Chapter 6 — Return to Eighteen

It wasn't until I died in my previous life that I realized those points were mine. And now, this number truly belongs to me. The phone was still vibrating frantically, the messages were scrolling so fast that it was impossible to see clearly. Tablemate To Van sent dozens of voice messages in a row, each one crying. [Uc Nhue Ninh, you're really amazing!] [725 points! During my three years of high school, I never dared to think that anyone could get such a high score, you did it!] ... Before I could finish listening, Lac Tu Hanh's message popped out. [Nhue Ninh, the phone call with good news came to your house. Your parents asked me to help you submit the registration form.] [Are you really not going home anymore? With such a high score, you should celebrate with your family.] I stared at that line, typed a few words and sent it. [Did they give you the request form? So have you seen the wishes up there? They told a natural science valedictorian like me to go to a second-class pedagogical school, do you think there's no problem?] Lac Tu Hanh answered very quickly: [Your parents also want the best for you.] [At dinner you said we broke up, my parents were very angry, your father always talked it over for you.] [Your father said you should wait until you marry me to live well, Nhue Ninh, our family will not let you suffer. Where are you?] I looked at what he said, as if there was a thorn in my eyes. I didn't answer anything else, just clicked on Lac Tu Hanh's avatar and pressed the delete button. All ten years of conversation and love history were erased in one second. Then I dialed the number to call homeroom teacher Ms. Vuong. "Miss Vuong, my name is Uc Nhue Ninh. My parents want to force me to register at the Provincial Pedagogical School." Ms. Vuong's voice was low: "Don't worry, I have already submitted your wishes for you. Electronic documents will be given priority over paper copies. As a valedictorian like you, the teacher will not let you miss out." Hearing these words, my uneasy heart completely stabilized. "I know, thank you." I hung up the phone, immediately asked the store manager for permission, I wanted to immediately report this good news directly to my grandmother. The store manager was very generous in giving me a break. I went to the beginning of the alley and immediately saw Australia's father's car. Uc's father sat in the driver's seat, lowered the car window and looked at me. "Daughter, I received a phone call with good news from the school, valedictorian of the natural class, great!" I stood there, softly asking: "What are you doing here?" Uc's father's face twitched and he quickly forced a smile: "Of course I'm here to take you home." "Your mother kept muttering at home that she had to celebrate for you, you are our daughter, I can't really not come home." I held her tightly: "She is Australia's biological mother Nhue Dao, my mother passed away a long time ago!" Uc's father's face changed slightly. He directly pushed the door out of the car and walked towards me. "What nonsense did you hear someone say?" I didn't say anything, I didn't want my grandmother to be dragged into this matter. Mr. Uc's father was a little upset and pulled me back: "Forget it, if you don't want to talk, I'm too lazy to ask, follow me home!" I looked at him for a long moment, then nodded: "Okay." It seems like it's definitely over. Uc's father drove like crazy, arrived home, and as soon as he entered the door, he immediately saw Australia's mother and Uc Nhue Dao sitting on the sofa. Uc Nhue Dao's eyes were red, as if she had just cried. I glanced at my room, books and some sundries were all thrown around on the floor. Uc's father noticed my gaze and coughed. "That's just cleaning the house and making a mess. Go sit over there, I have something to tell you." I just stood, not sitting. A flash of anger flashed across Uc's father's face, and his tone became stiff. "Nhue Ninh, you are the valedictorian of the natural class, the whole family is happy for you, but your father and mother have already discussed, your wishes for the Provincial Pedagogical Institute are good."

"I curled my lips and smiled brightly: "I've already registered for Peking University." Dad Uc suddenly raised his head, looked at my smiling face, and slammed his hand on the tea table with a bang. "Who let you register for Bac Dai? It's such a big deal, why don't you discuss it with your family!" I looked at his angry, twisted face, and felt only sadness in my heart. "People sent me to school, the goal was Thanh Hoa and Bac Dai, but what about you?" "I became the valedictorian of the natural class, you blamed me for enrolling in Bac Dai, because if Bac Dai accepted me, you wouldn't be able to exchange my grades for Uc Nhue Dao anymore, right?" As soon as these words were spoken, the three of them were still talking. Everyone in the room changed color. Australia's mother's voice was bright: "Uc Nhue Ninh! Your sister's health is not good, how about you give her a little help?" Uc Nhue Dao also cried: "Sister, I won't take your points, but my health is so poor, I'm afraid I won't have the chance to go to college anymore, don't misunderstand..." I wasn't moved at all. Uc Nhue Dao always says that her health is too poor, but in my previous life I had stomach cancer, and Uc Nhue Dao is still alive. I look at this whole family. Australia's mother's madness, Australia's father's biased calculations, her sister's tears. In my previous life, I had seen scenes like this too many times, and every time I had to compromise and give in.