Searching in the Sunlight

The freshly picked basket of fruit sat on the table, placed there by Ngan Thu's mother. She hadn't intended to ask many questions since Ngan Thu's car pulled up to the gate.

Everyone knew the Ly family was a scholarly family from a rural province. Her father was an elementary school teacher. Despite their meager income, they all lived in loving happiness. Her younger sister, Nhuoc Thu, was in high school. It seemed the sisters were always close, even though the elder one was already married.

Going home was the only place she could find solace when her heart was this weary. Man Ky's disappearance was incredibly perplexing. What could she do when so many around her seemed strangely indifferent?

Mrs. Ly gently stroked the fruit basket. In her heart, Ngan Thu would always be the daughter who lived by reason. Although her love for Man Ky stemmed from her heart, she was smart enough to avoid being oppressed. Her eyes held so much sadness. Mrs. Ly understood and handed her a red plum.

"When it's in season, it's very sweet."

Ngan Thu lightly bit her lip, accepting it as a way to relieve tension. She poured out all her confidences to her mother. Mrs. Ly listened to the story, a little wearily but also with immense sorrow.

"Ultimately, you chose silence instead of trusting your husband."

Ngan Thu heard her mother's words, bowing her head in self-reproach. Her hands clasped together, the regret she had suppressed for so long.

"Yes! This is the price I have to pay..."

Mrs. Ly pursed her lips, and suddenly her heart tightened. She felt she couldn't say anything more. It was like a fairy tale in modern times. Ngan Thu remained silent for a long time. She looked towards the rose bushes swaying by the doorway.

The morning sun poured in, Ngan Thu's car parked outside the gate. Her assistant called her again, endlessly troubled. Ngan Thu went up to her office. As she pushed the door open, Linh Di was already sitting in her chair.

Ngan Thu had never been particularly bothered by anything. She never craved high status or glory. It was just that Linh Di's expression was a little strange; when she saw Ngan Thu, she quickly stood up and shyly approached.

"Sister, I was about to call but forgot my phone. I asked your assistant to call you. Do you mind?" Linh Di adopted a polite, conventional tone, which Ngan Thu found genuinely tiresome. Yet, she still smiled faintly and asked:

"Do you need something?" Ngan Thu got straight to the point, and Linh Di's expression immediately changed. She blinked a few times and said:

"Oh yes, I think you forgot to give me the corporate seal. Because of that, I haven't been able to process all those documents."

Ngan Thu raised an eyebrow. She suddenly remembered that the chairman had only asked Linh Di to assist her with work for now, not that Linh Di would replace her as operations director. Why was Linh Di concerned about the seal?

"For that matter, you should ask the chairman. I can't hand over the seal on my own authority."

Hearing her words, Linh Di's face flushed red. She gave a forced laugh and avoided Ngan Thu's gaze. Just then, the office door suddenly opened, and Ngan Thu turned around.

"Even a small matter isn't allowed?" Tan Le Minh spoke in a voice just loud enough to be heard. She was quite composed and calm as she intently observed Ngan Thu's upcoming reaction. Ngan Thu didn't rush to explain. Just then, Linh Di quickly scurried over and immediately took her hand.

"Oh, Auntie! I..."

Tan Le Minh smiled, slowly approaching Ngan Thu. Ngan Thu felt a slight tremor of fear, but she tried to calmly respond.

"Auntie, the chairman has not brought up this matter. I cannot hand over the seal on my own."

Her stepmother-in-law looked at her with sharp, cold eyes. She raised an eyebrow and then whispered:

"Then wait, Sister!"

Tan Le Minh leisurely held Linh Di's hand and walked out. Ngan Thu watched the two of them, her heart filled with quiet sadness.

White clouds drifted silently past the window. A cool breeze swayed her long, silky hair. Ngan Thu walked slowly, step by step, through the company grounds. Going home, at least she would be more comfortable than here. She wondered what her husband's stepmother intended to do next.

Oh well, she had always had intentions anyway.

"Hey!" Jim Tran waved, and Ngan Thu surprisingly turned around. Jim quickly caught up to her.

"Oh, why are you..."

"I'm working here!"

Jim breathed heavily, pulling Ngan Thu to a quiet corner to talk. His initial thought was to apply at another branch, but Man Ky had unexpectedly recruited him directly into the main headquarters. Hearing this, Ngan Thu somewhat understood her husband's intention.

Her cousin listened intently to the information she shared. Every now and then, he frowned, deep in thought. It seemed Vu Tin Long was no ordinary character. He was determined to keep family matters private. That's why no one was rushing to deal with Man Ky's disappearance.

"I've considered another approach," Ngan Thu suddenly said in a low voice.

"What is it?" Jim eagerly awaited her answer. He was overwhelmingly anxious.

Ngan Thu looked away. The roads and street corners were bathed in the sunlight of March. What could be happier than seeing a warm, loving gaze again? The long road stretched out, white clouds drifting lazily.

The reckless thought could not be delayed forever. Years of cold war were enough; she was tired of thinking about it. Anyway, the next step was to wait for a miracle. Perhaps, God would still give her one last chance.

"Jim, I hope you'll help me..."

Dawn broke, the sun peeking over the casuarina trees. A cool breeze seeped into the small village, on the remote island far from the mainland. The bustling market began, people weighing freshly caught fish. Young men and women in colorful clothes hurried back and forth, trading.

A Nhien had brought vegetables out early to help her mother. She looked diligent and quite pretty, with honey-colored skin, a high nose, and a constantly smiling face. A Nhien was seventeen, and her father always intended to marry her off to some wealthy young men.

"Go to the boat to get fish! Mother already told A Phat."

"Yes!"

She quickly ran, her bare feet swift and agile. The beach was beautiful in the rising sun, seagulls swooping down to find some tasty morsels. A Nhien didn't particularly like it, but she was still captivated by the beauty of the sea in the early morning. A Phat seemed to have gone somewhere; the boat was deserted. She looked around, and flocks of seagulls kept swooping down.

What's that?

She suddenly noticed some small dogs. They barked loudly, a real headache. Several boats had docked, but no one was there; they had all gone to the market. A Nhien reluctantly approached, and the seagulls scattered immediately afterward. By the large cluster of rocks, the puppies were leaning over the side of a boat, looking down. A Nhien tiptoed to observe, shooing the dogs to be quiet.

"Ah!" she screamed, someone's hand had just appeared on the water's surface. Frightened, A Nhien stepped back, her face drained of color.

"What's wrong?" A Phat suddenly ran over, and A Nhien tremblingly pointed towards the dogs. Without thinking much, A Phat took off his shirt and plunged into the sea.

It was well past noon, and A Nhien had been gone for a long time, so her mother began to pack up her stall and head home. She couldn't help but grumble about her daughter running off to play again. Catching a glimpse of her slightly drunk husband passing by, she exasperatedly scolded the chickens and ducks.

"Mom!"

Hearing her eldest son's voice, she turned to look. She didn't understand what was happening; her children were all in a frantic rush. She was about to scold them when she saw A Phat carrying someone on his back, running into the house.

"Mom, help me!"

She didn't understand what was going on; her two children frantically dragged her to the back of the house. A Phat laid the person down on the bed, and A Nhien quickly explained to her mother:

"We found this person drowning. Mom, do you have any way to save him?"

A Nhien's mother frowned, gently patting the victim's cheek. His breath was weak; it seemed A Phat had helped him regain consciousness by following instructions.

"Quick, get a dry towel, warm water, and clean clothes!"

A Nhien rushed off immediately, while her mother checked his pulse and briefly checked for any other injuries. He was a fair-skinned young man, dressed in expensive clothes. His appearance was incredibly handsome, surely from a wealthy family.

She boiled ginger water and then cooked another pot of onion porridge. A Nhien bustled in the kitchen, boiling water and doing many other things. Every now and then, she went to check if the young man had woken up. His unusual appearance truly made the little girl harbor idle thoughts.

Her mother stayed by his side, observing. He lay motionless, still. A Phat covered him with a warm blanket; at least that would help him quickly regain his original body temperature.

"Look!" A Nhien exclaimed.

His fingers seemed to twitch, his eyebrows furrowed. His eyelids slowly fluttered open...