Chapter 10 — I Never Made It to Nam Thanh With You

But the Ko family’s promotional materials claimed this was a joint work between Ko Nghien Le and me.

The Ko family merely provided the location and the construction conditions.

Ko Nghien Le did not participate in the design process at all.

Can you stand by that statement?

I can.

I uploaded the entire timestamped history of the original drafts, the award certificates, and the verification documents from my academic advisor. Professor Tham then asked, Why are you choosing Monument Conservation instead of continuing with Architecture?

I was silent for a moment.

I used to think that if I liked a place, I should build a home of my own there. But later, I realized that not everyone needs to move into the same house. What I want to do more than anything is to ensure that the things which already exist are not erased by others on a whim.

Professor Tham looked at me steadily. The study environment in the Northwest is very harsh. Field surveys, restoration experiments, and deep roots in remote locations—it is not at all like sitting in an office drafting blueprints. Have you thought this through?

I have thought it through.

Does your family support this?

I looked out toward the study door. My father did not appear, but on the table sat a glass of warm water he had just brought in. This is my life. I will take responsibility for my own choices first.

Professor Tham nodded. The interview lasted forty minutes. Before it concluded, he informed me that the final results would be sent within a week, which would fall right before the inauguration banquet for the Te Nguyet Pavilion. I logged out of the meeting and removed my headset. The study door was pushed open just then. Ko Nghien Le stood in the doorway, clutching the exhibition layout list I had left behind at the old family estate. His expression was grim. The door had not been fully latched; he had clearly heard the end of our conversation.

You listed Northwest University as your first choice?

This time, I did not hide it from him.

That is correct.

Ko Nghien Le threw the list onto the table. When did you change it?

On the day I confirmed my preferences.

Why didn’t you tell me?

I found the question absurd. That is my personal preference. Why do you insist that I must report it to you?

Because we agreed that we would go to Nam Thanh together! His voice suddenly spiked, though he quickly lowered it, fearing he might disturb my father downstairs. We already rented a place. We picked our majors together. Our two families have already arranged the inauguration banquet and the engagement party. Now, you suddenly head off to the Northwest and ruin the entire plan.

As it turned out, what concerned him was that his plans had been disrupted—not why I no longer wished to go to Nam Thanh.

Those plans were made by all of you. Not once did anyone ask for my opinion.

Ko Nghien Le stared at me. The anger in his eyes slowly shifted into a smug sense of realization. It is because of Uyen Ninh again, isn’t it? You feel I am being too partial toward her, so you deliberately changed your choice to force my hand.

I did not bother to answer. He seemed to have found the root cause, and his shoulders relaxed slightly. Kien Nguyet, you do not need to go to such lengths. As long as you stop targeting Uyen Ninh, I can keep my distance from her.

I looked at him, truly uncertain whether to be angry or to laugh. If you keep your distance from her, what does that have to do with whether or not I go to the Northwest?

Ko Nghien Le froze. Are you not changing your choice because of her?

No.

Then for what reason?

Because I want to go.

The answer was so simple that he found it impossible to believe. You have never mentioned this before.

Not speaking of it before does not mean I did not want it.