Chapter 18 — Wind and Snow Falling, Ancient People Return

Bach Du's Choice

Three days after the first conversation with his mother, Bach Du spent most of his free time reviewing all documents with Viet Bang, preparing for the next steps while the fourteen-day period was still passing little by little. He also stopped by the flower shop every evening, not saying much, just quietly helping Diep Khanh clean up, sometimes bringing a few snacks so she wouldn't forget to eat while she was so busy and worried.

Ngo Thuc Van came to see his son for the second time just three days after the first conversation, this time with an even more serious expression. She brought a cup of tea that she personally brewed and placed it on the table in front of Bach Du as a gesture of conciliation, but her words were not soft at all.

"I heard Tram say that recently you have continued to help little Diep Khanh, and even hired a lawyer to investigate her business." Her voice was full of reproach. "Do you know how doing that will affect your reputation in the eyes of project partners? What will people think when they see the chief architect intervening in an individual's commercial dispute?"

"Mom, this is not a matter of unwarranted interference." Bach Du replied, putting his hands in his pockets, trying to keep his voice calm even though he was starting to feel exhausted under the constant pressure from his mother. "This is about a company showing signs of fraud, deliberately using ambiguous contracts to appropriate other people's property. If you know and do nothing, you won't be able to live in peace with your conscience."

"You're always like that, always putting ideals above reality." Ngo Thuc Van shook her head, her voice mixed with helplessness. "I just want you to have a stable life, without having to worry about such complicated matters."

"Mom, I need to ask you a question, and I hope you answer honestly." Bach Du looked straight into his mother's eyes, his voice became more serious than ever. "Five years ago, besides advising me to respect Diep Khanh's decision, did you do anything else? Did you know something about the text message I received that night but didn't tell me?"

Ngo Thuc Van was stunned, her eyes flashed with more obvious confusion than before, making Bach Du even more certain that her mother was hiding something. "What do you mean by that? I already told you, I don't know anything about text messages."

"Mom, I just discovered a lot of evidence that the message may not have been sent by Diep Khanh, but by someone else." Bach Du spoke frankly, his fingers clenched into fists on his knees. "If you know anything related to this, no matter how small, I hope you tell me now, because it directly affects my whole life."

Ngo Thuc Van was silent for a long time, her hands clasped tightly together in her heart, her face showing a fierce internal struggle. Finally, she sighed, her voice becoming quieter, containing an indescribable regret. "I don't know exactly what happened to the text message, but... I remember, before you left, Bao Tram came to see me, telling me that little Diep Khanh was very tired because of her mother's problems, and advised me to tell her not to try to contact her anymore to bother her, so that she can rest assured to take care of me. At that time, I simply thought it was good advice, so I told you the same words at the airport."

Bach Du clenched his fists, feeling like every last piece of the puzzle was gradually fitting together, painting a complete picture of the sophisticated manipulation that Bao Tram had carried out five years ago. Not only was the message faked, not only was the letter intercepted, but even his mother's advice at the airport, the final decisive moment that pushed him to board the flight without returning to find Diep Khanh, was also indirectly influenced by Bao Tram.

"Mom, Tram's advice helped me believe that Diep Khanh really wanted to end everything." Bach Du said, his jaw clenched, both heartbroken and angry. "You and Diep Khanh have had to live with a terrible misunderstanding for the past five years, only because of the intentional intervention of someone we both believed was a friend."

"Mom... I really didn't know it was that serious." Ngo Thuc Van bowed her head, her voice shaking with regret. "If Mom knew Tram had bad intentions, she would never have followed that advice."

Bach Du looked at his mother, he still had many mixed emotions in his heart, but he understood that his mother, even if she somewhat unintentionally contributed to that series of heartbreaking events, was just another victim of Bao Tram's subtle manipulation, not the real mastermind. He doesn't want to put all the responsibility on his mother's shoulders at this time, when the most important goal is still to save Diep Khanh's flower shop and clarify the whole truth.

"Mom, I hope you understand, I decided to stay by Diep Khanh's side, not only because of my old feelings, but because I believe she deserves a clear explanation, a justice after all she has endured." Bach Du said, his voice more determined than ever. "I hope you can support my decision, but whether you agree or not, I won't change."

Ngo Thuc Van looked at her son, in her eyes there was no longer the harsh opposition like before, instead there was a deep regret mixed with admiration for her son's steadfastness. "I need time to think things over, Bach Du. But I promise, I won't hinder you anymore."

Before his mother left, Bach Du kept her for a moment, his voice much gentler than the initial tension of the conversation. "Mom, I don't blame you. I know you are just another victim in this matter, your trust was also taken advantage of like me and Diep Khanh." He held his mother's hand, feeling a slight tremble in it. "I just hope, from now on, mom can give Diep Khanh a chance to see her for who she really is, instead of through old prejudices."

Ngo Thuc Van nodded, her eyes filled with tears. "I promise I will try. I don't want to continue to be a barrier between you and your own happiness anymore." She left afterwards, looking somewhat more relieved than when she first arrived, although there were still many things in her heart that needed to be sorted out herself.

After the conversation with his mother, Bach Du immediately contacted Viet Bang, recounting all the new information he had just collected, including details about Bao Tram's proactive approach to his mother before the day he boarded the plane. Viet Bang took careful notes, identifying this as an important link, helping to consolidate the overall picture of Bao Tram's motives and actions in both events, past and present.

"With what I have gathered, I think I have enough basis to prepare for an official confrontation, witnessed by relevant parties, including government representatives if necessary." Viet Bang spoke on the phone, his voice full of confidence. "But we need to complete the collection of specific evidence related to the false contract. That is the decisive factor to protect Diep Khanh's flower shop before the fourteen-day deadline." He added, with a relieved voice, that it was the tin box of receipts that Diep Khanh had carefully kept for more than a year - a seemingly cumbersome habit she inherited from her mother - that helped him collate each inaccurate account down to each flower branch, each delivery date, a living proof that no set of documents from the other company could deny.

"I get it." Bach Du replied, his eyes looked out the window, towards Xuan Huong street that was engulfed in darkness. "We don't have much time left, we need to act faster."

Before turning off the lights and going to bed, he sent Diep Khanh a short message, briefly telling her that the legal documents were almost complete, and telling her to rest assured. This time, just a few minutes later, he received a response, not long but enough to make him smile in relief: "Thank you. I'm also trying to keep my spirits up." It was the longest text message he had received from her since she started withdrawing, and to him, it was also a small but meaningful sign that the defensive wall between them was gradually loosening.

That night, Bach Du sat alone in the apartment, looking back at the entire journey that had passed since the day he met Diep Khanh again. He felt a strong determination rising in his heart, not only to save her flower shop, but also to make up for the lost years and the painful misunderstandings that had caused them both to live in torment for a long time. He knew that the road ahead was still difficult, but this time, he will not let anything, whether it be geographical distance, family pressure, or the subtle manipulation of bad guys, can separate him from the girl he had never truly stopped loving.