Chapter 15 — The Sweet Taste After Criticism

Mai texted Kien that night, the first time actively contacting her after nearly a week of silence, attaching a link to the article she had just read. "Check this out, it might be related to Dat Long's company."

Kien answered almost immediately, clearly he always kept his phone next to him, waiting for a signal from her. "Thank you for sending it. I will learn more about it soon."

That short exchange, even though it was only about work, was enough to break the wall of silence that had been built over the past few days. After that, Kien sent another message, his tone was somewhat reserved. "Can you come over and talk to me for a bit? Not about work, but about... our story."

Mai looked at the text message for a long time, feeling anxiety mixed with hope mixed in her heart, and finally she typed back a short word of agreement.

Half an hour later, Kien showed up at the store, carrying a small laptop. He sat down opposite Mai, not beating around the bush but getting straight to the point.

“I found the full recording of that call,” he said, opening his laptop, “I want you to listen to the whole thing, not just the part you overheard.”

Mai looked at him in surprise. “Are you recording business calls?”

"As a professional habit," Kien explained, "he always records important conversations with his partners to avoid future misunderstandings. Who would have thought that this time it would help exonerate him."

He turned on the recording, letting Mai hear the entire conversation for herself from beginning to end. The brand representative's voice rang out first, asking about the progress of advertising cooperation for the "Revival Quan Nho" series, mentioning the sudden increase in views after the behind-the-scenes clip went viral.

"We are very satisfied with this effect," the representative's voice rang out, "if we can extend the series for a few more weeks before ending, we are willing to double the sponsorship package."

Then came Kien's voice, exactly like the part Mai had overheard. "I understand, but I need to clarify, I will not prolong the series just for commercial gain if it affects the true feelings of the people involved. Mai - the owner of the bakery - is not an actress in my script, she is someone I truly care about. If you want to sponsor, I will only agree based on the actual progress of the shop's improvement work, not based on prolonging the emotional drama to attract views."

Mai heard that, stopped, tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. The part she overheard before was only a very small part, interrupted midway, completely missing the most important part - Kien's emphatic affirmation that he would not let their feelings become a commercial tool.

"You..." Mai stammered, not knowing what to say in response to the truth that had just been revealed.

"I know you heard the first part, misunderstandings are understandable," Kien said, his voice gentle, "I don't blame you for being suspicious. I'm just sorry that I wasn't sharp enough to realize that the way I talked about my work could cause such serious misunderstandings."

Mai wiped her tears and looked at him, her heart filled with a feeling of both shame for doubting and touching at the sincerity he showed even without her present to witness it. “I'm sorry for not trusting you from the beginning, for letting old fears control me too much.”

“You don't need to apologize,” Kien replied, taking her hand, “later After everything I went through with the first review, my doubts were completely justified. I'm just glad that the truth has finally come to light."

They sat there, hand in hand, letting the pent-up emotions of the past week gradually release. Mai told Kien about the article she had just read related to Dat Long's company, and the two discussed the next direction to protect Banh Nang shop and the entire alley.

“We will get through this together,” Kien said, squeezing her hand, “both the land problem, my family problem, everything. I don't want to let anything, whether it's misunderstandings or outside pressure, destroy what we've built together.”

Mai nodded, a relieved smile appearing on her lips for the first time after a stressful week. “I trust you,” she said, her voice more certain than ever, “and this time, I won't let any misunderstandings come between us.”

Outside, the yellow streetlight shines into the small alley, illuminating the sweet moment of reconciliation between the two, like a promise that, no matter how big the storm ahead is - from family pressure, to the risk of losing ground - this newly strengthened love will be strong enough to face it together.

Linh, who happened to witness the two of them reconciling from afar through the glass window, quickly pulled out her phone and immediately texted Tung. "It's over, they've reconciled, they're holding hands." Tung responded in just a few seconds, accompanied by a series of celebratory emojis, making Linh unable to help but laugh as she stood alone behind the counter, deliberately not disturbing their private moment.

After the story was resolved, Kien stayed a while longer, helping Mai clean up the unfinished work of the day. The atmosphere between the two has now returned to the same comfort and warmth as before, even deeper after overcoming the first test of their relationship together.

“I think,” Kien said, as they both sat down to rest after cleaning up, “maybe we should learn from this experience. From now on, if there is anything that makes you wonder or worry, please tell me straight away, don't let things accumulate and explode like just now."

“I agree,” Mai nodded, “I also realize that sometimes the fear in my heart makes me rush to conclusions without giving the other person a chance to fully explain. I promise to be more open.”

Kien smiled, gently stroked her hair, his eyes filled with respect. “Well then, the first trial is over. I believe, with this understanding, we will be even more resilient in the face of the next challenges, no matter how big they are.”

Mai leaned her head on his shoulder, clearly feeling the rare peace after a week full of emotional turbulence, silently telling herself that, although there were still many difficulties ahead - from Mrs. Kim's pressure, to Dat Long's plot to collect land - she would no longer let old fears control her, but would face everything with Kien with the fullest trust and consensus.

Before leaving, Kien stopped at the door, turned to look at Mai with serious eyes mixed with determination. “One more thing,” he said, “I will officially talk to my mother about us, not to ask permission, but to make her understand that this is my choice, no one can change it.”

Mai looked at him, touched by his decision I guess that but I can't help but worry. "Are you sure? I don't want you to have to stress out with your family because of me."

“I'm sure,” Kien replied, his voice never wavering, “you're not the cause of stress, but the reason why I realize I need to be true to my own feelings, instead of always following arrangements that don't come from the heart.”

Mai nodded, held his hand tightly again before sending him off, her heart filled with a new faith - even though the road ahead was still full of thorns, at least now she knew for sure that she was not walking alone, but had someone willing to stand by her side, despite all the barriers from her family or outside forces trying to divide them.

That night, when telling the whole reconciliation story to Linh, her best friend could not hide her satisfaction. “See, I told you, true feelings are not easily defeated by a small misunderstanding.”

“Yes,” Mai smiled and nodded, “thank you for always being there to encourage me over the past few days, even though I know I'm stubborn and refuse to listen to advice right away.”

"Friends," Linh waved her hand, "as long as everything works out in the end, that's fine. Now we only have to worry about Mrs. Kim and Dat Long. Once those two cases are handled, we'll be able to truly be at peace and fully love each other."

Mai nodded, the smile on her lips gradually becoming more serious as she thought about the unfinished challenges ahead. But this time, unlike the panic and fear of the previous days, she felt that she was more ready to face it, because she knew that she no longer had to shoulder everything alone - with Kien, Linh, her mother, and the solidarity of the entire alley that was gradually forming, all of them would continue with her on the road ahead, even though there were still many unforeseen difficulties.