Phong wasn't particularly handsome, but he was tall and well-built, and especially, he was very generous with his money. Although they were all around the same age as other students, Phong seemed much wealthier than his classmates. He always had several times more cash in his pocket than Hung received monthly from his parents. When going out with friends, Phong always paid generously. Whenever the group chipped in for meals or after-school activities, Phong always tried to pay the larger share. He would always say, "My family is rich, don't worry!" At first, Hung and his classmates felt a little awkward spending Phong's money, but eventually they all shrugged it off and got used to it. Partly because most of Hung's friends weren't exactly well-off themselves, and partly because Phong was always generous and never seemed stingy or haggling over money. Phong always said, "My dad has money; he told me to just focus on studying and spending it on useful things!"
Phong's father, Uncle Vinh, was a stout, dark-skinned man who often chuckled when he spoke. He was approachable but had the air of a successful businessman. Despite his cheerful demeanor, Hung always felt intimidated and apprehensive whenever he was near Uncle Vinh. While joking around with Phong in the room, Hung would occasionally overhear Uncle Vinh discussing business or yelling at someone on the phone, and even just eavesdropping was enough to send shivers down his spine.