Chapter 22 — The owner of the car shop behind the school gate

Father asked Vy to withdraw from the group during a dinner that did not include her favorite dish.

He put the new contract on the table, not hiding the revised terms. "Van Hung has made many concessions. But if you continue to stand on the opposing side, people will say the company uses girls to create a transparent image."

"You can take your name off the document. But you're still the one using the garage."

"You are the daughter of the person who signed the budget. Every sentence you say is viewed through that relationship."

Vy looked at the plate of cold vegetables. “So I have to keep quiet so people don't think bad things about me?”

“I want you to avoid being dragged into this war.”

“You call my asking about wheelchair access a fight?”

He was silent. He was used to meetings where all sides had lawyers. He didn't know how to protect his child without turning protection into a command.

“I withdraw from the role of representing Van Hung,” he said. “You can still participate as a student, but you cannot use internal company documents.”

Vy agreed immediately. She placed the "sponsor representative" name tag on the table. “I don't want that role.”

The next morning, she informed Ms. Van and the group. Huy worries that the change will make the school board suspicious. Quynh Chi requested to clearly state in the minutes: Vy is a school student, not a business representative; All documents from Van Hung go through official channels.

After listening, Khoa asked Vy if she was okay. She said she didn't know. He didn't try to comfort her, just gave her an old helmet. "We're going to measure your bangs today. If you stand in the sun, wear this."

The two of them went up the ladder to check the corrugated iron sheets. A plate vibrates strongly, Khoa holds the ladder, Vy uses a pen to mark the area that needs to be replaced. They worked side by side without mentioning her father.

In the afternoon, a new post appeared on the forum, saying Vy was forced by her father to "pretend to object". This time, Quynh Chi did not rush to respond. She asked Vy how public she wanted to be.

Vy thought. If she explains all family matters, she will turn dinner into content for others. She only posted: "From today I participate as a student, not representing Van Hung. Business documents will be published through the school. I do not share private family matters."

Some comments remain skeptical. Huy wanted to respond, but Vy stopped him. “Personal life cannot be used to prove a drawing.”

Ms. Van supported. The school sent an official notice, confirming that no student had to represent the sponsor. That helps the group avoid turning Vy into living proof for any side.

In the evening, father called again. He said he saw the notice. “You did the right thing by separating the two roles.”

“Are you angry?”

"There were times. But I was more angry that people doubted the company than I was angry at you. I had to fix that myself."

Vy asked if he planned to continue sponsoring. He said the decision would belong to the council, not him alone. She found that answer more reasonable than any family promise.

As the decision day approached, Huy proposed changing the group's name from "Green Garage" to "Open Garage". Khoa asked if I needed to change again. Huy said the old name made people think they were selling trees, while they were repairing a door.

Quynh Chi burst out laughing. Vy is the same. Tense stories don't go away, but the group still finds ways to laugh while dealing with them.

Before closing, Khoa asked Vy if he wanted to go to Truc Street garage to try his job this weekend. Vy nod. He said there was no need to bring the survey list. She replied that she would bring a notebook, because she might have something to write down.

Khoa shook his head. “You can't turn every outing into research.”

"I'll try. But if I see you damaging the snail, I'll still write it down."

Khoa laughed. In the garage lights, Vy realized that withdrawing from the representative role would not make her any smaller. It gives her back the right to be a normal student, to make mistakes and to stand next to others without having to carry her father's shadow.

After the announcement of withdrawing her representative role, Vy had to learn not to respond to all messages about Van Hung. A friend asked her if the company was going to buy school land. She passed the question to Ms. Van, even though she knew she could ask her father faster. Another person asked her to apply for a separate sponsorship for the class. She refused and sent the general procedure link.

Huy told her to become cold. Vy said boundaries are not cold, they are just a way to keep a promise from being interpreted as a priority.

In class, some friends call her "mistress". Vy turned around and said it was just a nickname, but if they needed their car repaired, they could just register like everyone else. A friend laughed and asked if she knew how to change inner tubes. Vy said she knew a little, then asked her friends to come to class this weekend.

Her father also had to get used to not using Vy as a bridge. He sent the documents to Ms. Van, without sending a private message. One time he wanted to ask what the group was thinking, Vy said to come to the opinion gathering and register participants. He said his daughter turned the school into an administrative agency. Vy replied that the school was just learning not to let a personal call decide public matters.

Khoa observed her from afar. He asked her if she was tired. Vy said she was tired because every word had to be weighed twice. Khoa said that in the past, he had to weigh every word because he was afraid that people would think he was using his garage for his mother's store. The two realized they were on different sides but both understood the feeling of being assigned motives by others.

Quynh Chi suggested that the group establish conflict of interest rules. People with family connections, sponsorship or direct interests must declare; That person can participate in giving comments but cannot make their own decisions. Vy read and signed first. Huy asked if it was necessary to announce that he had done media work for the event. Quynh Chi said yes, so readers know how to evaluate.

One student protested because he was afraid the rules would make the group unnatural. Khoa said naturalness is not synonymous with carefree. People can still talk informally, but important decisions need to be recorded.

In the afternoon, Vy sat outside the garage doing homework. A junior classmate asked her if she was going to transfer schools because of the rumors. Vy said she didn't know yet, but if she transferred, it wouldn't be because of other people's rumors. Khoa heard it and asked her if she really thought so. Vy said her family could move cities, but she wanted to finish what she started.

Khoa did not promise to keep her. He just gave her an oil pen and told her to write down the name of the person on duty tomorrow. Vy understood that it was his way of saying: there will still be work tomorrow, no matter what people say today.

The first week of not being a representative, Vy was still asked questions that only her father could answer. Create a questionnaire form, write down the recipient and the response deadline. One friend said she was mechanical. Vy said that if she didn't forward it, the question would get stuck in her mailbox and disappear.

Her father responded on time through the school channel. There was a sentence he said he didn't know. Vy announced that sentence in the minutes. Huy was surprised that a big business would reveal its points unknown. Vy said that's what makes people keep asking.

During gym class, a friend called Vy "Van Hung's person". She did not react immediately. Khoa stood nearby and asked her what specifically she wanted to know. You say you're afraid your garage will turn into a promotional space. Vy gave the contract link and said you have the right to comment.

She read it, then apologized for labeling it. Vy said there was no need to apologize if she asked directly next time. Khoa looked at her and said that was the way to avoid an argument that would cause both people to lose face.

Quynh Chi updated the conflict of interest rules, adding an example of a friend who has a relative working for the sponsor. They did not prohibit her from participating, they just asked her not to make any decisions regarding the matter. A new member finds the rule more fair because it does not turn family relations into a fault.

In the evening, Vy asked her father if he wanted her to return to her representative role. He said no, because the company already had someone in charge. She asked him if he was sad. He replied that what he wanted was for her to be able to stand in a meeting without anyone having to guess whose side she was on.

Vy turned off the phone and returned to the garage. The department is storing tools. He told her that she had two shifts tomorrow and couldn't take them all. Vy agreed, then wrote the name of the replacement.

Khoa pointed to the calendar, reminding Vy to also write her name on the off shift. She asked why leave needed to be assigned. He said that if it is not recorded, the person responsible often claims more. Vy wrote "not on duty" in red ink. Huy walked by and said this was the most important item on the board.

The next day, a friend asked Vy if she was still the leader. She said the group has no absolute leader; There is someone coordinating each task. She said it sounded complicated. Khoa replied that it's more complicated than one person having to shoulder the rumors, the budget, and the key.

Vy heard and saw that sentence was meant for her. She did not object.

She looked at the case list and saw Khoa's name at the bottom. He doesn't accept the most, but always leaves clear notes. Vy wrote down the name of the replacement, then closed the book. Rights are not something she has to keep to prove she is important.