Chapter 22 — I Never Made It to Nam Thanh With You

It felt as though he was waiting for me to share in his pride, yet I merely sat there in silence. The projector transitioned to a video captured by Song Uan Ninh. Ha Man Nhu continued her presentation with a practiced grace:

"Uan Ninh was responsible for documenting the transformation of the historic residence before and after its restoration."

"Her perspective is remarkably delicate, preserving invaluable records for the project."

Song Uan Ninh stood and bowed. The applause that followed was even more fervent than before. It was not until the very end that my name finally appeared on the screen: Lam Kien Nguyet, Project Assistant. Ha Man Nhu glossed over it with chilling indifference.

"Kien Nguyet also contributed significantly to the organization of our materials."

My father’s face darkened with barely contained rage. I reached out to steady his hand. "Let me handle this, Father."

He turned to look at me, then gave a singular, heavy nod. With the project introduction concluded, Ha Man Nhu skillfully shifted the tone of the room.

"Beyond the official inauguration of the Moon-Clearing Villa today, we have another joyous occasion to celebrate."

Laughter and murmurs rippled through the rows of guests.

"Is it about the two of them?"

"They have been inseparable since they were children; it is finally time they settled down."

The smile on Ha Man Nhu’s face widened, radiant and triumphant. "The Gu and Lam families have been close for many years. Nghien Le and Kien Nguyet are childhood sweethearts in the truest sense. The elders on both sides have long hoped that they would eventually..."

I stood up abruptly.

"Aunt Ha."

Her words stalled instantly. Every eye in the room turned toward me. Co Nghien Le stood up in haste, his voice urgent. "Kien Nguyet."

He reached into his jacket pocket and produced a velvet box, snapping it open before the entire room. Inside lay a ring, its diamond shaped like a crescent moon.

"I know you have suffered many grievances lately," he said, his voice smooth. "I will be more careful with my boundaries from now on. The promise you have wanted, I am giving to you now."

He reached his hand out toward me. "We shall go to the Southern City together."

The auditorium fell into a profound silence. Every person present seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for me to walk toward him. Instead, I reached into my handbag and produced a matching velvet box. I opened the lid to reveal the half-moon jade pendant belonging to the Gu family. I placed it firmly on the table.

"Co Nghien Le."

"I did not come here today to accept your promises."

"I came here to put an end to our engagement, once and for all."

His outstretched hand froze in mid-air. I looked directly toward the podium where Ha Man Nhu stood, then let my gaze sweep across the friends and business partners filling the room.

"I never registered for the Southern City Institute of Architecture," I declared, my voice ringing clear. "And I will not be going to the Southern City with Co Nghien Le. Starting today, the Gu and Lam families will never again discuss a marriage between us. This jade pendant, I return to the Gu family."

Co Nghien Le’s face turned deathly pale in an instant. He remained stubbornly tethered to his own delusions.

"Kien Nguyet," he pleaded, "if you are bothered by the matter regarding Uan Ninh, I can demand she withdraw from the project this very moment."

Song Uan Ninh’s head snapped up, her expression one of shocked vulnerability, but Co Nghien Le only stared at me.

"I can even cut all ties with her," he continued, desperate now. "You do not need to resort to calling off our marriage just to force my hand."

I looked at him, finally voicing the truth he had never been capable of grasping.

"I am leaving, not to force you to choose me."

"I am leaving because I no longer choose you."

The auditorium was so quiet that a falling needle would have sounded like a thunderclap. The ring box remained open in Co Nghien Le’s trembling hand. He looked as though the very blood had been drained from his veins.

"What did you say?"

"I said, I no longer choose you."

He looked utterly unable to process my words, or perhaps, he simply refused to.

"Is this only because Uan Ninh used your blueprints and borrowed your hairpin?" he stammered. "I can make her apologize. We can reprint the brochures. Everything is fixable."

Song Uan Ninh stood nearby, her face a mask of porcelain white, trembling in the wake of his dismissal.