Chapter 28 — Old Street Corner Gold Shop

A few days after completing the memorial pendant, Khoi stopped by the shop one evening, with an expression that was both nervous and a little different from usual. He asked permission to talk to Mr. Thinh privately first, making Vy wonder, even though she was busy completing another order so she didn't have time to ask much.

The conversation between the two men lasted nearly half an hour upstairs, while Vy still diligently worked downstairs in the shop, occasionally looking up the stairs with curious eyes. She heard the low hum of conversation, occasionally mixed with her father's soft laughter, making her curiosity grow, but she also knew the personalities of both men in her life — once they wanted to keep it a secret, she would have a hard time getting any information out of them before they were ready to reveal it.

When Khoi got back down, his face was completely radiant, different from the nervousness when he first arrived.

"What were you and dad talking about?" Vy asked, stopped, looked at him with suspicious eyes.

"Secret," Khoi replied, flashing a rare mischievous smile. "You just keep working, I'll sit here and watch you for a while." He pulled out a chair and sat down, his eyes still shining with a hard-to-conceal joy, making Vy even more curious, but she didn't want to ask any more questions, just smiled and shook her head and continued her unfinished work.

Vy shrugged and returned to work, although she still had questions in her heart. She did not know that, just a few minutes earlier, Khoi had officially asked Mr. Thinh for permission to propose to her, a traditional ritual that he wanted to carry out properly, even though the two had been together for a while and their feelings were very deep.

That weekend, Khoi invited Vy to a special evening in the small garden behind Mr. Ky Thi Doan's house - where she often sat and admired flowers every afternoon, and where many memories were kept associated with the journey they went through together to find the truth. Mr. Doan, even though he had been informed in advance by Khoi and excitedly participated in the preparations, still pretended to be surprised when he saw Vy coming, inviting her into the garden to sit and play while "waiting for Khoi to get busy".

The small garden is decorated simply but cozy with small lanterns hanging on tree branches, the soft yellow light blends with the scent of the orchid pots that Mr. Doan takes care of. Vy sat down on a familiar stone chair, enjoying the rare peaceful atmosphere, unaware of the special thing waiting for her.

"Please sit down for a while, let me go make a pot of tea," Mr. Doan said, his voice trying to keep it as natural as possible, although his eyes sparkled with joy that was hard to hide. He slowly walked into the house, leaving Vy alone in the fragrant flower garden.

Vy sat quietly, watching the small lanterns swaying gently in the night breeze, feeling a strange sense of peace. She thought about the journey that had passed, about the sleepless nights worrying about the shop, about the tears that had fallen, and now, in the middle of this warm little garden, she felt that all the burdens seemed to have disappeared, leaving only a gentle silence that had been rare for many months.

Khoi appeared a few minutes later, dressed more neatly than usual, holding a small wooden box that Vy immediately recognized - it was the box she used to store her most important jewelry.

"Khoi, this is..." Vy began, but before she could finish her sentence, she saw him kneeling down on one knee in front of her, opening the wooden box, revealing a delicate gold ring, engraved with a small lotus pattern similar to the pendant she had just completed, but with a simpler, more delicate design.

"Vy," he said, his voice trembling with emotion but still maintaining deep sincerity, "from the first day I walked into your shop, carrying my grandmother's ring, I never expected to find so many precious things — not only the truth about the past, but also a sincere, deep love that I had never experienced before."

Vy covered her mouth with her hand, tears began to well up, speechless at this unexpected moment.

"I asked you to make this ring yourself, even though you didn't know its true purpose," Khoi continued, his voice still shaking but full of determination. "I gave you the design, lying that it was a gift I wanted to give to a friend, and you dedicated yourself to completing it without any doubt. Now, I want to give back the very gift that your talented hands created, to ask you the most important question in my life: Vy, do you agree to be my wife?"

Vy was stunned for a moment, recalling the ring she had made a few weeks ago at Khoi's "special" request. At that time, she simply thought it was a normal order, not expecting that her own hands had accidentally created her own proposal ring. She recalled that at that time, Khoi only gave her a simple sketch, telling her to do it meticulously because this was "a gift for a very special person", and she did not have any doubts, just thinking that he was preparing a birthday gift for a close friend. Looking back now, she realizes that every small detail in the design is marked by memories between the two of them - from the lotus flower reminiscent of an afternoon by the river, to the simple but sophisticated design that reflects the aesthetic taste that she loves.

"I agree," she said, her voice choked with happy tears. "I agree, Khoi."

Khoi stood up, gently put the ring on Vy's finger, then hugged her in a hug filled with love. Mr. Doan, watching from afar with Mr. Thinh - who had been secretly invited by Khoi in advance - could not hide his tears of happiness, clapping his hands to congratulate the young couple.

"I finally get to witness this day," Mr. Thinh said, stepping closer and hugging them both in full happiness. "Your grandfather will definitely be happy to see this."

"I think so too, dad," Vy replied, wiping away her tears, but the smile on her lips never faded. "I believe you are watching, and you will be very pleased." She looked up at the night sky sparkling with stars, as if she was sending a whisper to her deceased grandfather, hoping he would fully witness this happy moment of his granddaughter.

Mr. Doan walked over, grabbed both young people's hands, his voice filled with emotion. "I am very happy to be a small part of this important day for you two. My life has witnessed many ups and downs, but moments like this, witnessing love blossom from the difficulties and losses of the past, is truly a miracle."

She turned to look at Khoi, the affectionate eyes of a grandmother for her grandchild whom she had raised since childhood. "You have chosen the right person, Khoi. I believe Vy will be a wonderful wife, not only because of her talent and hard work, but because of the kind and resilient heart she has shown all the time."

"I know, grandma," Khoi replied, squeezing Vy's hand tighter, his eyes filled with happiness. "I feel like I am the luckiest person in the world to be with Vy."

That evening lasted in simple but profound happiness, with stories, laughter, and emotional tears alternating under the gentle lantern light of the small garden. Mr. Doan brought out a tray of hand-prepared fruit cakes, recounting stories from his youth, about the simple but lasting love of his generation, making both Vy and Khoi listen passionately, feeling the connection between generations through each story told.

"In her time, people loved each other not as fussy as they do now," Mr. Doan smiled, his distant eyes full of nostalgia. "Just one look, one sincere promise, is enough to bond for a lifetime. But I see, the love between the two of them is equally beautiful, even more precious because it has been tested through many difficulties and hardships."

Mr. Thinh, sitting next to him, nodded in agreement, his eyes could not hide his pride when looking at his daughter. "I believe that any marriage built on a foundation of understanding and overcoming challenges together will always be more sustainable than marriages based only on temporary emotions."

Vy looked at the sparkling ring on her hand, feeling the full meaning of the journey she had gone through - from the early days worrying about Hao Kim's competition, to the storm of scandal that seemed to engulf the whole family, and now this happy moment, built on the foundation of truth, perseverance, and a sincere love that had silently grown amid the most difficult days.