Chapter 19 — I have a mother, no one is allowed to bully me

Lam Uyen Nhi stood motionless. Quietly looking at that back. A few students passed by. Curiosity glanced at her. Then keep walking. No one recognized her. In this school. In this city. In everyone's world. Lam Uyen Nhi... Has completely disappeared. Three years later. Uc Ninh received his diploma. Not just graduation. I also completed the entire curriculum. With top achievements in the class. The day of the graduation ceremony. I sat under the bleachers. Quietly watching my child walk onto the stage. Received the diploma amid resounding applause. Stand next to your child. Clapped loudly. Continuously many times. Just stepped off the stage. Uc Ninh walked straight towards me.

"I did it."

I smiled. On that once skinny face. Something has appeared... It's been a long time since I've seen it. Not the ostentatious type of confidence. Or intentionally show it off. It's the power of peace. Raised from the depths of the soul. After graduation. Uc Ninh did not work at Tham Thi. I choose... Start a business. Rely on your photography talent. I opened an independent photography studio. I don't help. Doesn't prevent it either. The only thing I do. Is to help me get it back. Three months salary. But the owner of the flower shop in the past still owed money. First year. The studio only has three people. And two friends. Three people shoulder the burden together. Get commercial photography contracts. Event photo. Into the second year. The studio successfully signed a year-long contract for brand identity photography. For a major fashion brand. After viewing Uc Ninh's portfolio. The Marketing Director of that brand only said one sentence.

"This photographer's eyes..."

"There's a story."

"That's the feeling I'm looking for."

Studio workload. Increase many times. By the end of the third year. The studio's annual revenue... Has exceeded 15,000,000 yuan. Uc Ninh continues to sign cooperation agreements. With two famous domestic brands. Also participated in making behind-the-scenes photos. For a movie. Uc Ninh used the money he earned. Buy a car. Buy an apartment of your own. Not a luxury car. Not even a villa. Just a popular SUV. And a two-bedroom apartment of about eighty square meters. Every single thing. All built by my own hands. Heirloom ruby necklace. I carefully put it in the safe. Not because I no longer appreciate it. I want to pass it on to the next generation. After I return. Tham Thi Group took two years to complete the internal restructuring process. Phuong Khiet was appointed General Director. And I retreated backwards. Only responsible for strategic decisions. Annual revenue of the group. Increased from 1,200,000,000 yuan. Up to 1,900,000,000 yuan. Three new brands launched one after another. The two old brands have been completely upgraded. Sub-brands were once made miserable by Co Dien Chu. After being taken over by a professional team. It only took half a year. Converted loss into profit. And Trieu Hong. Still the person I trust the most. I appointed her as the group's Chief Security Officer. Manage more than one hundred employees. Every time I meet Uc Ninh. She still stood up straight as before. In the eyes. There was one more thing added. It's contentment. As for Co Dien Chu. He returned to live in the old house of the Co family. Living with old lady Co. Only drink tea. Occasionally go fishing. People who once called "friends". No one remained. During that time. He never actively contacted Uc Ninh. But Uc Ninh... never looked for him. There was one time. I asked my child.

"Do you still hate Dad?"

Uc Ninh thought for a long time. Then gently replied.

"No regrets."

"I don't want to meet either."

"No longer necessary."

When saying that sentence. I'm sitting in the studio. Carefully arrange each photo film. Sunlight outside the window. Gently falls on your shoulder. My daughter. Truly grown up. Fall of that year. Uc Ninh's photography studio. Organized the first solo exhibition. In the arts district downtown. Theme of the exhibition.

"Rebirth."

Thirty-six photos. Record your journey. From the flower shop in the early morning. Arrive in the city at nightfall. From old, tattered shoes. To the blooming hydrangeas. Next to each photo. There aren't any introductions. A date. Those are all milestones. For two years I worked at a flower shop. First day of opening. There were more than two hundred visitors. Including. Photographer. Exhibition curation. Representatives of brands that have cooperated. My college friend. Lots of unfamiliar faces. They stood for a long time. Before each photo. Wrote in scrapbook.

"After viewing the entire exhibition."

"I believe that."

"The person who took these photos."

"Definitely going through a very dark period of life."

"She chose to use light."

"To answer all."

Uc Ninh stood silently in a corner of the exhibition room. I wear a simple white shirt. Hair falls naturally on the shoulders. No brand name. No elaborate makeup. Anyone who has ever known you. You are a hundred times more beautiful than before. It's not because the appearance has changed. That look. It's completely different. What year girl? Always shrink. Don't dare speak up. His hands were full of cracks because of the cold. It's gone. Standing here today. Be a person. Got up on my own. After the exhibition ends. My mother and I. Sit outside the gallery for a while longer. Cool enough. Not hot. Not cold either.

"I have something to say."

"Mom, listen."

"Last week."

"Lam Uyen Nhi texted me."

I turned to look at my child.

"What did she say?"

"She said."

"Now working in another city."

"Work as a salesperson in a clothing store."

"She said."

"I've thought through a lot of things."

"I know I was wrong before."

"I don't expect you to forgive me."

"Just wanted to say something to you."

"Have you answered yet?"

"I just answered..."

I quietly looked at my child. Uc Ninh leaned back in his chair. His eyes turned to the distant street.

"Before."

"I always think."

"She took everything from me."

"The room."

"Chain."

"Learning."

"Two years of life."

"But now."

"I'm thinking again."

"If it weren't for those two years."

"You'll never know."

"Myself."

"How far can it go?"

I stopped slightly. Then smile.

"Those things."

"She took it."

"There are things."

"Whatever."

"She can never steal it either."

I held my child's hand. Those hands. There are no more cracks. No more calloused layers of the past. Stronger than ever. A gentle breeze passed by. Blow away a hydrangea petal. In front of the exhibition room door. Uc Ninh bowed down. Pick up the flower petals. Carefully put it in your pocket. Then smiled and looked at me.

"Let's go, Mom."

Mother and daughter stood up together. Slowly walk towards the parking lot. The lights in the exhibition room were still on. Thirty-six photos. Quietly hanging on white walls. Wait for the next person to come in.