Chapter 30

As September arrives, the weather gradually becomes cooler, and autumn sets in.

The streets, which were somewhat empty during the summer vacation, are now filled with students wearing their white shirts. The Conservatory of Music, like many other schools, also holds an Opening Ceremony. The Rector steps up and takes centre stage to read a long speech with all kinds of extra content that he adds himself, every time he remembers something. Pupils and students stand in the courtyard of the Conservatory, listen involuntarily, and almost fall asleep when luckily, the school drum starts its loud sound. Excitedly, every student disperses.

The Rector is also sure that the opening day of school is when Mr Woods must return. There is no longer any reason for him to be in any Competition, take care of students, or go on business trips abroad. He immediately calls Mr Woods and forces him to appear in the Principal's office.

The Rector, Mrs Phuong, and her husband, Mr Hieu, wait less than five minutes before Mr Lam knocks on the door, but Karsci and Emmy also enter after him.

After a few words of greeting, the Rector cannot help but get some crazy lips on him. The bald man makes a preemptive attack against Mr Woods with a series of blaming arguments, saying that the teacher was so selfish that he let two talented people, Ngoc Lam and Van Thac, become famous abroad without knowing how to convince them to work for the Conservatory. The salary Mr Woods has earned is from the Conservatory of Music, and the reputation he has gained is partly thanks to the Conservatory, but he keeps nourishing a snake in the Conservatory's flower. He would rather let foreigners benefit than think about the common interests of the Conservatory. The man also threatens to report this matter to the Government for leaking brain matter, affecting the country's development. After blaming, he turns to complain about the money he had invested in Ngoc Lam and the loss to the Conservatory when Van Thac's tuition money from the beginning did not go to the Conservatory but only went into Mr Woods' pocket, along with the potential profits that can be earned from the two of them.

"What you have just said sounds reasonable," Mr Woods speaks up after patiently listening to all the false words. "So, I want to ask Ms Phuong and Mr Hieu, how do you plan to let Ngoc Lam develop her career if she returns to the Conservatory of Music?"

"Of course, professional support and opportunities for her to develop." Mrs. Phuong lies without blinking her eyes. "If a genius like her has passion, she has nothing to fear from difficulties, right?"

"What about Mr Hieu?" The teacher glances at Mrs Phuong's husband, "I heard that you are applying to be appointed vice president of the National Music Council. You need to know for yourself that the higher you go, the colder the wind gets. What you did yesterday no one knows, but tomorrow, with the same thing, everyone will surely know."

"Are you threatening me?" Mr. Hieu sees that his career is being mentioned, so he immediately roars.

"Ngoc Lam has escaped your influence." K raises his voice, "Don't you dare to hurt her like you did before!"

"What joke are you talking about, Mr Karsci?" Mrs Phuong sneers, "Apparently, in the past, she had megalomania. She refused to strive and ran away from the show on her own and had an accident. It's been a long time, so you think you can cover the truth?"

"Is severe depression and post-traumatic disorder a megalomania, Mrs Phuong?" Mr Woods' voice is cold. His eyes look at the dirty people as if he wants to crush them. "I think you should temporarily reserve your job and receive professional training before speaking ignorantly again."

Mrs Phuong is somewhat speechless. She grits her teeth and takes a deep breath. Just as she curls her mouth to say something, Mr Woods speaks first and blocks her words.

"In short, Ngoc Lam and Van Thac have their own path. I will never ask them to join the Conservatory. You guys must leave those young people alone, too."

Mr Hieu does not want to give in and immediately moves forward.

"Mr Woods, you are a bit mistaken about this. That girl is not any child. but she is a monster. She stole my son's position."

"Hieu" M cannot stand it anymore and has to join in. "Since when is talent synonymous with monsters? You and I used to compete for the position of head violin, in case you have not forgotten. It was I who took that position and defeated you. I'm much better than you. Do you dare call me a monster?"

M couldn't help but raise her voice in the last sentences. Mrs Phuong bursts into tears when she hears that.

"My son, Minh, is dead, and you guys can be heartless like that? That monster texted him while he was being treated for depression. If it weren't for that girl, how could my son have been so desperate that he left us?"

Mrs Phuong glares back, each tear rolling down, filled with indignation.

Faced with her emotions, Mr Woods remains calm.

"First, when Minh was selected, Ngoc Lam was abroad. The Rector was the one who bragged about her to his partners, causing them to change their minds."

The Rector hears Mr Woods pointing him out, his face turns pale, and he is about to stand up and scold him. K is faster. He runs towards the Rector and uses his one hand to press down on the man's shoulder. The edges of K's eyes turned red as if he wanted to cut him into a million pieces. For a moment, the Rector has no choice but to stay quiet.

"Second, at that time, did you and your husband know that Minh had had a boyfriend?"

This sentence simultaneously makes Ms Phuong and Mr Hieu silent and look at each other.

"Did you two know that the boy was being treated for depression?"

The couple begin to turn pale.

"You two didn't even know, even if you are his parents! What do you expect from a ten-year-old child who had just returned from abroad? What evidence is there that she was the cause of that?"

Looking at the two people's pale faces but their eyes still struggling stubbornly, Mr. Lam says.

"We are all at fault. We are adults but only worry about pursuing our own interests and fame. But you all colluded together to torture a child. You did it not for Minh, for justice, or anything. You attacked Ngoc Lam because you could. Being parents in your way is not worthy of Minh's soul in heaven! You are a vile, despicable bunch!"

In France, Ngoc Lam and Van Thac are practising together with the Orchestra. From that moment on, Ngoc Lam began to encounter many problems. She still hasn't gotten over her obsession with the stage. Every time she stands there, no matter which direction her back is facing, she always feels anxious and afraid that someone is stalking her from behind.

Some older members suggested letting Ngoc Lam sit on a chair. Having something to support her back gave her peace of mind, but still, it didn't improve her condition. She even experienced hallucinations while trying to concentrate on playing music.

"I saw Minh's face close to mine. The mucus from his body squeezed me tightly. I can't play the piano."

Ngoc Lam tells the psychiatrist about her hallucinations.

M went to France with her husband and Mr Woods right after the Opening Ceremony. Now, when she hears those words, her eyes turn red. The child that she and her husband had trained and cared for was being abused to such an extent. Her heart aches.

After hearing the story over the phone, Ngoc Lam's mother cannot hold back her tears. The two mothers talk, advise, and care for each other for a long time before finally hanging up.

K gives M a handkerchief. She smiles at her husband and uses the handkerchief to wipe away the tears on her face. Not knowing whether Ngoc Lam will be able to go on stage or not, they decide to temporarily keep this a secret, while she persists in receiving psychological treatment. Anyway, it's still lucky because Ngoc Lam doesn't hide when she feels unstable. She is learning to speak up about her problems and seek help.

Contrary to their intentions, the rumour that Ngoc Lam has PTSD to the point that she cannot stand on stage is spreading at breakneck speed. Some of the Orchestra's sponsors call K and M out to talk about this. The media apartment is struggling to find a way to make an announcement when the tabloids are updating photos of Ngoc Lam being accompanied by Van Thac to see a psychiatrist. K and M immediately require them to take down the picture, but the next day, there are photos of Ngoc Lam going to a psychological examination with the couple on other tabloid pages.

Someone suggests they make a general announcement and promise to compensate if something goes wrong, but the media department immediately dismisses it. Doing so is like who makes excuses, himself excuses. Emergency meetings made K and M feel haggard. One morning, when Van Thac is working in the theatre, he goes to the bathroom to wash his face and keep himself awake when a dark shadow appears behind him through the bathroom door.

"Van Thac… let's escape… together."

"Aaaaaaaaaaa"

The Moreau couple did an escape, for real. They also dragged Van Thac, Ngoc Lam, Mr Woods, Luyen and Thuyen into the forest to play a survival game there.

"Mom"

"I"

"Want"

"To"

"Go"

"Home ~~~~"

After a day of climbing passes, wading streams, chopping wood, and setting up camp, Luyen and Thuyen's spine is no longer stable. The two decidedly throw themselves on a tarpaulin and lay down completely. It is dark already. The sky is full of stars, with the Milky Way stretching across the sky. Confronting nature and the universe, Humans are very small and helpless.

Mr Woods and K also unceremoniously lay down on the canvas together. After many stressful days, K is finally able to temporarily let go of everything.

"Thac" Luyen calls out to Thac, who is preparing food with Ngoc Lam and M.

"Why the hell are you?" Thuyen asks.

"So strong?" Luyen completes the question.

The food in the outdoor grill is steaming. The sky is above, and the forest is under the sky. On the right, there is an SUV; on the left, there is a tent, and the food is served in front. The scene is truly peaceful and desirable.

Everyone gathers to eat dinner together. K and Mr Woods clink their beer cans, take a sip, and then let out a refreshing 'huff' sound.

"Living like this is truly living." K picks up a piece of grilled meat and puts it in his mouth, "I've been so miserable these past few days!"

"I thought after the teachers talked to them, they would stop playing tricks," Thac asks. He is referring to the meeting on the first day of school between Mr Woods's group and Ms Phuong and her husband.

"They are arrogant people," M replies, "They will never take back the arrow they shot."

Everyone implicitly understands that Mrs. Phuong's 'arrow' is Thanh, who is in Minh's face.

"What a terrible old hag," Luyen exclaimed.

"Stretching her arms all the way here." Thuyen continued.

"The long-armed monster." Both said in unison.

Everyone burst out laughing at the image of Luyen and Thuyen described.

The happy and comfortable atmosphere continues for a few minutes, then Mr Woods clears his throat and becomes serious again.

"Ngoc Lam's treatment still needs to continue. But the sponsors need to be appeased first. Does anyone have any suggestions?"

"My wife and I can handle the matter with the sponsors," K says. "There's no need to hide her treatment, just say it's a normal psychological counselling session because she's preparing to return to the stage."

"It's not a problem with the paparazzi," M continues. "Currently, the person who took those photos has been identified. If I investigate further, there will definitely be many clues."

"The concern is"

"Thanh is hiding in the dark." Luyen and Thuyen follow each other.

"It's not difficult to show him off." Thac says, "His goal is Ngoc Lam and the October concert. Just show that everything is fine, and he will lose patience."

"But if we do that," Van Thac hesitantly looks at Ngoc Lam, "Lam will have to confront him head-on. He will find any way he can to assault her mentally."

"My Little Sapphire" M holds Ngoc Lam's hand "We will always respect your decision, no matter what. Just understand that what happened was not your fault. You deserve to shine on stage whenever you are ready."