Chapter 1 — I'm in charge of my own life

"Chu Thoi Nhat decided to donate all 200,000 yuan of new student scholarship money to help To Van Tinh - a student in difficult circumstances - complete his university studies."

The host's voice just ended. The entire party hall erupted in thunderous applause. I was still sitting at the main banquet table, holding the tea-boiled egg that my mother had just peeled for me. The eggshell cracked, and the hot steam passed into the palm of my hand. On the big screen, a propaganda poster that had been prepared for a long time appeared. 【Poinseng gives love, youth shines thanks to honesty】 My photo is on the left. To Van Tinh's photo is on the right. In the middle is a cheesy red heart. Dozens of phones under the podium simultaneously raised up, their lenses pointed straight at me.

“The First Time…”

To Van Tinh covered her mouth, her eyes turned red immediately. She was wearing a white dress, and when she stood up she staggered a bit, as if this sudden joy made her unable to stand. Bui Huc Ngon reached out to support her. The next second, his other hand reached under the table, pressing firmly on my wrist.

“Don't speak up yet.” He lowered his voice: "It's livestreaming all over the district, don't let Van Tinh not be able to get off the stage."

I stared at his hand. From childhood to adulthood, Bui Huc Ngon was always used to making decisions for me. The teacher asked me to apply for extracurriculars, so he chose the interest group instead of me. My classmate asked me if I was free on the weekend. He answered first, saying that I had to tutor him and To Van Tinh. Even the emergency contact phone number on the university's system was the same guy who took my phone when I went to submit my application and entered his own number. Before, I just thought it was because we were close. But now, the hand that was pressing firmly on my wrist bone was like a handcuff. I pulled my hand back and stood up. The applause gradually subsided. Everyone looked at me. Bui Huc Ngon's face changed slightly: "Thi Nhat, wait until it's over before speaking." I didn't pay any attention to him. I went straight to the podium and took the microphone from the host. To Van Tinh's tears fell freely. She choked up: "Thi Nhat, thank you, I will definitely pay later..."

“I did not donate this scholarship.”

The whole hall fell silent in an instant. The host froze on the spot. The red heart on the big screen was still slowly beating. The livestream comments began to scroll endlessly on the secondary screen: 【What's the situation??】 【Didn't I tell Poinsettia to proactively donate?】 【Must have regretted it at the last minute, 200,000 yuan (about 700 million VND) who can bear it!】 【The poor student stood up and thanked him, this is so unsightly.】 His facial expression To Van Tinh turned pale, her tears fell even more pitifully.

“Sorry.” Confused, she clutched the hem of her dress. “I don't know if you don't want it, I won't accept it anymore, I really won't accept it anymore.”

The more she said that, the more complicated the eyes of the people below looked at me. The principal frowned and walked over.

“Thi Nhat, is there any misunderstanding here?”

“There is no misunderstanding.”

Bui Huc Ngon spoke first. He walked to the edge of the stage, his tone was gentle as if he was relieving the situation replace me.

"Previously, Thoi Nhat had indeed promised to help Van Tinh. He must have just heard about the specific amount of money so he couldn't react in time."

I looked straight at him.

“When do I promise to donate to scholarships?”

Bui Huc Ngon paused for half a second.

“You once said, if Van Tinh doesn't get into college, we have to think of a way to help her anyway.”

“Helping her think of a way means giving her my scholarship?”

“Your future is so open, you won't lack these 200,000 yuan.” He frowned slightly, as if he didn't understand why I had to worry and calculate such a trivial matter. "Van Tinh is different. She doesn't have this money, so she probably won't be able to go to college anymore."

There began to be whispers below.

"That's right, Poinsettia has no shortage of opportunities in the future."

“That girl's family situation is really difficult.”

"It's all been announced, if there's anything you can discuss privately, just make sure to make a big deal out of it in public."

My mother stood up from her seat. Today she intentionally wore the newly bought dress, but her hand still unconsciously wiped it twice in the place where she usually wore an apron. That's a habit left behind after many years of opening a breakfast restaurant. My father pulled her hand back, afraid that she would impulsively rush onto the stage and argue with people. I suddenly remembered the kitchen at 3 am. My mother was hunched over kneading dough to make dumplings, her back hurt so much that she couldn't stand up straight. Dad had one hand plastered on his back while massaging, while the other hand was still quickly slicing noodles. 200,000 yuan. For Bui Huc Ngon, it was money I could easily earn back later. But for my parents, it was the amount of money they had to sell countless bowls of noodles and dumplings to save.

“Friend Chu.”

The man sitting in the business representative row stood up. He is Tham Tri Vien, the person in charge of this scholarship project.

“Have you signed the confirmation document for this donation?”

“No.” I replied.

Bui Huc Ngon interjected: "Thi Nhat's mood is a bit agitated right now, the confirmation will be added later." Mr. Tham glanced at him.

"The scholarship winner is Chu Thoi Nhat, and only she has the right to sign the certificate. Before she clearly agreed, the donation process was temporarily suspended."

The whole hall was buzzing again. My clenched fingers finally loosened. At least the money hasn't been transferred yet. That's the only good news tonight. Bui Huc Ngon's face was very ugly. To Van Tinh suddenly walked in front of me.

“Thi Nhat, I really don't know.” Her eyes were swollen and red. "If I knew you didn't want to, I wouldn't have come here. I'm leaving now, don't argue with Huc Ngon because of me."

She turned around and walked down the podium, her steps wobbly. Bui Huc Ngon quickly chased after her and caught her: "Van Tinh, this is not your fault." After speaking, he turned back to look at me. The bottom of his eyes clearly showed dissatisfaction for the first time.

“Thi Nhat, do you really have to make such a fuss?”

I almost laughed out loud. The person who voluntarily donated 200,000 yuan on my behalf was not me. The person who made the propaganda poster was not me. The person who pushed a decision that had never been discussed before the cameras of the entire district was not me. Yet in the end, it turned out I was the one who ruined everything story?

“The party will stop for a moment.” The principal quickly grabbed the microphone. "Everyone just go ahead and have a party, we'll talk about scholarships later."

The band started playing again. But no one pays attention to eating anymore. Everyone is looking at me. Some people bowed their heads and dialed their phones, others whispered loudly. Although the livestream has been turned off, the video just now has definitely been spread out. I returned to my seat. Mom held my hand tightly.

“This money, you really never said you would donate it, right?”

“I didn't.”