Chapter 5 — My Sister Stole My Fiancé

Minh Nha tried to conceal her calculating glances, alternating between her meal and covertly appraising Nien, who sat quietly beside me.

Nien, whatever possessed you to drop by unannounced today?

The chopsticks mid-motion, carefully picking a succulent piece of shrimp to place on my plate, froze instantly.

First of all, I must remind you that we are on no such familiar terms. Address me formally as Co Tan Nien, or simply Mr. Co.

Minh Nha’s face flushed a deep, mottled red, a bitter concoction of humiliation and simmering rage.

Secondly, my presence here today is for the sole purpose of formally discussing marriage proposals with Ha.

Marriage? What nonsense are you spouting!

From the entryway came the frantic, sharp clatter of expensive leather shoes against the marble floor. Heads snapped around in unison to find Chi Da standing there, his tailored suit impeccably fitted, though he had clearly rushed so hard he hadn't even bothered to remove his reading glasses. His dark gaze locked onto Nien with predatory intensity, every word dripping with ice:

Whose marriage are you here to discuss?

For the very first time since stepping foot inside the house, Nien offered a genuine, chilling smile. His articulation was so painfully crisp and deliberate it felt like listening to a high school standard pronunciation examination:

Your sister-in-law, Nguyen Ha.

That title—sister-in-law—deserved the highest possible grade for flawless delivery. Chi Da’s hands, dangling loosely by his sides, curled into fists so tight the bones cracked audibly. The two men locked eyes, neither willing to yield an inch, creating a suffocating, soundless battlefield choked with imaginary gunpowder.

Chi Da, why did you suddenly decide to come home for lunch today?

Minh Nha hastily recovered, hurrying over to tug his arm and guide him toward the remaining seat, directly opposite mine. She forced a bright, synthetic smile to smooth over the tension.

This is Tan... well, Co Tan Nien. We all grew up together as children; he even attended our wedding. Surely you haven't forgotten him, have you?

Pulled back to reality by the sound of her voice, Chi Da instantly morphed back into his usual polished, unflappable facade of gentle refinement.

Of course I remember. How could I possibly forget?

The second half of his sentence carried a distinct, venomous grinding of teeth. The memory of an old, brutal basketball match where both sides suffered catastrophic injuries flashed unbidden through my mind.

What I asked was, who exactly is he here to propose to?

Minh Nha’s smile faltered, turning agonizingly stiff as she discretely pinched the fabric of his sleeve.

Listen to yourself. There is only one unmarried person left in this household; surely you don't mean me?

Unable to bear the oppressive, toxic atmosphere suffocating the dining table any longer, I pushed my chair back and stood.

I am going to the kitchen to fetch the herbal medicine.

Hearing my words, Chi Da’s expression abruptly softened, a flicker of smug complacency crossing his features as he threw a provocative look at Nien. Nien’s face remained an unreadable mask of stoicism, but beneath the heavy wooden table, his expensive trousers were clenched so tightly in his fists that the fabric was ruined with deep wrinkles. When I emerged from the kitchen carrying the steaming bowl, two pairs of intense eyes instantly tracked my movement. I walked slowly back toward the dining table. Chi Da had already half-risen from his seat, his hand outstretched to take the tray from me. I pulled my hands back, neatly bypassing him to set the medicine squarely in front of Nien.

Stop staying up so late working. It destroys your stomach lining.

His gaze remained clear and frigid, yet as it met mine, it inexplicably ignited with a brilliant, shimmering warmth, resembling nothing so much as a massive, eager hound furiously wagging its tail. I quickly averted my eyes and slid into the seat directly beside him. It took me a long moment to remember there was another person sitting opposite us.

There is no need to trouble my brother-in-law. The bowl is scalding hot; placing the entire tray down for him is the most practical choice.

Stung sharply by my deliberate use of the title, he shot me a dark, fathomless look before slowly lowering himself back into his chair.

Ha, do you show this level of meticulous care and attention to every single person you are set up to meet?

The insinuation hanging heavy in his tone was unmistakable. I had no intention of letting Nien harbor any misunderstandings.

Brother-in-law, your memory fails you. This is my very first time going on a formal blind date.

The unspoken implication was clear: my attention belonged solely to Co Tan Nien. Perhaps once upon a time, the person holding my heart had been him, but reality had brutally proven that he was entirely unworthy. Silence fell heavily over the table after my declaration. Fortunately, my mother stepped in just in time to salvage the crumbling atmosphere.

Let us drop these unpleasant topics. Today is meant for the younger generation to get acquainted, so we should really defer to the wishes of the two principals involved.

At this cue, Nien straightened his posture, looking entirely serious and prepared.

Uncle, Aunt, I am twenty-eight years old this year. I have never been in a relationship, have no ambiguous entanglements, am exceptionally neat and orderly, and possess zero capacity for betrayal or playing games. My parents have a stable, loving marriage, and you are already well aware of our family background. As far as I am concerned, I am more than satisfied with this arrangement. The rest depends entirely on Ha's decision.

His speech was smooth and thorough, causing the expressions of the two people sitting opposite to cycle violently from pale green to deep crimson. My mother, however, was thoroughly enchanted, nodding along in absolute approval. In this singular moment, she miraculously transformed into a deeply considerate, loving mother acting entirely in my best interest.

We are well aware of your family's standing. But even if our household cannot quite match yours, marrying off our daughter does not mean we will allow her to suffer the slightest grievance.

Nien nodded solemnly.

Aunt, please rest assured. Before we even register our marriage, I will transfer fifteen percent of the shares in the Co Corporation directly to Ha. Additionally, there are three luxury villas in the capital—one in the bustling city center, one nestled in the scenic mountainside, and one overlooking the coastline.

Furthermore, it is a strict family tradition in our household to hand over my entire salary. In the catastrophic event of a divorce, one hundred percent of the post-marital assets and income will legally belong to Ha. Of course, I will ensure that a scenario like divorce never materializes.

The broader his promises grew, the wider my mother’s smile stretched, to the point where she was practically ready to finalize the wedding date on the spot. She turned her eager gaze toward me.

Xiao Ha, what are your thoughts on this?

I cast a sideways glance at Nien. Both of his large hands were resting flat against his thighs, nervously clenching and unclenching in a quiet display of agitation, looking utterly ill at ease. A faint smile touched my lips. Just as I parted them to speak, Chi Da abruptly cut in, his voice sharp:

Mother, such a monumental life decision cannot possibly be rushed and finalized over a single meal. We should take things slowly.

My mother froze, as though someone had rudely dashed a bucket of icy water over her head, and she offered a strained, awkward nod.

Quite right, quite right. I merely wished to gauge what sort of initial impression Xiao Ha has of Tan Nien.

Using my serving chopsticks, I carefully transferred a tender piece of fish onto Nien’s plate.

I have no objections whatsoever. We can take our time getting to know each other first and allow our affections to grow naturally.

A sharp, grating screech echoed through the quiet room as wooden chair legs violently scraped against the polished marble floor. Every head at the table jerked in unison toward the source of the sudden noise.