Chapter 16 — Light Cannot Be Stolen

Lawyer Trinh pushed the third file forward.

"Besides."

"Miss Tham will officially file a lawsuit."

"Ask him to repay the loan."

"Compensate for all damages."

"At the same time, we will pursue legal responsibility..."

"For the incident that happened on the snowy mountain."

Co Canh Xuyen looked at me. His eyes seemed to want to tear me into pieces.

"Tham Van."

"You really want to corner me?"

I calmly replied.

"I just want..."

"You give it back to me."

"Pay."

"Return the camera."

"Give me back my innocence."

Suddenly... He burst out laughing.

"I thought..."

"Did you win?"

I looked at him. Co Canh Xuyen slowly took out a portable hard drive from his pocket.

"Did you forget?"

"In my hands..."

"There's still something of yours."

Hua Lam's face immediately changed.

"Co Canh Xuyen."

"What are you going to do?"

Co Canh Xuyen put the hard drive on the table. One hand pressed firmly on it.

"Tham Van."

"Border photo set..."

"Never announced mine."

"Still in my hands."

"Isn't that..."

"Do you always consider it a treasure?"

"If today..."

"I'm determined to corner you."

"I'll let it disappear with me."

For the first time... I raised my head and looked straight at him. That set of photos... Is a work I made three years ago. That's also the reason... For the past three years. I've never mentioned it to anyone. Everyone in the meeting room... All looked at me at the same time. Co Canh Xuyen stared into my eyes. Emphasize each word.

"Withdraw the lawsuit."

"If not..."

"I will erase everything."

"Right in front of you."

Co Canh Xuyen thinks... That hard drive... is my biggest weakness. I understand my previous self so well. Because of that set of photos. I once stayed in a border village for four months. Sunburned skin. The whole body is full of injuries. Even... Almost got stuck in a landslide. That was the first time. I truly create a work that belongs to me. Also the first time. Co Canh Xuyen looked at me with admiring eyes. He once said:

"Tham Van."

"I really admire you."

But in the end... That set of photos was never published. He always thinks... I'm afraid of failure. Fear of not winning the prize. Fear of being ridiculed by colleagues. He didn't know... The reason I kept all the original photos hidden... Is because of them. There was a photo that accidentally recorded a clue about a missing child. The baby has been found. Her family once begged me. Don't make the photo public. When Co Canh Xuyen used that hard drive to threaten me. Even Duong Niem... was stunned into fear.

"Headmaster."

"Don't do that."

But Co Canh Xuyen never looked at her. He just looked at me. Like a drowning man... Finally grabbed the straw that saved his life.

"Tham Van."

"Aren't you always so noble?"

"Don't you want to hold me accountable?"

"Let's see..."

"I was the one who sent you to jail first."

"Or you..."

"Destroy your most precious thing first."

Editor-in-Chief Manh's expression was extremely unsightly.

"Your words just now..."

"Constituted acts of public intimidation."

Co Canh Xuyen burst into laughter.

"Who am I threatening?"

"This is the hard drive containing the studio's data."

"I have the right to handle it."

Hua Lam immediately stepped forward to grab it. Co Canh Xuyen held up the hard drive.

"Don't move."

"If I accidentally let go..."

"It fell apart."

"Don't blame me."

Promise Lam was so angry that he was shaking. But it still has to stop. I calmly looked at him.

"I'm sure..."

"Is that the original?"

Co Canh Xuyen paused for a moment. Then he quickly regained his composure.

"Don't try to trick me."

"That year I returned from the border area."

"I personally copied all the photos onto this hard drive."

"I also said..."

"That set of photos cannot be lost."

"More important than my life."

I nodded.

"I said that before."

Co Canh Xuyen's face immediately showed an expression of certainty of victory.

"Then..."

"Sorry."

"In front of everyone."

"Admit you lost control because of the altitude reaction."

"Admit that you slandered me and Niem Niem."

Duong Niem immediately panicked.

"Don't drag me into it."

First time. Co Canh Xuyen turned his head to look at her. His eyes were cold and scary.

"Now..."

"Are you afraid?"

Duong Niem stepped back in panic. I calmly spoke up.

"Attorney Trinh."

"Report the police."

The smile on Co Canh Xuyen's face immediately froze. Lawyer Trinh took out his phone. Co Canh Xuyen roared.

"Tham Van."

"You don't need that set of photos anymore?"

I looked straight at him.

"I don't need..."

"Must live under your control."

Co Canh Xuyen stared at me. Fingers tightened on the hard drive.

"I forced you."

He swung his arm vigorously. Throw the hard drive straight onto the floor. The hard drive hit the leg of the conference table hard. Made a deafening cracking sound. Duong Niem screamed loudly. Hua Lam closed her eyes tightly. Couldn't help but curse a word. But Co Canh Xuyen hasn't stopped yet. He was crazy. Push down hard.

"Tham Van."

"Aren't you very good?"

"Don't you want to sue me?"

"Now..."

"Are you satisfied?"

Hard drive casing shattered. Pieces of plastic were scattered all over the floor. I just quietly looked at that pile of debris. Didn't move at all. After pedaling. Co Canh Xuyen gasped. Raise your head and look at me. He wanted to see on my face... Regret. Want to see me like that day in the snowy mountains... Helplessly begged him to give me an oxygen tank. I just calmly asked a question.

"Are you done pedaling yet?"

Co Canh Xuyen's expression... Finally changed.