Chapter 17 — A Sweetness Forgotten

On Friday evening, Diệp Chi and Tường Vy attended a business networking event organized by the city's chamber of commerce, where startup brand owners had the opportunity to meet and interact with investors and large corporations.

She wore a moss green office dress, light makeup, and the confident demeanor of a businesswoman familiar with similar events. But when entering the main hall, her eyes accidentally stopped at a corner of the room, where Thế Khôi was standing and chatting with a beautiful young woman, with an elegant appearance, her hand lightly wrapped around his sleeve with undisguised intimacy.

"Who is that?" Diệp Chi asked softly, trying to keep her voice calm, although a strange feeling of discomfort suddenly arose in her heart.

Tường Vy glanced in the direction of her friend's eyes, then whispered, her voice somewhat reserved. "I heard rumors that she is Kỷ Yên Thảo, the daughter of Bách Khang's long-time partner. I heard that the two have known each other for a while."

That information was like a bucket of cold water poured straight into Diệp Chi's heart, even though she knew she had no right to feel hurt — she and Thế Khôi, after all their recent conversations, had never officially confirmed anything about their current relationship. But that painful feeling still crept into my chest, unable to be controlled with reason.

"Let's go somewhere else," Diệp Chi said, turning to leave before Thế Khôi could see her.

But it was too late. Thế Khôi recognized her from afar, his eyes lit up for a split second, then he asked Yên Thảo's permission and quickly walked towards Diệp Chi.

"Diệp Chi, are you also coming to this event?" He asked, his voice undisguisedly happy, but his eyes also showed a bit of confusion when he realized that Diệp Chi had seen him standing with Yên Thảo.

"Hello," Diệp Chi replied, her voice maintained the necessary social standards, her facial expression did not reveal any obvious emotions. "I came to expand the partnership for Ngọt Xưa."

Yên Thảo, realizing that Thế Khôi had left for a long time, also walked over and stood next to him with the natural look of someone familiar with that position.

"Mr. Khoi, introduce me to your friends," she said, her voice was sweet, her eyes looked politely at Diệp Chi.

"This is Diệp Chi, owner of the Ngọt Xưa brand, a potential partner of the Coi Quarter project." Thế Khôi introduced, his voice a bit awkward and unnatural. "Diệp Chi, this is Yên Thảo."

"Hello sister." Diệp Chi nodded politely, trying to keep a polite smile on her lips. "Nice to meet you."

Yên Thảo looked at Diệp Chi for a moment, the delicate eyes of an intelligent woman could not help but notice something unusual in the way Thế Khôi looked at this guest - an interest that went beyond the framework of a normal business partnership.

"Ngọt Xưa, I've heard of this brand," Yên Thảo said, her voice still polite. "I heard that your startup story is quite special, you went through many difficulties before succeeding."

"Yes, it's nothing special," Diệp Chi replied, trying to keep her voice humble. "Just trying to do my job well."

The conversation was brief, polite, following the social standards of a business networking event, but the atmosphere between the three people was indescribably tense, as if each sentence carried a different layer of meaning hidden deep beneath the polite shell.

After a few minutes, an acquaintance of Yên Thảo came to call her to another table. She asked permission to leave, but before leaving, she turned to look at Thế Khôi, her voice gentle but loud enough for even Diệp Chi to hear. "I remember I have to come to your family party tonight."

"Yes, I remember," Thế Khôi replied, nodding.

When Yên Thảo was gone, Diệp Chi turned to Thế Khôi, trying to keep her voice as calm as possible. "Are you and her... serious?"

Thế Khôi was silent for a moment, his face slightly awkward. "We've known each other for more than a year, through family introductions. But—"

"No need to explain," Diệp Chi interrupted, trying to keep her voice gentle even though her heart was torn fiercely. "That's your private matter, I have no right to interfere or ask anything."

"Diệp Chi—"

"I have to go find Tường Vy, there are still many people I need to meet at the event," she interrupted, turned around and walked away quickly, not giving him time to say anything else.

Thế Khôi stood silently looking at her back, feeling a familiar helplessness rising in his heart - the feeling of a person standing between two choices, not knowing what to do without hurting anyone more, including himself.

That night, at the party organized by Yên Thảo's family, Thế Khôi sat in the cozy atmosphere, the laughter of the elders discussing business, the gentle music playing from the speakers in the corner of the room, but his mind kept returning to the image of Diệp Chi turning away and walking away in the afternoon, her eyes trying to hide something that he knew was hurt.

"You don't seem to be very focused," Yên Thảo commented when the two had a chance to sit alone in a corner after dinner, her voice was gentle but contained a subtle observation. "Is something distracting you?"

"Sorry." Thế Khôi was startled and tried to regain focus. "It's just that today's work is a bit much to think about."

Yên Thảo looked at him for a long time, her eyes were not reproachful, only carrying a rare calm understanding. "Is that woman from the afternoon, that old sweet lady, someone important to you?"

The straightforward question made Thế Khôi pause, not knowing how to answer properly. "Why do you ask that?"

"Because the way I look at her is different than the way I look at anyone else you've ever seen," Yên Thảo replied, her voice still surprisingly calm, although a secret sadness flashed through her eyes. "Even the way you look at me."

Thế Khôi was silent, unable to deny, nor brave enough to admit it outright in that moment. "Yên Thảo, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel—"

"You don't need to apologize," she interrupted, her voice gentle but firm. "I'm not the type of person who likes to keep someone around just because of family arrangements, when their heart already has room for someone else. It's just, I need time to think about our relationship, after tonight."

Thế Khôi looked at her, feeling a deep sense of guilt welling up in his heart - Yên Thảo had no fault in this matter, she was simply a good woman caught up in the middle of an unfinished love story that she didn't know about before she started getting to know him.

"I'm sorry," he said again, his voice sincere. "You deserve to have someone who has his whole heart for you, not someone who still holds on to the past."

Yên Thảo smiled slightly, a sad smile but without any resentment. "Thank you for being honest. Let me think for a few more days, then we can talk more clearly."

***

On the way home, sitting in the car with Tường Vy, Diệp Chi looked out the window, remaining silent for a long time.

"Are you okay?" Tường Vy asked, glancing at you with worried eyes.

"Fine," Diệp Chi replied, her voice somewhat forced. "It's just... I don't think I have the right to feel upset about it. There's nothing between him and me that makes me feel so irrationally jealous."

"Why is it unreasonable?" Tường Vy objected, her voice gentle. "You still have feelings for him, that's the truth, there's nothing to be ashamed of. But you also need to be clear, if he has someone else serious, you must respect that, don't let yourself fall into the position of a third person."

"I know." Diệp Chi nodded, her voice lowered. "I'll just keep my distance. Anyway, everything between us should just stay at the level of business partners."

"What are you going to do with the cooperation contract?" Tường Vy asked, her realistic voice returning. "Still continuing?"

"Still continuing." Diệp Chi nodded firmly. "It was the right business decision, it had nothing to do with personal feelings. I promised myself I would keep these two things separate, I will keep that promise." Tường Vy looked at you, was silent for a moment, then sighed softly. "You're always like that, trying to act strong, holding all your emotions inside. Sometimes I wish you would allow yourself to be a little weak, instead of having to be so strong all the time."

"If I'm weak, who will take care of the eleven branches and hundreds of employees who are counting on me?" Diệp Chi laughed lightly, a somewhat bitter laugh. "Okay, let me take care of it myself. Don't worry about me too much, focus on managing and operating the new branches." The car continued in silence, with only the steady sound of the engine and the streetlights passing through the windows, each person pursuing their own thoughts, but sharing a nameless worry about the coming days.

But when she said that sentence, Diệp Chi herself felt the emptiness in her voice, as if she was trying to convince herself to believe in something that her heart, no matter how hard she tried, still could not fully accept.