Chapter 15 — Let go at the right time, life will bloom

"When I asked you."

"Are you afraid?"

"You answered..."

Manh Tuyet pursed her lips.

"...Afraid of nothing."

"You just keep rushing forward."

"I will stand behind and hold the rear."

I nodded.

"So now..."

"I understand."

"Go prepare your exam documents."

She rolled her eyes. Get up and leave. Take two steps. Turn around again.

"I think..."

"You will win the prize."

I smiled.

"I think so too."

During the period of preparing application documents. Chu Nghien Bach visited the studio once. Not to discuss legal work. Bring late night food. A bowl of hot chicken noodles. He placed it on my desk.

"My assistant said."

"It's been five days."

"I haven't eaten a proper meal yet."

I laughed.

"Are you still running to complain to me?"

"I'm your lawyer."

"At the same time..."

"Also my friend."

"So I have the right to control you."

"Let's see if you're willing to eat properly or not."

I looked down at the steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup in front of me. In my heart... Suddenly a feeling arose that was difficult to name. I raised my head to look at Chu Nghien Bach.

"Why are you so nice to me?"

Chu Nghien Bach sat opposite. Two hands clasped together. Place on your knees. He looked at me. Then slowly replied.

"You deserve it."

Just four words. Light as wind. But it fell straight into my heart. Strangely heavy. I bowed my head. Quietly eat noodles. The broth is very sweet. During the meal. He just sat opposite. Don't say another word. Occasionally scroll through the phone. Wait for me to finish eating. After I put down my chopsticks. He packed up the food containers. Stand up and prepare to leave. Come to the front door. He suddenly stopped.

"Wait for me to finish this period."

"I have something to say."

I smiled.

"Until then."

"I will say."

He opened the door and left. Rattle. So quiet it's almost inaudible. I stood looking at that door. Stunned for a few seconds. Then back to the table. Continue editing the design. Three months later. The results of the National Commercial Space Design Awards have officially been announced. I'm in a meeting at the studio. Phone on silent mode. Not until the meeting ended. I just discovered. There were seventeen missed calls. And more than twenty messages. First message. It belongs to Manh Tuyet. All exclamation points.

"YOU WON THE PRIZE!!!!!!"

"YOU GOT THE GOLD AWARD!!!!!!"

I immediately opened the official announcement from the organizers. In the list of winners. The text clearly appears:

"The city is like a book" – Gia Du Boutique Hotel

Design team: So Bach Design Lead designer: Tham Niem Sr I stared at the screen. For thirty seconds. First reaction... Is to call Chu Nghien Bach. The phone only rang twice. He picked up the phone.

"I know."

Easier every day.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"You said it before."

"You deserve it."

I hold the phone. Want to say a lot. Can't speak again. It's not that I don't want to. Throat tight. That afternoon. The studio's phone rings almost non-stop. Colleague. Everyone called to congratulate. Lam Gia Du himself also called.

"Designer Tham."

"You brought home a Gold award for Gia Du."

"Next year's project."

"It's still yours."

Qi Beichuan also called.

"Congratulations."

"Everything is predictable."

Also call me.

"Nien So..."

"Congratulations baby..."

Has aged a lot. I replied softly.

"Thank you, dad."

"How is your mother's health?"

Head The other line was silent for a bit.

"Medicine money..."

"Canh Tham is trying to manage."

"He found a new job."

"Working as a manager at a construction site."

"Income is not high."

"That's enough."

I was silent for a few seconds. Then softly said:

"A while ago, I created a file for mom at Hospital No. Two."

"Doctor Tran still has it."

"If medicine costs are too difficult."

"The family can try to apply to participate in the charity drug support program."

"If approved."

"It will reduce some of the costs."

The other side of the phone. Silence for a long time. There's only one choking sentence left.

"Thank you..."

"Niem So..."

"Sorry baby..."

When you hang up. The corners of my eyes got a little hot. Just a moment. People... Must step forward. The road behind. I locked it myself. Award ceremony. Held in Beijing. I wore a black vest dress. Makeup class. Manh Tuyet did it himself.

"You're so beautiful today."

"More beautiful than you?"

Manh Tuyet pretended to think.

"It's about the same."

On stage. After the host finishes reading the introduction. Given into my hands. It was the applause of hundreds of people. Standing in the middle of the light. I suddenly remembered many things. Remember four years ago. The day he married Ha Canh Tham. I used to think.