Chapter 19 — Old Street Corner Gold Shop

The next morning, Vy decided not to wait until lawyer Su Dinh Khang proactively contacted her. She discussed with her father and Khoi, and they both agreed that it was time to proactively request a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Uong Chi Thanh, instead of continuing to passively wait anxiously for the thirty days to pass.

"I think I should call lawyer Khang directly and ask to arrange a meeting with all relevant parties to present everything I have learned," Vy said, her voice much steadier than in the first days of panic.

Mr. Thinh nodded in agreement. "I think that's the best way. Proactively facing it is better than always avoiding it in fear." He reached for the stick and stood up slowly, with a steadfast look in his eyes that had rarely been seen during the past weeks. "Dad will also be present at that meeting, even though his health is not good. This is a family matter, I cannot let you shoulder it alone."

Vy called Khang's law office that morning, briefly explaining that her family had made important discoveries related to the case, and wished to arrange a direct meeting with Mr. Chi Thanh as soon as possible, in the spirit of goodwill to seek the truth, not confrontation. Lawyer Khang, although initially somewhat surprised by this initiative, finally agreed to arrange the meeting to take place next weekend, at Tan Phat gold shop - where all the stories began.

After the phone call, Vy returned to the workbench, but instead of feeling pressure like the previous days, she felt an unusual calmness. She took the earring out of the box, placed it on the black velvet, and looked at it carefully in the daylight. She wondered if the craftsman who crafted this exquisite item nearly sixty years ago would have imagined that his work would become a thread connecting two families halfway around the world, through forty-five years of historical upheaval.

Thanh Tra, seeing Vy sitting thoughtfully next to her earring, crept closer. "Miss Vy, I heard there will be an important meeting this weekend. Can I help you?"

Vy smiled, touched by her young student's concern. "Just prepare the shop neatly and cleanly that day. I want the meeting to take place in a cozy, sincere space, like the very nature of my shop."

"You will do well, rest assured," Thanh Tra replied, her voice full of determination. The girl looked at Vy for a moment, then added, her voice somewhat timid. "Sister Vy, no matter what happens, I am very proud to learn the trade here, under your guidance."

That simple statement warmed Vy's heart and strengthened her determination that, no matter what the outcome of the weekend meeting, Tan Phat gold shop would continue to be a nursery for young people who love the profession like Thanh Tra, continuing a tradition that has been built over three generations.

In the remaining days before the meeting, Vy and Khoi continued to complete their documents and also spent more time together, even though every minute was tied to stressful preparation work. One rare afternoon, when the two temporarily put aside their paperwork, Khoi invited Vy to a small riverside cafe, where they could watch the sunset fall on the sparkling water.

"It's been a long time since I've had time to sit still like this," Vy said, taking a sip of coffee, her eyes following the ripples on the river surface. "It feels like these past few months, I've only been racing against time, with deadlines, with endless worry."

"Me too," Khoi replied, looking at her with affectionate eyes. "But I think it's the most difficult times that help me realize most clearly what's really important." He hesitated for a moment, then continued, his voice gentle but full of sincerity. "For me, these days, although full of pressure, are the time when I feel most fully alive, because I am with someone I truly cherish."

Vy turned to look at him, her eyes shining with emotion. "Hey, Khoi, I want to tell you the same thing. Before I met you, I thought I had to shoulder everything alone — the jewelry store, my dad's health, and now the family secrets. But since I have you, I feel like I'm no longer alone."

Khoi held her hand, his eyes earnest. "Vy, I know now is not the right time to say beautiful words, when an important meeting is still ahead, when the future of the shop is still uncertain. But I want you to know, no matter how things end, I hope to continue to be by your side, not only as a companion in difficult times, but as..." he paused, took a deep breath, "...as someone who loves you, wants to build good things ahead with you."

That sincere confession made Vy's heart pound, tears of emotion could not help but roll down her cheeks. She nodded, her voice choked. "I want that too, Khoi. I've been secretly hoping for this for a long time, but I just didn't dare say it out loud because I'm afraid that in the midst of chaos like this, my feelings will become an additional burden for both of us."

"It's not a burden," Khoi smiled softly, squeezing her hand tighter. "It is the motivation, the fulcrum for us to overcome all difficulties together."

They sat together, watching the sunset gradually fall, the orange-yellow sunlight dyed both the river surface and the two faces smiling happily amid countless endless worries. It was a rare moment of peace, but enough to give them both strength to move forward in the important days ahead.

On the way home, when passing through the city center, they happened to pass by another Hao Kim store, which was no less crowded than the branch near Vy's. Vy looked inside and saw rows of shiny glass cabinets and hundreds of identical jewelry pieces neatly displayed, but this time, she no longer felt scared or self-conscious like before.

"You know," she said to Khoi, her voice thoughtful, "before, I thought I had to compete directly with them, to prove that I was 'better' than them at some point. But now I realize, maybe I don't need to compete that way. My shop and Hao Kim serve different needs, different values. The important thing is that I have to do my best at my job, maintaining the core values that my grandfather built, not trying to become a smaller version of them."

Khoi nodded and smiled appreciatively. "That's a very mature thought, Vy. I think, when you regain confidence in your own value, you will find a much more sustainable direction, instead of always struggling in the fear of being left behind."

That evening, when she returned to the shop, Vy felt lighter and more hopeful than ever, even though tomorrow still had many uncertainties ahead. She stood in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection, a girl who had gone through many ups and downs in the past few short months, but was now standing stronger than ever, ready to face the upcoming decisive meeting, not with fear, but with the confidence of someone who had found both truth and love amid the most difficult days of her life.

She stopped by her father's room before going to bed and told him, even briefly, about what happened between her and Khoi by the river this afternoon. After listening, Mr. Thinh's eyes sparkled with rare joy during the past stressful days.

"I'm happy for you, Vy," he said, his voice sincere. "Uncle Khoi is a good, mature person who truly cares about you and your whole family. I think your grandfather, if he were still alive, would be very pleased."

"I think so too, dad," Vy replied, smiling slightly, her heart filled with happiness and gratitude. She realized that, amidst events that seemed to be full of challenges and losses, life still silently gave her unexpected precious gifts - a sincere love, a truth that was gradually being revealed, and a stronger belief in herself and the path she had chosen.

That night, before falling asleep, Vy also sent Khoi a short message: "Thank you for everything. Good night, see you tomorrow to continue completing the final steps." Just a few seconds later, her phone vibrated with a simple but warm reply: "Good night, my love. We will overcome everything together." Vy smiled, held the phone in her arms, and fell asleep with a relieved and hopeful heart.