Saturday afternoon, Hoan Kiem Lake shimmered under bright sun. Van arrived half an hour early at "Book Cafe." He wore a clean, pressed light blue shirt (still thrifted, but neat), hair combed. He chose a window seat overlooking the lake, heart pounding.
At 2 PM sharp, Linh appeared. She wore a soft yellow dress, complementing her fair skin, hair loose. Seeing Van, she smiled brightly and walked over.
"Long wait?" she asked, sitting.
"No, just got here," Van said quickly, offering the menu. "Drink?"
"Iced lemon tea," Linh said.
"Same," Van told the server.
Drinks ordered. A slight, awkward silence fell. The lakeside view was beautiful, but Van's focus was on the girl opposite him. Sunlight through the window caught her long lashes. She smelled faintly, pleasantly sweet.
"Shall we... start studying?" Linh seemed nervous too, breaking the silence, pulling out her thick notebook and textbook.
"Y...Yes!" Van grabbed his books.
They dove in. Linh's notes were immaculate, color-coded for key points. She patiently explained cost accounting hurdles: activity-based costing, standard cost variance analysis, joint product cost allocation... Van listened intently, asking questions immediately. Linh explained softly, logically, sometimes sketching diagrams. Watching her focused profile, Van felt admiration and... an inexplicable tenderness.
"Here, fixed overhead variance analysis, three-way method..." Linh explained, writing formulas. Her fingers were slender, nails neat. At a key point, she tapped Van's notebook with her pen tip. "Focus here, remember the logic..."
The pen tip touched Van's hand, a cool tingle. Both froze. Linh's cheeks flamed like ripe apples. She pulled her hand back fast, looking down, flipping pages. "Uh... that's... it..."
Van's ears burned, heart drumming. He coughed. "Yeah... got it... logic's key..."
After the small moment, the atmosphere grew softer. Lemon tea scent and a hint of sweetness hung in the air. They continued studying, but glances met briefly, shy smiles flashing.
During a break, Linh gazed at the lake. "Van, about what you said... don't take it too hard. Mr. Kim... has his reasons. But I think you're right about quality. Like... like accounting, every cent counts, mistakes cause big problems. Building's the same. Weak foundations ruin even perfect accounts."
Van looked at her earnest profile, moved. "Thanks, Linh. Your support helps."
"We're classmates, should support each other," Linh turned, giving him a radiant smile. Sunlight made it dazzling.
The afternoon flew by studying and chatting. Sunset painted the lake gold. Packing up, they left the cafe.
"Thanks... for helping me study," Van said. "Learned a lot."
"Me too," Linh smiled. "Good luck next week!"
"Yeah! We'll ace it!" Van looked at her, gathering courage. "After... after the exam, can I... buy you dinner? To... thank you?"
Linh blushed again, nodding. "Okay... sure."
"Can I... walk you to the bus?" Van asked.
"No need, I live nearby," Linh pointed down an alley. "You... be careful."
"Okay... you too." Van watched her disappear into the alley, heart full. The lakeside glow seemed to warm him inside.
Work pressure didn't ease with the brief respite. Kim Hải demanded more cost cuts. Thu became stricter, nitpicking Van's data and reports.
Bigger pressure came from Dũng (Dũng). Since Van moved to Cost Control, Dũng's attitude shifted. Surface politeness, even flattery, masked jealousy and resentment. He often probed Van for internal info, especially on supplier evaluations and payment processes.
"Van, brother! Office life suits you!" Dũng clapped Van's shoulder. "Cost Unit's powerful, huh? Heard you hold up supplier payments? Help a brother? I know a sand supplier, dirt cheap! Quality... passable! Put in a good word during evaluation? Or... speed up payment? Won't forget you!" Dũng lowered his voice, eyes shifty.
Van instantly alerted. "Dũng, strict procedures. Supplier evaluation looks at credentials, price, quality, service. Payments follow contracts. I... can't decide."
"Come on! Don't play dumb!" Dũng's face darkened. "Rules bend! You're Kim Hải's favorite, your word matters! Help me out, future favors!" He leaned closer. "Supplier's my... distant relative. Reliable! Price 10% lower than current! Think of the savings! Kim Hải will love it!"
Van felt disgusted. Recalling the low-quality materials issue, he feared Dũng's supplier was problematic. He refused firmly. "Dũng, impossible. Can't help. Supplier onboarding has its own process. I can't interfere."
Dũng's face hardened. He glared coldly. "Fine! Specialist Van! Too high and mighty now? Good! Very good!" He stormed off.
Van watched him leave, uneasy. He knew Dũng wouldn't quit.
Trouble arrived days later. Procurement suddenly brought in a new cement supplier, price 8% below current. The Procurement Manager got Kim Hải's signature quickly. Small shipments started.
Reviewing receipts and invoices, Van noticed the supplier was remote, unknown. Suspicious, he inspected the cement at the warehouse. Bags had blurry labels, unclear production dates. He demanded sampling and testing.
The test report shocked Van: 3-day pressure resistance barely met standards, but 28-day resistance was nearly 10% below national requirements! This meant weak cement, a major safety risk!
Van rushed to Kim Hải with the report.
"Sir! The new cement fails! 28-day strength inadequate! Can't use for main structure!" Van urged.
Kim Hải scanned the report, frowning. "Strength a bit low? How much?"
"Nearly 10%! Sir! This affects concrete strength! Safety hazard!" Van stressed.
"Supplier's response?" Kim Hải asked.
"Blames batch, offers replacement and compensation," Van replied.
"Replacement? Who covers delay costs?" Kim Hải slammed the desk. "Site needs cement now! Main pours can't stop! Strength a bit low... barely matters! Passed before, no issues! Get a guarantee from the supplier! Promise future quality! Use it now! Schedule matters!"
Van panicked. "Sir! No! Main structure is crucial! If it fails..."
"If if! Too many ifs!" Kim Hải cut him off sharply. "Van! I know you're thorough! But projects need flexibility! Time is money! A day's delay costs how much? Owner fines? Can't handle this risk? Get out of construction! Do as I say! Use it! Tighten checks on later batches!"
Van saw Kim Hải's unyielding gaze, his heart plummeting. He faced a direct clash: sacrificing safety for speed and cost savings. It violated his core principles. He recalled Chen Qiming's teachings, Linh's support, his belief in "quality foundation."
"Sir," Van took a deep breath, standing tall. "I can't sign off. This cement fails quality standards. As Materials Cost Specialist, I cannot approve its use in the main structure. I recommend immediate halt, supplier accountability, and activating backup suppliers for guaranteed quality!"
Kim Hải snapped his head up, eyes like daggers. "Van! Are you challenging my authority?!"
The office air froze.