Chapter 17 — Swept into the Wave of Love

The semi-finals, after a one-day postponement for the security team to review the entire competition area and seal off the scene around Hai Vong peak, resumed the next day in a reserved atmosphere different from usual: security forces were stationed along the sandy shore, lifeboats were stationed close to the water's edge for each competition instead of standing far away as before. Both Viet Khoi and Lam Khue played with unprecedented caution, but their bravery and techniques accumulated over many seasons still brought them both to finish in the top two positions, officially winning the last two tickets to the finals. No one in the organizing committee raised their voices to celebrate as usual; Everyone implicitly understood that behind that ticket there was a much bigger truth waiting to be revealed.

Two days after the accident that almost took Lam Khue's life, Viet Khoi and her decided they couldn't wait any longer. With the evidence collected - Vu Dinh Trac's audio tape, the diary recording suspicions about "B.", the technical staff's testimony about detecting signs of tampering on the surfboard and leash, the piece of paper with the phone numbers picked up at the warehouse on the day of the attack - after the security team tracked it down, it turned out to be the number of a junk phone that had received a strange transfer from a personal account in Lu Khac Bon's name just a few days before the incident - along with the report signed by Suong Bach Lam confirmed that it was Lu Khac Bon who forced her to install the artificial flow system that nearly took Lam Khue's life at Hai Vong tip - they decided to disclose part of the information to the media, hoping to create enough public pressure to force the organizers to open an official, transparent investigation.

Before deciding to go public, Viet Khoi and Lam Khue discussed carefully, considering each possible risk. "Once it's announced, we can't take it back," Viet Khoi said, his voice serious the evening before the interview. "Lu Khac Bon will certainly fight back strongly, and he will probably try to smear both of us in public."

"I have mentally prepared for that," Lam Khue replied, her eyes determined. "After the accident at Hai Vong cape, I realized that if I continue to stay silent and wait for more perfect evidence, there may be no more chances. Sometimes you have to accept risks to force the truth to come out."

They chose Cao Boi Nghi as a bridge, believing in the reporter's integrity and professional spirit throughout the time they followed the tournament. The exclusive interview was arranged to take place discreetly at a small cafe, far from the tournament center, where Lam Khue, for the first time in front of the camera, removed his familiar hat and glasses, revealing his entire face.

"I am Vu Lam Khue, daughter of former athlete Vu Dinh Trac," she said, her voice shaking but determined, her eyes looking straight at the camera without avoiding it. "Sixteen years ago, my father was accused of cheating based on a recording that I believe was fabricated. I have evidence that he is completely innocent, and I believe, the consecutive incidents of equipment sabotage that occurred at this year's tournament are closely related to the concealment of the truth of that old case."

The interview, after being posted, immediately caused a huge stir in the sports community. The true identity of the mysterious athlete "Khue" was made public, the tragic story of Vu Dinh Trac was revived after sixteen years of oblivion, attracting the attention of not only surfing fans but also major mainstream media channels. A series of articles, comments, and debates broke out across social networking platforms, divided into two distinct streams of opinion: one side believes and supported Lam Khue, demanding justice for her father; One side was skeptical, thinking that this was just a trick to attract attention before the finals.

Lu Khac Bon, when surrounded by reporters questioning him immediately after the news spread, held an emergency press conference to refute. Standing in front of dozens of camera lenses, he showed an amazingly calm demeanor, not revealing any embarrassment like when facing Viet Khoi directly in his private office.

"I completely refute all these baseless accusations," Lu Khac Bon declared, his voice full of authority, his eyes firmly looking straight into the camera. "The incident sixteen years ago was thoroughly investigated by the federation and had an official conclusion. Ms. Vu Lam Khue now making vague accusations, based on a few unverified personal recordings, is extremely irresponsible behavior that can seriously damage the reputation of both the tournament and the individuals involved."

He went further, implying that the romantic relationship between Viet Khoi and Lam Khue was the real motive behind these accusations. "I understand that when people have personal feelings involved, sometimes their reason will be clouded. I don't blame the two young athletes, but I hope the public will be alert and not let romantic stories deceive their perception of objective truth."

Lu Khac Bon's counterattack strategy proved quite effective in sowing doubt. A part of public opinion began to criticize Viet Khoi and Lam Khue, saying that they were taking advantage of their family's tragic story to burnish their names before the finals. There were even sensational articles questioning the true motives of both, tarnishing the image that Viet Khoi had worked hard to build for three consecutive seasons.

"I didn't expect him to react so quickly and skillfully," Lam Khue said, his voice filled with disappointment as the two sat reviewing the negative comments flooding social networks. "We presented evidence, but he turned it into a cheesy love story to distract public opinion."

"This is why we need more evidence, evidence that cannot be twisted or distorted," Viet Khoi said, holding her hand tightly, trying to maintain optimism even though he himself felt burdened by the rising wave of criticism. "The audio tape and diary are only one-sided accounts. No matter how truthful, they need to be confirmed by independent witnesses to be convincing enough before public opinion and before the law."

Lam Khue nodded, although his heart could not help but feel sour at the way the public was easily led by the clever words of a person with status and power. "My father once told me, the truth sometimes takes a long time to overcome lies, but in the end, it always wins. I just hope we don't have to wait another sixteen years."

"We won't have to wait that long," Viet Khoi said, his eyes determined. "We need to find the sound technician your father mentioned in the tape, who may have directly witnessed Lu Khac Bon's act of fabricating evidence in the past. If we find that person, we will have a living witness, something that no one can deny or distort."

They immediately began planning their search, reviewing the list of personnel who worked for the surfing federation sixteen years ago, trying to narrow the search scope based on the few details that Vu Dinh Trac left in the tape. It was a race against time, when the final round was only a few days away, and the pressure from public opinion, from the organizers, from Lu Khac Bon himself was getting tighter and tighter around both of them.

While being confused with a lot of information that needed to be processed, Cao Boi Nghi suddenly called, her voice full of excitement. "I found a clue. There is a former athlete named Dong Vong Khang, who was once your father's close competition friend, and is currently living in seclusion in a small fishing village not far from here, working as a surfboard repairman. I heard that he publicly defended your father many times right after the scandal broke out, but then remained silent because of pressure from the federation."

That news was like a ray of light amid the deadlock. Viet Khoi and Lam Khue looked at each other, both realizing that this could be an important clue to finding not only witnesses to the old case, but also a better understanding of the relationship between Lam Khue's father and the people who were close to him in the past.

"We have to find him as soon as possible," Lam Khue said, his voice full of hope and excitement. "If he really knows something, this could be the last piece of the puzzle we need to complete the picture."

"Tomorrow morning," Viet Khoi nodded affirmatively. "We don't have much time to hesitate anymore."

Before going to bed, Viet Khoi sat down and read the negative comments flooding social networks, feeling bitter at how some people were willing to believe in the rhetoric of powerful people rather than concrete evidence. But somewhere among the thousands of offensive comments, he also saw many people expressing their support and belief in Lam Khue's story, re-sharing the interview with sincere words of encouragement. That made him more confident that, although the road ahead was still difficult, they were not alone in this fight to find justice.

He sent Lam Khue a short message before falling asleep: "No matter what happens tomorrow, I still believe we are on the right track. Good night, and keep your spirits up." A few minutes later, his phone vibrated with her simple but warm reply: "Thank you for always being there. See you tomorrow morning."

He put down the phone, looked up at the ceiling, listening to the sound of ocean waves echoing in the distance through the half-open window. No matter how many difficulties tomorrow brings, no matter how long and arduous the journey to find the truth is, he knows he is no longer alone, and that, more than any title or victory, is the most valuable thing he has had since this year's season began.