Chapter 20 — Reliving Before the University Exam, I Tear Up the Conspiracy to Steal Direct Admissions

I don't comfort her. She waited for a long time. Still can't hear the words "it'll be okay" from my mouth. Finally, she wiped away her tears. The voice became firm again.

"Don't think that reaching Hai Thanh means winning."

"I repeated a year."

"I'll still pass the exam."

"Then try your best."

"Never steal someone else's path again."

She threw a photocopy of the apology letter at my feet. Then turned around and left. I don't know when... Grandma woke up. She stood at the door of the hospital room, one hand holding the door frame.

"Duong Duong."

I quickly ran to help her.

"Why did you get out of bed?"

She looked in the direction Hua Niem Niem left.

"Just now..."

"I don't scold him."

"I'm tired of being angry and scolding."

Grandma gently patted my hand.

"It's good not to scold."

"People fall into holes."

"It's okay if you don't raise your hand to pull it up."

"But don't jump down too."

I helped her back to the hospital bed. At that moment the phone rang. He is teacher Co of Hai Thanh University.

"To Duong."

"Congratulations."

"All confirmation procedures have been completed."

"September..."

"See you in Hai Thanh."

I raised my head and looked out the window. It's gone away. Date of announcement of test scores. Khuong Tuyet is even more stressed than me. Early in the morning she ran to the hospital, held the tablet and kept urging her.

"Quickly look it up, quickly look it up."

I laughed.

"I don't need test scores to get into school."

"You still have to investigate."

"Last time you took the test, you were twenty points better than Hua Niem Niem."

"I just wanted to see if his face hurt."

Grandma put on her glasses. Sit more upright than anyone. I entered my registration number. As soon as the results appeared... Khuong Tuyet was the first to scream.

"To Duong!"

"With this score, even if you don't get direct admission, you'll still get into a top university!"

Grandma was so happy that she kept patting the blanket.

"You told me."

"Mrs. Duong Duong is very smart."

I quietly looked at the score on the screen. In my heart... It's like an old rock has finally been laid down. Not to prove it to Hua Niem Niem. It was to prove to myself in my previous life... The person who collapsed in front of the hospital gate... That this time... I was able to save myself. I have never owed anyone anything. The class group quickly exploded. Trieu Khai sent a screenshot of the exam results. He tested very well. Someone asked:

"Where is Hua Niem Niem? Isn't he always in the top of the grade?"

No one answered. Half an hour later... Someone sent another screenshot. Hua Niem Niem's score was nearly eighty points lower than the normal score. In the class group, no one is sarcastic. Everyone was silent. After watching, Khuong Tuyet still refused to give up.

"Didn't he always say that you have to rely on your strength? If your strength comes across as guilty, you'll naturally be crippled."

I returned the tablet to her.

"What about you?"

Khuong Tuyet immediately put her hands on her hips.

"I exceeded the key university entrance exam score by more than thirty points! This sister is also someone who can fly high."

Grandma smiled gently.

"It's all good."

In the afternoon... Hua's mother suddenly pulled the banner to the school gate. She placed all responsibility on the school and Mr. Chu. Saying that the school led the parents in the wrong direction, causing her daughter to be psychologically affected and not do well in her exams. The video spread very quickly. The principal was surrounded in front of the school gate. His face was as black as the bottom of a pot. Less than two days later... The investigation team's official notice was posted on the school's notice board. Hua's mother's banner not only failed to change any sympathy... It also tore away her last bit of dignity. She stood right in front of the school gate and scolded Mr. Chu. Mr. Chu's wife also ran over. In front of everyone, she threw a stack of chat history photos straight into Hua's mother's face.

"She always talks about her daughter."

"Texted my husband in the middle of the night, telling him to help your daughter steal the direct admission..."

"Is it also because of girls?"

The crowd of parents immediately stirred. Hua's mother reached out to grab the phone.

"You're talking nonsense!"

Mr. Chu's wife took a step back.

"Am I talking nonsense?"

"She told him to look for To Duong's files."

"Tell him to write a report."

"Tell him to seal it."

"Which sentence is not in your own voice?"

Master Chu stood in the middle of the crowd. Gray face. Even the strength to justify is gone. The principal was stopped by reporters. Time and time again, we can only say that the school will seriously correct it. But the students no longer raised their heads to listen to him like before. Trieu Khai and several class officials brought a petition with collective signatures to hand over to the investigation team.

"We ask the school to publicly apologize to To Duong, and at the same time publicize the true results of the Hua Niem Niem incident."

The principal looked at the names on the paper. The hand holding the petition shook for a long time. In the end, I only reluctantly uttered one sentence:

"The school accepts everyone's supervision."

The day the school publicly apologized... I didn't go to the auditorium. Khuong Tuyet video called me. The principal stood on stage and read the apology. Teacher Chu sat in the last row. Her hair seemed to have turned a lot gray overnight. Hua Niem Niem did not appear. I heard that when I applied... A few schools that were sure to pass me by all avoided her application. In the end she was only able to enter a normal university in another province. Mother Hua no longer goes to the hospital to cause trouble. Their family's small store was closed for half a month. On the door is a transfer paper. On the other end of the call, Khuong Tuyet clicked her tongue.

"Finally, both mother and child know the pain."

I lowered the phone, peeled an apple for my grandmother and said:

"Know pain..."

"That doesn't mean you know you're wrong."

Grandma took the apple and took a bite.

"Regardless of whether they know or not."

"Don't continue to waste your life because of them."

September. I dragged my suitcase to Hai Thanh. Teacher Co stood waiting at the school gate. Khuong Tuyet was also present. She entered the Pedagogical University right next to Hai Thanh University. He insisted that he must supervise me when I eat well. In front of the admission procedure area... New students lined up in a long line. Someone is flipping through the list of new students. Suddenly he raised his head and asked me:

"Are you To Duong? A directly recruited student from Van Xuyen school?"

Khuong Tuyet immediately blocked in front of me.

"Want an autograph?"

The other person froze and then burst out laughing.

"Teacher Co mentioned you during the welcome session for new students."

"Teacher said..."

"This year there is a student..."

"Even in difficult times most..."

"Still don't leave your fate in someone else's hands."

I looked towards the distant sea. The wind carrying the salty and moist taste of the sea gently passed by. I remember the shrill sound of car brakes in front of the hospital gate in my previous life. I remember my grandmother's hand loosening the bell button to call the nurse at the hospital bedside. Remember the report that was almost sealed. A piece of paper cannot crush me to death. Rumors can't drown me either. Other people's tears... Can no longer bind me. I walked through the school gate. Behind her, Khuong Tuyet's voice rang out loudly:

"To Duong!"

"The braised meat in the cafeteria is almost gone!"

I turned my head and smiled. On the phone, grandmother's voice was as gentle as ever.

"Duong Duong."

"Try to study well."

"Don't be afraid to step forward."

I tightened my acceptance letter. Standing in the middle of a new school campus crowded with passersby. For the first time... I feel it so clearly. My life... Has never been something picked up from anyone's giving. Because I took it back with my own hands.