Chapter 18: Strengths and Weaknesses
Mr Aunt invited me to sit down and handed me a schedule—a ridiculously detailed work plan, listing topics to research and deadlines for completion. Most tasks didn't even reference study materials but simply said: Google it. I had no words to describe my reaction other than overwhelmed. So, the documents Mr Aunt had given me before were just the warm-up?
Mr Aunt then asked me,
"Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses."
Huh? I thought I was here to discuss the project and study materials. Turns out, Mr Aunt wanted to get to know me? At least this question was easy to answer—if Mr Aunt had asked me about the materials, I'd be doomed.
"My weakness is that I'm extremely lazy. At first glance, I always seem confident that I can do something, but when I dig deeper, I feel overwhelmed, discouraged, and the more I study, the more I realize how ignorant I am. However, my strength is that I never give up."
Mr Aunt didn't seem entirely satisfied and remained silent, waiting for me to continue. Talking to this person was exhausting. I took a deep breath and added,
"I'm not good at grand things, but if you give me a small framework, I can explore it more deeply than anyone else."
Mr Aunt smiled, as if this was the answer they had been expecting.
"It seems you understand yourself well. I reviewed your academic record. It's true that you don't excel in every subject, but if you focus on one area, you surpass others significantly."
I wanted to bury myself. Mr Aunt had seen my grades and still had faith in me? Was their brain made of clay? Even I didn't have the courage to look at my transcript. My university record was the worst of all my academic years.
Mr Aunt turned their laptop towards me and began explaining the materials I had been researching. In just half an hour, I had a solid foundational understanding—everything was connected logically. Why make me struggle through research when a short lecture could have saved so much time?
"You feel like you understand everything now, don't you?" Mr Aunt asked.
I nodded.
"Yes."
Mr Aunt handed me a glass of water. I had been dying of thirst but was too shy to ask. Thank goodness they remembered, or I might have shriveled up.
"It's easy to think you know everything, but once you start digging deeper, you'll realize how much you don't know. You now have a basic foundation. Your next step is to deepen your understanding. If you encounter any difficulties, let me know."
I downed the water in one go. When I finished, I noticed Mr Aunt looking at me like I was some kind of bizarre creature. What, had they never seen a girl drink water like this before?
I didn't like Mr Aunt's gaze at all. Since I was already here, I might as well satisfy my curiosity about Duyên's place in Mr Aunt's heart. I broke the silence.
"What's your type of woman?"
Mr Aunt hesitated. I expected them to mock me with something like, "Definitely the opposite of you." But instead, they answered seriously.
"My life is different. I don't have the luxury of laughing and dreaming like you all. When my life slows down, then I'll think about that."
For some reason, I felt that Mr Aunt was different from us, but I couldn't quite grasp how.
"People say a scientist can't succeed if they're bound by financial burdens. But I've never had a moment in my life free from them. If money wasn't a motivation, I wouldn't be as hardworking as I am. No matter how intelligent someone is, without endless diligence and patience, they can't become a genius. Nothing comes for free—everything is paid for with sweat and effort."
Was Mr Aunt talking about themselves? I knew they were a perfectionist, demanding of both themselves and others. But I hadn't realized they were also just a regular person, driven by financial struggles. No wonder they always took tutoring jobs for wealthy families.
Suddenly, Mr Aunt seemed... ordinary. In my mind, teachers should work out of passion for their students, for their love of teaching, or for something greater. Not for money.
I also recalled how Mr Aunt declined a scholarship to study abroad after graduation—rumor had it, because of family issues. But if money was such a driving force, wouldn't they have gone abroad no matter what? I wanted to ask, but before I could, Mr Aunt dismissed me.
"Go home and continue your research. I need to work now—I can't entertain you any longer."
Wow. There were a thousand ways to kick someone out, but they chose the rudest way possible.
I grabbed my laptop and documents, bowed slightly, and left. But after tonight's conversation, everything was clearer—what I had to do, my limits, and my goal.
If Mr Aunt had left me to wander aimlessly through that mountain of materials, it would have been like searching for a needle in a haystack. But now, I had a direction.
No matter what, I would prove to Mr Aunt exactly who Vũ Trang Vân was.