Chapter 2 — Invincible Youth

Giang Duc Bach's eyes immediately stopped on my phone screen. I pursed my lips, slightly hesitant. “Why don't you answer the phone?” “Nothing—” The child moved, accidentally pressing the speaker button by mistake. "Are you home tonight? I'll pack some wontons for you." The man's voice echoed throughout the car compartment. The object of my eyesight — Trieu Huyen. Even though I refused a long time ago, he still kept bothering me enthusiastically. My whole body stiffened in place. When I frantically turned off the phone, I accidentally dropped my bag. A bunch of old keys fell out of his pocket. On it, dangling a high school photo of Giang Duc Bach. His eyes lowered, stopping for a long time on that old photo, letting out an unclear laugh. Hidden thoughts are exposed right in front of the owner, truly making it difficult for people to avoid feeling embarrassed. I frantically wanted to hide it, but the more I hid it, the more confusing it became. When I bent down to pick up things, I accidentally hit the glass door button. The car window lowered to a small gap. The passionate sound from outside immediately flooded in. Just as I was about to turn around, a white light suddenly appeared before my eyes. “There's a woman in the car!!” “Quickly take pictures!” A hand suddenly covered my eyes. Giang Duc Bach leaned closer from behind, his voice close to my ear, carrying a cold smile: "You really haven't changed at all." “I'm married and yet you still hide my photo. Is this how your Shenzhen University teaches its students?” I was stunned: “I'm not married yet—” “What do you want to do?” “Are you trying to let me know you still haven't forgotten me?” Giang Duc Bach didn't give me a chance to explain at all: "Intentionally letting my fans see you sitting in my car, do you want to create a scandal? Fine." He lifted my chin, forcing me to face him. Cold voice: "Be good, let my fans see your face clearly." “Smile beautifully, you're ready to go on camera.” Just thinking about my whole face being exposed to the camera lights, I immediately felt cold from head to toe. The sound of the car window rolling down was very clear. The cold, humid rain blew straight into my face. The moment Giang Duc Bach let go, I was suffocated with fear, my mind completely blank. Ahead is just an empty, quiet field. No crazy fans, no cameras. The car had just driven onto the highway around the city. Giang Duc Bach withdrew his hand, leaned back in the chair, half-closed his eyes. The phone fell at my feet and was disconnected long ago. Trieu Huyen's call was also disconnected. A moment later, Giang Duc Bach coldly spoke: "Get off the bus when you get there." “Once you're married, don't mess with me anymore.” 4 That night, I almost struggled to escape the car. Looking at the car speeding away in the rain, I completely gave up the idea of explaining. We are now people who belong to two different worlds. To Giang Duc Bach, I was just an ordinary high school classmate, nothing special. Ha must be passionate himself. A few days later, the news that Giang Duc Bach had a girlfriend suddenly climbed into the hot search. The photo of him covering my face with his hand spread all over the internet. Many people guess that the person in the photo is Diep Tan Tang. “What if my brother falls in love?” Only my best friend was the first to call. “The person in the photo is you, right?” “Um.” She was silent for a while, then said: "Thanh Le, are you really not afraid of Diep Tan Tang playing tricks again? She can destroy you." "I'm scared. So, if there's nothing unexpected, I don't want to see you again in this life." But life often teases people like that. Not long after, my superiors suddenly gave me a task: Invite Giang Duc Bach to cooperate in publishing his autobiography. "Now the whole network is rumored that Diep Tan Tang and Giang Duc Bach are a couple." "Hearing Linh Linh say you're his high school classmate, you'll probably find out a lot of interesting things." “After completing this order, I will give you double your year-end bonus.” I thought for a moment, then finally nodded in acceptance. I don't want to be just a reporter hunting for small news all my life. I need money to continue my studies. 5 At the beginning of winter, I took a plane to S city. The reason was because Jiang Yubai was going to hold a concert at Shenzhen University. At sunset, I checked in at the hotel where Giang Duc Bach was staying. Around five o'clock in the afternoon, I suddenly heard a noise outside the door. Giang Duc Bach walked in surrounded by a large number of fans and staff. He is still as gorgeous and brilliant as before. Over the years, he has established his own company, becoming a true tycoon in the investment world. Next to him was a familiar face. That's Diep Tan Tang. The reporters quickly gathered around and asked: "Tan Tan, is there any purpose in going with Giang Duc Bach this time?" Diep Tan Tang blushed and replied: "Of course I went with my boss to watch the concert." Her naughty answer made everyone burst into laughter. Giang Duc Bach coldly lowered his head to play on the phone. Diep Tan Tang suddenly saw me in the crowd. Her smile briefly faltered, then quickly took Giang Duc Bach's arm: "Tonight is a private schedule, cancel all interviews, please don't bother." The last sentence she said was directed straight at me, with an overbearing and authoritative tone. She clearly knew that even though my company used all its connections, I could only book one night at the hotel where Jiang Yubai stayed. After tonight, I will no longer have a chance to approach you. Giang Duc Bach pushed her hand away, turned and walked into the elevator. When Diep Tan Tang passed me, she smiled at the lobby manager: "Please don't let paparazzi in here." “It's so unpleasant.” 6 After Diep Tan Tang's words, the floor where Giang Duc Bach lived was completely surrounded by security forces, without any gaps. I had to wait in the elevator. On Weibo, Diep Tan Tang posted many landscape photos. Many fans stood below waiting for her to "flirt". Many people guessed that Giang Duc Bach went with her to admire the river scenery. I waited from daytime until late at night. Just when he thought he wouldn't return, the elevator suddenly opened. Giang Duc Bach stood in front of the door. The moment our eyes met, a slight wave of alcohol passed by. He didn't say anything, quietly walked in, leaned against the wall near me, his face under the light highlighted each clear line. The elevator started slowly going upstairs. Silence filled the air. I swallowed my saliva and whispered: "Giang Duc Bach, we had an appointment tonight." “Give me a few minutes, I'll be quick—” Suddenly a big hand grabbed my neck, forcing me to lean against the wall. The cold wall made me shiver. Hot breath emitted around people. “Why are you still here?” He was so tall that he obscured the elevator light, creating darkness over me, suffocating pressure. I grabbed his wrist, afraid of being seen by others, and said quickly: "I need my year-end bonus. I need to make money." "Earn money." Giang Duc Bach seemed to hear a joke, his hands trembled: "Have you run out of money to buy milk for your child?" “Is that guy Trieu Huyen so weak, he still has to run in the middle of the night to find his high school classmates?” I was silent for a moment: "My personal business, it has nothing to do with you." "Really?" He pulled out a stack of bank cards from his pocket and gave it to me: "Ha Thanh Le, if you know how to ask for me." “You're drunk!” Giang Duc Bach still didn't stop: "Isn't that enough? I still have house papers, how many do you want? Or a whole lot?" Looking at me without saying anything, he suddenly unbuttoned his shirt collar: "Or do you want me?" “As long as you know how to ask me, I will give it all.” The phone rang at the wrong time. I was about to reach for it but Giang Duc Bach grabbed it first. He squinted his eyes, saw Trieu Huyen's name appear on the screen, and seemed excited. Pressed the answer button, then suddenly bowed his head and kissed me. The smell of alcohol spreads in the mouth. I was startled and struggled vigorously. Giang Duc Bach held my face tightly, the fiery warmth spread from my chest to my palm. His heart beat rapidly. “Jiang Duc Bach, are you crazy?”