Chapter 18: In the Beginning, Everyone Looks Sincere

Chapter 18: In the Beginning, Everyone Looks Sincere

As the Lunar New Year break drew to a close, Kieu Ly sat in front of the mirror, wiping away her own tears. She still couldn't understand why she had let herself fall apart over someone so unworthy.

In her hand were two movie tickets. She picked up her phone and texted Huong Tra:

"Let's go back to Hanoi early. Come see a movie with me. I already bought the tickets—it'd be a waste to throw them out."

Receiving the message, Huong Tra felt a sense of relief and quickly replied:

"Sure. Give me the couple shirts and I'll take care of them."

That afternoon, Huong Tra came to pick Kieu Ly up. They loaded the car with bags full of food and gifts from their parents—things to eat slowly in the dorm and gifts for their landlords for the New Year.

Kieu Ly carried her share too, stacking everything into the car. Before they left, she handed Huong Tra a bag containing the matching couple shirts—still brand new, tags intact.

After arriving back in Hanoi, the girls cleaned their room, filled the fridge with food, and went to greet their landlords with Tet gifts. The landlord and his wife, both in their 50s, lived comfortably by renting out rooms. Aside from this rental house, they also owned another one elsewhere. Life was easier for those who had land—they didn't have to work too hard to earn a steady income.

Thankfully, the couple were kind and down-to-earth. Both Kieu Ly and Huong Tra felt lucky to have found a safe, affordable place to live when they first moved to the city.

That evening, Huong Tra took Kieu Ly to the movies. Unfortunately, the film Kieu Ly had chosen was a romance. But since she had originally bought the tickets to go with her boyfriend, it was hard to avoid.

Throughout the movie, Huong Tra kept sneaking glances at Kieu Ly, worried she might cry again.

But Kieu Ly didn't shed a single tear.

After the film ended, Huong Tra cheerfully shared her thoughts on the plot. Kieu Ly simply said:

"In the beginning, everyone looks sincere…"

She realized her own love story had once felt as romantic as the film they just watched—maybe even worthy of being written into a novel. But in the end, no matter how sweet, it all faded like mist.

Seeing her friend lost in thought, Huong Tra nudged her and said:

"Life is long. There are plenty more guys out there. Gotta sift out the sand to find the gold."

Kieu Ly smiled and walked with her to get the bike. Hanoi was quiet—the students hadn't all returned yet after the break.

Kieu Ly loved this peacefulness. The calm streets, the gentle breeze, the absence of chaos—it was exactly the kind of silence her heart needed right now.