Chapter 3 — The Day My Laughter Became An Obsession

Where did I end up? He couldn't understand it. At this moment, Tieu Truong called in panic:

"Mr. Trinh! Looks like someone has come to take Ms. Lam away!"

Right after that, Trinh Tu Mac's phone also rang loudly. An urgent voice rang out:

"Brother! Something big happened! The school's system has just been infiltrated by hackers!

Important data in our graduation thesis was leaked! Also… more… someone accused us of academic fraud!”

5

Trinh Di Tham couldn't believe his ears. He asked Trinh Tu Mac to repeat again, only then did he fully understand the situation. If just one of these stories were exposed, it would be enough to ruin their academic careers. However, all the scandals exploded at the same time. Plus I suddenly disappeared... A feeling of panic rose in Trinh Di Tham's heart. He has a premonition that the empire he tried to build is collapsing. His eyes suddenly turned dark, he almost collapsed, but luckily Tieu Truong caught him in time. On the other side, Trinh Tu Mac completely lost control, his voice trembled, panicked to the point of stammering:

"Brother! Quickly go back to school! I can't stand it anymore!"

“All instructors are on their way, the emergency academic council will be opened immediately!”

“I can't control the situation anymore!”

“I heard that the Ministry of Education and research agencies have established a joint investigation team and will directly inspect our laboratory tomorrow morning!”

"What should I do now? What should I do?"

"More! The school gate is filled with reporters! We can't go out!"

Trinh Tu Mac hadn't finished his sentence yet, Trinh Di Tham decisively hung up the phone. The shock this time was so great that even Trinh Di Tham felt like his heart was being squeezed. Trinh Di Tham has never been so panicked. Even when there was a family dispute after his father's death, he was still able to calmly deal with it. When planning to harm me, he still maintained a cold and calm appearance. But now… For the first time, he truly felt the feeling of destruction. A leaked thesis means the entire research project becomes worthless. Academic fraud—this is a red line in the research world. Once exposed, your reputation and career will completely collapse. The scariest thing is that the lab's research funds have been frozen. Not only was it impossible to explain to the supervisor, but even maintaining the basic operation of the project became a problem. A series of bad news rushed in. Don't even talk about applying for a new project—just being kicked off the list by the school's research institute is almost a certainty. Trinh Di Tham did not dare to imagine tomorrow's prospects. Everything happened so fast, so fast that I couldn't even run away in time. Bach Lan stood quietly watching the entire incident unfold before her eyes. The man she worshiped for so many years, the one who always shone like a lofty god—Trinh Di Tham. Right now, he is just a failure, pushed from heaven straight to the ground. She is not stupid, she understands the seriousness of the problem. Without a miracle, Trinh Di Tham will not be able to recover. Bach Lan seems to be able to see Seeing with his own eyes the academic empire that Trinh Di Tham worked so hard to build was collapsing in the blink of an eye. She took out her phone and called Bach Vu. Bach Vu still doesn't seem to know what's going on. While Trinh Tu Mac was busy dealing with a scandal at school, she and her close friends were having fun at a bar, intoxicated with alcohol and music. When the phone rang, she was being forced to drink champagne by a male model, her whole body lost in drunkenness. Bach Lan gritted her teeth and forced her to find a quiet place to talk. Then, her voice urgently instructed:

"Bach Vu, go home immediately! Right now!"

“Transfer all the money in your name to a safe account!”

“Bring all your valuables, be ready to leave at any time!”

This ship is about to sink. She must find a way to escape before it's too late. After hanging up the phone, Bach Lan immediately searched the Trinh family's apartment, collecting all valuable items.

6

Tieu Truong drove Trinh Di Tham back to school. Along the way, his mind was so chaotic that it felt like it was about to explode. The academic scandal was exposed. I suddenly disappeared again. These two things absolutely cannot be coincidence. But… I'm just an ordinary student. A child was raised by his grandmother from an orphanage, even his biological parents are unknown. With my mental turmoil right now, what can I do? How do I have enough power to cause this? But the truth is I'm gone. And soon after, his entire career was pushed into the abyss. It was too coincidental. Trinh Di Tham couldn't think of it. Could it be... I knew everything? Could it be... there was a mysterious force behind me? A force that was madly taking revenge on my behalf? No... Impossible. He didn't want to believe it. He remembered the image of me after the night of being drugged—like a broken doll, lifeless. Almost lost the will to live. If it weren't for the fact that I had lost my memories, I probably wouldn't have been able to continue to exist. But then, when that video played back on the big screen in the hall, all the memories came back. He also remembered... I've been through so many times of being crushed by netizens, trampled on by public opinion, and having my friends and teachers whisper loudly behind my back. I ended up suffering from severe depression. He knew how long I had lived in pain. He still clearly remembered the scene of me lying motionless in the bathroom, blood smeared all over the floor. Thinking of those things, a cold chill ran down my spine. Perhaps, this was retribution. It's not that it didn't exist, it was just that it wasn't the time. And now, retribution has really come down. The car arrives at the school gate. Trinh Di Tham woke up from his thoughts. In front of him, the whole school gate was filled with people. Flash lights were as bright as day. Reporters from major media companies were broadcasting live. Each camera, each long and short lens of all kinds pointed straight towards the main gate. As soon as the car stopped, it was immediately surrounded. Tieu Truong got out of the car and tried to open the way. But… the crowd was too big. Trinh Di Tham was completely unable to move. Amidst the dense siege, he suddenly remembered that every time I encountered this scene, I trembled with fear. He finally felt the feeling of suffocation. sharp questions from reporters rang out non-stop, like poisoned knives stabbing straight into his heart. But this time, the person who was tortured... was Trinh Di Tham.

"Trinh Di Tham, your research data was leaked, did someone intentionally harm you?"

“Trinh Di Tham, if the data is falsified, will all of your research be invalidated?”

“Mr. Trinh, if academic fraud is confirmed, will you be expelled?”

"Mr. Trinh, the laboratory's research fund is showing signs of ambiguity, has it been embezzled?"

“Mr. Trinh, there are rumors that your degrees will be revoked, is that true?”

"Mr. Trinh, I heard that classmate Lam has gone missing, is this related to this scandal?"

"Mr. Trinh, are you being retaliated against by someone?"

Every sharp question was like a knife piercing straight into Trinh Di Tham's mind, causing him pain, making him feel like his mind was about to explode. He did not want to answer these questions, nor could he. Right at this moment, he finally understood my feeling of being surrounded and pointed at. Being suspected, criticized, every wound in the heart is torn open right in front of the public. But scarier than these aggressive reporters... It was the professor council waiting in the laboratory, the special investigation team about to enter the school. That is truly a nightmare with no way out. Tieu Truong called security and escorted Trinh Di Tham into the teaching building. In the elevator, looking down at the sea of people still surrounding the schoolyard, his chest felt like it was being weighed down by a rock. Tieu Truong glanced at him, then suddenly spoke:

“Mr. Trinh, I have people search the entire school campus.

Still no sign of Ms. Lam.”

“It's truly haunted.”

Trinh Di Tham gritted his teeth and cursed, feeling that everything was gradually going out of control. Nail! The elevator door opens. Right in front, a group of professors stood waiting. Everyone's face was cold.

7

The next day... My private car stopped in front of the gate of the most advanced private hospital in S city. Right at the main door, an elderly doctor with a gentle smile was waiting. Behind him were two long lines of medical staff wearing white blouses, all of whom looked extremely professional.

“Welcome Miss Lam back to the medical center.”

The voice was so warm and solemn that it stunned me on the spot. As the medical staff moved aside, I saw a line of people standing behind me—my parents, and five older brothers. They were all looking at me, tears shining in their eyes.

“Baby, I can finally wait for the day you return home.”

My parents hugged me tightly, their voices choked. That's right. I am the youngest daughter of the founder of Lam Thi medical group. In the past, because of an internal dispute related to a medical accident, I was secretly taken away by bad guys and then adopted by the Chu family. Over the years, Lam Thi's family has never stopped looking for me. The current president of Lam Thi Medical Group—is my father. My mother and five older brothers never gave up. They always secretly investigate my whereabouts. It wasn't until two months ago that they happened to see me on social media. The face of I—exactly like my mother—caught their immediate attention. They immediately hired the best private investigation team, quietly verified my identity, and arranged someone to protect me from the shadows. Finally, they found me, and brought me back home. The entire escape plan this time—was personally arranged by my fifth brother. The desperate situation that the Trinh Thi laboratory is facing right now—all because of my family's actions. We can completely confront the Trinh family head-on. But to ensure my absolute safety, they chose to take me down step by step, slowly but without mercy. Returning to Lam Thi's family, I finally felt the true warmth of a home. Because I am the only daughter in the family, I have been lost for many years, and have suffered countless times living outside. So when I returned, I became a precious gem in the hearts of the whole family. Before that, they had thoroughly investigated everything I had gone through. Knowing how deeply I was hurt, the whole family was in pain to the core. Especially my mother, every time those things are mentioned, she can't sleep. They swore that they must make the Trinh family, Chu family and Bach family pay the price. To help me fully recover, my family invited the world's leading psychologist to treat the wounds in my heart. At the same time, they also established the most elite medical team to nurse and restore my health. In the new environment, both my body and mind are gradually recovering. Just a few days after returning home, I saw news about the Trinh family all over the newspapers. Every piece of news, every scandal, has my family's stamp behind it. 【Hot news: Shocking academic scandal!】

"The experiment at Trinh Thi research laboratory was exposed as fake! Partners simultaneously withdrew capital, many projects were suspended, there is a risk of the laboratory closing permanently!"

【Special news: The investigation team is officially involved!】