Chapter 2 — The Truth in the Schoolbag

Student Ha Tran is suspected of misappropriating another person's property under severe circumstances, and the school has provisionally decided to issue a major disciplinary warning.

The school courtyard fell into an abrupt, heavy silence.

At the same time, the submission of Ha Tran's recommendation dossier for direct admission to top national universities is temporarily suspended. Following a thorough investigation, the school will determine whether to uphold this disciplinary measure.

Hsu Tri Ngan lowered his head, nearly unable to suppress the triumphant curve of his lips. Hsu Viet Vy's eyes also flashed with a sudden, malicious brilliance. The surrounding students began to applaud, acting as though they had finally delivered justice on behalf of the vulnerable. Standing amidst the crowd, a sudden, dark desire to laugh rose within me. In my past life, at this exact moment, I had desperately pleaded my innocence, swearing that I had not stolen anything, begging them to check the security cameras, even demanding that the police be called. Yet no one would listen. To them, I was merely a thief weaving pathetic excuses. But this time, I merely lifted my head and locked my eyes onto Hsu Tri Ngan.

Are you completely certain that there were fifty thousand in the backpack to begin with?

He nodded firmly, leaving no room for doubt. I then shifted my gaze to Hsu Viet Vy.

Are you certain as well?

She replied with an icy glare, The money was collected by my own hands, so naturally, I am certain.

Are you certain that there are now only twenty thousand remaining?

Hsu Tri Ngan immediately nodded in confirmation. I saw it with my own eyes just now.

Are you certain that the missing thirty thousand could only have been taken by me?

Hsu Viet Vy answered on his behalf, Who else could it be besides you? I nodded slowly, then turned to face Principal Dam.

Respected Principal, if you have already decided to impose a major disciplinary warning upon me, then before this punishment is finalized, might we allow the person who lost the property to publicly count and verify the evidence one last time?

I raised a hand and pointed directly at the backpack clutched tightly in Hsu Tri Ngan's arms.

Open it up. Let the entire school see with their own eyes just how much money is inside.

Hsu Tri Ngan's complexion paled drastically for a split second, though he managed to regain his composure almost immediately. In his mind, perhaps, I was merely thrashing about in my final death throes. After all, according to the script he had meticulously crafted, the backpack should have contained only twenty thousand. He had planned to weep and wail about how fifty thousand was reduced to twenty, rendering any actual physical count completely unnecessary. All he needed was to slap the thief label onto me before the principal intervened to sweep the matter under the rug with a hasty punishment. The principal had already agreed, leaving only this final step to hammer the nail into my coffin. But in this lifetime, he had no idea that I had quietly slipped another fifty thousand into that very bag. Nor did he realize that the more adamantly he insisted on his lies now, the more utterly catastrophic his demise would be. I pushed the microphone closer to him.

Open it.

Hsu Tri Ngan's fingers clenched so tightly around the shoulder straps that his knuckles turned white. Ha Tran, are you simply trying to buy time? My mother is still waiting for me at the hospital...

I cut him off without a trace of hesitation. Counting physical cash takes less than two minutes. Hsu Viet Vy let out a cold, mocking laugh. Ha Tran, even now you continue to put on a calm facade. Do you honestly believe there is no one in this entire school who dares to search you?

Beneath the stage, voices immediately chimed in to support her.

Search Ha Tran first!

That's right, he must have hidden it on his person!

There's no point in counting when Hsu Tri Ngan's bag only has twenty thousand left, he already saw it himself!

Don't let Ha Tran throw us off track!

The head of the grade frowned and interjected, Ha Tran, the core issue right now is whether or not you stole the money, not forcing the victim to endure repeated emotional triggers.

I turned my gaze toward her.

Teacher Hsu, how is counting the money found in lost property considered triggering the victim?

She was left completely speechless by my logical retort. Hsu Viet Vy immediately stepped forward to cover for her. My brother has already been driven to the verge of a breakdown, yet you are still forcing him to open his bag in front of the entire school. Are you trying to humiliate him?

She certainly possessed a venomous tongue, skillfully twisting a simple verification process into a secondary assault I was inflicting upon Hsu Tri Ngan. Down below, the crowd resumed their harsh condemnation.

Ha Tran is truly cold-blooded.

He steals money and still has the audacity to bully the victim.

The principal already declared a major disciplinary warning, yet he still dares to argue back.

Principal Dam was clearly swayed by the mounting public pressure. He spoke in a deep, stern voice, Ha Tran, if you are dissatisfied with the disciplinary decision, you may file an appeal after the assembly. Do not continue to exacerbate the negative impact right now.

My expression remained utterly tranquil. Respected Principal, since you have already publicly announced my disciplinary warning before the entire school, the impact has already been thoroughly exacerbated.

His expression shifted slightly. I continued, If the school insists on issuing punishments without verifying the evidence, I will have no choice but to petition the municipal education bureau to intervene.

The murmurous noise across the courtyard instantly subsided. Head Teacher Shao finally decided to speak up. Principal Dam, I suggest we conduct the inventory right here and on the spot. Since the disputed point is the exact sum of money, cross-checking the amount is a necessary procedural step.

Principal Dam fell silent for a few long seconds before finally nodding in agreement. Hsu Tri Ngan, open the backpack. Head Teacher Shao, you and the accounting staff will verify the contents together.

Hsu Tri Ngan had now backed himself into an inescapable corner from which there was no retreat. With agonizing slowness, he reached out and pulled open the zipper. The very next instant, his entire body froze rigidly in place. Inside the bag, seven thick bundles of cash lay neatly stacked side by side. I smiled coldly, snatched the microphone from the stand, and spoke in a clear, resounding voice that echoed across the grounds.