Chapter 1 — Light Cannot Be Stolen

My fiance, out of pampering my little tam, switched my life-saving oxygen tank. When the rescue team appeared, he realized that a joke of his would make him paralyzed. As a photographer specially invited by Van Linh Magazine to do a cover photo series, I set out to conquer the Haba snow mountain. Just halfway up the climb, I felt my heart pounding, difficulty breathing, and my temples twitching. I immediately realized I was having a reaction to the altitude, so I quickly took out my spare oxygen tank and took a deep breath. But as soon as the air filled my lungs, I knew something was wrong. I turned to look at my fiance standing next to me.

"What... is this?"

Unexpectedly, as soon as I opened my mouth, my voice became high-pitched and distorted, sounding like a duck quacking. As soon as the voice spoke, the fiance and his junior immediately burst into laughter.

"Quacking? Hahaha! The sound of a duck! Oh my god, I'm dying of laughter!"

The two of them laughed so much that they hugged their stomachs and doubled over. The junior girl also exaggeratedly punched the snow continuously. At that moment, I understood everything. To tease me, they secretly swapped my life-saving oxygen tank for helium. Waiting until the two of them got tired of laughing, I forced myself to look at my fiance and said with difficulty:

"Oxygen tank... spare oxygen... give me..."

He wiped away tears from laughing too much and casually waved his hand.

"Oh, Niem Niem's health is weak, I gave her all the spare oxygen tanks."

"And you're so strong, just bear with it a little and it'll be over."

I didn't bother to argue, just tried to use my stiff hands to take out the satellite phone.

"Editor Hua, my spare oxygen tank was intentionally swapped by someone else. I'm having a severe reaction to high altitude. Please send a rescue team to pick me up immediately."

As soon as he finished speaking, the satellite phone was snatched from his hand by Co Canh Xuyen. He looked at the distress signal that had been sent, his face turned red, then he smiled contemptuously.

"Photographer Tham, are you overdoing it?"

"Just accidentally inhaled some helium for a bit of fun, did you have to call for help?"

"Do you know how long this cover photo has been in preparation? You can't stand even the slightest reaction to the high altitude?"

After speaking, he raised his hand to throw the satellite phone down the snow-covered mountainside. I used all my remaining strength to hold his wrist tightly. A severe headache and nausea made my eyes darken intermittently. Both he and his junior Duong Niem were wearing oxygen masks, with spare oxygen tanks on their backs, and their faces were as rosy as when they were at the foot of the mountain. It was just me, helplessly clutching the ridiculously heavy and heavy helium tank in my hand. Duong Niem walked in front of me, his voice full of fake concern.

"Miss Van, don't blame the senior. Because I'm so useless, I can't breathe after climbing a little."

"He said I'm a professional mountain climbing photographer, this height is just a small thing to me."

Having said that, she slowly took another breath of oxygen, her eyes behind the mask looked at me with full satisfaction, not bothering to hide it. To prepare for this cover photo shoot, I asked my friends to pre-order high-concentration medical oxygen, and also brought emergency medicine prescribed by the doctor. Now, those oxygen tanks are all lying on Duong Niem's back. Even my medicine box disappear. Co Canh Xuyen gently adjusted the strap on Duong Niem's shoulder, his voice was gentle as if afraid to startle her.

"Nien Niem, don't pay attention to her. She just relies on her reputation so she can't stand a little resentment."

Then he turned to me, his voice immediately cold.

"Can you stop pretending?"

"I've researched it. High altitude reactions are mostly just a psychological problem. You just need a strong enough will to overcome it. It's not as serious as you said."

"My high-end oxygen tanks are just to calm my mind, and they're so damn heavy."

"Nien Niem is a new photographer signed with our studio. If she is unwell and affects the shoot, the loss will be much greater than mine."

I trembled and touched the medicine bag outside my backpack. Inside... Empty. Co Canh Xuyen seemed to suddenly remember something, so he reached into Duong Niem's jacket pocket, took out my medicine box, and poured two pills into her palm.

"Let Niem Niem take this with you too. Look, you're still standing here to grab the phone, so why are you so serious?"

"Don't think you're a national treasure photographer. You can't stand even a little bit of hardship?"

An oxygen tank was ordered specifically for me. My emergency medicine. Now they all become things for him to take care of his junior. The other assistants all bowed their heads and packed up their tripods and lenses, pretending not to see the argument over here. Only old La, the tour guide accompanying the group, glanced at me. As soon as he reached towards his backpack, he was stopped by Co Canh Xuyen.

"Uncle La, stop spoiling her."

"She just likes to act."

Old La's calloused hand paused on the backpack zipper. The fingers gently rubbed the top of the lock a few times and then quietly let it go. I gritted my teeth and said:

"Acute high altitude reactions can cause pulmonary edema, cerebral edema... which can be fatal."

"Pulmonary edema? Who are you scaring?"

Co Canh Xuyen stuffed my satellite phone into his backpack.

"Tham Van, you were never that weak before."

Duong Niem moved half a step behind him.

"Miss Van, I know you don't like me."

"But the principal said you have a lot of experience. I'm sure you can handle a small matter like this."

She hadn't finished her sentence before tears rolled down her eyes. Co Canh Xuyen immediately blocked her.

"Tham Van, don't look at her with those eyes."

"I gave the oxygen tank to Niem Niem."

"The helium gas was also replaced by myself."

"I just want to stir up the atmosphere a little, so you don't always act like a senior."

"Now Niem Niem is scared to tears by you. Are you satisfied?"