Chapter 5 — Eight Stolen Years

I don't beat around the bush.

"Recently, when I was cleaning out old things, I found some test preparation materials from twelfth grade, and it seemed like they also had a few photos of the whole class."

“I remember Luc Xuyen has a grandchild taking the university entrance exam this year, maybe it can be used.”

I intentionally emphasized the word "photo taken together". It was a nostalgic bait he couldn't refuse. As expected, Tran Vu's voice immediately became more relaxed.

"That's great. Lately, Luc Xuyen has been having trouble with his nephew's studies. Where are you? Let me come get him."

"No need, I'll send it to you. It's not convenient for me to meet here."

I immediately refused. It is absolutely impossible to meet face to face.

“You can send me the company address.”

“Okay, I'll send you WeChat later.”

After hanging up the phone, I immediately went to the post office. I prepared a thick bag of documents. Exactly like the one I lost that year. Inside were a few old, unrelated notebooks. Then I carefully sandwiched all the photocopied documents in the middle of a math notepad. My transcript. Valedictorian of the whole province. That pink sticky note. Even though it's just a photocopy, the handwriting is still clear:

“Sorry, but the leader must be me.”

I even deliberately chose a photo taken at my twelfth grade graduation ceremony. In the photo, the principal is giving me the "Excellent Student" certificate. I smiled with courage and confidence. And Tham Nguyet stands behind. Is the second person. Even though she was smiling on her face, her eyes of jealousy and unwillingness almost spilled out of the photo frame. I placed that photo on top of all photocopied documents. Having finished everything, I sent the document bag away. The recipient is Tran Vu. I know that with Tran Vu's personality, he will definitely transfer it intact to Luc Xuyen. But Luc Xuyen... When he sees that photo taken together, he will definitely stop. He will see all the things hidden below. A man. Especially an arrogant man like Luc Xuyen. Can accept that my wife has shortcomings. But we absolutely cannot accept ourselves living in a giant lie. The person he loves... is "the valedictorian of the entire province" Tham Nguyet. What if that identity was originally stolen? What I gave him… Not a seed of doubt. But the key is enough to destroy his entire world. After sending the parcel, I started preparing for a small class meeting. The location is a restaurant near the old high school. The people I invited were all classmates who were quite close to us that year, but are now gradually distancing themselves from Tham Nguyet. They are more likely to remember the truths that Tham Nguyet deliberately forgot. I also send an invitation to Tham Nguyet:

"Nguyet Nguyet, I'm planning to invite some old friends to a reunion dinner. You should come too, everyone misses you so much."

She replied almost immediately:

"Okay! Le Le finally thought it through. Let me know the time and location, I will definitely come. I'll take Luc Xuyen with me too."

Of course she will come. Bring your husband. Drive your luxury car. Come to a party for a "loser" like me. This is the perfect stage for her. Where she can freely display her success... With "pity" for me. How could she miss it? The meeting was scheduled for the evening Saturday. Friday afternoon, I received a phone call from Tran Vu. His voice carried unprecedented terror and stuttering.

“Chu… Chu Le… the file bag you sent… Luc Xuyen received it.”

“Yeah, that's good.”

My voice was calm without any ripples.

"No! This morning while playing badminton, he was like a lost soul, he almost threw the racket."

Tran Vu lowered his voice as if telling a shocking secret.

"He pulled me aside and asked... do you remember the day the university entrance exam results were announced that year, the person who ranked first... was you?"

My heart beat loudly. It's begun.

“How do you answer?” I asked.

"I'm telling the truth! At that time, I was the class vice president, and I specially ran to the teaching room to see the gold chart. You got 718 points, Tham Nguyet 705, I remember clearly."

Tran Vu's voice was a bit excited.

"I said the same thing. Then Luc Xuyen's face turned pale. He also asked me why he later became Tham Nguyet, the valedictorian, and entered Capital University. I told him that his records were lost and his achievements were destroyed."

Tran Vu stopped for a moment, his voice full of confusion.