Chapter 10 — I Raised a Rich Second Generation in the Village

16

Three years is enough to change a lot of things. The small studio used to have only three people, crowded into a residential commercial building, but has now become a famous law office, moved into a bright building in the heart of the city, occupying half of the entire floor. Although the scale is still not large, our reputation is very good, especially in legal aid and protection of vulnerable people, which we do very methodically and humanely. We still don't receive many major commercial disputes, but neighbors who can't be resolved by the neighborhood committee, workers who are owed wages, the elderly who are treated unfairly, or vulnerable women like Chu Tieu Vu in the past... our office is always open to welcome them. On the office windowsill are a few potted plants I brought from the countryside, growing lush and green. Life seems to finally be back on track, busy and full. This morning, I just finished arranging documents for a domestic violence case, preparing to bring them to court to submit. The principal happily pushed open my office door and walked in. Today he was wearing a brand new suit, his hair was neatly combed, and his face had a proud look as if he had just won the lottery.

"Sang Ninh! Good news! Super good news!"

He walked a few steps to my desk, put his hands on the table top, his eyes shining.

“Did you win the lottery?” I put down my pen and smiled teasingly.

“It's better than winning the lottery!”

He coughed lightly, puffing out his chest proudly: "Do you remember three years ago when I said I would seduce the legendary student of Lam Giang University's law faculty? The person who broke several of her records!" I was a bit startled, but on the outside I remained calm: "Remember? What's wrong?"

“You succeeded!”

He slapped his thigh, so excited that he was about to jump up, "Today he came to my office to intern! Just texted me, saying he's coming soon! I have to compete for him from some big law offices! He's the best graduate of their law faculty this year!" He looked at my face, raised his eyebrows: "Why don't you show any surprise?" I thought for a moment and was about to open my mouth: "Principal, I..." Before I could finish my sentence, the office glass door was knocked lightly. Knock, knock knock. The sound is neither heavy nor light. The principal and I both turned around. A tall young man stood outside the door. He wore a crisp white shirt, dark trousers, a vest over his elbow, and his hair was shorter and neater than three years ago, looking clean and bright. The immaturity of years past has gradually disappeared, replaced by a maturity between a teenager and a young man. It's Pho An. His eyes first landed on the student's head and nodded slightly: "Hello, director." Then, his gaze turned to me, his originally calm eyes immediately became gentle and warm, his voice became much softer: "Ms. Sang Ninh." The principal looked at him and then suddenly turned to me, his eyes constantly moving back and forth between the two of them. I waved my hand: "Come in, why are you standing outside the door?" Pho An obeyed and pushed the door open, standing next to me naturally. The distance is neither close nor far, but carries a familiarity that makes it difficult for outsiders to penetrate. The senior finally couldn't bear it anymore, pointed at Pho An and then at me: "You two... you two... Sang Ninh, you two know each other?" I tilted my head to look at Pho An, then turned to the principal and nodded.

“He is my boyfriend.”

The air was silent for a moment. Pho An clearly didn't expect me to say something so straightforward. He turned his head to look at me, his ears were visibly red, but his eyes were bright. He quietly said "Hmm", as if confirming my statement. The senior finally recovered and looked at the two of us in surprise: "When is that? Why don't you know anything?!"

"That's really good, Duong Sang Ninh, you hid it from me so well! No wonder why every time you mention Pho An you act so calm! Turns out you've already 'decided internally'?!"

He hugged his chest and made a heartbroken expression: "I thought it was thanks to my temperament and the office's bright future that I was able to lure people in! It turns out I was the one who was tricked! You two are really... really..." He stammered for half a day, finally choking out one sentence: "The colluding couple tricked me!" I finally couldn't help it and burst out laughing. Pho An also slightly raised his lips, a bit embarrassed but still seriously said to the student: "Director, regardless of what relationship you have with Ms. Sang Ninh, the fact that you chose to intern here is because you thought seriously."

"I really agree with the direction and values that the office pursues, and hope to learn and contribute. I promise to handle work and personal matters well."

His attitude was sincere and professional, immediately pulling the student from drama mode back to reality. His face smiled again, even brighter than before.

“Okay, okay, talented boy and beautiful girl, a match made in heaven, what else can you say?” He patted Pho An's shoulder, "Do well! From now on, we'll be family! Have you eaten yet? Come on, I'll treat you to a meal!"

I was surprised: "Student... you want to invite him to dinner?"

“That's right!”

The principal said: "Look at your face, I'll invite you too!" I shook my head: "What a waste." The schoolmaster looked down on him: "What's the point of wasting a meal? Just eat as much as you want! I can pay for it!" An hour later, in the restaurant. The principal sat opposite Pho An, not saying a word. I was nervous: "Senior? What are you thinking?"

“I'm... thinking about whether I should kneel down and ask your boyfriend to stop eating.”

— COMPLETE —