Chapter 15 — Three Calls at Dawn

“I have a road map.” “What if the map is wrong?” “Giang Du,” Co Da Dinh said coldly, “Shut your mouth.” “If Mr. Co doesn't shut up, I won't shut up either.” Tham Tu Dien rolled up the car window, quietly started the engine, and was the first to leave. When passing by To Niem Vi, he rolled down the window and handed her a thermos: "Goji berry red apple tea, drink it while it's still hot." Then he left, never looking back. Co Da Dinh glanced at her, placed the bouquet of sunflowers on the roof of her car, then turned around to return to his car. "Co Da Dinh," she called out. He stopped, without turning around. "Thank you." He froze for a moment, his back in the sunlight looked even more straight. "No need to thank," he said, "I told you, I'm not helping you." He got in the car, started the engine, and left. Giang Du jumped down from the Wrangler, ran in front of her, bowed his head to look at the baby in his arms, and gently kissed her forehead. "Honey, I'm going, next time I'll bring you a new toy." Then he stood up straight, looking at To Niem Vi. "Miss Niem Niem," he said, a sparkling light shining in his puppy dog eyes, "You're very beautiful today." "Thank you." "I'm not praising you, I'm telling the truth." He smiled, then turned around and ran back to his car. Three cars, three directions, gradually disappeared under the city skyline. To Niem Vi stood in the parking lot, holding her child in her arms, a bouquet of sunflowers on the roof of the car, and a warm cup of goji berry red apple tea in her hand. She lowered her head to look at the child in her arms - the child had woken up, opened his eyes wide and looked at her, his mouth releasing a bubble of saliva. "Baby," she said, her voice was very light, as if declaring to the whole world, "From now on, I will not let anyone extinguish my light anymore." She put the child in the child safety seat, started the white Volvo, and drove out of the parking lot. In the rearview mirror, the sign of the lawyer's office became smaller and smaller, farther and farther away, finally turning into a black dot and disappearing completely from sight. The road ahead is very wide, the sunlight is bright and warm. She never looked back. * Vi Thanh Three months later. To Niem Vi's design work won the Asia Pacific Interior Design Award. At the awards ceremony, she wore a black evening gown, stood on stage, the converging lights shone, her whole body sparkled. In the audience were Co Da Dinh, Tham Tu Dien and Giang Du. Three people sat in three different positions, but their eyes were all directed at the same person. The corner of Co Da Dinh's mouth slightly raised - it was one of the few rare smiles in his life. Tham Tu Dien gently clapped his hands, the smell of new antiseptic on his fingers. Giang Du stood up and clapped his hands, his eyes were red, and he shouted loudly, "Sister Niem Niem is the best", her voice was so loud that the whole hall could hear. At the end of the award ceremony, To Niem Vi accepted an interview backstage. The reporter asked: "Miss To, I heard that you just got divorced, raising your children alone and having to manage your career, do you think it's too hard?" To Niem Vi smiled. In that smile there is fatigue, resilience, letting go of the past, and joy in looking forward to the future. "It's hard," she replied, "But worth it. Because every single thing I'm doing now, is for myself and for my children. Not to please anyone, not to hold on to anyone, but just to - - become a better version of myself." She looked towards the backstage entrance, the three men. standing there, each of them holding a bouquet of flowers in their hands - sunflowers, lilies, red roses. "Besides," she smiled slightly, "I'm no longer alone."