Chapter 8 — Return to Eighteen

“Lac Tu Hanh,” I said slowly, “You think I'm so cheap that just one word about marriage can make me give up the next half of my life?” Lac Tu Hanh frowned: “I didn't mean that…” I didn't listen anymore, turned around and walked out. Lac Tu Hanh chased after me, reaching out to pull my wrist. I leaned away, entered the elevator, and quickly pressed the close button. The last second the elevator door closed, Lac Tu Hanh's hand slammed against the door. "Uc Nhue Ninh! You will regret it!" Lac Tu Hanh's voice came through the gap in the elevator door, carrying anger and unwillingness. I leaned my back against the elevator wall, staring at my faint silhouette on the door, the corner of my mouth slowly raised. Regret? The thing I regret most about my past life is not seeing the true faces of these people sooner. The elevator reached the first floor and the door opened. The hot summer wind blew into my face, I took a deep breath, letting out the stuffy air in my chest. The phone rang, it was the police station calling, asking me to come over and take a detailed statement. I called a taxi, went to the police station, and the staff took me to the interrogation room to record my statement. I sat down, suppressed the memories of my past life, and only told stories that could be said in this life. "On the evening of June 12, I installed a camera in my room, filming the scene where my stepmother Lam Tu Cuc said she used some money to find a relationship, wanting to swap my university entrance exam scores for Australia Nhue Dao." "My father, Australia Kien Quoc, personally filled in a second-class university on the application form, wanting to force me to get married, so that Australia Nhue Dao would replace me. go to school in Bac Dai." The police officer nodded and was about to continue asking when the door was suddenly pushed open. Lac Tu Hanh stood at the door, followed by Uc Nhue Dao who was crying. A policeman stopped them: “You are not allowed in.” Lac Tu Hanh crossed the policeman's shoulder and looked straight at me: "Nhue Ninh, come out here, I have something to say to you." I didn't move: "You and I have nothing to talk about." Uc Nhue Dao's eyes were swollen like peach nuts: "Sister, my parents really know their mistakes, they will definitely change when they go out..." "Uc Nhue Dao." I said every word, "Those are your parents, from now on, they have nothing to do with me." Uc Nhue Dao's cries fell silent, her face pale. Lac Tu Hanh clenched his fists, his voice was very low: "Uc Nhue Ninh, do you have to be so cruel? You send them to prison, how will you look at life in the future?" I stood up, walked in front of him, looked up at him. From this angle, I clearly saw the worry and dissatisfaction in his eyes. What is he in a hurry? Is he heartbroken because something happened to Au Nhue Dao's parents? "Lac Tu Hanh," I smiled softly, "What does my future have to do with you? You should be more worried about whether your little girlfriend can go to college." Lac Tu Hanh's face stiffened: "What nonsense are you talking about?" I didn't pay any attention to him anymore, turned to say to the police officer: "Are you done recording your statement? Can you go now?" "It's done, we will notify you if there is any progress." I took my bag and walked out. As I passed by Lac Tu Hanh, he raised his hand to stop me. "Nhue Ninh, I'll ask you one last time, do you really not withdraw your application?" I looked at the arm blocking my face, shaking it away. "Smart dogs don't get in the way." I walked out. leaving the police station, the bright sunlight made my eyes sting. Behind me, the sound of Uc Nhue Dao's cry and Lac Tu Hanh's warm words of comfort were heard: "Don't cry anymore, I will think of another way..." I didn't turn around, nor did I want to listen. I took two steps, the phone rang, and it was my grandmother calling. "Ninh Ninh, where are you? Grandma stewed rib soup for you, go home and drink." Grandma's voice was old but warm, like a warm blanket in the middle of a cold winter. My eye sockets

heated up, voice a bit hoarse: "Grandma, I'll be home right away." Hanging up the phone, I stood on the steps in front of the police station, the wind blowing my hair. The phone vibrated again, this time it was a text message from homeroom teacher Ms. Vuong. [Nhue Ninh, Bac Dai Admissions Office has just contacted the school, wanting to make an appointment with you tomorrow to discuss choosing majors and scholarships. Is it convenient for you?] I stared at that line, my fingertips trembling slightly. Bac Dai. Two words that I never dared to think about in my previous life, are now clearly present before my eyes. I was about to answer when a black car suddenly stopped in front of me. The car window rolled down, revealing a well-maintained middle-aged woman's face. The woman took off her sunglasses, looked at me from top to bottom, the corner of her mouth had a smile with an unclear meaning. "Are you Uc Nhue Ninh? That little girlfriend of Lac Tu Hanh?" I didn't know her, but my intuition told me that the person who came did not have good intentions. The woman pushed the car door open and slowly got out, her high heels hitting the ground making crisp sounds. "I'm Lac Tu Hanh's aunt, Lac Man." I paused, "I heard you put your parents in jail?" I tightened my grip on the phone, not speaking. Lac Man smiled faintly, put his sunglasses on his collar, and slowly walked around me.