Chapter 9 — From the Ashes to the Pinnacle

It hasn't been that way since then. When we returned to the baggage claim location, it was already eleven o'clock at night. Trieu Ngoc Phan was not present. Don't know where it went. Lam Phong curled up on the bed and fell asleep. I didn't have much of my belongings—an old briefcase with a few changes of clothes inside. There is also a two-currency notebook. I picked up my bag and greeted Aunt Ho. "Aunt Ho, my dad has come to pick me up. I've been bothering you for the past few days." Aunt Ho nodded, wanting to say it again. Finally, she patted the back of my hand: "Good child, live well in the future." I followed Tham Ve Quoc into the car. As the car drove away, I looked through the rearview mirror and saw that the window was still lit with a faint yellow light. Lam Phong is still sleeping. Trieu Ngoc Phan doesn't know where he is. This “home”—from today onwards, no longer has any relationship with me. The car stopped under the newly rented apartment complex. Sixth floor, no elevator. Tham Ve Quoc carried large and small bags up the stairs, panting several times. I carried light bags and followed behind. Open. A two-bedroom apartment, an empty living room. White walls, polished cement floor, a bit dusty but very clean. Tham Ve Quoc put down his things and immediately started making the bed, installing curtains, and plugging in the rice cooker. Extremely agile movements. People who are used to doing heavy work are always very resourceful. Half an hour later, the bed in the master bedroom was finished. "For tonight, I'll take it easy, tomorrow I'll find someone to buy all the furniture." "That's enough." I sat next to the bed and used my hand to test the mattress. Ten times better than a folding bed at the placement point. A hundred times better than the hard board bed in the rented house in my previous life. Tham Ve Quoc stood at the door looking at me. Like there's still something to say. But in the end, he only said one sentence: "Go to bed early. Tomorrow I will take you to school to check in." "Yes." He turned and left. Stay in the spare bedroom. I lay on the bed, looking up at the ceiling. New white paint, no cracks, no mold. Quiet. Clean. Belongs to me. The notebook is placed next to the pillow. I opened a new page and wrote—“First phase completed. Safe place to live. Stable economic source.” “Second phase goal: three days later, file documents in court. Force Trieu Ngoc Phan to sign.” “Third phase goal: midterm exam. Get into the top ten of the block.” “Long-term goal…” My pen stopped. Then wrote the last line: "The day Trieu Ngoc Phan kneels before me and begs for forgiveness, I will tell you that—" "In my previous life, you caused me to have my legs amputated, forcing me to sit in a wheelchair for sixteen years." "In this life, I don't need your life." "I just want you to see me standing in a place that you cannot reach in your whole life." "Then let the rest of your life live in regret." I closed the pen. Turn off the lights. Close your eyes. Heart rate is stable. Breathing steadily. A dreamless night. 【Chapter 7】 Three days later. Just as I expected. Trieu Ngoc Phan did not proactively contact Tham Ve Quoc, nor did he come to find me. But she did two things— First, went to find her cousin's husband. Her cousin's husband is an office worker at the city court, not in charge of trials but can listen to the news. Aunt Ho helped me confirm—the other morning, Trieu Ngoc Phan went to his cousin's house to sit for two hours. Second, she went to Lam Phong's school. Use the excuse of "finding out the child's recent situation" to meet with the homeroom teacher. In fact, it's a probe - if the lawsuit becomes a big deal, will the school have any influence on Lam Phong or not? After completing these two steps. Tuesday afternoon. Trieu Ngoc Phan's phone called Tham Ve Quoc's phone. At that time, Tham Ve Quoc and I were cleaning the newly rented house—he found an aunt from the maid company to try the job and was negotiating every day.

What time is it time to cook? The phone rang. Tham Ve Quoc looked at the number calling. Then look at me. I nodded. He picked up the phone. "Hello." Trieu Ngoc Phan's voice came from the other end, I couldn't hear it clearly. But it can be judged by Tham Ve Quoc's expression. He said "yes" twice. Then said: “Okay, you choose the location.” The call ended. “She agreed to meet tomorrow morning at the residential office.” He said: “Agree to talk.” I leaned back in my chair. “She will sign.” “How are you sure?” “Because her cousin's husband told her—if legal proceedings are really carried out, with the police report on the fire plus the testimony of the neighbors, she cannot win.” “Moreover, the thing she is most afraid of is Right now, she doesn't have to lose her child." "What she's most afraid of is—this matter being made a big deal, affecting Lam Phong." "Lam Phong is the biggest 'investment' of her life. She won't let anything destroy this investment." Tham Ve Quoc closed his eyes. "I've seen through her too much." "It's not that I see through." I said: "It's that she's too simple." The next day. Residential office. Aunt Ho was a witness. Shen Weiguo's lawyer—who traveled all night from the provincial capital—was a tall, thin man wearing black-rimmed glasses. Ha family. Trieu Ngoc Phan came alone. Don't take Lam Phong with you.