Chapter 4 — The Fateful Trial

"Le Le, tell me! Tell me if that guy is her son!"

Phung Le Le raised her head, glanced at the newborn baby in my arms, then lowered her head again. The baby's eyes were bloodshot.

“I... I don't know.”

Vuong Xao Tran's face changed: "Why don't you know? You didn't tell him to chase and beat you?" Phung Le Le's lips trembled: "It's too dark. I can't see clearly." As soon as those three words were uttered, Vien Bin's expression also changed. Judge Chiang banged his gavel:

"Attention from the plaintiff, the testimony before the court must be true. If there is a situation of fraudulent litigation, the consequences will be very serious."

Vuong Xao Tran immediately burst into tears:

"Judge, my daughter is really injured! Her hand is still hanging in a bandage! I'm not lying!"

I looked at Phung Le Le's armband. From the beginning of the trial until now, her right hand has always hung in front of her chest. But just now when Vuong Xao Tran hit the table, Phung Le Le unconsciously used his right hand to hold her back. The movements were very agile, without any stiffness of a person with a broken bone. But I didn't expose it right away. Because I want to know even more: Who made that household registration application? Judge Chiang announced a half-hour recess. He asked the police station to submit additional records documenting the registration process, and also asked the apartment management board to provide full camera video. As soon as the hammer sound ended, Vuong Xao Tran pulled Phung Le Le straight out. As she passed me, she lowered her voice:

"Duong Hoa, don't think that if you pick up a small child, you can get away with it. If the older child can't run, you can't run either."

I looked up at her: "Who is the eldest child you speak of?" Her eyes flashed, without saying another word, she pulled Phung Le Le away quickly. I pushed the stroller out of the courtroom and had just reached the hallway when the phone rang. It's Ha Tuan. I answered the phone but didn't answer. On the other end, the sound of breathing was very rapid.

“Duong Hoa, where are you?”

“Court.”

"I'll be right here, don't talk nonsense."

I laughed: "Why can't you talk nonsense?" The other end of the phone was silent for a moment: "Things aren't what you think."

“So what is it like?”

“Wait for me to come and then talk.”

I asked him word for word: "That household registration application, you signed it, right?" He didn't answer. At the end of the hallway, the elevator door opened. Ha Tuan rushed out from there. His vest was askew, his face was pale. The phone was still pressed against my ear. I looked at him, not moving a step. He saw the stroller, then saw the file bag in my hand, his eyes clearly showing panic. I hung up.

"Ha Tuan, now tell me straight to my face. Who is that sixteen-year-old named Ha An An?"

Ha Tuan's neck rolled up and down. Before he could open his mouth, a strange teenage voice suddenly rang out from behind him.

“Dad.”

I turned around. At the entrance to the stairs, there was a teenager wearing a black jacket standing. The boy was very thin, his bangs hung down, covering half of his eyes. Its face is exactly like Ha Tuan when he was young. 05 That “Dad” sound drowned out all other sounds in the hallway. Ha Tuan froze on the spot. I also froze. Baby An An in the stroller was startled and cried. I bent down to pick up my baby, but my hands were shaking so much It seemed like I couldn't carry it. Ha Tuan reached out to help me. I dodge. The blood on his face drained away.

“Duong Hoa, please listen to my explanation first.”

I looked at the other teenager: "Who is he?" The boy pursed his lips, his eyes averted. Looks about sixteen or seventeen years old, completely matching the age on the copy of household registration. Black jacket. The figure is thin and lanky. If the blurry shadow in the camera stands tall in front of you, it's definitely this figure. I asked again: "Who is it?"