Chapter 9 — Light Cannot Be Stolen

Hua Lam sat in the driver's seat. The hand holding the steering wheel clenched so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"So she said..."

"Did her son swap my oxygen tank for helium?"

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds. Then my mother replied:

"Isn't it just a joke?"

"You're still healthy now."

I closed my eyes.

"Almost died."

"Don't say such unlucky words."

My mother lowered her voice.

"My brother is still waiting for money to repay the debt."

"Canh Xuyen's mother said so."

"As long as you're willing to apologize."

"The wedding is still happening."

"The bride price is still enough."

"Now my house..."

"There is no shortage of that money."

"My little brother..."

"How much do you owe?"

"Not much."

"Two hundred thousand yuan."

"Didn't you just give me fifteen thousand last month?"

"It's young."

"I don't understand."

"Being tricked by friends."

I laughed softly. Mom immediately got angry.

"What are you laughing at?"

"He is my younger brother."

"Are you my biological child?"

On the other end of the line... A few seconds later. Mother just spoke up.

"Since I was little, I have understood things."

"Don't be stubborn at this time."

That saying... I've heard it for more than twenty years. My brother broke my camera.

"I understand, let me go."

Go to high school. I won the contest and received a prize. My brother wants to buy a motorbike. Mom said again:

"I understand, give me the money first."

I went into the mountains alone to take photos. To the point of freezing my fingers. Mom just said:

"Girl, don't try too hard."

"If only I could get married early."

Co Canh Xuyen almost cost me my life. Mom still only said one sentence.

"You understand."

I calmly replied:

"Two hundred thousand yuan..."

"I won't give it."

Mom immediately panicked.

"You didn't give it?"

"Then your sister will be blocked by someone!"

"Then call the police."

"It would be embarrassing to report to the police!"

"Are you stiff now?"

"Don't forget..."

"If in the past the family had not raised their children to study..."

"So why have children today?"

I looked at the needle mark on the back of my hand.

"My college tuition..."

"I took the photo and earned it myself."

"So when I was little, I ate at home..."

"Not money?"

Hua Lam really couldn't listen anymore. She snatched the phone out of my hand.

"I'm Tham Van's editor."

"She just got out of the hospital."

"The doctor said absolutely not to get excited."

"If you continue to pressure..."

"I will advise her on the night of the procedure to end all financial support with the family."

My mother choked.

"Who are you?"

"Is it your turn to meddle in our family matters?"

Hua Lam coldly replied:

"I don't care about your family matters."

"The law will govern."

She hung up. Then give me the phone back. The car slowly left the hospital. Hua Lam asked:

"Where to now?"

"To the studio."

She frowned.

"Can your body handle it?"

I re-fastened my seat belt. His eyes were strangely calm.

"They are preparing to agree on testimony."

"I have to come..."

"Listen to what they're going to say."

Hua Lam glanced at me.

"Before, you kept saying Co Canh Xuyen was stupid, I thought your mouth was poisonous."

"So what now?"

She started the car.

"Now I see that your cursing is still mild."

Co Canh Xuyen's studio is located in an old office building in the city center. On the front door is the promotional photo that he is most proud of. That photo... I took it. At that time, he insisted on hanging it on the door, saying it was a symbol symbolizes the period when the studio began to rise. Now, below the photo there is another small text: Photography director: Co Canh Xuyen. I stood in front of the door and looked for two seconds. Then he raised his hand and tore the poster straight down. The receptionist stood up in panic.

"Miss Van..."

I rolled up the poster and threw it in the trash next to it.

"Where is the meeting room?"

Her eyes wandered inside.

"General Manager Co said..."

"No outsiders accepted today."

Hua Lam walked in.

"Tham Van is an outsider?"

The receptionist immediately fell silent. The meeting room door is not closed. Co Canh Xuyen's voice came from inside.

"Tham Van is just causing trouble right now."

"Wait until the wedding invitation is sent out, she will automatically return."

"Everyone remember this carefully."

"The story on the mountain..."

"It's because she had a reaction to the high altitude and her memory was disturbed."

"Her oxygen tank was not switched."

"She took the wrong bottle herself."

"And the camera..."

"It's also because she's not feeling well, she took the initiative to give it to Niem Niem to take care of."

Duong Niem said softly:

"Everyone, don't be awkward."

"If anyone doesn't want to help me..."

"I can understand too."

Immediately someone replied:

"Nien Niem, don't say that."

"I'm also a victim."

"That's right. Normally Tham Van is too strong, who knew she would do such a big thing this time."

"General Manager Co treated her so well, she even called the police. How cruel."

I pushed the door and walked in. Everyone in the room immediately fell silent. Co Canh Xuyen stood in front of the whiteboard, still holding a pen in his hand. Duong Niem sat next to him, tears still in the corners of his eyes. Tieu Chu stood in the corner of the room, hand clutching the phone. As soon as he saw me coming, he clearly breathed a sigh of relief. Co Canh Xuyen's face darkened.

"Who sent you here?"

I walked to the front of the conference table. Put down a copy of your medical record.

"Come and listen..."

"How I messed up my memory."

Duong Niem stood up.

"Miss Van, your health has not recovered yet."

"Stop tormenting yourself."

"Why am I suffering?"

"You suddenly came like that..."

"Everyone is very awkward."

I looked at her.

"Only people who do things against their conscience..."

"I just feel awkward."