were also eliminated one by one. As for those of us who were maliciously denounced by Lam Vy... The school publicly apologized. At the same time, we commit to quickly processing all graduation procedures to ensure benefits for everyone. A storm finally closes. One month later. I easily received my diploma and degree. Dad organized a very solemn graduation party for me. Ngo Man and everyone came. The girls raised their glasses to me, smiling so much that their eyes curved into small moons.

“Hua Giai, respect you!”

“You are truly our queen!”

I laughed. Queen? I never wanted to be a queen at all. I don't want to continue being Cinderella despite being bullied by others. After the party. Dad called me into the study. He gave me a folder of documents.

“What is this, dad?”

“Open it and see.”

I bowed my head and opened it. Inside is the share transfer contract. Ten percent of Hua Thi Group's shares. I looked at my father stunned.

“Dad… this…”

“This is what you deserve have.”

Dad looked at me, his voice calm.

“I used my intelligence and bravery to protect the honor of the Hua family.”

“From today onwards…”

“I'm no longer the princess hiding behind dad's back.”

“I am the second largest shareholder of Hua Thi.”

“Hua Giai.”

“Welcome to the adult world.”

My eye sockets suddenly became hot. This isn't just about money. But also recognition. It's responsibility. It's also the beginning of my new life. Some time later. I heard some sporadic news about Lam Vy. Some people say that after being discharged from the hospital, she cut ties with her family and went alone to the South to work as a factory worker. Some people also said she had a mental breakdown and was sent to a mental hospital. Someone else said she knew an old coal owner who was even older than my father, and continued to live a life of luxury with paper and money. But those things... No longer concern me. Her life is good or bad. It's all her own choice. I also have my new life. I joined Hua Thi. Start from the lowest position. Dad doesn't give me any special privileges. I'm exactly like the other new employees. In the morning, take the train. Overtime at night. If you do something wrong, you will still be scolded by your superiors. But I live very happily. Also very complete. Because I know... Every step I take now, is taken by myself. One year later. Thanks to an extremely excellent project, I was specially promoted to project director. That evening, right as the congratulatory party ended. I received a strange call. I picked up the phone. On the other end of the line came a voice that had not been heard for a long time.

“Hua Giai, it's me.”

“Congratulations.”

I was stunned.

“You know?”

“I saw you on the financial news.”

“Now… you live very well.”

There was no longer any jealousy in that voice. No more resentment. Only calm remains after going through so many storms. I don't understand why I asked that question. The other end of the line was silent for a long time.

“I'm also… pretty okay.”

“I'm teaching at a mountain elementary school.”

“This place is very poor.”

“But the kids are adorable.”

“I used my salary to help two girls who almost had to drop out of school.”

“I named them Hope and Rebirth.”

“Hua Giai…”

“Thank you.”

“It was you who made me understand…”

“What is a truly valuable life?”

"Goodbye."

She hung up. I held the phone for a long time without saying anything. Outside the glass window are city lights as bright as the galaxy. But somewhere in the mountains far away... Perhaps there is another starry sky silently shining. We all eventually found our own path. And also receive... New life belongs to yourself.