Chapter 3 — Reliving Before the University Exam, I Tear Up the Conspiracy to Steal Direct Admissions

As soon as I sat on the train, Hua Niem Niem's messages kept popping up.

"To Duong, my mother didn't mean it."

"That Math notebook might actually be in your suitcase. Can you take a photo for me to see?"

"Don't let a little thing affect my exam. We've been friends for three years, you're not that petty."

I didn't reply to a single message. Right after that, Khuong Tuyet sent me a recording.

"Their mother and child were searching your bed again, but were stopped by the dormitory manager. Hua Niem Niem still cried and said that he used to love her the most, but now that has changed. Teacher Chu also asked the whole class to help find him, telling anyone who sees you pawning anything to report immediately. To Duong, I really can't stand it anymore. Are these people's brains all waterlogged?"

I texted back:

"Help me see if there's a white file folder under my bed."

Khuong Tuyet answered very quickly.

"No. What are you looking for?"

"Nothing."

In her previous life, Hua Niem Niem said her exam notice was stuck in an English book. But then, netizens once dug up a photo. In the photo, the day before the exam, she is holding the bag containing the exam notice and standing in front of the classroom door taking a selfie. That photo only existed online for half an hour and then disappeared without a trace. All this time I still don't understand... Where did Hua Niem Niem have the confidence to dare to blame all the blame on me? Until before death. I lay in front of the hospital gate and heard Hua's mother crying and shouting into the phone:

"He deserved to die! Who told him not to give up his direct recruitment slot to my Niem Niem!"

Direct admission... That's what they really want to steal. The story of losing the exam admission notice... It's just an excuse. Just as the train started rolling, a strange phone number called. I picked up the phone. On the other end of the line, an older man's voice rang out.

"You're To Duong, right? I'm teacher Co, in the Admissions Office of Hai Thanh University."

"We have received your dormitory waiver application. Recently, someone claiming to be your guardian called to ask if it was possible to change the time for signing the direct admission application."

"Do you know about this?"

I looked at my face reflected in the train window.

"I don't know."

Teacher Co was silent for a moment then said:

"Then remember carefully. The direct admission confirmation can only be signed by you."

"No one can sign for me."

I smiled slightly.

"Thank you, Master Co."

Master Co continued:

"There's one more thing. That person asked very carefully, even mentioning that your grandmother was in the hospital. Has someone recently been inquiring about your family's situation?"

I don't answer. Outside the window, the station platform gradually receded. At that moment, the phone showed a message from Hua Niem Niem.

"To Duong, where have you gone? My mother said were you guilty of it so you ran so far?"

I saved Mr. Co's phone number, then texted her back.

"Where I am is none of your business."

Almost immediately, she responded.

"Then you'll regret it."

Nhan Hoi ancient town is not big. The innkeeper's family name is Luong, her face is round, and she speaks decisively as if she were chopping vegetables. When I checked in, she glanced at my ID.

"Students taking university exams? Are you still going out to travel at this hour?"

"I just want to Rest for a few days."

Ms. Luong placed the room card firmly on the counter.

"If you rest, just rest. But don't think about me. Last year there was a little girl who cried all night before the exam, making me almost cry too."

I laughed.

"I won't cry."

Ms. Luong looked at me from top to bottom.

"It's good not to cry. But remember to eat properly. There is hot porridge on the second floor."

As soon as I entered the room, the class chat group exploded. Hua Niem Niem sent a photo of her empty desk. Attached status line:

"My error notebook and the pen used specifically for taking exams are gone. I only found out after To Duong left school. I don't know if it's a misunderstanding, but I'm really worried."

Immediately, someone texted.

"Isn't that right? To Duong was directly recruited, why would he take those things?"

Another person continued.

"Being recruited directly does not mean psychological stability. Who knows, maybe I'm afraid that Niem Niem will do better than me."

Khuong Tuyet immediately became angry.

"Are your mouths hired to bite people? I just searched through my suitcase and couldn't find anything, and now I'm starting to make up stories?"

Hua Niem Niem sent a crying emoji.

"Khuong Tuyet, I'm not sure that To Duong took it. I just want to find it again."

Right after that, Mr. Chu sent a message to the group.

"Everyone, stop arguing. To Duong, if you see Niem Niem's belongings, please contact me immediately."

I don't argue in groups. Just quietly sent a video of the suitcase search scene that morning. In the video, the dormitory manager flipped through all my luggage. Hua's mother stood next to her, looking at every corner. The entire group chat was silent for more than ten seconds. Khuong Tuyet immediately texted.

"Are you done watching yet? Who else wants to bite?"

Class leader Trieu Khai stood up to make peace.

"Maybe it's just a misunderstanding. Everyone, just help Niem Niem find it first."

Not long after, Hua Niem Niem sent me a private message.

"Why did you post the video?"

"Do you know that my mother will lose face by doing that?"

I replied.

"When you guys searched my suitcase, did anyone think I was losing face?"

"To Duong, you weren't like that before."

"How was I before?"

The chat box shows the text being entered... A long time later... She sent a sentence.

"You always helped me before."

I placed the phone face down on the table. At that moment, Ms. Luong knocked on the door carrying a bowl of porridge and walked in.

"Little girl, your phone keeps ringing like someone is collecting a debt. Eat something."

I received the bowl of porridge.

"Thank you."

You're in no hurry to leave. Glancing at the class group message on her phone screen, she asked:

"Are your classmates bullying you?"

"That's it for now."

She placed the tray on the window sill.

"Then don't hold back."

"A while ago, I opened a restaurant. The owner of the shop next door pours dirty water into her shop's door every day. She endured three months in a row."

"He thought you were scared."

"After that, she brought a surveillance camera and showed it right on the street."

"As a result, he had to close down and pay compensation."

She looked at me, her voice calm.

"That person..."

"You take a step back, some people won't think you're reasonable."

"They just think... I'm easy to bully."

I took a spoonful of porridge. Heat spreads throughout the throat. The cold feeling that had weighed me down for two lifetimes finally dissipated a bit. That evening. Hua's mother used Hua Niem Niem's phone to send me a very long voice message.

"To Duong, don't I thought I was done with running away."

"If Niem Niem doesn't do well in her exam because of you, I won't let it go."

"You are a child without a father or mother. In life, you must know how to leave a way out for yourself."

"Your grandmother is still in the hospital, right? Old people can't stand excitement."

My eyes stopped at the last sentence. Immediately, I called the nurse who was taking care of my grandmother. The other end of the line said:

"Miss To, just now a woman came to ask which room your grandmother was in."

"Luckily the nurse stopped it."

"She said she was your relative."

My hand tightened around the cup. The cup is hot.

"Later, besides me and Khuong Tuyet..."

"Whoever comes to ask, don't tell."

The nurse agreed immediately. Hanging up, I saved Hua's mother's voice message. Ms. Luong stood outside the door and asked:

"Should I call the police?"

I opened the door to look at her.

"It's not enough now."

Ms. Luong gave me a key.

"The back door key. If someone comes looking for you, don't go through the lobby."