Chapter 20 — I Overturned My Own Sentence

Three months later. During the annual closing ceremony of Bang Vien Group, I received the "Best New Employee of the Year" award. When he stepped on stage to receive the award, the applause lasted for a long time. It's not because of how strong my working capacity is. But because everyone knows my story. The girl was wrongly convicted and spent three years in prison. After being released from prison, he had to sell milk tea to make a living. In the end, he turned the case over himself. Co Tham sat in the front row. His expression while clapping was still the same as usual— Cold, calm. But I noticed… You were the one clapping the hardest. After getting off the stage, Ly Nhuoc Lam walked over.

"Congratulations."

“Thank you, Ms. Ly.”

“Thank you also for lending me your clothes that time.”

“No thanks.”

She glanced at me.

“You wear that outfit better than me.”

She paused for a moment then said:

“There's something I want to tell you.”

“What?”

“Hua Dinh quit his job.”

“Hua Dinh?”

“The girl who said bad things about you in the tea room.”

“Her family used to do business with the Tran family.”

"Now that the Tran family has collapsed, they are also implicated."

“It has nothing to do with you.”

“I know.”

“Just tell me.”

That evening, I returned to my small apartment. On the kitchen table there is a courier box. Inside was— Admission notice. Hac Thanh University. Special admission system for university entrance exams for adults. Attached is a letter.

“Dear student Lam Van:

Considering my special situation, after the Law faculty council met to discuss, the school decided to specially allow me to enroll in the Law major through the admission channel for mature candidates. My high school academic achievements have been fully confirmed by my old school. Wishing you a bright future." I picked up the newspaper and looked at it three times. Faculty of Law Hac Thanh University. Not Jinghua University. Not a full scholarship. Not "the pride of Hac Thanh". This is something that belongs to me. There is no one to take the exam. There is no cheating. There is no slander. I put newspaper on the wall. Then send Co Tham a message:

“I'm going to college.”

Three seconds later, he replied:

“I'll take care of the tuition.”

"No need."

“National compensation is enough.”

“So living expenses.”

“I have a salary.”

“Can you talk normally?”

“Don't always think about spending money on me.”

“I'm your cousin.”

“Spending money on your sister is a natural thing.”

“When you met me, you didn't know I was your cousin.”

Messages stopped. One minute later. The screen lit up again.

“At that time, I also wanted to spend money for you.”

I looked at that line for a long time. No reply. Two years later. In the simulated courtroom of the Law Faculty of Hac Thanh University, I stood on the podium as a "defense lawyer". Opposite is the "prosecutor" - my classmate. A boy three years younger than me. The audience row below had several professors from the Faculty of Law. And in the last row... Is a man wearing a gray suit. I don't know how you came. Today's simulation case— Turns out it was a wrongful death case. I stood there, performing my defense for forty minutes. From holes in the chain of evidence… To the importance of procedural justice. From analyzing each specific case... To thinking about the entire legal system. The last thing I said was—

“The law is not a tool power."

“The law is the last shield of the weak.”

The entire auditorium was silent for three seconds. Then applause rang out. The professor gave me the highest score in the entire class. After school, Co Tham stood outside the door waiting for me.

“You said it very well.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Convenient.”

I laughed.

“Is this place convenient?”

He didn't answer.

“Are you free this evening?”

"What is up?"