Chapter 9 — Love Awakens After Leaving

Things You did not Understand Clearly

After the dress fitting that day, Bach Vu became much more thoughtful throughout the rest of the week. He still works with the same intensity as usual, still signs and approves documents, still participates in all meetings, but those who had worked closely with him for many years notice that something had changed in his eyes every time he looked towards Tuyet Nhi's desk.

The longtime secretary of the board of directors, who had witnessed Bach Vu since the first day he returned home to take over the group, even commented to his colleagues that he had never seen this young general director pay so much attention to anyone outside of work. "Previously, boss Vu only looked at reports and data. Employees never paid attention to emotional matters, but this week he kept asking about Ms. Nhi all the time." That gossip quickly spread within the office, although no one dared to say it directly in front of the two people involved.

Bach Vu himself did not understand clearly why he was so haunted by the image of Tuyet Nhi bowing her head and enduring Van Khanh's orders. He had witnessed many times when others treated subordinates disrespectfully in the business world, and usually he would only intervene if it directly affected work performance. But this time was different. The feeling of discomfort within him was not simply a manager's resentment at unfair treatment, but had a much deeper personal nuance, an emotion akin to protection that he had never shown to any other employee during the seven years of running the corporation.

One afternoon, while sitting in his private office, Bach Vu accidentally overheard a conversation between two human resources staff who passed by the room door and left it ajar.

"Did you see the other day when trying on dresses, the young lady of the Tong family sent Nhi to do all sorts of things, as if she were a servant." A female voice spoke softly.

"Yes, I've heard it too. I feel so sorry for Ms. Nhi, working as a special assistant to the general manager and being treated like that, I don't know if boss Vu knows." Another female voice replied.

"You probably know, I heard that boss Vu was also present that day."

Bach Vu sat quietly in the room, his fingers lightly tapping on the table, the uncomfortable feeling in his heart grew stronger. He remembered the image of Tuyet Nhi bowing her head to endure Van Khanh's harsh orders, remembering how she still maintained her calm and professional appearance even though a self-pity flashed through her eyes that she couldn't completely hide. That feeling made him uneasy, even though he couldn't clearly explain why such a seemingly small thing could haunt him so much.

He called Ha Duc Long, head of the legal department and also a rare friend he trusted enough to share his personal thoughts, to his office to discuss a contract issue, but midway through the conversation, he suddenly asked an unrelated question.

"Long, have you ever paid attention to Tuyet Nhi?"

Duc Long looked up, a bit surprised by the sudden question. "What kind of attention, Mr. Vu? Miss Nhi is the best assistant in our group, who wouldn't care."

"No, I mean..." Bach Vu hesitated, he rarely showed such awkwardness in front of others. "Do you think there's something unusual about her? Like familiar in some way."

Duc Long looked at his friend for a moment, his eyes filled with curiosity. "Are you asking me or are you asking yourself? You sound really confused."

Bach Vu did not answer immediately, just looked out the window, where he could see a corner of the building's backyard, where Tuyet Nhi sometimes went to take a short break between stressful working hours. "I'm not sure. It's just that there are times when she does something, says something, that makes me feel like I've seen her somewhere before, a long time ago, but I can't remember exactly when."

"Could it be that," Duc Long said, half joking, half serious, "you're in love with your assistant without realizing it?"

Duc Long's joke made Bach Vu pause. He didn't respond right away, just silently thinking, and that long silence in itself was a clear enough answer that made Duc Long laugh.

"Well, the upcoming engagement is already very confusing, I don't dare discuss your love life any further." Duc Long waved his hand, returning to the original contract topic, but his eyes were still a little thoughtful when looking at his friend.

After Duc Long left, Bach Vu sat alone in the office, the late afternoon sunlight gradually fading behind the large glass window. He opened his desk drawer, where he still kept some personal items, and accidentally touched an old notebook from when he first returned home to take over the group. Flipping through a few pages, he stopped at a short note scribbled by hand many years ago, during his first interview with Tuyet Nhi.

"The candidate has an unusually calm demeanor for his age, sharp answers, and a feeling of familiarity even though he's never met him before."

He looked at that line for a long time, trying to remember how he felt during that interview. It was true that from the first time he met Tuyet Nhi, he had a strange feeling, as if there existed between the two of them some invisible bond that reason could not explain. At that time, he dismissed that feeling, thinking it was just a fleeting first impression, but now, after three years of working together, that feeling had not faded, even becoming clearer after the event at the dress fitting.

He closed the notebook, put it back in its original place, then stood up and walked to the window, looking down at the backyard where Tuyet Nhi was standing talking to Bich Ngoc, her light laughter echoed up to the thirty-fifth floor even though it was probably just his imagination. He looked at that small figure for a long time, feeling a strong protective feeling that he had never experienced with anyone else, even the person who was about to become his official fiancee.

He recalled that during the three years that Tuyet Nhi worked as his assistant, she never once asked for anything for herself, whether it was a longer vacation, a bonus worthy of her workload, or simply a public compliment in front of the board of directors. She always stood quietly in the background, completing everything perfectly and then retreating into the shadows, as if she was used to not asking for anything for herself. That dedication, he previously thought was simply a valuable professional quality of a good assistant, but now, looking back, he began to wonder if behind that dedication there was something deeper hidden that he had never cared to find out.

That evening, when the car took them both back to the mansion, Bach Vu broke the usual silence with an unexpected question.

"Tuyet Nhi, do you remember where you lived when you were little?"

Tuyet Nhi was startled, her heart pounding at that sudden question, but she quickly regained her familiar calmness. "Why do you ask?"

"Nothing, just natural curiosity." Bach Vu looked at her, his eyes were searching but not harsh, simply a sincere curiosity. "You seem very familiar with many things in this suburban area."

"I grew up in another suburban area. Maybe because of the general characteristics of the area, I feel familiar." Tuyet Nhi replied, trying to keep her voice natural, even though inside she was trembling for fear that the truth might be discovered sooner than she wanted.

Bach Vu did not ask further, just nodded, turned back to look out the glass window, but in his mind, that question was still not completely answered satisfactorily, like a missing piece in a picture that he felt like he was close to touching, but still could not fully see.

The car slowed down as it approached the mansion's gate area. On both sides of the road were rows of ancient trees that had stood there since before he was born, their foliage shading the smooth asphalt road. Bach Vu looked outside, a vague memory suddenly flashed through his mind - the image of a dense garden, children's laughter, and a small hand holding his hand and pulling him among the dense bushes. He blinked, trying to grasp that image more clearly, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared, leaving only an indescribable feeling of excitement in his heart, exactly like the feeling he often had every time he watched Tuyet Nhi work.

"What's wrong with you?" Tuyet Nhi asked, noticing the look of dismay that flashed across his face.

"Nothing." Bach Vu shook his head, trying to dispel that strange feeling. "Just suddenly remembered something very vague, not very clear."

Tuyet Nhi remained silent, her heart beat faster, not daring to ask more, just quietly observing the expression on his face, both hoping and fearing that those lost pieces of memory would soon find their way back to their rightful place.