Chapter 7 — Don't Dream Of Escape From Me

15 The coffee shop is very quiet today, the yellow light shines on the table. As soon as I sat down, the waiter placed a bouquet of bright red roses in front of me. I was stunned. My fingers gently caressed the soft petals, and an image of... the rose bed I planted at the Thoi Gia villa appeared in my mind. Do you… remember? I raised my head to look at Thoi Kim Tu, but he was just silent, his eyes deep and unfathomable. Without waiting for me to open my mouth, he spoke up: "I have no intention of getting engaged, those young ladies... I don't care at all." I was stunned: “…Huh?” Countless thoughts flashed through my mind: Not engaged? Don't choose any of them? Won't Mrs. Tho choose another generation? I tilted my head to look at him, my voice colder than I thought: "So why are you telling me all this? Are you planning to... use me as cannon fodder?" Thoi Kim Tu was clearly upset. He frowned slightly, his originally drooping bangs stood up, his voice was lower, carrying a bit of restraint: "I didn't mean that!" His eyes looked at me, sharp and hot: "Nhu Nhu, what are you avoiding? Can't you... give me a chance?" I was silent for a few seconds, my gaze stopped on his face. So beautiful that it makes it difficult to breathe. But I don't let myself soften. I considered every word carefully: “We… do not belong to the same world.” I took a deep breath, my eyes not avoiding: "If I accept your feelings... I will feel scared." I know you hear what's hidden in this sentence. If that's the case, I don't intend to hide it anymore. "Lady Tho once told me about Nhuan Du..." My voice trembled slightly, but I still forced myself to continue: "I don't want to... become someone like her." Hearing that, Thoi Kim Tu just sighed, the corners of his lips curled up tiredly: "I guessed... you would mention this." He put his hands on the table, leaning slightly forward, the lamplight covering his sharp face with a layer of light: "But Nhu Nhu... marrying a rich man doesn't mean... the ending will be good." His eyes darkened slightly: "I'm not the so-called noble prince. The person who lay motionless for so long was me. The person you took care of every day and night... was also me." His voice was low, as if carrying a layer of waves: "My world... is not what you imagine." Without waiting for me to react, Thoi Kim Tu stood up. He motioned for me to follow, leading me to a private room in the corner of the second floor. As soon as he entered, he made a "shush" gesture, pointed at the thin wall, and lowered his voice: "Listen." I was a bit skeptical, but still listened. The room is half-closed and half-open, the soundproofing is not completely good. And then — From the other side of the wall, a low, cold male voice rang out: "Isn't it good for me to find that man for you? He will listen to you, we can still maintain this relationship." I stopped. This voice... Ngo Duong?! Next, a female voice, soft as silk, weak and trembling, rang out: "But... every day I miss you like crazy. Lying next to Bach Trach, I just feel disgusted. I just hope... the person lying next to me is you..." I was stunned. This voice… Van Du?! I gasped, my eyes widened like bronze bells, and turned to look at Thoi Kim Tu. He gently raised his hand, signaling silence. Next, Ngo Dang's voice rang out again, calmly coldly calm: "Recently, has the child... kicked you? I also want the baby in your belly. Be good, give birth to it for me." My heart tightened. Van Du burst into tears, his voice choked with anger: "After giving birth... is it named Bach or Ngo?! Ngo Duong, you... are so cruel. I just want to be with you, why is it so difficult?" But this time, Ngo Duong did not coax her anymore. His voice was cold, carrying a cruel knife: "I give the Van family so many resources, you climb into my bed yourself, today's outcome... you should bear it yourself." After that, there was a heavy silence. Finally, Ngo Dang let out a coaxing sentence as a courtesy. The sobbing gradually subsided. The two... reconciled again. I walked away from the wall, cold sweat beading on my palms. There's only one deep question left in my heart: Turns out, is their world... this dirty? 14 Waiting until the other party left, I breathed a sigh of relief. Unexpectedly, "eavesdropping" in the wealthy world is so simple... and so naked. Leaning back in my chair, I glanced at Thoi Kim Tu, the corner of my lips curled up teasingly: "What's going on, are you also planning to follow Ngo Dang... find me a husband?" Thoi Kim Tu choked a bit, coughed twice, his eyes were both dissatisfied and half laughing and crying: "Are you like that kind of person? Nhu Nhu, I have prejudice against you." His eyes darkened, his voice lowered: "I made an appointment with you today to tell you... my car accident that year was related to these two people." I was momentarily stunned. Thoi Kim Tu slowly continued, each word seemed to weigh heavily on the air: "That day... I caught Ngo Duong and Van Du red-handed. I rushed in to find Van Du Du and asked him what happened." His fingers were lightly clenched into fists, the corner of his lips raised, full of self-mockery: "As a result, Ngo Duong called a drunk guy, stepped on the gas pedal, and drove the car towards me." I felt chills down my spine. "I was in a coma for several months, and when I woke up... my memory of that incident was blank. Ngo Duong even tried asking me a few times, but when he saw that he didn't remember anything, he gave up." Speaking of this, Thoi Kim Tu leaned back in his chair and sighed: "That year, Van Du was still my fiancee... Nhu Nhu, I don't know when she climbed into Ngo Duong's bed. Maybe... from beginning to end, she never loved me." I looked at his tired face and finally couldn't help but say: "So... consider yourself unlucky. If it weren't for her, maybe by now... you would have had a child." As soon as those words came out, I immediately wanted to bite my tongue. Thoi Kim Tu was stunned, choked a bit, his ears turned red. He pursed his lips, as if he wanted to say something, but swallowed it. The atmosphere suddenly felt strange. After a few seconds of silence, he slightly tilted his head and looked straight at me. Those eyes were so deep that they made my heart skip a beat. “I tell you these things… because I want you to understand my past.” His voice was low, gentle but full of weight: "But Nhu Nhu, I don't care anymore. Lying motionless for so long, I remember very clearly who treated me well, who was truly by my side." I bowed my head slightly, avoiding his eyes. It feels like a spark touching the skin, burning. Holding up the glass of water, I took a sip, trying to change the subject: "So... do you plan to take revenge on them?" Thoi Kim Tu looked at me intently. That look was so serious that... it made me not dare to breathe loudly. His breathing was calm and his voice was decisive: "I won't let it go." He stopped for a moment, then slowly added, each word seemed to have the force to penetrate straight into my chest: "But Nhu Nhu, I won't let you get involved in anything." I was a little stunned, my heart suddenly skipped a beat. In that moment, I clearly felt that... The man in front of me was no longer the young master who relied on the Time Family. He was once betrayed, once harmed, once on the line between life and death - and now, he is back. Thoi Kim Tu's eyes at that time were so serious that I didn't dare breathe loudly. He spoke in a low voice, each word engraved in my heart: "I will take revenge on them." “But… besides hatred, Nhu Nhu, during the time I was in a coma, I felt love.” My heart trembled a beat. “Nhu Nhu, can you… give me a chance?” "Things about identity, class, not being in the same world... I've never taken it to heart." He smiled softly, his smile as pale as the breeze: "I once walked through the door of life and death, only to understand... many things in this world are not worth worrying about." Before I could answer, he continued, his voice low and hoarse, as if he wanted to force me to listen: "If you're too concerned... I can transfer half of the assets to your name." I was stunned, wide-eyed and looked at him. Before he could fully digest this shock, he smiled, his voice a bit hoarse, gentle but deep: "After that... I will pursue you properly, okay?"