Chapter 12 — I Have Conceded Enough

“Tell her to decide for herself.”

6

After hanging up, To Yen Thu looked at me.

“Did you really cut it?”

“Yes.”

“That sapphire isn't cheap.”

“It's not mine anymore.”

I pushed the contract back to her. To Yen Thu took it, saw the signature and burst out laughing.

“If the Ta family knew that you really signed, they would be so angry that they would destroy my studio.”

“They don't.”

“Are you that confident?”

“They're busy saving that stone right now.”

Just as he finished speaking, the phone rang again. This time it's mom. I didn't pick up the phone. The third time, she sent a voice message.

“Tri Vi, that sapphire was given to you by my mother.”

“My brother told the barber to stop.”

“Go home.”

Her voice was very light. Like comforting an angry child. But I'm not angry at all. I just leave the choice to the person they want to protect the most. Ten minutes later, the eldest brother sent a text message. The cutter stopped. But the stone had a corner cut off. The original perfect feather-shaped inclusion was destroyed, the stone's value was reduced by at least half. Hua Tinh Mien cried so much that she almost fainted at the company. No one from the design department dared to say a word. The eldest brother forced everyone to shut their mouths. I finished reading the message and turned the phone screen upside down on the table. To Yen Thu raised her eyebrows.

“No pity?”

“A little bit.”

The year my mother gave me that sapphire, I was twenty-five years old. That was also the first time she personally celebrated my birthday. That day, Hua Tinh Mien went to attend a painting exhibition in another province. The eldest brother went on a business trip. Dad is busy receiving guests. Mom had dinner with me. When she gave me the stone, she said:

“Tri Vi, I took the trouble to choose this one just for you.”

I was happy for a long time. Later I learned that Hua Tinh Mien does not like the color blue. So my mother gave it to me. But it's okay. The item is real. My joy at that time was also real. Now it's broken. If it's broken, it's broken. To Yen Thu pushed the blue Phap brooch towards me.

“Let's see this first.”

The brooch is a work from the late 18th century. The outer edge is burned black, the blue part is broken into three pieces. The principal requested that maximum traces of fire damage be retained. I put on my magnifying glasses.

“Why not completely restore it?”

“She said, it was something her mother saved from the fire.”

“Cracks are also part of it.”

My hand stopped. Cracks are also a part of it. This statement sounds really strange. The Ta family always wanted me to forget the cracks. Forget how much they trust Hua Tinh Mien. Forget how they sent me away. Forget about Luc Tram Le not coming to visit me for a year. Thinking that as long as everything is returned to its original position, it will be as if there had never been a rift. But broken is broken. Metal will deform. Dharma lam will leave burn marks. People are the same.

“It can be fixed.” I said.

To Yen Thu nodded.

“Then I leave it to you.”

The work lasted until the afternoon. People in the design department started taking turns calling me. First is the assistant. Then comes the director. Finally, the head craftsman of the factory also called. No one dared to ask him. No one dared to ask Hua Tinh Mien. They just know how to find me. I didn't pick up the phone once. At four o'clock in the afternoon, Luc Tram Le arrived. He Pushed open the door and entered the studio, his face extremely unsightly. To Yen Thu looked up.

"Mr. Luc, do you have an appointment?"

"I'm looking for Ta Tri Vi."

“She is working.”

“I just said a few words.”

To Yen Thu looked at me. I took off my gloves.

“Let's go outside and talk.”

Luc Tram Le followed me downstairs. It's drizzling outside. He didn't carry an umbrella, and the shoulder of his vest was covered with a layer of wet dew.

“Do you really not care about that stone anymore?”

“Don't care.”