Chapter 3 — Predetermined Fate

Lam Thanh Thanh immediately turned on big sister mode, one hand around my neck, one hand on my hip, chin raised like a fighting rooster.

"Wow~ isn't this the top celebrity of Tan Hang? Isn't it me who said, is it because the pretty girl isn't attractive enough or the game isn't fun enough that you keep following my So Di all day? Are you the mother of the world?"

“… I beg you, keep your mouth shut and eat.” I raised my hand to cover his mouth, but she pushed him away.

“Hey, what are you afraid of? Let me correct him.”

Lam Thanh Thanh put one foot on the chair, like a socialite sister, tapping her fingers on the table with enthusiasm.

"Tan Hang, as a human being you have to know moderation. Don't think that you are handsome, study well, the suitors from the West gate line up to the East gate, that you can do whatever you want!"

"Our So Di is a good girl, not for you to bully!"

"So Di, I'm here to protect you!"

Save my life, someone take this idiot away for me. I desperately pinched her waist, causing her to let out a pitiful cry. But in this situation, Tan Hang still maintained his demeanor. He wasn't angry, he just kept his eyes on the hand around my neck for a few seconds, then without saying anything, picked up the tray and left. … Done, again in vain. It's not enough to chase away. I angrily picked up the chicken thigh from Lam Thanh Thanh's bowl and glared at her with eyes as sharp as knives.

“Stop eating, lose weight!”

11

Really sad. Why is it so difficult to apologize properly in front of people? I sighed for the eighteenth time that day, took out my phone and opened the chat box with Tan Hang. [That... don't take Lam Thanh Thanh's words to heart, she's just talking nonsense.] [I apologize on her behalf, don't take it to heart.] I stared at the screen. Two minutes passed. …Very good, still no reply. I sighed, locked the screen, resignedly bowed my head and continued eating. The next three days, I became more and more active in blocking his path. God did not disappoint, and finally let me meet him on a deserted road. Just as he was about to run back, he suddenly saw Giang Hieu happily running in front of Tan Hang from the other side, smiling brightly like a blooming flower. My steps stopped. She leaned over, excitedly said something, then took out a carefully wrapped gift box from behind her back and gave it to him. … gift? No matter how you look at it, the two of them are very close. Isn't that right... Didn't Qin Heng already reject her? I unconsciously dug my nails into my index finger, my eyes locked on him. But in the next second, I saw him reaching out to receive the gift box, I could see the respect and anticipation from his back, and finally nodded lightly to Giang Hieu. It looks like any couple who has just confirmed their relationship and rushes to give them gifts to show their affection. My chest suddenly tightened, feeling heavy as if someone had punched me really hard. Are they in love? So Tan Hang has been avoiding me these past few days because he's afraid I'll bother his date? But clearly I was the one— He suddenly turned his head. I reflexively didn't want him to see me, so I quickly turned onto the side street and quickly left. After walking a bit, I stopped, leaned against the cold wall behind me, and bowed my head. Suddenly I feel like an idiot. A joke. It's so annoying I can die. What the hell am I doing anyway? Thinking Thinking about finding a way to relieve this mood in the ditch, the phone suddenly rang.

“… hello?”

"huhuhu I failed to confess again, why are there so many ungrateful guys in this world! I hate it so much! hiccup— Is there something wrong with me? Aren't I just a little fat? Is 60 kilos worth being criticized for? Maybe after losing weight I won't become Dat Ky?! I—"

“Lam Thanh Thanh.” I interrupted the crying and resentment on the other side and stood up straight.

“Where are you drinking, send me the address.”

12

“Scum! Phew! He really isn't human!”

"Before, there was this good baby, sticking to me, kissing and cuddling, but now after eating half of it, he doesn't want to take responsibility, turning around and getting intimate with someone else! Haha, I was really blind before, I didn't see that he was this good! I'm still like an idiot being spun around by him!"

“The heart of a dog and the liver of a wolf, seeing new makes old!”

“You bastard, burp, you real bastard!”

I slammed the table hard, the empty bottles rolled around, then grabbed the half-empty beer can and poured it straight into my mouth.

“Okay, okay, what an unmatched scum…”

Lam Thanh Thanh snatched the beer bottle from my hand, kicking the spilled bottles at my feet.

“My ancestors, I beg you, if I drink any more, I will have to go and collect your body!”

He caught my body as I was tilting. I was about to reach out to get the beer back, but there was a mountain in front of me blocking it.

"I've given up! Didn't you ask me out for a drink to comfort you? Why am I the one comforting you now?"

"But ancestor, when did you fall in love without me knowing? Who the hell dares to play with your feelings like that? Do I know you?"

I'm frustrated, why is this mountain so talkative?

“Get out of the way, don't block my beer—”

"No! If you drink any more, I'll have to drag you to the emergency room!"

"I'll take you home... wait, let me answer the phone. Hello? Yes, I'm in the dormitory. Right now? Okay, okay, wait a minute, I'll be right over! ... I'm sorry, the instructor called me, I'll fail my thesis in eight parts!"

Lam Thanh Thanh scratched his head in panic.

"So Di, do you know anyone else? Let me call someone to pick you up."

Being shaken back and forth by him, I pushed him away uncomfortably and vaguely blurted out a name. The whole space was silent. Lam Thanh Thanh was stunned for a moment, her voice slightly hesitant.

“… Are you sure? Is there no one else?”

"I can still drink! Beer!"

I jumped up to look for another can of beer, but was forced to sit back down again.

"Okay okay, I called him to come pick you up. But don't blame me if you get thrown in the middle of the road, you called him by name!"

13

I feel like I'm sometimes very awake, other times like I just fell asleep. When I opened my eyes again, the mountain from before had disappeared, and in front of me was a tall and thin person. I narrowed my eyes. Oh, this is scum. Tan Hang squatted down and gently stroked the stray hairs on my forehead.

“Why are you drinking so much? Your stomach will hurt when you wake up tomorrow.”

I angrily pushed his hand away and began to explode with accusations.

"You scum! Don't touch me!"

"Aren't you on a date? Why did you come find me?"

"You bastard! If you don't want to take responsibility, don't kiss me! I lost my first kiss, how are you going to make up for it?!"

The person in front suddenly became silent. His whole body turned dark. Tan Hang suddenly lifted my chin, forcing me to look straight at him.

“So Di, who am I?”

Sick? I pulled away and glared at him.

"Tan Hang, who is it?"

He paused, then slowly relaxed, sighing helplessly.

"Why did you suddenly ask me to go on a date? Also, when did I kiss you?"

Hearing him ask that, my mind suddenly became clear. Oh that's right, the person who kissed me was Tan Hang from 6 years later. The current version of him never really did that. I snorted, my courage grew, grabbed his collar, and pulled him close. Tan Hang opened his eyes wide, his pupils slightly constricted. I leaned up, bit his lip for a while, then forcefully pushed him away.

“Now it's time to kiss.”

Tan Hang was pushed backwards by me, his hands on the ground, looking extremely bewildered. Hahaha, you're scared stupid, right? I crawled closer, intending to open my mouth to curse again, but the scene before my eyes suddenly changed. Tan Hang suddenly turned over and pinned me down, one hand holding my shoulder tightly, the other hand locking my shaking arm. Then he leaned down and kissed her passionately. The air was drained from my lungs, blood rushed to my ears, the pounding echoed throughout my head. I wanted to run, but my body felt so weak that I had no strength left, and I couldn't escape at all. During the intense, hot and urgent kiss, I was so drunk that I fell into darkness.

14

The next morning, I was woken up by the sound of running water. Opening my eyes, I discovered I was lying on a large hotel bed. There was a clear dent on the side. I raised my hand to touch it and there was still some warmth. …What is this? I sat up, looked around, and discovered that yesterday's clothes were all thrown on the floor, and I was wearing a baggy t-shirt that clearly wasn't mine but looked familiar. Who took me to the hotel? Or have I been picked up by someone?! I quickly lifted the blanket to check. Luckily, my underwear was still on, and other than the headache caused by being drunk, there were no signs of anything unusual. While thinking, the sound of water suddenly stopped. I turned my head and just happened to see Tan Hang walking out of the bathroom.

“… Why are you here?”

Tan Hang casually wiped his hair. The simple white t-shirt on his body still had its tag intact, obviously newly purchased. He threw the towel back into the bathroom, folded his arms and leaned against the wall, calmly looking at me.

“Don't drink so much in front of others in the future. Your alcohol consumption is really bad.”

"What? Who's a bad drinker? I—"

I was about to turn it back on strongly when a series of fragmentary memories from last night suddenly flooded back. Dragging Tan Hang in for a kiss right in the KTV. In the middle of the street there was a riot and they wanted to rent a room. When the alcohol made him uncomfortable, he grabbed him tightly and forced him to undress. When she gets into bed, she refuses to settle down, clings like an octopus, hugs, kisses, touches, and rubs back and forth. And after that... after that I can't remember anymore. It's over, I've lost all face. I was frozen on the bed like I had seen a ghost. I couldn't say a word the whole time. Tan Hang walked to the table, took out a new set of simple pajamas from his bag and gave it to me.

"I ordered porridge, it'll be here in ten minutes. Are you dizzy? Do you want to go wash your face first?"

“Ah? Uh… Uh.”

I dully received the clothes, obediently like a puppy and dragged myself to the bathroom.

15

The hot water just poured down, my mind was completely awake. I quickly showered, for the second time Ten cursed himself. How can a human being cause such a big disaster?! After a while of struggling mentally, I turned off the shower, put on my clothes, and anxiously went out. Tan Hang had already laid out breakfast on the table, peeled an egg, put it in a small bowl and pushed it in front of me.

"Are you done washing your face? Let's have breakfast."

“Ah… Um.”

I bowed my head to eat but felt confused, swallowing without knowing what I was swallowing. After just eating a few bites, I no longer had any cravings. Seeing me stop, Tan Hang glanced at the bowl of porridge, then asked:

“Don't eat anymore?”

“Um… I'm full.”

“Okay.”

He stood up, walked to the edge of the bed, and patted the spot next to him.

“Come here, let's talk a little.”

It's done, it's time to be dealt with. I trudged slowly like a turtle, finally crawling in front of him, placing my hands neatly on my thighs, sitting as respectfully as possible.

“Why did you drink so much last night?”

Isn't it because you had an affair? I pouted and said nothing.

“Say it.”

…

“Not in a good mood.”

“Why are you in a bad mood?”

Are you a book of 100,000 why questions? Should I say directly that I saw you with Giang Hieu and felt jealous? Just thinking about it, the anger in my heart flared up again, I angrily turned my head and didn't even look at him.

“I thought I saw you at school last night. Are you upset because you saw me with someone else?”

“So why do you care?”

That's enough! Little by little, Tan Hang turned my face around and stared at me with serious eyes.

“So Di, why did you kiss me?”

Aaaaa, it's so annoying! I pushed his hand away, exploded, screaming desperately.

“Because I like you, is that okay?!”

After saying that, I threw myself into bed, burying my face in the pillow. I've lost so much face. Don't want to live anymore. Please aliens destroy the Earth immediately. After a moment of silence, a soft laugh suddenly rang out from behind. Tan Hang pulled me - who had just died from confession - out of the blanket, gently hugged me, his voice was slow, low and gentle.

“Well, I like you too. From now on I'm yours.”

I blinked, my eyes wide open in bewilderment. …What did he just say? He likes me?!