Chapter 7 — The Room You Don't Need

Cousin revoked the previous sentence "don't be too greedy as a human being". Someone awkwardly reconciled: "We're all one family, there's no need to make such an unsightly noise." Trinh Y Chu immediately replied: "When the news broke, it was very noisy, but when it was clarified, we became one family?" The group was quiet again. My dad posted a snippet. "Thin Van did not steal anyone's position. She came to my house because I invited her, because she was willing to trust me. Giao Giao is also my daughter, she can come, I welcome it. But no one can ask Tinh Van to move out." Trinh Lan also posted: "I have no ill will towards Giao Giao, but I will not use the method of hurting Tinh Van to prove my good intentions." Finally, Trinh Y Chu posted a lawyer's letter. The letter requested my mother and Lam Giao Giao to delete the false content, publicly apologize, and stop harassing her. If not, we will retain the right to pursue liability for defamation. My mother finally panicked. She called to scold me, but I didn't listen. Lam Giao Giao sent me dozens of messages. Crying at first. “Thin Van, do you have to force me to kill you?” Then there is resentment. "Are you satisfied now? Everyone knows I lost face." Finally, beg. "Can you tell Trinh Y Chu to take it down? My friends at school also saw it." I looked at those messages, and there was no gloating in my heart as I imagined. Trinh Lan sat next to me and asked softly: "Do you want to answer her?" I shook my head. “There's nothing to say.” It's not like Lam Giao Giao didn't know he was wrong. She just did not allow the consequences to fall on her. The next day, my mother and Lam Giao Giao deleted the post in their friends circle. Three days later, they posted an apology in the relative group. The words are very short, and the tone is not willing. But at least, they admit it. Lam Giao Giao initially actively refused to come to the new house. Later, she asked me to give up the room. They said things that were not true. The wind direction of relatives changes very quickly. People who previously advised me to give in began to praise me with difficulty. “Thin Van has really suffered these past few years.” “Giao Giao was spoiled by his mother.” “It's still the Trinh family who understands reason.” I looked at these words and just felt funny. They don't really love me more. They just finally know, which way the wind should blow. Trinh Y Chu take my phone. “Stop looking at the recycling landfill.” I couldn't help but laugh. “You scold people who are getting more and more senior.” She raised her eyebrows. "Near ink, it's black, near lipstick, it's red." I stopped. “Are you saying I'm lipstick?” "YES." She paused for a moment, "Little lipstick." I laughed until tears flowed. At that moment, I suddenly felt that after being protected for a long time, people really will grow back a little courage. Not thorns. It's bones. Half a year after I moved into the Trinh family's house, I started my first year of university. Trinh Lan prepared my luggage so meticulously that I even stuffed my bag of needles, thread and commonly used medicine. My father drove me to school. On the way, he kept mumbling: "If something happens, call dad, don't try to force it." Trinh Y Chu sat in the passenger seat, without turning his head and said: "She's not a three-year-old." My father sighed. “That year I went to college, so did my dad.” Trinh Y Chu paused. “So keep going, dad.” I sat in the backseat laughing. Days like these, I never dared to think about before. When going home on weekends, Trinh Lan will ask first in the group: "Thin Van wants to eat fish or beef?" My dad sent a bunch of emojis. Trinh Y Chu only sent two words: "Buy everything." Her mouth complained, but she would still come to the subway station to pick me up at eleven o'clock at night. After I got in the car, she gave me a cup of hot milk tea. “Halfway.” I looked at the label on the cup, my heart felt unbearably soft. “Didn't you say milk tea is not good for your health?” Her face did not change color. “Sometimes it's not so toxic.” I smiled and took a sip. Just the right amount of sweetness. Later, Lam Giao Giao came twice. For the first time, she sat in the living room properly, no longer mentioning the room, nor using tears to force herself anymore. Trinh Lan still treated her as usual

often. My father also ate with my sister. It's just that the way she looked at me was still complicated. Jealousy, unwillingness, and a bit of regret that cannot be clearly expressed. The second time, she stood at the door for a long time, and finally lowered her voice and said: "Lam Thinh Van, if I had come with my father at first, would you not have had these things?" I looked at her. There was a time when I was afraid of this question. Like if she just opened her mouth, I should give everything back. But now I'm not like that anymore. I calmly said: "If you had come at first, this house would have had your place." Her eyes lit up. I continued: “But that doesn't mean my position will disappear.” The light on her face gradually turned off. I'm not soft-hearted anymore. Love is not a one-person ticket. It's not because I exist that you lost your chance to be loved. It's because she wants to be exclusive, so she always feels inadequate.