Chapter 13 — Bridge Yard Beats

After winning the national championship, the whole team had three short days of rest before officially leaving to attend the regional Olympic qualifiers. This is also a rare time when Vy can take Long to visit her coastal hometown and introduce him to her mother in a more official way, no longer simply as a competing teammate.

The bus took them both back to the small coastal town on a beautiful sunny afternoon. Vy's mother had prepared a sumptuous meal to welcome her. Her eyes could not hide curiosity mixed with happiness when she saw her daughter return with the person she had heard so much about over the phone.

"Hello, uncle," Long bowed his head politely, holding a small gift that he had carefully prepared in advance.

"You are the Long that Vy always talks about, right?" Vy's mother asked, her eyes searching but full of sympathy.

"Yes, that's right," Long replied, his voice sincere. "I'm so happy to finally have the chance to meet you in person."

The meal was cozy, Vy's mother asked Long about everything, from work, family, to future plans. Long answered each question with sincerity and respect, making Vy's mother more and more sympathetic to the young man who has built an impressive career journey with her daughter.

"I heard from Vy, you come from a family with a great badminton tradition," Vy's mother commented while eating. "I'm a little worried about whether your family will accept a girl from an ordinary background like my daughter."

"Don't worry so much," Long replied, his eyes steady. "My dad always taught me that a person's value does not lie in their background, but in their personality and the effort they put in. My dad appreciates Vy very much, not only for her talent, but also for her determination and integrity."

That sincere answer deeply touched Vy's mother. She held Long's hand tightly, her eyes filled with tears. "Thank you very much, for always cherishing my daughter so much."

After the meal, Vy took Long to the beach, where she had shared painful memories of her late father on another occasion with another person — but this time, the story she told Long was completely new, never shared with anyone before.

"My father passed away when I was only twelve years old," Vy said, her voice low and full of nostalgia, her eyes looking out to the horizon where the sea and sky met. "He was a fisherman, went out to sea in a sudden storm and never returned. From then on, my mother raised the two sisters alone, being both mother and father."

Long listened silently, holding her hand tightly as a strong fulcrum. “It must have been a very difficult time,” he said softly, his voice filled with sincere understanding.

"That's right," Vy nodded, her eyes a little teary. "But also from that situation, I learned how to be resilient, determined, and never give up in the face of difficulties. Badminton became the way to help me escape poverty, and also a way for me to prove to myself that one's background does not determine a person's future."

"That's what I admire most about you," Long said, his eyes filled with deep appreciation. "You turned the difficulties of the past into motivation to rise up, instead of letting them become a burden that held you back."

The two of them stood there, watching the sunset on the shore of Vy's hometown, hand in hand, their hearts filled with a deeper connection than ever, preparing the strongest spirit for the important journey ahead.

On the way home, Vy took Long to visit her father's grave, bringing a bouquet of wildflowers hastily picked on the side of the road. She stood in front of the grave, introducing Long to her father as something very natural and very sincere.

"Dad, this is Long," she said, her voice gentle. "The person who has been with me through many challenges over the past time, and now, is also the person I love."

Long stood quietly beside him, bowing his head before the grave with sincere respect. "I promise you, I will always cherish, protect and love Vy with all my heart, so that you can rest assured in your life," he said softly, his voice full of seriousness.

That moment made Vy unable to hold back her tears, but they were tears of happiness, no longer carrying the pain like before. She clearly felt as if her father was smiling somewhere, witnessing that his daughter had found complete happiness after many years of hardship.

That evening, before Long had to return to the city one day earlier than Vy to attend the final preparation meeting with the coaching staff, Vy's mother pulled him aside to a separate corner, her eyes serious but warm.

"I just have one thing to tell you," she said, her voice sincere. "My daughter has had to be strong and independent since she was young, rarely letting anyone really take care of her. I hope you will always be patient, understanding, and never let her be lonely like in the past years."

"I promise you," Long replied, his voice serious without any hesitation. "I will always be by your side, Vy, in every situation, not only in the glorious days, but also in the most difficult times."

The next morning, when seeing Long off to the bus station, Vy couldn't hide her nostalgia even though she knew it was only a short farewell for one day. "Remember to take care of your health," she advised, holding his hand tightly.

"I'll see you again at the training center soon," Long smiled, gently patting her head affectionately, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "You can rest assured and rest one more day with your mother and younger brother. I will prepare everything properly before you come back."

When the bus carrying Long gradually disappeared at the end of the road, Vy still stood there for a while longer, her heart filled with a warm, safe feeling that she had never experienced before in any relationship. She returned home and spent the last full day with her family before having to return to the cycle of intense training, preparing for the most important journey of her career.

At night, before going to bed, Nguyen lay next to his sister, curiously asking about her new relationship. "Do you really like Mr. Long?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with the curiosity of a teenager.

"I love him," Vy replied, without hesitation, a happy smile on her lips. "He is the person who helped me reconsider a lot of things about myself, about how to love and be loved."

"Then I like him too," Nguyen smiled brightly, "as long as he makes you happy."

Vy hugged her younger brother, filled with happiness at the sincere support from her small but loving family, ready to step into the most important journey ahead with a stronger heart than ever.

Early the next morning, before getting on the bus back to the city, Vy took some time to visit the beach one last time, standing silently watching the waves crashing against the sand in the dawn light. She took a deep breath, clearly feeling the familiar salty flavor of her homeland, as if giving her strength for the challenging journey ahead.

On the car ride back, Vy took the opportunity to make a video call to Long, recounting the warm evening with her family and the sincere advice from her mother. “My mother really likes you,” she said, her voice full of joy.

"I also really like your mother," Long replied through the screen, a warm smile clearly visible on his face. "She is a strong, determined woman. I understand better why you became such a resilient person."

"How prepared are you for this afternoon's strategy meeting?" Vy asked, changing the topic of work.

"I just finished reviewing the entire strategy with teacher Kiet and Ms. Tram," Long replied, his voice becoming much more serious than at the beginning of the call. "We will have a detailed meeting as soon as you return, to agree on the final plan before leaving."

"I'm very excited, more than nervous," Vy said, her eyes sparkling with determination. "It feels like all the preparations over the past few months are finally about to be truly tested."

"I believe we are ready for all that lies ahead," Long replied, his voice filled with confidence. "Not only technically and tactically, but also mentally. Together we have overcome many challenges to reach this important moment."

The conversation ended with loving words of encouragement, leaving Vy with a rare feeling of peace and stability at the threshold of the most important journey in her playing career, a journey that she knows, now she no longer has to continue alone, but always has a companion ready to stand by her side through all the challenges ahead.