Chapter 7 — Eight Stolen Years

The male student's words were like a sink bomb thrown into a quiet lake. In the blink of an eye, all the doubts and gossip that people had secretly understood for many years were blown up.

“That's right, it was very noisy back then.”

"I clearly remember the golden board saying Chu Le ranked first. Why did the press later all report on Tham Nguyet?"

The soft whispers were like countless needles piercing Tham Nguyet's body. She held the glass of wine, her hands shaking so much that the wine spilled out. Luc Xuyen sat next to her, not moving from beginning to end. His face was pale. Like a volcano about to erupt. He did not look at Tham Nguyet. Didn't even open his mouth to say a word for her. This frightened Tham Nguyet more than any questioning. She tried to stand up, a smile on her face that was even more unsightly than crying.

“Everyone… everyone don't say that.”

"That bonus, at that time I was about to give it to Le Le, but he refused to accept it."

She turned to look at me. There was both a request and a warning in his eyes.

“Le Le, tell everyone, is that true?”

All eyes in the room immediately focused on me. I slowly put down my chopsticks and used a tissue to wipe the corners of my lips. Then he raised his head and met her eyes.

“Why don't I remember?”

My voice is not loud. But it was like a resounding slap hitting Tham Nguyet's face. Her face immediately turned red like pig liver.

“You… how could you not remember?”

“Back then, I even went to your house to look for you, your parents were also there, they can testify!”

She was so flustered that she spoke incoherently. I nodded as if I just remembered something.

“I remember.”

“You really did come.”

"You stood in my living room holding an envelope. In front of my parents, you said there was twenty thousand inside and you wanted to give it to me."

I stopped and looked at the curious faces around the table.

“What happens after that?”

I looked at Tham Nguyet and burst out laughing.

“Then you put the envelope away by yourself right in front of your parents.”

"'Le Le, I know you're not in a good mood right now, you definitely won't accept this money. I'll keep it for you first, come find me whenever you need it.'"

My voice was very calm. Just like telling a truth.

“Tham Nguyet, it's been eight years…”

“The money you ‘kept’ for me… was it good to keep?”

Boom. The entire private room completely exploded.

“Damn, is there more like this?”

“Isn't this a fake show?”

“Really disgusting.”

Tham Nguyet completely collapsed.

"I do not have!"

"Chu Le, you talk nonsense! You slander me!"

She screamed, tears streaming down her face.

“You're just jealous of me!”

“Jealous because I married Luc Xuyen, jealous because I live better than you, so now you want to destroy me!”

She started playing the victim card. Turn yourself into a victim because others are jealous. This is the play she is best at. The audience is different. Luc Xuyen suddenly stood up. The chair legs rub strongly against the floor, creating a harsh sound. He didn't look at Tham Nguyet who was going crazy. Which stared at me. His voice seemed forced from between his teeth.

“Say it again.”

“Say what?”

I calmly looked back at him.

“Talking about her acting in front of my parents?”

“Or talk about her using the bonus money that originally belonged to me Go buy designer handbags?

Luc Xuyen roared loudly, causing the whole room to fall silent. He finally turned to look at Tham Nguyet. In his eyes was disappointment and anger as if he wanted to destroy everything.

“What she said…”

“Is it true?”

Tham Nguyet's whole body trembled violently, crying and shaking her head.

“No, husband… don't believe her… she's cheating on you…”

“I'll ask again.”

Luc Xuyen interrupted her, emphasizing each word.

“Is it true?”

Tham Nguyet's cry was choked in her throat. She looked at Luc Xuyen's cold, strange eyes. Finally understood... I can't continue acting anymore. The class meeting ended in a suffocatingly awkward atmosphere. At the end of the party, Luc Xuyen dragged the absent-minded Tham Nguyet like a sack. As he passed me, he stopped walking. Tham Nguyet looked at me with fear. The whole body trembled like a leaf in the autumn wind. I took out a photo from my pocket. This is the photo of me receiving the award at the graduation ceremony. I gave it to him.

“Give it back to me.”