Over the following week, the project under Bach Lan's charge unexpectedly exploded. Revenue surged within just a few days, drawing admiring glances and praise from several senior executives. Thanks to that, she was officially transferred to the PR department, a position considered a significant step forward in her career.
Most importantly, the incident of "that evening when Trach Dong escorted her" was finally forgotten. Any lingering suspicious glances that once followed her had quietly vanished in the glow of her achievement. It was as if a new layer of light now covered her, erasing all previous doubts.
Late afternoon sunlight slanted through the office windows, casting warm, golden streaks across the floor. In the quiet of the space, Bach Lan had just finished signing the final report when a slim shadow suddenly fell across her desk.
"Guess who's here." – Hoang Phuong chimed, playfully holding up a delicate pink envelope.
Bach Lan narrowed her eyes, cautious: "Wait, aren't you still single? Sending out wedding invitations already?"
Hoang Phuong laughed, eyes twinkling: "Oh heavens, I don't have a boyfriend! This is from the director. He asked me to deliver it to YOU, personally."
"What!?" – Bach Lan's eyes widened in disbelief.
"One hundred percent true! Open it already!" – Hoang Phuong pressed closer, excitement radiating from her like she was watching a live drama unfold.
Bach Lan snatched the envelope, shoving it quickly into her drawer, and pushed her friend aside: "Focus on finishing your reports first. Deadline's tomorrow! If you don't get it done, you're marrying the computer instead."
"Ahhh, my life is so tragic." – Hoang Phuong whined, being mercilessly shoved back to her desk.
A few minutes later, Bach Lan peeked around cautiously. Once she was certain no one was watching, she timidly pulled the envelope out. Her heart hammered in her chest, each beat echoing like village drums announcing a wedding procession. Instinct whispered that this was definitely not a good sign.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to summon courage.
But when she finally pulled out the card, what she saw made her brain feel like it had been struck by lightning.
A party invitation!?
"Whatttt?!"
Before she could even gather her thoughts, Bach Lan bolted straight toward the CEO's office. She knocked once, didn't wait for a reply, and pushed the door open.
Trach Dong sat behind his desk, sunlight spilling across him, casting a long shadow on the floor. He didn't look up, but the corner of his mouth curved slightly.
"Received it already?"
Bach Lan held up the card, face a mix of confusion and tension: "What… what is this about?"
"Didn't you write clearly in your file: single?"
"I…"
"Or have you… gotten a boyfriend?"
"I… I still… haven't." – Bach Lan stammered, her words tripping over themselves.
"Then there's no reason to refuse."
His voice wasn't loud, yet the presence in the room pressed down on her like a heavy weight, making her feel as if she were sinking.
She swallowed dryly, forcing herself to stay calm: "Is this… mandatory?"
"It was your idea in last week's brainstorm. You suggested organizing an internal Valentine's connection event."
He lifted his gaze, voice slow but commanding: "So you absolutely have to attend."
Bach Lan was dumbstruck. Every possible escape had been blocked.
"If there's nothing else, leave the office."
She bowed her head and quietly turned to go. Her hand touched the doorknob.
"This afternoon. Four o'clock." – His voice came again from behind, a reminder impossible to ignore.
She paused, turned slightly, whispering: "Yes."
Click.
The door closed behind her, echoing like a verdict sealing the gates of destiny.
On the third-floor restroom, Bach Lan leaned over the sink, pressing her hands against the cool porcelain. Her head bowed, the dim yellow light stretching her shadow long across the floor. Her reflection in the mirror looked pale, drained of life. The white shirt was slightly wrinkled, the simple black skirt plain, her bare face without makeup.
"With a face like this, going to a single's party? A disaster!"
She muttered under her breath, but in that moment, Trach Dong's eyes flashed in her mind. Cold, deep, as if they had once looked at her from somewhere far away. Perhaps another life?
She paused, frozen for a beat, her hands clenching without realizing it.
Suddenly, a faint memory surfaced, hazy but unmistakable.
***
In the waning light behind the mountain ridge, she sat on a moss-covered rock, twirling a delicate white wildflower between her fingers. Behind her, familiar footsteps approached.
"Out here alone again." – A deep, warm voice carried through the quiet.
A young man in a pale blue robe walked slowly forward, carrying a paper bag.
Bach Lan turned her head slightly, a faint smile brushing her lips like a soft breeze.
"Just wanted a little peace."
He sat down beside her, silent for a few seconds before offering the bag:
"The pastries from yesterday, the ones you liked. I had to trade three silver coins for them."
She blinked in mild surprise, gently taking the bag.
"You're always like this… paying attention to even the smallest things."
"Not small if it's about you."
His voice was deep and sincere. Even the wind in the afternoon couldn't hide the tenderness in his gaze.
Bach Lan turned her face away, avoiding that look. She couldn't bear to meet it too long, afraid she might see something beyond the boundary of senior and junior disciple.
Yet she didn't realize that his eyes quietly followed every subtle expression, a nameless feeling that demanded nothing, only growing silently with each falling flower.
A spring breeze drifted through, carrying the white wildflower gently down to the stream below. Bach Lan blinked, the scent of the pastries lingering in her memory. She smiled softly, warmth and familiarity spreading through her chest.
Meanwhile, atop the high roof of the building across the way,
The wind whipped through, tossing the long black cloak of a figure standing motionless at the edge of the roof. The Celestial General, eyes cold as ice, tracked the third-floor window through a telescope. The place Bach Lan had just left, her face still pale as though freshly judged.
Beside him, a sensor device glowed, and a mechanical voice reported coldly:
"Target: Bach Lan – entity: Fox Spirit. Recall rate: 12%.
Trach Hien – soul match: 96%, no signs of awakening.
Dong Ha – gray wolf trace confirmed, position unclear."
The Celestial General closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, the golden-green iris flashing a sharp, cutting light.
"If Bach Lan recalls everything, the entire situation will shift."
Behind him, a figure in black appeared, kneeling on one knee:
"My lord, shall we act immediately?"
The Celestial General's voice was calm, measured:
"Not yet. If Trach Hien does not awaken, if she does not touch the Heart Seal fragment, fate can unfold as naturally as possible."
"Should we eliminate them then?"
"No. We cannot interfere with human lives." – He lifted the corner of his mouth, his gaze like a drawn sword. – "We only need to reinforce the seal."
A strong gust of wind tore across the rooftop, sending broken tiles rattling down the dark alley below. The Celestial General turned, his cloak merging into the night.
"Our mission is to ensure nothing interferes with the destiny already laid out."
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