Chapter 6 — I'm No Longer A Substitute

12 Before the exhibition started, Nguyen Thanh once told me: he knew my true identity for a long time. You also know that Giang Ha and I planned to run away with the money. At first, they didn't even care much. On the contrary, if we ran away, he would have a more legitimate reason to righteously take over the entire Luong family's property. As for the Giang family, there has long been no heir left, and Nguyen Tham is still Giang Ha's husband no matter what, so sooner or later the Giang family's assets will fall into the Nguyen family's hands. After listening to him, I burst out laughing: "Nguyen Thanh, the so-called 'I like you' is just because you are different from those other young ladies. To me, you are nothing more than a new toy." I curled my lips, my voice was bitter: "The combined assets of the Giang and Luong families are nearly a hundred billion. If you spend one billion in exchange for a hundred billion, it's really worth it!" Nguyen Thanh was silent for a long time. Finally, he bowed his head and softly uttered a sentence: "You're right." … Giang Ha and I took the money with us and left the country, together opening an art gallery abroad. Revenue is not bad, life is as peaceful and free as we ever dreamed. She still keeps in touch with Nguyen Tham. Giang Ha said, that name is a bit colorful, but overall it's not bad. Occasionally, Nguyen Tham will fly to visit us. I can easily see that he truly loves Giang Ha. But Giang Ha has made up her mind: she doesn't want to get married. She said she didn't want to tie herself up with two marriage papers. Sometimes, Nguyen Tham will mention Nguyen Thanh in front of me. He said that Nguyen Thanh's net worth has now skyrocketed, next to the beautiful woman like clouds. I just said "um" without paying attention, my finger lightly clicked the mouse, confirming the acceptance letter from the university. After all these years, I finally realized my dream: entering my favorite school and officially majoring in painting. I am passionate about learning to draw, especially portraits. I drew a lot, but had a strange hobby — I always liked drawing a man's back. Tall. Straight. Wearing a light gray cashmere coat, sometimes appearing on sunny boulevards, sometimes standing by the bay at sunset, sometimes... right in my house. A few years later, Giang Ha actually gave birth to Nguyen Tham a boy. Nguyen Tham was so happy that he continuously poured tens of millions more into our gallery. When Giang Ha saw money, he was even happier, so he "rewarded" Nguyen Tham a trip and followed him home to meet his parents. But... marriage can still be discussed later. Before she boarded the plane, I hugged Giang Ha tightly, my voice choked: "Thank you, Giang Ha. Without you... I would never be able to escape the past." Giang Ha just patted my shoulder, smiled slightly, her eyes were clear, without saying a word. At the airport, people are coming and going like crazy. I returned home alone, surfing local news as I went. Suddenly, I discovered that my university had just received an investment of hundreds of millions from a Chinese tycoon. That person did not reveal his real name. In the article, they just called him by a short name: “Thanh.” I raised my head again, a shadow fell into my sight familiar back. Tall. Straight. Wear a light gray cashmere coat. “Nguyen Thanh.” That man turned his head, the light in his eyes penetrated all the hardships and bumps of the previous half of my life, then engraved itself deeply into my heart. Foreign session - Nguyen Thanh I have met Luong Am since I was a child. That first time, the little girl sat huddled in a corner, holding a packet of cookies, eating very carefully, wearing an old, faded dress, completely different from the children running around at the lavish party. But that girl, still ignoring all the scrutinizing gazes roaming over her body, held a short pencil and drew on a crumpled piece of paper. She was so attentive that a bright light flashed in her eyes, as if the whole world had shrunk to just her own painting. At that time, I was thirteen years old. And she... seems to be only ten years old. I heard that the girl was mistakenly adopted by the Luong family. But they still "kindly" kept it. Kind? I do not believe. The Luong family has never been good people. The second time we met again, it was our wedding day. She wore an elaborate wedding dress that was exquisitely sewn, her hair tied up high, her face covered in makeup, but... the light in her eyes had dimmed. At that moment, as she stood still, she muttered in a low voice: "It's so suffocating... this dress is so tight." I laughed out loud. She saw me smiling, a bit embarrassed, and quickly mumbled an explanation: "I will lose weight... really!" Later, I heard rumors that she quit drawing, only went to a mediocre college, and... bad things happened. But I don't believe it. I don't know why, I simply believe that Luong Am cannot be such a person. Nguyen Tham said I was "love at first sight". I don't believe in love. I just trust my intuition. Later, she caused a ruckus at the Luong family, then left the country with Giang Ha. I don't chase. Not because I don't want to, but because... I know she won't believe my feelings. Even if we chase them, it will only become an old play, what some romance novels call: "Burning the whole station and turning it to gold - Tracing and cremating the funeral home." Yes, that's right. Later, when I read the novel, I realized that's what it's called. I quietly wrote letters of recommendation, sending them to many international artists to nominate her work. Among them, there was a famous professor at a famous art academy. He later told my secretary: “Luong Am passed the academy exam himself, and is currently composing under his guidance.” When I heard that, I laughed softly, but inside... an underground wave arose. He also asked someone to send me recent photos of Luong Am. She has a tall, thin, well-proportioned figure, and seems to be a little rounder than before. When composing, a bright light shined in her eyes, completely different from her appearance when standing next to me in the past. Over the years, many women have tried to approach me. I can only tell the person next to me to continue spreading some ridiculous rumors, such as—“Nguyen Thanh once fed his ex-girlfriend to sharks.” The rumors spread were still true. I don't know whether Luong Am believes it or not. Just hope... she's smart enough not to believe it. Later, three members of the Luong family also disappeared. The secretary said that the Luong couple now lives in poverty, eating and sleeping under the bridge. no one remembers anymore. As for Luong Tieu, she abandoned her adoptive parents and ran after a so-called Southeast Asian big brother, and from then on there was no news. Time passes again. I had to go to a university to have an investment confirmation ceremony. That school is where Luong Am is studying. The secretary was next to me, holding the schedule and reading it to me. I stood in the middle of a foreign airport, the bustling stream of people was like a waterfall, with every face that passed by, I hoped that a face belonged to her. Then suddenly, a familiar voice rang out from behind. I turned my head—Luong Am, with a smile as bright as the morning sun, was waving to me. Outside the glass window, the sun tilted down, its gentle light covering her body, framing her entire figure with a layer of golden aura. That moment, I knew— In this life, I have found my own light.