Chapter 4 — Youth Doesn't Give Up

Everywhere I went I nodded in agreement, not missing any opportunity to make more money. After just less than two months, I - from a person so poor that he had to rummage for leftover rice in the trash - became the unofficial "general manager" of the Gold class, holding the authority to "collect high-class trash" and "run luxury jobs". My life… changed radically. I make the most of every second of my work trips: on the road I study vocabulary, while waiting for the elevator I do tests, in line to get food I review formulas. My life was torn into countless pieces, and I squeezed the value out of each piece. I changed all the "junk" into cash, saved every penny, rented a bright, clean room near the school, ate well, and slept in a comfortable bed. Not only that, I also became the "learning advisor" of the whole class. I design individual learning plans for each person, and even write a self-criticism and error statement for them to show to their parents. “Lin Wei is truly amazing!” Trinh Hao picked up the review sheet I wrote and smiled brightly: "My mother read it without even realizing that the words weren't mine!" Ly Van Van hugged his stomach and laughed: "Of course, how many times has your mother seen your writing!" The whole class once again burst into laughter. Three days later, Director Vuong came to me. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his voice trembling slightly: "Lin Wei, the results of the handling of Tran Mong and Giang Pham are out. These two students were given a serious warning and sent home to reflect for a week." I was stunned: "Just... that's it?" Principal Vuong quickly explained: "There are only three months left until the university entrance exam. The school cannot expel students at this time... Lam Vi, please help me talk to Miss Ky..." I nodded and calmly replied: "I understand." When I returned to class, I suddenly saw Ky Due standing on the podium, his face unusually serious. "From today, I officially launch the 'Lin Wei to Thanh Bac' plan." The whole class was silent. The sound of a pen dropping is also clearly heard. Trinh Hao was the first to raise his hand: "I support!" Ly Van Van also quickly responded: "I also support!" Next, each person nodded in agreement. A class full of warm and cool guys, but now... they're all united for me. I was bewildered, looking at each familiar face, not understanding what was going on: "Why... are you doing that?" “Because it's fun.” Ky Due leisurely interrupted my question, resting his chin and smiling lazily: "These guys don't care about university entrance exams. The family has already arranged for them to go abroad. But if our class gave birth to a valedictorian at Thanh Hoa - Bac Dai, do you think, how... unique would the teachers' faces be?" Trinh Hao also smiled and added: "That's right, if you pass Thanh Bac, we will also be proud!" When I heard that, my nose suddenly stung and my eyes became slightly wet. Ky Due continued to speak, with a rare serious tone: "From today, no one is allowed to disturb Lam Vi's studies anymore. Assignments, notes, reports... take care of yourself." “Er, so… what about my Math lesson?” Trinh Hao frowned, his face crumpled. “Isn't it finished without writing?” Ky Due glared at him, lifted his chin and smiled coldly: "After a few days of Lam Vi's rented homework, did you think it was really your handwriting?" The whole class laughed loudly. I was about to explain, but Ky Due raised his hand to signal silence:

“More.” She took out a bunch from her bag key, threw it straight on my desk: "From today, you can't stay in that cramped corner anymore. Near the school there is a luxury apartment, my father bought it for investment, but now it's vacant. You can move there to study for exams."

I looked at the keys, my hands trembling: "This... is so precious, I... I can't receive it." “You got it.” Ky Due's voice was low but firm, not allowing refusal: "The only condition is - you must pass the Thanh Bac exam. Don't let this investment... go down the drain." At that moment, my heart beat so hard that I could suffocate. Some people believe in me, some people pave the way for me, some people put their hopes in me. I squeezed the key in my hand, nodded strongly: "I... will do it!" That afternoon, after school, I followed Ky Due to see the apartment. Two bedrooms, one living room, sophisticated interior, abundant light. In the living room, there is also a shiny white piano. Ky Due sat cross-legged on the sofa, leaned back slightly, and said faintly: "From now on, this is your place. Sometimes I will come here to rest, do you... don't mind?" I shook my head furiously. It doesn't bother me at all — I wish it were that way.

“Ah yes, do you know how to manage finances?” Ky Due suddenly asked. I hesitated: "I know... a little." “That's just fine.” She took out a brand new bank card from her pocket and casually placed it in my hand: "I have no concept of money, I often spend it haphazardly. From now on, you keep it for me, manage it for me. Oh, and this apartment needs someone to clean, if you have free time, sweep it up a bit, as if... paying the rent." I held the card, my heart still shaking. Looking up at Ky Due, he could only nod slightly: "Yes... I understand." These things, for me, are not burdens… On the contrary, they are like graces. From that day, my life changed completely. In the morning, I woke up in a bright room filled with sunlight, no longer bothered by the noise from downstairs. At school, my classmates will proactively give me quiet corners to study. Trinh Hao even took off his noise-canceling headphones and placed them on my desk: "Use them, I don't study." Ly Van Van pushed a high-end pen box: "Inside are all imported pens, they write very smoothly, you can use them." Because I didn't want to disappoint everyone, I threw myself into studying harder than ever. Every night, I study until twelve o'clock at night before going to bed. Occasionally, Ky Due will sit next to me, quietly watching me do my homework. Until one day, she suddenly opened her mouth and asked: "You... why do you study so hard?" I stopped writing and looked seriously into her eyes: "Because... I want to change my fate." Ky Due was stunned, nodded slightly, a trace of complex emotions flashed through his eyes. "Before now, I've only heard people say that the university entrance exam is a turning point in life, a 'thousands of thousands of troops and horses crossing a bridge'. Hearing that... my blood is boiling, very enthusiastic." She bowed her head slightly, her voice carrying a self-deprecating smile: "But... it's a pity that I'm too rich. I've never had the chance to truly experience that feeling of risking my life. To be honest, it's... a bit of a pity." I looked at her face for a moment, the light from the window illuminating her porcelain-white skin. The slight sadness in the corner of my eyes made me suddenly smile: "Miss... Being rich is just one of your small advantages, there's no need to be self-conscious. Every Everyone... has their own life lessons to face.” Ky Due paused, his cheeks were slightly red, he quickly turned away, avoiding my eyes: "You should worry about studying. I... wait to see your Thanh Bac admission notice." A week later, Tran Mong and Giang Pham returned to school. But they soon discovered... their old class no longer welcomed them. “I heard that you two were 'educated' by the Yellow class?” "If even Miss Ky dares to offend, you really... don't know your own strength." Tran Mong's face became more and more ugly. Her eyes darkened, her jaw clenched until it turned white. Giang Pham wanted to object, but realized that no one paid attention. In the end, they truly became a laughing stock in the eyes of the whole school.

There's only one month left until the university entrance exam, I'm sitting in my apartment, engrossed in a Math simulation test. “Ding-dong.” The doorbell rang. I put down my pen, walked to the door, looked through my magic eyes... two familiar but strange faces. Foster parents. How do they know this address? I opened the door, but before I could ask anything, my foster mother rushed straight inside, her voice shrill: "Very good, Lam Vi! Now it's a 'flash'!" Her eyes swept around the luxury apartment, her face clearly showing greed and sarcasm: "In such a luxurious house, don't you think about the gratitude to your parents for raising you?" His foster father also followed, with the word greed clearly written on his face. He took out a cigarette, held it in his mouth, and said in a cold voice: "Listen to what Giang Pham said, now you follow the rich people and earn several thousand a month, right?" In that moment, my heart felt like it fell to the bottom. It's Giang Pham again. This news... was definitely said by him.

“What are you two doing here?” I try to stay calm. “What are you doing here?!” The adoptive mother screamed, her voice as sharp as a cutting knife: "We worked so hard to raise you so much. Now that you have money, are you going to erase your relationship with us?!"

I pursed my lips, thought for a moment, then slowly opened my mouth: "If you two need it, from this month onwards, I will send you a regular living allowance."

“Living allowance?” The foster father exhaled a puff of smoke and laughed faintly: "What can a few small coins do? Prices are so expensive now, and your mother and I are old and have to take care of your education... One million is not too much at all!”

One million. My fingers clenched into fists. I pressed each word, my voice cold as ice: "I... don't have that much money." “No money?!” The foster mother smiled faintly, full of contempt: "Do you think I'm stupid? Living in such a luxurious apartment, but you still dare to say you have no money?!”