Chapter 13 — The Lantern That Never Goes Out

In the days after the meeting at the Van Nguyet factory yard, the plan for the light parade night gradually took shape more clearly. Uyen Chi, Bao Chau and a few representatives of craft households began to divide the work - one person took care of preparing the lights, one person took care of the communication process, and one person took care of asking permission to use the river wharf space for the evening of the event. The atmosphere in the street gradually became vibrant again, different from the gloom after the news of the contract with Han Phat.

But while everything was progressing smoothly, an unexpected obstacle appeared from the Management Board itself. Mr. Dai Quang Minh convened a private meeting with Uyen Chi and several representatives, announcing that using the river wharf area for a spontaneous event, not part of the official festival plan, requires special approval, and this process may take longer than expected.

"I didn't mean to cause trouble," Mr. Minh explained, his expression clearly showing awkwardness. "But after signing the preliminary contract with Han Phat, the company has a clause to ensure there are no other events that affect the image they are building for this year's festival. If I approve it for you without going through the correct process, there may be trouble."

Uyen Chi felt anger rising in her heart. "So that means that even if we wanted to organize an event with our own efforts, without asking for any sponsorship from the Management Board, we were hindered because of concerns about affecting Han Phat?"

"I will try my best to speed up the approval process," Mr. Minh said, his voice somewhat helpless. "But I can't promise anything."

Leaving the meeting with a heavy heart, Uyen Chi went to Thien Vu to discuss, but she realized that he was also in an equally complicated mood. As the person in charge of the festival's official cultural performance, Thien Vu is under pressure from both sides — from the Management Board, which wants him to keep everything within the framework agreed upon with Han Phat, and from his conscience, which wants to fully support the craftsmen.

"I think," Thien Vu said, his voice somewhat reserved as they sat down to discuss, "maybe we should adjust the plan a bit, make the event more compact, avoid attracting too much attention before the official approval, so as not to create more trouble for Mr. Minh, as well as not make the situation between Van Nguyet factory and Han Phat company more tense."

Uyen Chi looked at him, feeling a bit disappointed at that caution. "Are you wanting us to downsize, just because you're afraid of offending your father's company?"

"It's not like that," Thien Vu quickly explained, but his voice was still a bit awkward. "I just think, if we act too hastily, too ostentatiously, it may be counterproductive, making the Management Board even more cautious, and may even find a way to prevent it completely."

"But if we keep tiptoeing around, afraid of offending this person or that person, will we ever really create a big enough impact to change the situation?" Uyen Chi objected, her voice becoming more and more harsh. "I thought you were determined to be on our side."

"I'm still on your side," Thien Vu replied, his voice also starting to get a bit tense, "but I'm trying to find a wiser approach, not to protect my father's company, but to make sure our plan actually succeeds, and isn't just an impulsive move that fails."

The two looked at each other in silence, the atmosphere between them became truly tense for the first time since they met. Uyen Chi felt a sense of disappointment creeping into her heart, not only because of the disagreement, but also because she felt like Thien Vu, despite her efforts, still couldn't completely escape the limbo position between the two sides he was standing in.

"Perhaps," she said, her voice growing colder, "you should think carefully about which side you're really on. I don't want this plan to be diluted by indecision."

Having finished speaking, she turned and walked away, leaving Thien Vu standing alone in the middle of the alley, his face showing confusion and hurt. He didn't chase after him right away, but stood there for a long time, trying to sort out the confused thoughts in his head, wondering where he went wrong, when all he wanted was to find the best path for both sides that he cared about.

In the following days, even though she continued to go to Van Nguyet workshop to help with the preparation work, the atmosphere between Uyen Chi and Thien Vu became much more awkward. They still exchange necessary work, but the intimate stories and close moments like before have almost completely disappeared. Mr. Khoan, without saying it out loud, also noticed this change, occasionally glanced at both of them with worried eyes but did not intervene, leaving the two of them to find their own way to solve their problems.

Uyen Chi, during the nights alone at the drawing board, many times wondered if she was being too strict with Thien Vu. She understood that his position was really difficult, between work responsibilities, family feelings, and feelings for her. But every time she thinks about the risk that the night lights parade plan might be delayed, or that she might miss an important moment before the official festival, the anxiety and pressure make it difficult for her to maintain the necessary tolerance.

She looked out the window, the moonlight gradually waning each night, making her more impatient about the time that was running out. She knew that she needed to find a way to reconcile with Thien Vu, not only because of her personal feelings, but because she clearly understood that in order to achieve the great goal ahead, they needed to be of one mind and could not let small misunderstandings hinder a mission that was much more important than anyone's personal feelings.

One afternoon, Bao Chau stopped by the factory and immediately recognized the strange atmosphere between the two when he saw Thien Vu quietly leave without staying to chat as usual. She pulled Uyen Chi to a corner, her voice full of curiosity and worry.

"Are you two angry with each other? I feel like the atmosphere is strange these days."

Uyen Chi sighed and briefly recounted the story of the controversy over reducing the scale of the night light parade. Bao Chau listened, then shook his head, his voice slightly reproachful. "Do you think maybe he's partly right? He's not against the plan, he just wants to calculate more carefully to avoid risks. You're so worried that you get angry easily, I understand, but don't let the pressure make you push away the person who is on your side."

"I know," Uyen Chi replied, her voice lowered, "but I'm afraid, if I keep hesitating and hesitating forever, by the time everything is approved, it will be too late to prepare properly."

"Then you should talk frankly with him, instead of leaving halfway like the other day," Bao Chau advised, her voice sincere. "You two are on the same front line, don't let small things ruin a big plan, and a relationship that I clearly see is rare."

Bao Chau's advice made Uyen Chi pensive for the rest of the afternoon. The arguments between her and Thien Vu kept echoing in her head, mixed with torment over the hasty way she reacted. She realized that, amid the storm of pressure from all sides, she had unintentionally dumped part of that burden on the shoulders of the only person who was really trying to stand by her side, even though his path was much more difficult than she thought.

That evening, Uyen Chi sat at the drawing table, picked up the pen but could not focus on the familiar lines. She put down her pen and looked out at the dark yard, where Mr. Bay's new bamboo bundles were still neatly arranged, waiting to be turned into lanterns for the upcoming night of the parade. She remembered Thien Vu's confused, hurt eyes as she turned to leave, and her heart suddenly ached with regret.

She took her phone and wanted to text him, but after typing and typing, she still couldn't find a word that was both sincere and not too cheesy. In the end, she decided to let things happen naturally, telling herself she would find him to talk directly tomorrow, when they both had time to calm down and think more clearly. She stood up, walked out into the yard, looked up at the moonless night sky, with only distant twinkling stars, and secretly hoped that, no matter what tomorrow brought, the fragile feelings that had just blossomed between her and Thien Vu would not be broken because of a single disagreement.

Her father, coming out of the house, saw his daughter standing still in the yard, immediately came to stand next to her, didn't ask much, just gently patted her shoulder. "You young people often think that everything must be resolved immediately," he said, his voice gentle. "But sometimes, just give each other a little time, all misunderstandings will disappear on their own, like morning dew meeting the sun."