Chapter 15: Sweet First Love
On the 27th of Tet, Hoang Anh came by to invite her out. Kieu Ly always cherished the moments they could spend together, so she dressed neatly, applied light makeup, and added a touch of perfume. As soon as she got his message, she went out to the gate to wait.
Even though they were officially dating, Hoang Anh hadn't formally met her parents yet. Every time he came to pick her up, he would just wait outside the gate. She didn't mind at all.
Hoang Anh and Kieu Ly were from the same hometown, and his mother had been a classmate of Kieu Ly's mom, so both families knew about their relationship. Neither family objected. To some people, their love might seem like a picture-perfect romance.
However, her parents always advised her not to let emotions cloud her judgment.
Kieu Ly's mother was a businesswoman who supported the family financially, while her father was a teacher and her constant companion in her academic journey. Her mother had a modern, independent mindset, while her father was more conservative and traditional. When they found out about her relationship with Hoang Anh, her mother said:
"I'm not against your relationship. But you should strive to be independent and self-reliant. Don't expect to lean on anyone else. You need to be able to carry your own life."
Her father, on the other hand, said:
"Life is long. You need to know how to protect yourself and not cross the line too soon."
Kieu Ly didn't argue—she nodded repeatedly and responded with a loud "Yes, sir."
Unlike some other families who, when their daughters entered university, invested in helping them look glamorous and even encouraged them to find a rich boyfriend—ideally from the capital—Kieu Ly's parents never once told her to find a way to secure Hoang Anh.
After months apart, Hoang Anh finally appeared in front of her again—still shining like a mirror, dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, but this time, not just local ones. Everything he wore now was from the US. He even showed up in a car—no more motorbike. It seemed that Hoang Anh had changed. Kieu Ly faintly felt the growing distance between them. Not just in terms of material wealth, but perhaps in worldview and values. She wondered if Hoang Anh now looked down on her for being a simple country girl.
Hoang Anh stepped out of the car and opened the door for her.
She caught a faint scent of his perfume—sophisticated and expensive, so different from her cheap drugstore fragrance. She couldn't help but feel like they belonged to two different worlds. Still, she climbed into the car and smiled—a gentle, sweet smile.