Chapter 5 — Sunlight on the School Desk

9 Duong Tham's face was gloomy. Behind him are my parents. Not far away, Tan Du was standing. His voice was so low that only I could hear: "Chu Nhuoc, are your feelings that cheap? Can you quickly give them to someone else?" I looked at him coldly: "What if you don't? Just hang yourself to death on a rotten tree?" My parents have always known that I used to like Duong Tham. He leaned over and smiled slightly at my mother: "Auntie, it's him - he seduced Chu Nhuoc into falling in love early." I rolled my eyes. My mother looked towards Tan Du - his face was pale, but he still walked forward bravely. She frowned slightly: "Falling in love early? Isn't Nhuoc Nhuoc already old enough to be an adult? Or is he underage?" I immediately smiled sweetly and replied: "He's even two months older than you!" My mother breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes full of satisfaction looking at Tan Du: "So what's wrong?" Duong Tham couldn't believe it: "Auntie!" I calmly watched him lose control. Forgot to tell him, my mother likes him just because... my mother is a lover of handsome men. But before Tan Du, Duong Tham was literally defeated in a second. Tan Du stood behind me and politely greeted: "Hello uncle, hello aunt." My mother was even more pleased and winked at me: "Is this handsome?" Duong Tham clenched his fists, his unwillingness burning away the remaining reason: "Auntie! He's sick! He's mentally ill, he's autistic! Are you sure you want to let Nhuoc Nhuoc be with him?" The atmosphere at this moment suddenly became silent. Tan Du's face instantly turned pale. Hot blood rushed to my brain, without saying a word, I stepped up and slapped Duong Tham straight in the face! I've wanted to do that for a long time — since the first time he shamelessly scolded me, since the first time he said Tan Du was "sick"! "I think you're the one who's sick! Get out!" Duong Tham raised his head, his cheeks were red and swollen with fingerprints, but no one here spoke up to defend him. He gritted his teeth, then turned and walked back to his house. Tan Du's face was pale, he looked at me a little awkwardly. I stood in front of him, intending to explain on his behalf. But he took a step forward and bowed deeply. Tan Du's voice trembled, even stammering a bit: "Uncle, aunt... My illness... is almost cured. This illness... doesn't harm anyone. I really like Nhuoc Nhuoc... I will get better, and I will treat her well." My nose suddenly stings. My parents didn't say anything more. Tan Du, with a pale face, turned and walked away. I gently patted his shoulder, took the opportunity to give him another kiss, and looked contentedly at Tan Du blushing like a boiled shrimp. “It's okay, I'll handle the matter with my parents.” Having finished speaking, I went back into the house. My mother sat in the living room, rubbing her temples: "Nhuoc Nhuoc, it's not that Mom and Dad are against it... But you'll be happier in love with a normal person than with someone... with psychological problems." Mom tried to speak gracefully. I know she only wants the best for me. I nodded: "I like him, mom. When we first met, he hardly said a word. Today, he told his parents as much. I believe he will recover." My mother nodded slightly, but in the end she didn't say anything more. 10 I didn't expect Tan Du to act so quickly. That same evening, he texted: 【Tomorrow my driver and I will come pick you up. Can I come home to eat with you? My parents want to see you.】 Sitting in the car, I was so nervous that I squeezed Tan Du's hand, leaving clear red marks. Tan Du put his hand on my wrist. He was not good at comforting, he just said: "You are very good, everyone will like you." Suddenly, I remembered the time he coldly told me "Shameless". For some reason, I suddenly didn't feel stressed anymore. I have imagined many scenarios. For example, Tan Du's parents would be tall and noble, coldly glancing at me. Taking advantage of when Tan Du wasn't paying attention, his mother would give me a check and tell me to leave her son... However, when the car just drove into the villa gate, I was still stunned. Tan Du's parents stood in two rows, along with the staff, wearing bright red clothes as if they were attending a wedding. The school beauty stood in the middle, holding a giant banner in her hand: "Welcome Ms. Chu Nhuoc, savior of the Qin family, to visit the hospital." “Hanging out?” The corner of my mouth twitched — a villa this large, decorated so lavishly, could it be called a "hospice"? Tan Du's mother pulled my hand, so excited that tears filled her eyes, she almost knelt down: "Tieu Nhuoc! You must be with A Du well!" “You don't know, over the past few years I've found how many psychiatrists and how many peers I've found for him - some boys, some girls. But all those children… no one can stay with A Du for more than a week!” “Only you…” — she paused for a moment — “…only a resilient, persistent and interesting girl like you can open the door of A Du's heart!” The corner of my lips twitched slightly. Auntie... you actually wanted to say just now that only a thick-skinned person like me can open his heart, right? But I'm not angry, because this love is truly what I "broke in and robbed". Not long after, Duong Tham moved house. I had just chatted with Tan Du on the phone and had just come out of the house - my father told me to take the trash downstairs. But as soon as I opened the door, I saw Duong Tham moving things. I was a bit stunned - he seemed to have lost a lot of weight. His eyes stopped on my face for a few seconds, there was a sadness in his eyes that I couldn't see through. I picked up the trash bag and walked downstairs. His voice suddenly sounded behind him: "Chu Nhuoc." I turned my head. Duong Tham stood on the stairs above, tall and noble like the many times I had looked up at him - but this time there seemed to be something different. He bowed his head slightly, his voice trembling: "I'm sorry... If I had looked straight into my heart sooner, if I hadn't used hurtful words to insult you... would you still like me?" I smiled, shook my head slightly, then turned and continued walking down. On the phone, Tan Du's voice was deeper than usual: "I promised you not to talk to him." I made a soft "tch" sound: "So you didn't open your mouth?" He took a deep breath: "But I shook my head." … How do you know? Does this matter have to be managed?! I widened my eyes - has the Qin family's princess been a bit... arrogant lately? Suddenly I remembered, when I was sitting at the same table with him not long ago, he once transferred money to me - under the condition of not talking to Duong Tham. At that time, he didn't say much, just declared his sovereignty. “Tan Du, when did you start liking me?” I thought you wouldn't answer. But the other side was silent for two seconds, his voice carrying a warm smile: "Since the first time I raised my head to look at you. When the sunlight fell on the desk... I suddenly wanted to open my mouth and talk to you."