Chapter 5 — I'm in charge of my own life

Bui Huc Ngon glanced, lowered his voice and said: "Let's go inside and talk."

“No need.” I stood right at the cashier counter. “Let's talk right here.”

He looked at my parents, seemingly a bit shy: "Thi Nhat, this is our father's business." My mother firmly placed the broth ladle on the side of the pot.

“When you donated 200,000 yuan on my daughter's behalf, why didn't you say it was her personal matter?”

Bui Huc Ngon's face stiffened. "Auntie, I don't have any bad intentions. Van Tinh's family's situation is really very difficult. Thoi Nhat's future is open, this money won't have much effect on him." My mother was so angry that she burst out laughing: "Is it up to you to decide how much of an impact it will have? His father's wrist hurts so much that he can't sleep at night. I stood selling for half an hour and my back went numb. We get up at 3 a.m. every day, just because we want our daughter to go to college and not have to beg for anyone's help. The amount of money she earns depends on her ability to pass the exam, so why do you say it won't affect her?" To Van Tinh's tears immediately fell.

“Auntie, don't be angry.”

“I really don't need it anymore.”

“Today I came here to tell Thoi Nhat, I have decided not to go to college anymore.”

She took out a piece of paper from her pocket. That is a photocopy of the admission notice from the private school. In the upper right corner, she wrote four red letters in pen: "GIVE UP ADMISSION".

"I can't make my whole family unhappy because of myself."

After speaking, she turned around to walk away. Bui Huc Ngon quickly pulled her back. “Can you be less impulsive?”

“So what should I do now?” To Van Tinh cried and pushed his hand away. "Thi Nhat thinks I stole his money, and my friends at school are cursing me. If I don't study anymore, won't it all end?"

The way the two customers in the restaurant looked at me changed. One person muttered: "People have decided not to go to school, it's really pitiful." I walked in front of To Van Tinh.

“Student loan application, have you filled it out yet?”

She was stunned: "What?"

“Have you asked the school's admission support channel yet?”

“What do you need to apply for a State-sponsored scholarship? Have you prepared it yet?”

She gasped: "My mother's health is not good, I don't want her to have to bear debt."

“Student loans are taken out in the student's name and paid in installments after graduation.” I took out my phone and sent all the documents I had researched and compiled last night to her. Loan conditions, procedures, phone number of the school's student support center - nothing is missing.

“The school has a part-time job position to support students, you can register after school starts.”

“If your achievements meet the standards for receiving local subsidies and your documents are complete, you can apply for approval.”

“If the first year tuition fee is still owed, you can apply for an unexpected hardship allowance.”

To Van Tinh's crying stopped. Bui Huc Ngon frowned tightly. “You know that adding those things up is not necessarily enough.”

“At least it's enough for him to enroll first, and cover part of the costs.”

“What about the rest?”

I looked at him: "Aren't you her boyfriend?" The air suddenly became quiet. To Van Tinh suddenly raised her head. Bui Huc Ngon's face sank.

“Who told you?”

“Is that important?” I opened the photo taken by the beach. “Or two people I feel like you can hide it from me if you love each other, but raising money for my scholarship requires the three of you to discuss it?"

Bui Huc Ngon stared at the photo for two seconds, his expression on the contrary was calmer.

“Since you already know, I won't hide it anymore. Van Tinh and I were indeed together after the university entrance exam. I didn't say it before because I was afraid you wouldn't be able to accept it at the moment."

I almost thought I heard wrong: "Afraid I won't accept it?"