Chapter 1: Tutoring the Rich Kid
Autumn in Hanoi is the most beautiful season of the year, with its crisp, dry winds, vibrant flower carts lining the streets, and an elegant, peaceful atmosphere that is hard to put into words.
Weather like this is perfect for going out.
But Kieu Ly was caught up in the whirlwind of making ends meet.
On a quiet, open suburban road outside Hanoi, a blue bicycle rolled along between rows of Taiwanese almond trees shedding their leaves without a care.
Following Google Maps, Kieu Ly finally arrived at her destination: a villa in Vinhomes Riverside. The roads were wide and easy to navigate, but Ly had a terrible sense of direction and always struggled to find her way anywhere.
She stopped in front of the villa, overwhelmed by the display of wealth before her. She had known this was a wealthy neighborhood, but she hadn't expected it to be this extravagant. She had agreed to the university principal's request to come tutor the homeowner's son. Naturally, the pay was very generous, so she didn't mind biking such a long distance to get here.
Kieu Ly got off her bike, approached the gate, rang the bell, and patiently waited. While waiting, she let her gaze wander. The house was a four-sided villa. In front of it was a shimmering lake reflecting the moonlight, lined with drooping willows that added a poetic and romantic touch. A gentle breeze blew, making her hair flutter, carrying the faint scent of flowers and scattered red phoenix tree leaves along the road.
Her heart beat faster—she had been briefed by the principal about this student: a notoriously difficult-to-handle boy named Nguyen Toan Phuong. He was in 11th grade, and next year he would face the most important exam of his life.
After a while, a middle-aged woman opened the door. She had a kind, honest face and looked like she wasn't the homeowner based on her simple attire.
"Are you Ly?" the woman asked. "Come in, the lady of the house is waiting for you."
Kieu Ly smiled brightly and politely greeted her:
"Yes. Hello, ma'am."
She followed the woman inside and saw another woman sitting at the tea table, reading a book. This woman was young and very beautiful—the elegant, refined beauty of an intellectual.
Coming from a rural background, Kieu Ly knew she could never possess such grace. Just from a glance, she guessed this must be the homeowner.
She walked up to the tea table and politely said:
"Hello, ma'am. I'm Ly. I'm here today to tutor Phuong."
The woman placed her book on the table, smiled warmly, and said:
"Hello, dear. I'm Thao, Phuong's mother. Please have a seat and rest for a bit."
Thu Thao poured her a glass of water and took the chance to assess Ly's personality. Initially, she had wanted to hire a teacher or lecturer, someone significantly older than her son, in hopes that he would be more obedient. But when she saw Kieu Ly's academic record, she agreed immediately.
People are influenced by their surroundings—maybe Ly could inspire her son to change his attitude toward studying.