Chapter 1 — Conflicting Fate

Three years ago, in front of his friends, he laughed at me: "You lovelorn, just playing around." I was devastated and on the way home I fell and broke my leg. Years later, I sent out invitations at a class reunion.

"I'm about to get married, everyone is welcome to come and celebrate."

When it was his turn to receive it, he nonchalantly pushed the invitation aside and smiled coldly:

“Who gave you the courage to marry someone else?”

He didn't know that the groom of this card was sitting opposite. Calmly observe everything.

1

“Unexpectedly, Hua Thuc Chu was the first person to get married.”

“She used to be very good, I'm just sorry that she was abandoned, I'm lucky that someone is willing to marry me.”

I tightened my grip on the wedding invitation, ignoring the gossip.

“I'm getting married next month, everyone is welcome to come visit.”

That cold gaze was still locked on me. No wavering. I know he will come. Giang Chi Hoai. My first love. Now there is a new powerful figure in the business world. I placed the red and gold wedding invitation in front of him, mustered up the courage to look straight into his eyes.

“Giang Chi Hoai, welcome.”

He was silent. Didn't say a word for a long time. Everyone around held their breath and watched. Anyway, that year, our breakup caused quite a stir. He once publicly humiliated me, calling me a stupid lover. It made me confused. When I was returning home, I accidentally slipped and rolled down the stairs, injuring my leg. After that, I had to leave for treatment. Lam San sat next to him, smiled and asked:

“Little Sister, is your leg feeling better?”

I hesitated a bit, avoiding the question:

"It still hurts when it's cloudy or rainy..."

In fact, the situation is worse. Damage to the entire knee joint. She held Giang Chi Hoai's hand and smiled brightly.

"Sorry, I apologize on behalf of Chi Hoai."

“On behalf of him?”

I tightened my grip on the wedding invitation.

"You don't know yet? He and I are about to get married."

Lam San covered his mouth and smiled, his tone full of joy:

“I'm really lucky too.”

I held the wedding invitation in my hand, not knowing how to react. Lam San, is my best friend. In the past, she was the closest person to me. But now…

"The past is over, Tieu Sister, give me the invitation."

Everyone is trying to reconcile the atmosphere. Suddenly, Giang Chi Hoai raised his hand, pushed the wedding invitation in front of him aside, and laughed coldly.

“Who gave you the courage to marry someone else?”

The words just ended. The surroundings suddenly fell silent. Even Lam San's face changed. My head is empty. I raised my voice, each word clear:

“Why can't I get married?”

Over the years, I have suffered enough ridicule and contempt from others. Not enough? Giang Chi Hoai smiled softly, his tone was gentle:

"My dog was abandoned and not allowed to find a new owner. Do you think you can?"

“Chi Hoai.”

A low voice rang out from the chairman's seat. In a quiet space, it's even clearer. Tham Vong Tan slightly raised his eyes and calmly said:

“Stop it.”

Just two words. But that's the final word. No one dared to refute. Anyway, compared to Giang Chi Hoai, this person is even more powerful. Since school, he has been a cold, noble genius. After graduation, more can only be seen in financial magazines and chapters television show. Although Giang Chi Hoai had a good relationship with him, he did not continue to be stubborn. But directly snatched the wedding invitation from my hand. When I opened it, the corners of my lips curled up with excitement.

"Vong Tan, what a coincidence. Her fiance is also named Tham. I really want to meet and see what kind of character he is."

Name on the wedding invitation—Tham Huyen.

“So what?”

Tham Vong Tan took a sip of wine and smiled like he wasn't smiling:

“That's right, what a coincidence.”

2

Tham Vong Tan didn't stay long, a phone call called him to leave. He is busy with thousands of things, being able to appear at this small meeting is already a rare thing. I made an excuse to leave. When running to the gate, the driver opened the door of the waiting Rolls-Royce.

“Mr. Tham!”

I chased after him, out of breath. Hearing the call, Tham Vong Tan paused slightly and turned to look at me. The sharp facial features under the pale white streetlights became even more distant.

“Tonight… thank you.”

“No need to thank.”

He replied leisurely:

"We're about to get married, you can make it public."

I opened my mouth, but couldn't say a word. The day I returned to Giang Thanh, I had no one by my side. On the road, he accidentally met Tham Vong Tan's car.

“Did you come back to see Giang Chi Hoai?”

That was the first thing he said to me.

“He's about to get married.”

“With his possessive nature, it is very difficult for you to live peacefully in Giang Thanh.”

He casually made a suggestion:

“I need a fiancee to deal with my family, do you want to think about it?”

I don't understand why I agreed at that time. Actually, I don't know what he wants from me. Don't even dare to borrow his name to make waves. Just want to live quietly for a bit. Tham Huyen is the old name of Tham Vong Tan, also the name recorded in the family tree. Not many people know this.

“Sorry… I bothered you tonight.”

He looked at me for a moment, seemingly about to say something. But in the end he just said:

“When you get home, text me.”

3

I went back to get my things, and as soon as I was out the door, an old friend pulled me back to chat. It wasn't until eight o'clock in the evening that it suddenly started raining heavily outside. People were stuck, forced to book temporary rooms in hotels.

“Are you done yet?”

Tham Vong Tan texted three words, true to his taciturn style.

“I'm staying at a hotel.”

After a while, he replied:

“Send me the room number, if you feel sleepy, just go to sleep first.”

After texting, I curled up in the blanket. Don't know if it was accidental or intentional. Giang Chi Hoai and Lam San's room is just next door. This hotel has poor soundproofing. Lam San's laughter penetrated the wall, extremely deafening. She seemed afraid that I wouldn't hear her, so she deliberately raised her voice:

“Chi Hoai, remember last time it was her birthday? We were also in the next room—”

“Shut up, make noise.”

Giang Chi Hoai's deep, hoarse voice rang out, carrying frustration and fatigue. I was stunned. Suddenly remembered the first birthday when he and I were together. After 12 midnight, he disappeared. Lam San also disappeared and could not be contacted. An indescribable nausea arose. Eyes stinging. Actually, I don't know how much I still like Giang Chi Hoai. It's just that I spent my entire youth with him. Then in the end, I was just a joke. The other side is getting more and more unreasonable. Lam San's tone was full of sex encourage. At that moment, my room door was pushed open. The man's tall silhouette was stretched across the floor by the light in the hallway. Cold air poured in from outside. My eyes were wet, looking at him bewildered.

“Mr. Tham, why did you come?”

Tham Vong Tan glanced at me and said calmly:

“This hotel's security is not good, I don't feel secure.”

I don't know if it's because I'm thinking too much, but today he seems to be in a bad mood. The whole person radiated a cold, distant air. The other side suddenly fell silent. Tham Vong Tan leisurely observed me.

“Uncomfortable?”

“Huh?”

“I can help you change rooms.”

I quickly waved my hand:

"It's late, you have to go to work tomorrow, rest early—"

After speaking, I realized that I booked a room with a large bed. Furthermore, my movement of lifting the blanket looked like I was inviting him to sleep with me. The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Tham Vong Tan's eyes glanced at my white legs, then quickly moved away. He took out his phone and called his secretary:

“Rebook a room—”

At this moment, Lam San's scream rang out again from the next room. Compared to before, it was even more noisy. An unreasonable anger suddenly flared up in my heart. I unconsciously reached out, gently pulled the corner of Tham Vong Tan's shirt, and said softly:

“It's okay... just sleep here.”

As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes became unpredictable. It even contains a bit of danger. My face immediately turned red. Isn't that a bit too frank?

“Sorry, I… I'm not—”

“Okay.”

Tham Vong Tan decisively hung up the phone.

“Do you want to shower first?”

Bang! The next room heard a loud noise. Accompanied by Lam San's screams. My phone vibrated. It's Giang Chi Hoai's number. I don't answer the phone. Immediately after that, a message appeared on the screen.

"Hua Thuc Chu, give me three minutes, come out here."

Tham Vong Tan pursed his lips, the corner of his mouth curved up into a cold smile.

“He's so busy.”

Before I could speak, he suddenly stood up, took off his watch, and unbuttoned the first button of his shirt. I was stunned and stammered:

“You… you…!”

Before I could react, the familiar cold wood scent enveloped me.

"Miss Hua, you invited me first, I can't refuse."

My heart felt like it was about to jump out of my chest. The distance between us is too close. So close that I could clearly count each of his eyelashes.

“Can you make a sound?” he asked.

“What?”

My voice is as small as a mosquito's cry. Tham Vong Tan smiled slightly and slowly said:

“My voice is much easier to hear than hers.”

I suddenly understood what he meant.

“A—”

The tone was stiff, but it made him laugh. Like a reward. As if saying: I did very well. Suddenly, Giang Chi Hoai's low voice rang out from the next room. The tone was full of indignation.

“Hua Thuc So, answer the phone.”

Tham Vong Tan smiled slightly, took my phone, and calmly said:

“She's taking a shower.”

The space fell into a long silence. It's like a century has passed. Giang Chi Hoai smiled faintly:

“Tham Huyen?”

“Not wrong.”

A contemptuous laugh rang out.

“If you want to die, I don't mind sending you off for a while.”

Tham Vong Tan tidied up my tangled hair, his tone was lazy but sharp:

“What a great spirit. I hope your actions are quick too like when you were defeated.”