Chapter 7: Emerging from the Storm

Minh Hoang stood quietly by the door of the hospital room, feeling as though time had slowed to a crawl. The sounds around him seemed to fade into the background, leaving only Duat Van's sighs, the steady rhythm of the machines, and the dim light from the hospital lamps.

The feeling of worry in Minh Hoang's heart only grew stronger. He looked at the gaunt face of the man on the bed, his unfamiliar eyes seeming to plead for comfort from those around him. Duat Van stood by the bedside, holding his loved one's hand tightly, his eyes betraying a deep worry. Minh Hoang couldn't help but notice the hurt in those eyes. Though not a member of the family, Minh Hoang could feel the pain that Duat Van was enduring.

Ngoc Han stood next to Minh Hoang, still trying to maintain her composure, but the worry couldn't be hidden from her eyes. She turned to Minh Hoang, took his hand, and said softly, "You don't need to worry too much; everything will be alright. Duat Van has his family here; they'll do everything to make sure he's okay."

Minh Hoang only nodded, feeling a bit of comfort from Ngoc Han's words, but in his heart, he couldn't escape the worry. He looked at Thanh Khai standing in the distance, intently watching Duat Van's every move. Though he didn't say anything, Minh Hoang could sense the concern, the worry in the way Thanh Khai looked at Duat Van. That gaze, though cold, contained something special, a kind of care that only someone truly concerned could express.

"He'll be alright," Thanh Khai said, walking over to Minh Hoang, his voice softer than usual. "Duat Van is strong, and so is he. We just need to be patient and wait."

Minh Hoang looked up at Thanh Khai, feeling a bit of warmth from those words. However, in his heart, he still couldn't easily shake off the feeling of worry. His feelings for Thanh Khai seemed much more complicated than he had imagined.

A moment later, the doctor walked into the room, his face not showing too much emotion, but there was a hint of relief. "The old master still needs further observation, but his current condition is stable. You can rest assured."

Duat Van let out a relieved breath, the feeling of anxiety seeming to dissipate somewhat. He turned to Ngoc Han, his eyes softening a bit. "Thank you for coming. You don't need to worry anymore."

Ngoc Han smiled, patting Duat Van on the shoulder. "That's good, isn't it? We'll stay with you."

Minh Hoang looked at the people around him, feeling as though he was a part of this family, not by blood, but by a strange bond. He couldn't express everything he was thinking, but he also realized that he was ready to face the changes, no matter how many storms might come.

"You'll be okay," Thanh Khai said, turning to look at Minh Hoang, his eyes no longer as cold as before. Minh Hoang felt a gentleness in those eyes, and a part of him also softened.

"Thank you," Minh Hoang quietly replied, though he still felt his emotions were not entirely clear.

In that moment, everyone stood still, a feeling of waiting and hope filling the space. Minh Hoang's feelings about Thanh Khai and their relationship seemed to be still undefined, but he knew that, no matter what, he wouldn't give up

"Minh Hoang is facing a difficult situation. If you were in Minh Hoang's shoes, what would you do?"