Chapter 6 — Global Livestream, Her Dress Shows My Name

High cheekbones. Deep sunken eye sockets. The whole person is like a cloth that has been wrung dry. When I sat down, Tan Lang was using chopsticks to stir the bowl of noodles over and over again. The noodles in the bowl have softened and clumped into a lump.

“You said there was something inconvenient to say in a text message.”

“What is it?”

Tan Lang put down his chopsticks. Two hands quietly rubbed each other under the table.

“Ha Tinh, the documents used in the hearing that day... were partly prepared by me.”

I didn't speak up.

"Mr. Chu told me to find the camera footage of you and Ha Mat sharing the same desk."

“I looked.”

“But in the original video there was absolutely no scene of her looking at Ha Mat's design book.”

"It was Mr. Chu who told me to cut out a few parts where you bent down to pick up things and then reattached the time."

His voice became increasingly quiet. Every word seemed to be forced out of my throat.

“I know it's wrong.”

“But Mr. Chu said that if I didn't cooperate, he would make things difficult for my graduation thesis.”

“This year I must graduate.”

“My family situation... you know that too.”

Tan Lang's father had an accident at the construction site. Bedridden for three years now. His mother sells vegetables at the market. Half of his tuition is from student loans. The other half was a “research grant” granted by Chu Minh Vien. The price of that subsidy is Tan Lang's labor. Chu Minh Vien holds more than ten design patents. At least five of them are the results of Tan Lang's research and modeling. But in the author section. Never had his name.

“Did you find me just to talk about this?”

"Not necessarily."

Tan Lang raised his head and looked at me.

“Ha Tinh, in your hand you have evidence of Mr. Chu appropriating students' achievements for many years.”

“Not just yours.”

“But also mine.”

“From the upperclassmen, too.”

“I've been quietly collecting for nearly two years.”

“How are you going to use them?”

His hand unconsciously tightened around his pants leg.

"I don't know."

“I don't dare alone.”

“Master Chu's connections in the industry are too strong.”

“In the appraisal committee, there are four people who are my students.”

“There are also two people on the Association's board of directors who are old friends of mine.”

“If I release the evidence... will it really create a buzz?”

“So you found me.”

“Want me to join?”

“I thought about a lot of people.”

“You're the only person I feel capable of agreeing with.”

“Because you are the one who is hurt the most.”

I picked up the bowl and took a sip of the broth. The soup is very salty. The noodle shop owner always over-seasons the noodles with salt.

“Tan Lang.”

“You should keep that evidence carefully.”

“Don't show it to anyone.”

“Don't post it online either.”

His eyes immediately darkened.

“I didn't say I wouldn't help you.”

I put the bowl down.

“I'm just saying now is not the time.”

"If you release evidence at this time, Chu Minh Vien only needs to use the four words 'malicious revenge' to crush you."

“An undergraduate graduate student.”

“Confronting an industry icon.”

“Who do you think people will believe?”

He was silent.

“You need a place where everyone is looking.”

“A place where Chu Minh Vien has no way back.”

“A place where whatever he says is useless.”

“Because everyone saw the truth with their own eyes.”

Tan Lang looked at me. The hand also stopped rubbing the pant leg.

“Where is it?”

“First help me job."

“I have been with Chu Minh Vien for three years.”

“You know more about his schedule next month than I do.”

“When will we rehearse?”

“When will I send the dress sample to the organizers?”

“When will the final announcement be approved?”

“I need to know everything.”

“What do you need that information for?”

“Will you help or not?”

Tan Lang looked at me for a long time. Behind the counter. The noodle shop owner is loudly ordering food to the kitchen. The smell of grease came in waves. Finally he nodded. I took out an old phone from my pocket. It's a device I bought separately with a subscription number that was not registered with my real name.

“Let's contact you using this later.”

“The old phone still works normally.”

“Don't let Chu Minh Vien notice anything.”

He took the phone. Carefully put it in your inner pocket.

“What are you planning, right?”

“Eat noodles.”

I pushed the bowl of cold noodles back in front of him.

“Cold noodles won't taste good anymore.”

He bowed his head. Quietly eat noodles. I looked at his hair. Remember the article denouncing you with your real name that you posted in your previous life. There is a sentence in there that I still remember very clearly.

“I worked as a buffalo and a horse for three years, creating forty percent of his so-called 'academic achievements'. In return, during the graduation defense, he himself said: 'This student has normal qualities and is reluctant to pass.'"

When that article was posted. I've been dead for six months. I want you to see with your own eyes Chu Minh Vien being stripped of his last mask. One week later. The defense of the preliminary round of the international voting took place. Ha Mat successfully passed the preliminary round. Won a ticket to the final. That evening the news was announced. Luc Ngan reserved a VIP room in a high-class restaurant. Invite a whole table of people to celebrate Ha Mat. I saw those photos on my friends circle. Luc Ngan posted all nine photos. In every picture. It's all Ha Mat. Ha Mat raised his glass of wine. Ha Mat cut the cake. Ha Mat clinked glasses with Chu Minh Vien. Ha Mat turned to the camera and made a heart shape with her hands. It was like the whole world was revolving around her. The post only had one short sentence:

“Congratulations to future design stars.”

Below are a series of congratulations and praise. There were a few comments that were particularly glaring. Luc Ngan's mother commented:

“Mat Mat is the blessing of our family.”

Chu Minh Vien commented:

“The name matches the reality.”

There is another comment. It's from a college friend who used to be quite close to me:

“I said a long time ago, Ha Mat is the truly talented person. Before, only a few people blindsided me.”

Some people. That person is talking about me. I put the phone next to the pillow. The room next door is being repaired. The sound of a drill penetrates the wall. It keeps ringing. I closed my eyes. The message Tan Lang sent during the day appeared in his mind:

"This week, Mr. Chu arranged for me to bring my application documents to the organizing committee."

“On the list there is only Ha Mat.”

“Next week I will take her to the supplier to choose the last batch of fabric.”

“Luc Ngan will also come along.”

Everything is going according to the trajectory of the previous life. There is only one variable. In the lining of that dress. A few more things appeared that no one saw.