Chapter 15 — The Child You Never Knew

The rest area after the awards ceremony was bustling with people. Staff are dismantling the stage and packing up equipment, and parents are packing their luggage. Ms. Luu did not know when she came to Khuong Niem's side. In her hand she held Doa Doa's small backpack, standing there with her lips moving a few times, as if she were arranging words.

“Khuong Niem.” She finally opened her mouth, her voice eight octaves deeper than any time before, "Previously on the show, there were things I said that were incorrect."

Khuong Niem was changing Tieu Chau's shoes, but she didn't even raise her head. “What words?” Ms. Luu's throat moved a little. "That was... the day Wen Tam Duyet arrived, I said she was good-natured, gentle and all that. And the time she rushed into the filming room, I was behind her back telling the other parents that she was overdoing it, making things big. Khuong Niem finished tying Tieu Chau's shoelaces, patted the child's ankle and told him to stand up. Then she stood up straight, looking at Ms. Liu.

“You're not the first person to believe her.” Khuong Niem said, "Three years ago, the whole entertainment industry believed it."

Ms. Liu's face turned red. She opened her mouth to say something, then closed it again. Finally, she took out her phone from her pocket, opened it to a page, and handed it over.

“Look at this. Two days ago, Wen Tam Duyet's assistant sent a message to the parents group, telling us in the final round to coordinate with the organizers to lower Tieu Chau's score. It is also hinted that this is 'the investor's intention'. At that time, I didn't dare to speak up, I just took a screenshot and saved it."

Khuong Niem looked at that screenshot. The message was very short, the words sounded like an order, not a plea. At the bottom, write the words "Wen Tam Duyet Office".

“Now you show me this because Wen Tam Duyet has fallen from his horse.” Khuong Niem returned the phone without any ripples in her tone.

Ms. Liu was heartbroken by what she said, her face became even redder. She bowed her head and stood for a few seconds, then said in a low voice: "Sorry." Khuong Niem did not accept this apology. She led Tieu Chau to the door. After taking a few steps, she stopped and did not turn back.

“Post that screenshot to your social media account. Clearly explain the time and context.”

“Don't you feel sorry for me? So let's do something useful.” Khuong Niem's back paused for a moment, "Saying sorry is the easiest, anyone can say it."

Ms. Luu stood rooted to the spot, clutching her phone, her fingers turning white. Doa Doa was next to her, pulling her shirt: "Mom, let's go too." Ms. Luu lowered her head to look at her daughter's face, remained silent for a long time, then turned on her phone and began composing a message. At the end of the hallway backstage, Pho Tu Nien leaned against the wall and waited. Khuong Niem led Tieu Chau past him. Her steps did not slow down, nor did they get faster.

“Wait.” Pho Tu Nien's voice no longer sounded like he was giving an order, but had the look of a plea.

Khuong Niem stopped. Tieu Chau turned her head, observed Pho Tu Nien for two seconds, then looked back at her mother's face.

“Chau Chau, go to the door and wait for mom. Right next to that glass door, don't go far."

Tieu Chau nodded and left. At the turn, he looked back once, confirming that there was no uneasy expression on his mother's face, before turning away. There were only two people left in the hallway. The light is a white, industrial fluorescent tube sick to the point of turning blue, shining on everything, making it cold.

“About the video, I have finished investigating.” Pho Tu Nien's voice was very low, "The so-called bullying video three years ago, in the original document, Wen Tam Duyet attacked first. She cut herself off and pushed her away, leaving only the image of her fighting back."

Khuong Niem leaned against the opposite wall, crossing her arms across her chest. “How long did it take you to investigate?”

“Two weeks.”

“I'll use it for two weeks.” Khuong Niem repeated this period of time, as if savoring the weight of a joke, "I spent three years waiting for this result. Being scolded by everyone for three years, losing all my jobs, moving with my children to three cities, and you spending two weeks."

Pho Tu Nien's chin line is as tight as a bowstring. “It was my mistake.”

"Mistake?" Khuong Niem laughed softly, her voice did not contain any happiness, "You call three years of a person a mistake."

"Khuong Niem, I have no way to return those three years to you. But from now on..."

“From now on what?” Khuong Niem interrupted, "You want to make it up to me? You want to make amends? You want to fulfill your responsibility to the child? Pho Tu Nien, have you ever thought about one thing? If Tieu Chau didn't have your face today, if that variety video didn't appear on hot searches, if you never knew this child existed, would you go investigate to see if that video is real or fake?"

Pho Tu Nien's lips moved, but no sound was emitted.