Chapter 22 — The Sweet Taste After Criticism

On the weekend, Kien arranged to meet Thao Vy at a quiet cafe, not wanting this important conversation to take place in a noisy atmosphere. He arrived early and waited with a somewhat nervous mood, not knowing how his childhood friend, whom he had known through an arrangement between his two families since he was a child, would react to his decision.

Thao Vy appeared on time, looking elegant, her face did not show any surprise or hurt like Kien was worried about, instead there was an inexplicable smile of relief.

“Hello Kien,” she said, sitting down across from him, “it's been a while since we last met like this.”

"Hello Vy," Kien replied, somewhat hesitantly, "thank you for agreeing to meet me. I think we need to talk frankly about the engagement."

“You don't have to worry too much,” Thao Vy smiled, her voice gentle, “actually, I'm also planning to proactively contact you about this.”

Kien was surprised by that relaxed attitude. “What do you mean?”

Thao Vy sighed, then smiled, her eyes were a little confused and cute. "To be honest, I've never taken this engagement seriously. Since we were little, we haven't had any feelings other than friendship, right?"

“That's right,” Kien nodded, feeling relieved at this frankness.

"Also," Thao Vy continued, her voice a rare bit of shyness, "I've been dating someone else for almost a year now. My parents don't know yet, but I'm looking for the right opportunity to tell them."

Kien burst out laughing at this unexpected coincidence. “So it turns out, we were both hiding a similar secret from our families.”

"That's right," Thao Vy laughed along, "I've heard about you and the bakery owner, including the public love video that went viral. I'm happy for you, really."

"Thank you," Kien replied, touched by this sincerity, "I'm also happy to know that you have found your own happiness. Perhaps, we should both work together to convince our families to accept reality, instead of continuing to keep an engagement that no one really wants."

"I agree," Thao Vy nodded, "actually, after knowing about your story, I also talked to my mother. She seemed to understand and didn't object as strongly as I feared. Maybe she just needs a little more time to get used to this change."

They talked for a while longer, reviewing childhood memories, sharing each other's future plans, the atmosphere between the two gradually became comfortable and close like true close friends, without any awkwardness of a "break up" of an engagement that the two had never really started.

“I think,” Kien said before parting ways, “we should meet both families at the same time, to clarify everything once and for all, to avoid making them worry and speculate anymore.”

“Good idea,” Thao Vy agreed, “I will arrange with my mother, let's set up a meeting next week.”

Leaving the coffee shop, Kien felt much more relieved. One of the last concerns related to his family had now been resolved peacefully and civilly, without any hurt or resentment between the two people who were arranged to become husband and wife.

He immediately called Mai to tell her the good news. “Everything with Thao Vy has been resolved satisfactorily then,” he said, his voice filled with relief, “it turns out she's also dating someone else, and we're both happy for each other.”

“What an interesting coincidence,” Mai smiled, feeling happy for both of them. "So, we're just waiting for the official meeting between the two families to completely close this matter."

“That's right,” Kien replied, “after that, I will be completely free, without any constraints from the past, to devote all my attention to our future.”

The joint meeting between the two families took place the following weekend, at Kien's family restaurant. The atmosphere was initially somewhat solemn and awkward, but quickly became more comfortable when Thao Vy proactively opened her mouth and told the entire story about her lover frankly and sincerely.

Thao Vy's mother, after a short silence to digest the information, suddenly burst out laughing. “Oh my god, it turns out you two have been hiding your love story for so long to please the adults. Why don't you say it sooner so you don't have to worry."

Mrs. Kim, sitting next to her, couldn't hide her smile. "It's true that kids these days keep everything hidden, so as adults you have to guess."

Both families laughed, the initial tense atmosphere completely disappeared, replaced by happy gossip, reviewing memories of the close friendship between the two families over the years, now reinforced by mutual understanding and respect for the decisions of the children's generation.

“So,” Thao Vy's mother said, raising her glass of wine, “instead of becoming in-laws by arrangement, we are still close friends, and the two children are free to find their own happiness. That's even better."

"Agreed," Mrs. Kim nodded, raising her glass to touch her friend's glass, "and who knows, in the future I will have the opportunity to become in-laws in another way, who knows."

Kien and Thao Vy looked at each other, laughed at the meaningful teasing of their two mothers, felt relieved and happy to witness that the relationship between the two families not only did not break, but also became closer after all the secrets were revealed honestly and openly.

At the end of the evening, when everyone was about to leave, Thao Vy pulled Kien to a private corner, her voice became more serious. “Thank you,” she said, “for being brave enough to tell the truth first. If I didn't have you as an example, I would probably have to hide it for a long time."

“Thank you is correct,” Kien replied, “for understanding and not blaming me for this. I hope you and that person will be happy.”

"I also hope you and Mai will be happy," Thao Vy smiled, "I heard that she makes delicious cakes. When I have free time, I have to stop by and taste it."

“Sure,” Kien smiled, “I'll introduce you to Mai, you two will probably get along very well.”

They broke up in a gentle, warm atmosphere, completely closing an old chapter full of constraints to open brighter new chapters for both of them. Each person has found their own path to happiness, no longer bound by arrangements from the past.

On the way home, Kien called and told Mai the entire meeting, his voice filled with relief and happiness. “Everything has been completely resolved,” he said, “now, there are no longer any barriers from my family. again."

“I'm happy for you,” Mai replied, her voice also filled with joy, “so, together we have overcome all the biggest storms.”

“Almost like that,” Kien said, his voice a bit thoughtful, “there is still the matter of Sweet Dream's project. Even though Dat Long has been suspended, the company can still continue under the direction of someone else. I need to monitor closely for a while longer to make sure everything has really stabilized.”

“I understand,” Mai replied, although she couldn't help but feel a little nervous, “but at least now, we have enough experience and solidarity to deal with any situation that may arise next.”

“That's right,” Kien affirmed, his voice regaining certainty, “and most importantly, we have each other. No matter what happens, I believe, no challenge can defeat the love that we have built and protected together over the past time."

The call ended in warmth and mutual trust, leaving Mai with a rare feeling of peace, as she realized that, although the road ahead may still have some small challenges, the biggest storms - both emotional and the battle to protect the alley - have now gradually been completely resolved, opening a new, brighter chapter for both.

That night, before going to bed, Mai sat by the window, looking out at the quiet alley again after a long day, flipping through the notebook recording her journey over the past few months that she had silently written since the day the first review appeared. She re-read every page, every line, recording the ups and downs of emotions along the way - the initial anger, the feelings that gradually rekindled, the pain of misunderstandings, and the happiness when everything gradually became clear.

She smiled, closed the notebook, thinking that perhaps one day, she would share this story with customers who stopped by the shop, as a reminder that sometimes, the worst beginnings are the path to the best things in life, as long as you have the courage and perseverance to go to the end.