Chapter 6 — Youth Doesn't Give Up

The next day, Giang Pham stopped me right in front of the lecture hall gate. “Lin Wei… can we talk?” His face was extremely unsightly, his eye circles were dark, as if he hadn't slept in several nights. “There's nothing to say.” I coldly walked by. “Tran Mong… she is really crazy!” Giang Pham quickly chased after him, his voice filled with panic: "I swear... I didn't know she would do such a thing!" I stopped, turned around and looked straight into his eyes: "Now... are you afraid?" “Lin Wei!” His voice was almost choked, his eyes were red: "We grew up together since we were kids, you can't treat me like that..." I laughed, my laughter was cold: "Growing up together? Do you still remember?" Giang Pham opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. At that moment, I saw a bit of confusion and fear in his eyes... but in my heart, there was only coldness. “Giang Pham, do you know what it means to do it yourself?” I looked at his pathetic appearance, without a wave in my heart. "Now that Tran Mong's family is having trouble, do you remember me? It's late." Having finished speaking, I turned and left, not bothering to look back. There are people, there are things... once missed, there will be no turning back. During this last period, although none of the Yellow class was good at studying, they used their own ways to create an absolutely quiet environment for me. “Lin Wei is reviewing, everyone be quiet for me!” “Whoever dares to disturb Lam Vi's studies, I will punish that person!” “Lin Wei, what documents do you need? Let me ask dad to find them for you!” Under their "protection", I entered the sprint phase to the fullest. That morning, I put on my backpack and walked out of the apartment complex, but the scene before my eyes stunned me on the spot. Maserati, Ferrari, Lamborghini... more than ten supercars parked directly downstairs, sparkling to the point of blinding eyes. “Lin Wei!” Trinh Hao waved and called with a cheerful face: "We'll see you off to the exam today!" I walked over, half laughing and crying: "Isn't this lineup... a bit too outrageous?" “Too much what is too much.” Ky Due walked out from the crowd, the corners of his lips curled up: "Listen, I'll bet you all." I blinked: "What fish?" "Let's bet to see if Lam Vi will win the top prize in the province." She raised her hand and pointed to her Ferrari: "I bet he will definitely pass. The bet... is this Ferrari. Does anyone dare accept it?" Truong Vu Hao immediately raised his hand: "I accept! I bet he won't pass, the bet... my Porsche!" “Including my Mercedes!” “And my Ferrari!” A group of rich kids stood in a circle, shouting the names of supercars, the atmosphere was hotter than the college entrance exam. I stood between them, feeling both funny and touched. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was no longer fighting alone. A group of rich kids were competing to place bets. I stood next to them and looked at this silly but funny scene, and suddenly an indescribable warmth welled up in my heart. These rich second-generation kids are always mischievous, not bothering to study, but are using their own way to cheer me up, not loudly, not flamboyantly, but so sincerely that it makes me choke up. "Let's go." Ky Due opened the car door, his voice calm: "It's time to depart." A majestic group of supercars lined up, majestically gliding through the streets. Passerby Everyone looked back without blinking. I sat in the passenger seat, my hands clasped tightly, sweat pouring down my palms. “Stressed?” Ky Due tilted his head and looked. “A little.” I nodded honestly. “That's good.” Ky Due curled the corners of his lips, his eyes serious: "Not being nervous is the problem, being nervous shows that you really take this exam seriously." When we arrived, the convoy stopped and all the Yellow class students got off the bus and surrounded me. “Lin Wei, come on!” “Remember to bring back the valedictorian!” “Shut up those people who look down on our class!” I looked at their expectant eyes, my nose suddenly stinging. These lazy guys are even more stressed than me right now. “I will do it.” I replied softly, my voice as determined as ever. Walking through the school gate, my heart suddenly felt strangely calm. Meeting Giang Pham and Tran Mong in the hallway, I just passed by without any expression. Giang Pham's face was tense, his eyes constantly wandering around, clearly not well prepared. As for Tran Mong... compared to before, he's like a completely different person. Lifeless eyes, heavy steps, no trace of arrogance left. During the break between subjects, I vaguely heard a few friends whispering: "I heard that Tran Mong's company went bankrupt, and her father was even arrested!" "It's worth it, who said you were so overbearing before?" I didn't interfere, just quietly opened my book, preparing for the next subject. The bell signaling the end of the final class rang. I put down my pen, took a deep breath, and then walked out of the exam room. At that moment, the sky suddenly exploded with color. Hundreds of small hot air balloons carrying colorful ribbons were released into the sky at the same time, freely flying in the afternoon sunlight. It all blends into one scene, so beautiful that it makes me speechless. “Lin Wei!” The chorus of shouts echoed from the Yellow class, I looked at them, my heart trembling with each beat. In the middle of the crowd, Ky Due stood there, holding a bunch of brilliant balloons, a rare gentle smile on his normally cold face: "Congratulations," "you just completed the most important exam of your life." At that moment, all the resilience I had tried to support over the past few days crumbled. Hot tears welled up in my eyes, I choked up and whispered: "...Thank you everyone." "Don't be so quick to thank me," Truong Vu Hao crossed his arms, his face grim: "Wait for the test scores, my Porsche is still betting!" I took a deep breath, wiped my tears, the corners of my lips curled up confidently: "Then prepare to lose your car." The day the results came out, Ky Due and I sat in front of her brand new laptop, our hands trembling as they typed in the registration number. The results appear. “Huh… why are my points hidden?” I was stunned, not able to understand anything. Ky Due slightly raised his eyebrows, put his hand on his chin, the corners of his lips curled up confidently: "Only the top people in the province have their points hidden for security purposes." Her eyes lit up like fireworks: "It seems my Ferrari is safe." My heart was pounding. Is it true... I ranked first in the province? At this moment, the doorbell rang. “Don't be dumb anymore.” Ky Due patted my shoulder, the corners of his lips curved into a meaningful smile: "There is an important guest who wants to see you." I walked out to the living room, and... was stunned. The long sofa was full, filled with people wearing neat suits, with noble temperament, professional manners, each person's eyes shining brightly as if they wanted to "rob". person." The butler stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Miss, according to your orders, I have fully arranged the reception schedule. These are all professors, deans and admissions representatives of leading universities.” I stood in the middle of the living room, my head dizzy as if I had just entered a luxurious dream. Just a few months ago, I still had to calculate every penny of tuition... Now, all the best universities in the country are trying to compete for me. Finally, I chose my dream school - a top institute in the country. After signing the admission agreement, the professors and admission representatives left one by one, leaving only Ky Due and me in the large living room. “Remember our bet?” Ky Due leaned against the sofa, his eyes carrying a smile. I nodded. She placed a thick stack of papers on the table and pushed it towards me: "Thirteen supercars, all converted into cash." I looked at the number on the paper, took a deep breath - the value was almost the same as a small fortune. “This… is too much, I can't accept it.” Ky Due slightly raised his eyebrows, his voice firm: "This is the part you deserve. Just think of it as a study support fund, so that in the future you won't have to worry about anything when you go to college." My throat constricted and my eyes began to turn red. At the graduation ceremony that day, I stood on stage and was the representative of excellent students giving a speech. Under the stands, the Yellow class sat straight, their eyes sparkling, as proud as if they had just won valedictorian. I held the microphone, looked down at them, the corners of my lips curled up: "Thank you, teachers, for trusting me. Thank you — even though the way you helped me... was a bit strange, I will never forget it for the rest of my life.” The auditorium burst into applause. Truong Vu Hao slapped his thigh and shouted loudly: "Lam Vi, you are the pride of our class!" Trinh Hao also excitedly chimed in: "Yellow class has a valedictorian!" After the ceremony, I gave Ky Due a thick file of documents. “What is this?” She opened the front page, raising her eyebrows. “I compiled some analysis on investment trends myself, as a graduation gift.” “Do you… still have time to research these things amidst the stress of studying?” I smiled, my voice was gentle: "It's just a hobby." Ky Due turned more and more attentively, his eyes gradually turned from suspicion to surprise, and finally looked at me with a completely different expression: "Lin Wei, you... made me see with new eyes." We looked at each other and smiled.