Chapter 5: This Time, We Come Back Together

One year later.

The riverside hotel officially opened.

On that very day, An Nhiên received a gift.

A small box.

She opened it.

Inside was the old movie ticket.

She looked at Khải.

“You still have it?”

“Yes.”

“For six years?”

“Yes.”

“You never thought of throwing it away?”

Khải looked at her.

“Some things don’t need to be thrown away.”

An Nhiên picked up the ticket.

On the back was a new line.

“This time, don’t make me wait alone.”

She burst out laughing.

“Are you proposing to me?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

“An invitation.”

“To where?”

“To the future, with me.”

An Nhiên looked at him for a long time.

Six years ago, she had believed that loving someone meant knowing how to sacrifice.

Only later did she understand that love isn’t one person quietly deciding for the other.

Love is when two people stand before a choice together and say:

“We’ll do it together.”

She held out her hand.

Khải took it.

No grand promises.

No flowery words.

Just two people who had once lost each other, finally finding the way back.

Outside the glass, the afternoon light laid a soft gold over the river.

An Nhiên rested her head on his shoulder.

“Khải.”

“Hm?”

“Do you regret those six years?”

He was silent for a few seconds.

“Yes.”

She looked up.

“But I wouldn’t change them.”

“Why not?”

“Because without those six years, maybe we’d never have understood one thing.”

“What thing?”

Khải looked at her.

“That the person you love isn’t the one who’s always by your side.”

He squeezed her hand gently.

“It’s the one you still want to walk on with when you meet again, no matter how many years have passed.”

An Nhiên smiled.

“So what about from today on?”

“I won’t let you go alone again.”

“Are you sure?”

“Sure.”

“Even if I change?”

“Then I’ll get to know you all over again.”

“Even if I’m difficult?”

“I already know that.”

“Even if I go quiet sometimes?”

“I’ll be patient.”

She laughed.

“And if I go far away again?”

Khải looked at her for a long time.

“Then I’ll go with you.”

An Nhiên said nothing more.

She just leaned against his shoulder.

Outside, the city kept moving.

The streets were still full of people coming and going.

New seasons would come.

But this time, they were no longer afraid of time.

Because they had come to understand that even people who lose each other for a very long time, as long as both still want to walk toward each other, meeting again is never too late.

And their story didn’t end on the day she came back.

It had only just begun.

— THE END —