Chapter 12: A Little Sweetness in the Air
The kitchen was buzzing with a gentle warmth, the smell of vanilla and butter swirling gently in the air. Thiên Lam, in her oversized apron, clumsily cracked an egg into the mixing bowl, a few drops of flour still on her cheek. Her hands were still a little awkward, but her expression was soft, focused — and slightly nervous.
It had been a while since she last baked, and even then, her skills weren’t exactly impressive. But something had compelled her today. Maybe it was the calm weather, maybe it was the way Minh Vũ had helped her fix the greenhouse door yesterday without saying much, just smiling as usual. Or maybe it was just this peaceful rhythm of rural life that made her want to try new things — slow things, sweet things.
She poured the mixture into little cupcake molds, humming softly under her breath. The kitten, Bơ, sat nearby on a windowsill, tail flicking lazily. The soft breeze through the open window made the curtains dance, and the golden afternoon sun turned everything honey-colored.
When the first batch was done, she stared at them. Some were a little burnt. Some had risen weirdly on one side. She sighed — but then smiled anyway. They were still warm. Still hers. Still something she had made with her own hands, in this quiet house, in this quiet life.
She picked out the best-looking ones and gently placed them in a small paper box. She tied a yellow ribbon around it, then stood there for a while — staring at it like it was a puzzle.
“Should I give this to Minh Vũ?”
Her heart beat faster at the thought. It wasn’t a big deal. Just a small thank-you gift. But somehow it felt… more than that.
—
The next day, after watering the garden, she casually walked over to Minh Vũ’s house — or rather, wandered past it a few times until she finally saw him coming out to check on his herb pots.
“Hey… Minh Vũ!” she called, a little too quickly. He looked up.
“Hmm?”
“I, uh… I made these yesterday.” She held out the box with both hands. “They’re probably not very good, but… you can try. If you want. Just a few extras, that’s all.”
Minh Vũ blinked. Then slowly reached out, accepting the box like it was made of glass. His fingers brushed hers for just a second.
“I’m sure they’re delicious,” he said. His smile was calm as ever, but his ears were just a little pink. “Thank you, Thiên Lam.”
She gave a quick nod, then practically turned and walked away before he could say anything else.
That evening, while trimming the roses near her porch, she heard a soft voice call out from across the fence.
“Hey, Thiên Lam…”
She looked up. Minh Vũ stood there, holding the empty box.
“Those were really good.”
And with that, he turned and walked off — quick, like he was escaping something.
Thiên Lam stared after him, then looked down at her hands.
Somehow… her heart felt light. Like something very small but very special had just happened.
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Hi everyone~15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcFKd6CyD2
First of all, I'm really sorry for the long silence 😭 School and exams had me in a headlock, but now that they're finally over, I'm back!
Thank you so much for being patient — I missed writing Thiên Lam and Minh Vũ’s story so much! Let’s continue this gentle, warm journey together, one peaceful chapter at a time 🌼15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wfCBkjrgT
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