Chapter 3 — Invincible Youth

He smudged my lipstick and wrinkled my dress. Eyes filled with hysterical desire. Deep, hoarse voice: "Thanh Le, Le Le." “Divorce him… come back to me.” “I… will really be good to you and the baby.” “I swear.” I struggled out of his grip, panted and said: "I... I'm single—um..." Before I could finish my sentence, I was hit by a shower of passionate kisses. The person I secretly loved for many years, suddenly one day after many years, tried to seduce me so much, it was hard to resist. … That night, I dreamed about my childhood again. I grabbed the guy in the white shirt, smiled and said: "Hey, Giang Duc Bach, when the match is over, go watch a movie with me." Giang Duc Bach pursed his lips, his ears turned red, his voice cold: "Teachers don't let male and female students get close to each other." "Just watching a movie! Really! Believe me!" That day, Ha Thanh Le was confident, good at studying, and radiant. If she likes someone, she dares to show it clearly. That day, I kissed Giang Duc Bach in the movie theater. Just like he kissed me tonight. That frozen heart is now burned into a boiling pot of water. Continuously swirling. Violent impact. The whole night was not peaceful. When I woke up, half of the withered leaf outside the window still stubbornly made a creaking sound on the glass. Giang Duc Bach is no longer there. I was a bit stunned. Wrapped in a blanket, sitting idly in front of the sofa. It was a long time before I remembered what happened last night. He called me a “good student” more than once. Call my name dearly. But I lied to you. I slowly covered my face. If you knew I couldn't go to Shenzhen University and dropped out of high school, would you still like me? 7 Before Giang Duc Bach knew the truth, I pulled my suitcase and left. But unfortunately, the moment the elevator door opened, I bumped into Diep Tan Tang. “Oh, Thanh Le?” She smiled and looked at my suitcase, "Are you planning to leave? Weren't you still spending the night in Giang Duc Bach's room last night?" Where did she know that from? Diep Tan Tang suddenly blocked the door and spoke softly in my ear: "Do you really think Giang Duc Bach likes you?" "He was clearly taking revenge on you. After sleeping with him, he made fun of you and told us about it." My heart felt heavy, I pushed her hand away, pulled the suitcase forward. Diep Tan Tang smirked behind him: "You were just a spoiled girl throughout high school, causing chaos in the men's restroom, let's face reality." That last sentence hit me right where it hurts. I stopped walking suddenly. After a long time, he turned back and walked towards Diep Tan Tang with a determined expression. A few seconds later, a clear slapping sound made the entire hotel lobby wake up. Diep Tan Tang was stunned, holding his swollen cheek in disbelief: "You dare to hit me?" “I should have hit you a long time ago.” The anger that had been pent up for so long now exploded: "Diep Tan Tang, no matter how famous you are, to me you are still just a stupid person who specializes in making up dirty stories." Diep Tan Tang's eyes gradually became cold. "Is that so? Then look back." “Do they trust you more or me?” I'm back. The flash lit up the entire hall, crowded with people like locusts surrounding me. “Miss Ha, an anonymous whistleblower said you once caused a disturbance in the men's restroom in high school, is that true?” “My classmates all said she graduated from Shenzhen University, but in reality she dropped out in high school, what is the truth?” “Did you stay overnight in Giang Duc Bach's room last night?” “Did you lie to him?” Old stories suddenly came to light. The scabbed wound was now torn open, revealing a patch of fresh blood. I feel like I'm back in the old days. Diep Tan Tang stood in the bright office, openly slandering me: "Teacher, I want to denounce Ha Thanh Le." “That condom she used in the bathroom with someone else.” Years later, she did the same trick again. She tried to use this method to force me to leave. Behind him, Diep Tan Tang covered his face and said: "Don't talk nonsense! Even though she dropped out of high school, her private life is not for you to discuss! Please respect my daughter's privacy!” A moment later, the crowd erupted in reaction. “Just now Ha Thanh Le slapped Tan Tan and she still defends her?” “Dog bites dog!” “Are you really a high school dropout? Go away!" Suddenly, in the crowd, I saw Giang Duc Bach returning with breakfast in hand. He stood there for a long time. Amidst the continuous clicking sound, he gently asked: "You lied to me, right?" I don't know how to say that "right" word. I was like a clown standing in front of everyone, emotionally accepting all criticism. My hands tightened. It's okay. Anyway, I've been through it once. I have nothing to lose, so I'm not afraid of loss. “Fraudster, die!” Suddenly a bottle of mineral water flew straight towards me. When the bottle was about to hit my forehead, Giang Duc Bach rushed forward, pushed everyone away, and blocked the water bottle for me. The whole hall immediately burst into cheers of surprise. The reporters who were chatting suddenly stopped talking. Because Jiang Yubai's attitude determines the direction of the rumors. He suddenly laughed to himself: "Ha Thanh Le, why do you always bully me? You know—” “I like you, but you let me act like a fool.” I gave a forced smile and calmly said: "Sorry." Diep Tan Tang said: "Duc Bach, I didn't expect her to slap me like that, don't blame her." At that time, I even jokingly wondered if Giang Duc Bach would hit me. Giang Duc Bach raised his eyes and softly uttered a few words: "She hit you, you must have done something wrong." As soon as the words ended, there was a sigh of surprise around. Because this is the first time Giang Duc Bach changed his face in public. He pulled my hand, coldly to the point of being scary: "It's not a big deal." “Whatever you do.” Fan shouted in disbelief: “Jiang Duc Bach, wake up! Don't let love blind you!” The truth proves that Giang Duc Bach has indeed lost his reason. He led me away from the scene in front of all the press. 8 News about "Jiang Duc Bach running away with his lover" quickly reached the top of the hottest searches. Under the comments section, a wave of vehement reactions arose. Many people spoke out in support of Diep Tan Tang: "It's unfair for Tan Tan. For many years, he secretly protected Giang Duc Bach, but in the end he left for the bad girl. Luckily, most fans kept a neutral attitude: "Mr. Giang always has a reason for doing everything, there is definitely something behind it." "Mr. Giang, we always wait to believe in you, trust you." At this time, our car stopped at a deserted beach. Giang Duc Bach is calling: "Yes, the announcement will be delayed a bit." “I don't care what other people think.” I looked out the window, my mind suddenly blank. It seems like no one has ever told me that whatever I am, it doesn't matter. I suddenly remembered a nightmare afternoon the day before. Someone discovered a used condom in the men's restroom. I stood in the staff room, the sunset shining down on my shoulders. Diep Tan Tang cried softly: "I saw Thanh Le go into the men's restroom..." I objected in disbelief: "I went because you said Giang Duc Bach fainted in the bathroom, but I didn't see him anywhere." Diep Tan Tang opened his eyes wide: "I didn't say that, Thanh Le, don't blame me, you secretly fell in love." Giang Duc Bach sat in the car listening to me tell the story, frowning fiercely: "There is no evidence, how can they force you to drop out of school?" I said: "My father is in debt due to gambling. When he heard what the teachers said, he insisted that I was defamed in the men's restroom, demanding 200 thousand in compensation from the school, otherwise there would be a fuss. Diep Tan Tang agreed to testify for my father." It can be said that both Diep Tan Tang and my father are the culprits of this matter. Giang Duc Bach's face was cold: "At that time, you quit school a month ago..." "You quit school completely." Many years have passed, and when that memory is dug up, I am still heartbroken. Apparently I study very well. But since my father became addicted to gambling, everything changed. “The last day, when I was packing up my things at school, I found your love letter.”