Whispers of a Lost Love

12

The night in Saigon was quiet, but Yên Pha's mind was anything but calm. Amid the twinkling lights of the city, the image of the girl with the mesmerizing voice still haunted her like a dream, like an unprecedented wave, slowly engulfing her soul.

Yên Pha and Hương Chà, two figures who crossed paths in the foggy Saigon night, had no idea that this encounter was not a mere coincidence. The invisible thread of fate had silently connected them from the moment their eyes met, from Hương Chà's heart-wrenching songs to Yên Pha's hurried steps toward her.

In the quiet, emotionally charged night, it seemed that destiny had placed them on the same path. A path whose destination was unknown, but one that would surely be filled with unspoken emotions, with sweetness intertwined with bitterness that they had yet to recognize.

Yên Pha sat in her car, her eyes following Hương Chà's figure fading behind the car window. Within her, a strange feeling smoldered, like a small flame blown into a fire by the wind, preventing her from returning to her previous calm state.

As the car rolled on, Hương Chà's hand gently gripped the edge of her dress. Her gaze drifted far away, but her mind seemed to linger on Yên Pha's composed words. There was something vague about it, but strong enough to make her remember.

Inside the car, as the faint streetlights passed by the window, Hương Chà reclined into her seat, her eyes momentarily dreamy but also sparkling with curiosity.

• "Anna, do you know who that person was?" - Her voice was gentle, yet tinged with interest. "She's so beautiful that I feel envious."

Lý Anna glanced at Hương Chà through the rearview mirror, then smiled softly, as if she had just mentioned an important figure.

• "That person is Miss Yên Pha - Thái Yên Pha, the only daughter of the Thịnh Phát family, a wealthy and powerful family in Chợ Lớn. You might not know, but her name is well-known in high society."

• "The Thịnh Phát family?" - Hương Chà frowned, as if trying to recall some old stories she had heard. "Aren't they famous for silk trading?"

• "That's right," - Lý Anna nodded, continuing,

• "Miss Yên Pha manages most of the family's business. Even though she's a daughter, her father, Thái Thịnh Phát, loves and trusts her so much that he entrusted her with this responsibility. But because she took on a role traditionally meant for her brothers... life at home is not exactly harmonious."

Hương Chà remained silent, her eyes briefly contemplative.

Lý Anna glanced at her, then continued:

• "She's not just famous for her beauty, but also for her strong personality and wise management. Despite her powerful family, Miss Yên Pha chose not to be dependent. It's said that she bought her own house and left her family at the age of 20 to live her own life."

Hương Chà gently tilted her head, her eyes seemingly captivated.

• "How fascinating. A woman who is both beautiful and independent... Perhaps that's the attraction that makes it hard for me to look away."

• "But, Chị Anna..." - She suddenly wondered. • "Why isn't she like other young masters or businessmen? In the situation earlier, people usually make demands for me to meet, but she didn't even want me to know her name."

Lý Anna smiled faintly and shook her head.

• "You're so naive. If you're a shining star, then Miss Yên Pha is the brightest gem of the southern provinces. It's just that I've been too inattentive to notice."