Chapter 19
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Gratitude and affection
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All eyes focused on the tall and handsome male student. His hair was neat, his facial features well-defined, and he was the most striking among all the students. He exuded nobility, a true descendant of a powerful and prestigious family. The Lan sisters recognized Nhan Nghia — the son of the chairman of a nationally renowned fashion group.
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Born into a formidable top-tier family, he was charming and gallant, truly a perfect heartthrob from a romance drama, which drove countless girls and most female students in the school wild for him. Those female students who came to offer condolences were utterly infatuated; some girls were in heat three hundred and sixty-five days a year, and had once taken off their underwear to exchange for black cards, spreading their legs and letting the young master play with them until dawn in the night of dreaming of becoming a rich young madam: By day, they carried designer bags, wore high-end fashion, indulging in pleasures at debauched venues; at night, they would dance like prostitutes on his bed, twisting their debauched bodies beneath him.
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Now he said he wanted to repay the debt, and all the girls were jealous of the Lan sisters. Their condolence visit turned into envy, cursing in their hearts. The creditors knew full well: Nhan Nghia was merely using his old man's money to show off his class to girls, so they all pulled out their debt slips:
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- Well, Young Master?
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Nhan Nghia didn't even bother to glance at the IOU, only staring infatuatedly at Lan:
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- Lan, I love you, will you be my girlfriend, okay?!
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Tuyet Lan was the most beautiful and talented female student. Nhan Nghia had pursued Tuyet Lan for several years, but she had no feelings for him. Nhan Nghia had once requested his old man to clear all debts for the Lan family and demanded to marry her. The old man sent people to investigate the Lan family's situation, then scolded him so harshly he couldn’t even lift his head, stubbornly refusing this foolish son.
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Having liked Lan for a long time and witnessing her bravely dealing with bad people, Nhan Nghia became increasingly infatuated with this girl who was thought to be shy. He had to marry her at all costs; even if the old man cast him aside, he accepted it. Unable to extort money from his old man, he asked his mom; she would naturally indulge him. Nhan Nghia was an only child; he was confident that even if he were kicked out of the house, the old man would later be forced to call him home to inherit the group.
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Lan had feelings for Hoang Kim. To wring out oil and squeeze out fat, who could bear to force a daughter's fate, making her marry someone she doesn't love?[1] If Hoang Kim had no connection to her mother and daughters, Lan would immediately refuse Nhan Nghia. Fate played tricks on them, making the mother and two daughters spend that night with Hoang Kim - a man with no blood relation, but her conscience still felt guilty.
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If one wished to forget the past, one must look to the future; that future was right before her. Marrying Nhan Nghia could end the ironic situation; she accepted living a numb life for the rest of her days. Both attachment and letting go were painful; Anh Dao silently waited for Lan to decide her own life. She had no right to advise.
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Loan disliked forced marriages. Nhan Nghia was a philandering man, catching fish with both hands[2], only desiring to conquer and possess women's bodies. If he truly loved Lan, Nhan Nghia should have repaid the debt for her from the beginning; he waited for the Lan family to be driven into a dead end, then immediately acted as a hero saving a beauty. Loan most hated hypocrites who feigned benevolence and righteousness. She saw Lan hesitating, half wanting to refuse, half wanting to agree, so she quickly interjected:
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- I'll pay them!
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Everyone's attention shifted to Loan. Ngoc shook her head, refusing:
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- Thank you, Teacher! You helped my family clear a large debt, and I haven't repaid you yet. This time, we must handle it ourselves; no one can help my mother and daughter for their entire lives!
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Nhan Nghia feigned enthusiasm:
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- I will care for your family my whole life! Auntie, I love Lan. Please, you and Lan, give me a chance!
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Lan hesitated timidly in her dilemma. The other girls felt collective hatred and jealousy her, imagining that as the young master's wife, she would enjoy splendid clothes and fine food, worry-free. Compared to living in a dilapidated house, eating today and worrying about tomorrow's food, fearing creditors coming to torment them every day, it was truly a heaven and an abyss. She also pretended to be weak and fragile to raise her worth in the eyes of those who wanted to marry her.
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You know a person's face, but not their heart. For so long, she had put on an act of being meek, virtuous, and exemplary, but when the house burned down, her true rat-face was revealed[3]. The thought of judging others bobbed aimlessly through the minds of those empty-headed girls. Every woman hoped the teacher would repay the debt, so they would still have a chance to become the chairman's daughter-in-law. Just as they wished, Loan said resolutely:
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- In the past, the Lan sisters saved my younger sister's life; I can never repay all your family's kindness in my entire life. This is no longer your family's private matter; today I will definitely repay all your debts!
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Loan faced Nhan Nghia, her face becoming as hard as iron:
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- You know my personality best. What I say is what it is. Don't expect me to change my mind!
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Loan was afraid that if she didn't resolve the matter decisively, the situation would become difficult to control, so she asked for their bank account number to transfer the money to the creditors. Loan told Ngoc to meticulously scrutinize the debts, and after Ngoc confirmed there were no anomalies, Loan settled the debts.
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The delicious bait, presented right to his mouth, slipped away at the last moment, making Nhan Nghia so furious he wanted to vomit blood. All the vilest curses lined up and screamed chaos in his mind.
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The young master gritted his teeth, clenched his fists tightly, and trembled with rage. He swore to God that he must rape that prostitute who had ruined his happy occasion, until she died, to vent his fury. But outwardly, Nhan Nghia still lived up to his name: benevolence and righteousness — calmly putting on a happy expression:
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- The Lan family will be safe from now on; it's the same whether you or I help them! - He gazed at Lan with eyes full of infatuation and bitterness - I just want to confess to Lan, to let her know that I'm willing to give everything for the one I love!
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The handsome man's intense confession captured the heart of every dreaming girl. A group of female students were mesmerized, secretly admiring him. The Lan sisters, however, found his sweet words bland and tasteless. Only those engrossed in decadent pleasures, seeking fleeting joys, and obsessed with wealth and fame would be charmed by playboys whose sweet talk was sweeter than sugarcane and who specifically relied on family background to pursue girls. The sisters didn't care; they just wanted the creditors to get out so their father's soul could rest in peace in the afterlife.
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After the creditors received the money, they immediately handed the IOUs to Loan, but she requested that they hand it to Ngoc instead. The female teacher then called out to the departing creditors:
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- You must witness her tear up the IOU!
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Hearing the female teacher's tone, which sounded like an order, they couldn't help but become annoyed:
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- The debt is settled, the IOU has been handed over, yet you still have so much to say.
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The fat woman sneered contemptuously:
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- Just now you all wished we would disappear from your sight immediately, and now that the debt is repaid, you instantly become arrogant.
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- You like to make trouble? Well, we're certainly not afraid!
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- Ridiculous! - Loan gave a faint, dismissive smile - Don't you loan sharks know the repayment rule, that you must tear up the debt slip in front of the other party?
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The creditors were momentarily speechless and could only mumble curses:
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- Damn it, tear it up quickly so I can go home!
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- Tear it quickly, you're wasting our time because of you two!
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This pile of debt had once unleashed all their tragedies. Listening to Anh Dao, it was as if suffering, carnal pleasure, humiliation, and guilt were all laid bare on the IOU:
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- Tear away all the pain your family had to endure!
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Ngoc had thought this day would never come. A dream come true. Tears of grievance soaked the once emotionless paper that had brought her family such misery. In their most desperate moment, the only comfort the mother and daughter received was the kindness from the person who had once owed her daughter a debt of gratitude.
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Ngoc poured out all her frustrations, tearing away her pain, crushing them into tiny pieces. The mother and two daughters embraced the female teacher, using the hug to replace words of thanks. Loan helped her benefactors overcome their ordeal, and she smiled contentedly.
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- Even if my daughters and I die, we will repay this kindness to Teacher.
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Anh Dao was startled when Ngoc spoke of death; her fear of the mother and daughters committing suicide resurfaced. Loan, being an outsider, did not understand the hidden meaning. She said:
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- No amount of money can ever buy gratitude and affection!
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She gently wiped away the tears of the mother and two daughters:
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- Alright, it's all over now, stop crying!
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Ngoc's and daughters thanked their benefactors and then went to tidy up, while Anh Dao and Zero rolled up their sleeves to help. The creditors cast a disdainful side glance before they finally left:
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- How terrible, it sounds like a Reformed opera.
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- Anh Dao and Zero are here; clearly, they have a shady relationship with JK…
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- Calling her a mistress, and she shatters like glass — raging like a lunatic woman!
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- A guilty conscience often reveals itself…
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The pile of creditors retaliated, but no one responded; everyone was focused on their work. Loan was surprised, not understanding why Anh Dao and Zero would appear here. The blonde girl even defended Ngoc's family. Now seeing Zero and Anh Dao sweeping trash left her completely baffled.
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It was not convenient for the teacher to ask. At this moment, the teacher needed to ask the students for help gathering things. Although the female students were unwilling, they still obediently listened. As for the male students, the Lan sisters had long been goddesses in their hearts, so everyone wanted to seize the opportunity to show off, and Nhan Nghia was particularly active, being the first to rush forward to help.
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The space was tidy and clean. Anh Dao and Zero respectfully lit incense. The female teacher and all the classmates took turns visiting the funeral. Nhan Nghia wanted to linger, looking for another opportunity, but he was urgently called home by his mother's phone call. Nhan Nghia clicked his tongue in frustrated longing, clasped his hands together again before Nhat Binh's coffin, and politely greeted Ngoc and her two daughters:
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- My deepest condolences to you here; I will come to visit your family again later!
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Nhan Nghia bid farewell to the teacher:
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- Teacher, please allow me to go home first!
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Loan nodded, saying nothing. Nhan Nghia looked at Lan with a lingering gaze, but she responded coldly. Girls had never been indifferent to Nhan Nghia, but Lan's nonchalance only made him desire her more. Nhan Nghia left, and secretly swore to force her to kneel at his feet, face down in his crotch, and lift her butt for him to play with.
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The classmates gathered around Anh Dao and Zero, took photos, asked for autographs, and later said goodbye. The teacher reminded them:
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- Classmates should call their family members and go in groups. Male students should escort their female classmates home, and then return to their own homes. Anyone who arrives home safely must immediately notify me!
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The students were accustomed to the teacher's excessive caution, so they obediently agreed and quickly left, to avoid her nagging. Mai - the short-haired girl — turned back and asked:
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- Teacher, haven't you gone home yet?
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Loan nodded:
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- Hmm, I'll go home in a little while!
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Mai bid farewell to the teacher and Ngoc and her two daughters:
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- My respects to you! - Mai waved to the Lan sisters - I'm going back now, Lan!
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Lan nodded to her best friend. Lan was a woman of few words, and Mai didn't blame her. She walked among her classmates, heading back together on the same road home. Amidst the boys' gossip, the girls chattered noisily, discussing:
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- Have you heard the news? Hoang Kim was in a car accident and is hospitalized.
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- That's old news, 'Grandma'. I also heard that there's a girl named Hanna Izumi who stayed by Hoang Kim's side from the car accident until he went to the hospital.
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- The media says she's from the Sun Kingdom. Probably Hoang Kim's girlfriend, right? So jealous! I wish I were her!
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A group of boys teased:
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- Stop dreaming, he's a global star! The girls from the Sun Kingdom are known for spoiling their husbands with affection, and I heard she's very beautiful. 'Grandma' has no chance!
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- Who is Hoang Kim? Of course, his girlfriend must be Miss World level!"
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The girls immediately surrounded the boys who dared to tease them, chasing, hitting, and turning everything into hilarious chaos.
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Nhat Binh had passed away. Ngoc and her daughters had no mind to hold their phones, nor the spirit to answer calls, go online, or watch TV. JK's people helped set up the funeral home and prepared all the arrangements for the funeral, then left. Zero the robot remained quiet as usual. Because of the creditors' commotion, Anh Dao didn't explain the cause of the incident. Ngoc's and her two daughter looked at Anh Dao in surprise; the girl sadly nodded.
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The mother and two daughters spent a night with one man. The three women shared the same feelings for that man: passion, guilt, and the experience of pain worse than death. That man was a family member. Unfortunately, karma once again caused him to bring them emotions of tragic irony that they would never forget for the rest of their lives. Now, the three women's hearts seemed to have stopped beating. Salty tears stagnated in their swollen eyelids.
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The girls cried because of Luu Ly — a a child burdened with no sin who waited to die every day. They cried for their deceased husband and father, and also for the mother and grandmother they had never met. At this moment, the three women wanted to cry but dared not.
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Anh Dao was shocked to discover that the mother and her two daughters seemed to have given half their hearts to that man. Anh Dao, too, was a woman, and her body had already belonged to the man who had yet to capture the hearts of those three women. He was only her first man, and he hadn’t even occupied a corner of half her heart.
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The four individuals were wholeheartedly concerned for each other. The Western woman felt an emptiness inside, as if she had lost something. Anh Dao didn't want to know what that vague thing was; she focused all her thoughts on the three unfortunate women. The blonde girl told herself that she would stay here to prevent the victims from committing suicide. Only when Ngoc and her daughters calmed down did she truly feel relieved.
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Loan noticed that Ngoc and her daughters' attitude changed after hearing about Hoang Kim's accident. Joy and sorrow vanished, leaving only shock and pain for the people they cared about. Loan was startled by a strange feeling. The Lan sisters were both professional martial arts athletes, so perhaps they knew Hoang Kim; it was normal for colleagues in the sports world to be concerned for each other.
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Loan felt confused because Ngoc reacted like her two daughters, which made her suspect the true reason behind Ngoc and her daughters' mourning for Hoang Kim. The female teacher found it inconvenient to ask delicate questions. Loan pulls out her smartphone and checks online to check for information on Hoang Kim, and clicked on the link to the live report from a web reporter outside the hospital:
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"Yes, ladies and gentlemen, after a full six hours of surgery, the doctors have finally completed the initial treatment. Hoang Kim is still not out of danger and is currently being placed in the intensive care unit for special nursing. Doctors stated that his legs were almost crushed, and his spine suffered severe damage. It's currently unknown if Huang Jin can recover, and everything depends on his will."
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The reporter emphasized when mentioning Hanna:
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"Regarding Hanna Izumi, according to anonymous sources, Hanna left the hospital four hours ago. We still don't know who Hanna is. But the surgery wasn't even completed, and she already left in a hurry. Perhaps she's not really his girlfriend!"
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Loan secretly observed Ngoc and her daughters. The girls were fully engrossed, as if afraid of missing a single word. Huang Jin suffered a disaster, and the three lowered their heads to hide their tears of pity. Their loved one hadn't even been laid to rest, yet the mother and daughters were silently grieving and shedding tears for another man. Even if that person was Hoang Kim, the female teacher found it difficult to explain such a complex relationship. She still didn't understand the reason behind it, so she couldn't rashly inquire.
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Loan encouraged Ngoc and her daughters to rally from the pain of losing their loved one. She had intended to expose Nhan Nghia's true nature, but Anh Dao and Zero were present.If unrelated outsiders found out, wouldn’t that make her someone who publicly shamed him? The teacher wanted to give the student an opportunity to do good, so she asked Anh Dao and Zero to step aside for a moment:
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- I'd like to talk to them privately.
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After the two walked away, she said Nhan Nghia even wanted to marry Bang Suong, but because there were so many people around, he couldn't force the sisters to be his wives. Yesterday, Loan accidentally overheard him chatting with his debauched friends. He planned to drag the Lan sisters to bed every night. He wanted the girls to moan beneath his crotch. He said just imagining deflowering those two fairy-like beautiful sisters at the same time made him burn with lust, almost to the point of madness.
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Even more sickening, Nhan Nghia also conspired to approach Ngoc, intending to trick her into taking an aphrodisiac so he could play with her. He'd secretly take photos and then force the three mother and daughters into intimacy with him. He brazenly claimed he would become the most gratified man in human history.
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Loan said she was already alert to his tricks regarding debt repayment, meant to achieve his dark intentions, but she didn't expect him to be one step ahead of her. Fortunately, she still managed to stop him. Ngoc's and her daughters trembled all over, terrified of such sickening depravity, and filled with revulsion for that perverted fellow.
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If Loan hadn't been there today, Ngoc and her daughters might have already fallen into that beast's trap. The mother and daughters thanked the teacher. Loan said that her responsibility as a teacher gave her courage. Lan worried that because Loan had thwarted Nhan Nghia's plans today, he would retaliate against the teacher. Loan chuckled softly, determined to stop the conspiracy:
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- I know I’ll pay for this one day. But I won’t let that hypocrite destroy your family.
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Ngoc's and her daughters were moved and hugged the teacher, thanking her again. Loan gently patted and comforted them, then picked up her phone to answer a call:
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- I understand, I'll be right back!
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Loan hung up the phone and said:
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- My sister said we have a visitor at home. Well, goodbye for now, everyone. I'll come visit you all later! - She said as she walked toward the parking spot - No need to see me off. Everyone, please get some rest!"
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The teacher waved goodbye and drove away. The mother and daughters watched the car's shadow disappear at the foot of the mountain, then quietly went home to finish the funeral.
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November 3rd
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Hoang Kim lay motionless, his breathing faint. Every moment, the pulsating line on the electrocardiogram seemed to tear at his aged mother's heart. Their family was shattered: a son battling death, a daughter and three granddaughters suffering through pain and torment.
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Thanh Hang can't manage to get any sleep; she fears dreaming about the cause of the terrible accident. She dozes off only to startle awake at the sight of her descendants doing immoral things. She forces herself to stay awake with coffee.
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An elderly person's health is already limited, and the mental breakdown had completely crushed all her efforts. Soon after, she fell into delirium, the image of Huang Jin's shattered body surfacing in her mind, and cold sweat instantly drenched the mother's entire body. She trembled, sobbing with choked gasps.
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Facing immense nervous pressure, she felt utterly weary of human nature's ways. Upon hearing the news of Huang Jin's hospitalization, visitors arrived in an endless stream. Few were truly sincere; countless others merely sought excuses to gossip, enjoying the spectacle and drama.
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The number of fans was countless, ranging from genuine loyal fans to trend-following fans, and even those fervent "ovulating" fangirls—all entered the hospital in sequence. Some genuinely prayed for their idol’s recovery. Some came multiple times just to prove they had visited the national hero. Others came but went unnoticed by anyone; these two types of people gradually disappeared later on.
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Outside, long queues of ardent female fans lined up, while the crowd inside eagerly awaited their turn to visit the "nation's heartthrob." Hoang Kim's mother was touched, but then immediately felt fed up with a whole bunch of self-proclaimed "long-time fans" who only thought of taking photos of her son to post online and garner likes.
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Even more rudely, many girls posed cutely or sadly right beside the hero's faint, intermittent breathing on his hospital bed. Everyone secretly snickered, watching as storms of likes, shares, negative comments, and positive comments surged in, their momentum roaring louder and more fiercely than gales and floods.
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Many criticized this chaotic virtual network phenomenon, yet they were powerless against the overcrowded and aggressive rabble. They could only throw out angry emojis, feeling helpless and frustrated with this failed generation of education.
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The masked groups were immensely pleased, watching an unfair war whose outcome was already known before it had even begun. Those so-called "moralists" feigned reconciliation, calling for both sides to cease hostilities. Yet, they spoke extremely sarcastic words, poking a rice sack and then tearing a grain sack, pouring more fuel onto the fire to make the situation completely burn, only to attract spectators and revel in the chaos of the world. Global disorder was precisely what they desired, satisfying their pathological pleasure.
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Those who instantly throw a tantrum and feel personally attacked the moment someone mentions "low civic awareness" are nothing more than extras in this tragicomedy. The leading roles are played by a cast of so-called ‘prestigious actors’ with awful acting skills yet convinced of their own class. They are stars famous not for talent, but because of the bandwagon effect, along with has-beens visiting just to polish their names.
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Countless self-proclaimed hotgirls and hotboys, along with new groups who had just entered the entertainment industry with wet and dry feet, flocked to the hospital. They offered perfunctory words of encouragement, lingered longer than necessary to perform their sorrow, all while secretly hoping to squeeze themselves into a camera frame or catch the gleam of a television spotlight.
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One way or another, they would appear somewhere on the internet — their identities and faces adrift in the virtual world — and, within seconds, their names and ages would soar to the top of nationwide trending headlines, plastered across every news feed. Headlines like these:
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“After all, star Kelly also visited Hoang Kim!”
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"Tears shed for Angel's visit to the national hero!"
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"A heartbreaking moment as a star visits a superstar!"
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The director of this classic drama is the media. Each vulture feeds in its own fashion—one openly picks at the still-living body on the hospital bed with camera flashes, while another carefully chooses the best angle, focusing its video camera on the motionless corpse that has yet to rot.
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The victim is still in unstable condition, so doctors strictly limit the number of visitors per round. Medical staff allow only a few people in at a time. To avoid overcrowding, anyone who wishes to visit must register in advance. The hospital arranges visits according to the order of names on the list.
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Yet the uninvited guests kept flooding in, outnumbering ants in a swarm. And the one person worth waiting for remained unseen. For two days, Hanna Izumi had not returned to the hospital. She had called once to ask about Hoang Kim’s condition, and then calmly reassured Thanh Hang. Before hanging up, she promised she would visit soon.
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A few brief words are not enough to ease Thanh Hang’s worries. She wants to meet the girl who saved her son’s life—both a lifesaver and a comfort to a lonely mother. If that girl were here, perhaps she wouldn’t feel so alone in her longing and fear for her child’s safety.
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She hopes the girl would come to lift Hoang Kim’s spirits—maybe even awaken him. Each time a woman enters the hospital, Thanh Hang watches in hopeful anticipation, but each time is bitterly disappointed again and again. The doctor sighs:
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- She might not come back.
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But the mother never lost hope in that unfamiliar girl. Her reply was firm, unwavering:
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- I believe she will come!
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Faith is what keeps Thanh Hang mentally strong. She has already endured painful loss—if she were to lose her faith as well, she would have nothing left.
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Notes
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[1] This is a common Vietnamese saying, meaning that one should not force their children—or anyone—to marry someone they don’t love.
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[2] "Catching fish with both hands": idiom for someone unfaithful or playing with multiple partners.
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[3]This is another Vietnamese idiom, referring to someone who usually pretends to be virtuous and exemplary, but when faced with hardship or crisis, their true nature is revealed.
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