Chapter 19 — The Path of Remembrance

"To Niem Niem said Uyen Dinh took advantage of her? But Uyen Dinh really helped her." "Is To Niem Niem too vindictive? People have good intentions to help but she still says bad things." "Uyen Dinh is so good, To Niem Niem doing this is too much." In just two classes, I went from "a transfer student who strives to be inspirational" to "an ungrateful person who speaks ill of his benefactors". The performance was so high that it left me in awe. Before school ended, Ms. Phuong called me to talk. "To Niem Niem, a friend reported that you said bad things about Luc Uyen Dinh behind his back. How do you explain?" "Miss, what I said is not a bad word. It's the truth." “What truth?” "After tutoring me, Luc Uyen Dinh used her achievement of 'helping students with learning difficulties' to participate in the Star voting every week. She tutored me for a purpose." Ms. Phuong frowned. “The matter of Uyen Dinh tutoring you was arranged by me.” “It was you who arranged it, but she used it as her highlight to show off without discussing it with you or me.” Ms. Phuong was silent for a bit. “Even so, you shouldn't talk about your classmates behind their backs.” "I didn't talk 'behind my back'. I just talked privately with a friend. Trieu Giai Giai intentionally eavesdropped and then spread it out." “Trieu Giai Giai said she didn't add anything extra.” "She said I asked Uyen Dinh to 'take advantage' of me. But my original text was 'she tutored me not entirely because she wanted to be good for me'. These two sentences are very different." Ms. Phuong looked at me. Her expression was no longer the "no matter what you say, I won't believe it" look like before. But she's not completely on my side yet. "I understand this. You go home first." “Miss.” "YES?" "Previously, Trieu Giai Giai posted a post in the group saying that my mother plagiarized, and I corrected her on the spot. This time she caused trouble again. Don't you feel that the timing of her actions every time is very coincidental?" Ms. Phuong's expression finally changed. “What do you mean?” "I mean every time I achieve a little achievement, Trieu Giai Giai finds a way to cause trouble. Last time it was plagiarism, this time it's ungrateful and unjust. Next time I don't know what it will be." “And every time, Luc Uyen Dinh just or didn't know anything.” Ms. Phuong was silent for a long time. "I will find out clearly. You go home first." I left the office. There's no one in the hallway. I leaned against the wall and adjusted the strap of my bag. Not tired. But thinking about the next step. I can't stay on the defensive forever. Gray Gray once taught me something: If you keep avoiding, you will only be kicked harder. You have to rush straight ahead. The turning point came faster than I thought. Saturday morning, I went to the youth class of the art academy. That day, Professor Tran brought news. "Children, next month there will be a Provincial Youth Art Contest, the theme is 'Life'. The organizing committee specially invites our junior students to participate. Each person submits an original work. The works that make it to the next round will be displayed at the provincial fine arts museum." Province-wide competition. On display at the Provincial Fine Arts Museum. The other students were excitedly discussing what to draw. I also think. Life. This topic is too broad. What can I draw? Professor Tran walked up to me. “Nien Niem, have you thought about what to draw?” “Not yet.” "There's no need to rush. The best thing about your paintings is their honesty. Paint what you actually saw and felt." I nodded. On the way home, I sat in Luc's mother's car thinking the whole way. Back home, Luc Uyen Dinh was practicing the piano in the living room. She played a very complicated piece, her fingers flying over the keys. Seeing me return, she stopped. “How was class in the junior class?” "Pretty good. Next month there will be a province-wide competition." “Are you fully awake?” "Yes." Her hands rested on the keys, not lifting them. “Nien Niem, now you're drawing, running, studying, doing everything, aren't you tired?” "Not tired. When we were in the mountains, we were even busier, having to feed the geese, ride the donkey, and help dad move things." “So what do you feel is the meaning of what you do?” I looked at her. "What does it mean or not? If you want to do it, just do it." “But have you ever thought about it?

Will what I do have any impact on others? Her voice didn't sound like she was chatting. Which is more like exploration. “What do you mean it affects you?” She was stunned. “I just asked casually.” “Uyen Dinh.” I sat down on the sofa, between us was a tea table. “I didn't come to this school to compete with you. I'm just doing my job.” “I know.” “I know it's okay. So you also do your job, don't distract yourself and pay attention to what I'm doing." Her finger gently pressed a key, emitting a low sound. “Nien Niem, do you feel like since you came, this house has become different?” “How different?” “When my parents look at me, it's not the same as when they look at me.” “Not the same anywhere?” “When they look at you… their eyes are brighter.” After saying this, she stood up. “Go do your homework.” She went upstairs. In the living room, there was only the sound of the piano lid closing. I sat on the sofa, thinking for a long time.