"Let's go get ice cream! Hurry up!"
Having escaped the solemnity of Hoan Kiem Lake, Quynh Nhu returned to her usual hyperactive self. She grabbed Lam Minh and To Quyen by the hand and excitedly headed towards the famous Trang Tien street, completely oblivious to the strange look Lam Minh had just cast towards the lake's surface.
Lam Minh temporarily set aside the astonishing feelings from moments ago. He knew it was a big secret, one that couldn't be rushed. For now, he just wanted to fully enjoy this rare moment of peace.
They arrived at the Trang Tien ice cream shop. Even in wartime, the place was unusually crowded. It seemed the cool sweetness of an ice cream bar had a magical power, helping people temporarily forget the worries and hardships of life.
"One for each of us! My treat!" Quynh Nhu generously declared, then quickly squeezed into the crowd to buy the ice cream.
A moment later, she returned with three ice cream bars in her hands: one chocolate, one green sticky rice (cốm), and one coconut milk.
She handed the jade-green sticky rice bar to To Quyen, then held the other two out in front of Lam Minh.
"Choose, punching bag."
Lam Minh looked at the two ice cream bars, then at Quynh Nhu's slightly "mischievous" smile. Without a moment's hesitation, he took the coconut milk one.
"Whoa, how did you know I like chocolate?" Quynh Nhu exclaimed with "surprise," then happily took the remaining bar.
To Quyen, standing beside them, could only shake her head and smile at her friend's clumsy act. It was obvious that Quynh Nhu wanted the chocolate ice cream but wanted Lam Minh to be the one to let her have it.
The three of them strolled along the lakeside, eating their ice cream. The light, cool sweetness melted in their mouths, mingling with the crisp air of a Hanoi autumn, creating an incredibly pleasant sensation.
"This is delicious!" Quynh Nhu praised. "Way better than those expensive bubble teas in Sai Gon."
"Mmm, it's very good," To Quyen also nodded in agreement.
Lam Minh said nothing, just quietly savoring the treat. It had been a very long time since he had tasted this ice cream. In his past life, after Hanoi fell, these simple flavors had become a luxury that could never be had again.
They found an empty stone bench by the lake and sat down to rest. The pale yellow streetlights shone down, creating a warm and romantic scene.
No more verbal sparring, no more scientific experiments. Just three young people sitting together, watching the people pass by, enjoying a peaceful evening.
"Hey Lam Minh," Quynh Nhu suddenly spoke, her voice no longer sharp. "On the train that day... thank you."
Lam Minh was a little surprised. This was the first time he had heard her say thank you so seriously. "It's nothing. I was just 'guessing' anyway."
"Oh, stop it," Quynh Nhu pouted. "You can quit the act. I know you're not a normal person. But anyway... you saved everyone. The ten-million-dollar debt is forgiven."
"Oh? Really?" Lam Minh teased. "Then what about the five million for the arrow?"
"That... we'll talk about that later!" Quynh Nhu blushed and turned away.
To Quyen, sitting beside them, chuckled as she listened to their conversation. She realized that although they often argued, the relationship between these two was very special.
They sat there for a long time, talking about nothing in particular. About school, about friends, about newly released movies. Lam Minh, for the first time since his rebirth, felt like he was truly living as a 16-year-old student. He didn't have to force himself to be a hero, didn't have to calculate how to farm points. He was simply sitting there, next to the two most important girls in his life.
When it got late, they decided to head back to the guesthouse.
On the way back, passing through a small street, they suddenly heard the simple sound of a guitar and a warm, deep voice coming from a roadside coffee shop.
"Hanoi in autumn, the Cơm Nguội trees are yellow, the Bàng trees have red leaves, lying next to each other, ancient streets and old houses, with deep brown tiled roofs..."
The melodious tune and simple lyrics seemed to stop passersby in their tracks. The three of them instinctively paused, listening in silence.
The song ended, and Lam Minh let out an unconscious sigh.
"What's wrong?" To Quyen asked.
"Nothing," he shook his head, smiling. "It's just that, this scene, this song... it's really beautiful. I hope... we can keep this peace forever."
His words made both To Quyen and Quynh Nhu fall silent. They were young people born and raised in a time of war. More than anyone, they understood the value of the word "peace."
That night, all three of them had a good night's sleep. No plans, no secrets. Just the sweet aftertaste of ice cream, the poignant melody of a song about Hanoi, and a silent promise for a peaceful future.
And at the bottom of the deep Hoan Kiem Lake, a pair of giant, ancient eyes seemed to have just opened after a long slumber, quietly observing the city as it sank into the night.