Chapter 13 — Eight Stolen Years

After Tham Nguyet was taken away, the whole city was completely shocked. My Weibo post became the trigger that burned everything down. Official announcement from the Department of Education. Notice from the police with a blue background and white letters. The long apology was posted by Luc Xuyen himself in his personal name, clearly stating the entire deception. Wave after wave… Tearing this eight-year-old scam apart under the sun.

"The valedictorian of the whole province had his life stolen for eight years"

Hanging on top of hot searches for a week. The back also has the word "Explosion" in dark purple. Tham Nguyet became a mouse running across the street, everyone wanted to step on one foot. The image of a "kind and honorable lady" that she worked hard to build for many years... collapsed overnight. Turned into a synonym for "evil-hearted poisonous snake". Her uncle — Tham Kien Quoc — was also indicted at the same time. Luc Xuyen's company's stock price plummeted. He himself was also fiercely criticized by public opinion for being "blind in marriage". The people in the village used to laugh at me... Now when they see me, they all hate being able to take a detour. People who commented under Tham Nguyet's circle of friends that she was "both beautiful and kind"... all silently deleted their comments. Pretend like nothing ever happened. The world finally turned upside down. Or should I say... The world that has been turned upside down for the past eight years... I finally pulled it back to the right place by my own hands. The day the trial opened, I was present. I sat in the audience row, watching Tham Nguyet dressed as a prisoner and being escorted to the defendant's stand. She lost a lot of weight. Empty eyes. Like a puppet whose soul has been stripped from it. When the prosecutor used a cold voice to read all the evidence... Including the recording of her confessing everything... She finally completely collapsed. She collapsed on the defendant's stand, crying until she was broken. Mouth repeats:

“I was wrong…”

“I really know it's wrong…”

Court pronounces sentence. Tham Nguyet committed theft and forgery of state agency documents. Multiple charges accumulated... Sentenced to ten years in prison. Tham Kien Quoc committed the crime of abuse of power. Sentenced to five years in prison. The judge's gavel fell. The sound rang out crisply and solemnly. My life... Finally completely ended. Stepping out of the court, the sunlight was a bit dazzling. Luc Xuyen waited outside. He was even more emaciated than the last time we met. The suit he was wearing was now empty as if it could no longer support his body.

“I sold the company.”

He looked at me, his voice hoarse.

"The house and vehicles are all in my name."

“Part of it is used to compensate shareholders.”

“The rest… I want to give it all to you.”

He gave me a bank card. I don't accept.

“Luc Xuyen.”

“I told you, I don't need your money.”

“This is not my money.”

He stubbornly shoved the card into my hand.

“The debt I pay for her.”

“It's the price I have to pay for my eight years of stupidity.”

I looked at that man who was once full of spirit. Now in his eyes there was only ruin.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“Get out of here.”

He smiled bitterly.

“This city… has no place for me anymore.”

“Maybe I will go to a place where no one knows me…”

“Start again from the beginning.”

He looked at me deeply. There were so many complicated emotions in those eyes. But me know... Between us it ended a long time ago. From the moment he chose to believe Tham Nguyet's lies... Enjoying the aura that belonged to me... We entered two completely different worlds.

"Take care."

I just said those two words. Then turned around and left. Go in the opposite direction from him. Go where the sun shines brighter. I don't turn back anymore. The Provincial Department of Education and Capital University both sent people to meet me. They gave me two options. Restore student citizenship. Allow me to directly enroll in the key major that I was admitted to that year. Received a huge amount of compensation and pledged to arrange future work for me. I have no hesitation… Choose the first option. I don't care anymore. I can find it myself. I just wanted to see with my own eyes… What the place I had been missing for eight years… What it actually looked like. I used the money Luc Xuyen gave me to buy my parents a new house in the countryside. The day I left the village... My parents cried like children. I hugged them, saying it was over. The following days... Will definitely get better and better. September. I alone pulled my suitcase and stood in front of the gate of Capital University. Sunlight fell on the gilded letters on the school gate, reflecting dazzling light. Surrounded by young faces full of youth. They looked at me curiously... A "new student" looked older than all of them. I took a deep breath. In the air is the smell of green grass mixed with the scent of books. I walked through the school gate. Take out the admission notice that was eight years late. The edges of the paper have turned slightly yellow. But every word above... Still as clear as yesterday.

“Classmate Chu Le:

We are pleased to announce that you have been accepted into our school's Life Sciences Academy. Please bring this notice to admission on September 1, 2018.” I laughed. My 2018… Even though it's eight years late… It's finally here. During those eight years, I lost a lot. Youth. The whole normal life a girl should have. But at the same time… I also got something. Resilience. Alertness. And a heart... Will never be easily destroyed again. My life was stolen for eight years. But it's okay. The remaining decades... I will every minute, every second... Beautifully take it all back.