All day, Bach Lan felt as if her spirit had drifted away from her body. No matter how hard she tried, she could not focus on work. Every word on the screen seemed to dance and jumble before her eyes, making her frown and tug at her hair in frustration. The office was quiet, tense in a way that pressed down on her chest, broken only by the clatter of keys and the steady hum of the printer.
"Miss, are you finished with your work yet?"
Bach Lan jumped, turning to see Hoan standing quietly behind her. His voice was gentle, yet carried a patient firmness, as if he had been waiting a long time.
"I… not yet." – She admitted.
He offered a polite smile: "It's okay, take your time."
Then he quietly stepped aside, standing patiently without showing the slightest hint of impatience.
She stared at him for a moment before returning her gaze to the screen. Her eyes rested on the blinking cursor, and she whispered almost to herself: "Can I… not go?"
Without hesitation, he replied firmly: "No."
Seeing the flicker of panic in her eyes, he gave a reassuring smile: "Don't worry, everything has already been arranged perfectly."
Then he bowed slightly and stepped out, as if his task had been completed.
A little while later,
"Hello."
"Young master, Miss Bach seems… unwilling to go with you."
A cold, low voice came from the other end of the line: "Take action."
Just minutes later, three men in black suits appeared in front of her desk, bowing politely in unison: "Our apologies."
Before Bach Lan could even process what was happening, her body was lifted off the ground. Her mouth was tightly covered, and her small frame thrashed in desperation.
"Mm… mm…"
A strong scent of anesthetic hit her nose, making her head spin. The last thing her eyes caught before consciousness slipped into darkness was Hoan rushing forward, panic etched across his face: "Be gentle… just gentle!"
***
In the haze of chaos,
"Bach Nhi, come here!"
A familiar voice rang out through the wind-swept forest. In the form of a white fox, she darted through the treetops, her paws barely making a sound on the grass.
"Bang!"
A trap suddenly fell from above.
She panicked, closing her eyes, her small body trembling as if bracing for the end. But at that very moment, a strong pair of arms caught her, lifting her out of danger. The figure wore a black cloak; shoulders streaked with blood from a hidden blade.
"Bang!"
The trap slammed into the ground just inches away.
He landed gently, blood still trickling, yet his eyes were soft as they met hers:
"Bach Nhi, are you okay?"
She blinked in shock, then burrowed into his chest like a frightened little creature. He held her close, stroking her white fur lightly:
"I'm fine. It's my fault. I shouldn't have brought you into a dangerous place like the mortal world."
She didn't reply, only quietly licked the wound on his shoulder, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Humans are dangerous. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."
The wind screamed across the darkened sky, yet in his embrace, she felt warmth and safety.
Suddenly, his expression shifted. The gentleness in his gaze turned dark, deep as an abyss.
"Bach Nhi." – He growled, voice hoarse. – "Your life belongs to me. No one is allowed to harm you, not even… yourself."
His hand suddenly gripped her neck. She panicked, struggling, feeling as if invisible chains bound her tight.
***
Bang!
The car door slammed shut, jolting Bach Lan awake. She gasped, clutching at her chest, heart racing chaotically. The sunset outside the window cast a warm glow across her pale, sweat-drenched face.
Trach Dong sat opposite her, his expression unreadable, one arm casually draped over the chair. He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes:
"You sleep quite violently. Were you dreaming of another man?"
She bit her lip and lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes. The lingering scent of sedatives still tickled her nose. That dream felt like a fragment of a memory long buried, now stirring awake.
Whack!
"Ow!"
Bach Lan jumped up in shock. In front of her, two young women were busily smearing some sticky substance over her legs, completely ignoring her protests.
"Where… where am I?" – she stammered, eyes darting around warily.
No one answered. The actions continued with alarming precision, punctuated by sharp slapping sounds.
"AAAA!!!"
Her scream echoed through the room. In the next room, Trach Dong nearly dropped his vest. He raised an eyebrow, rubbing his chin, smiling faintly as if watching a particularly entertaining play.
After the thorough "makeover" from head to toe, Bach Lan was dressed in a pristine white evening gown, sparkling with beads. Her hair was softly curled and pinned up, and her fair skin glowed under delicate makeup. She stood before the mirror, stunned. Who would have thought that after being kidnapped, drugged, having her legs waxed, and forced to dress up, she could look like a fairy-tale princess?
From behind, Trach Dong stepped closer. His eyes flickered, catching her reflection in the mirror.
For a moment, his gaze softened. But in the blink of an eye, he returned to his usual cold demeanor, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips:
"Who would have thought a duck could turn into a swan."
"You…" – Bach Lan spun around, about to protest, but the depth in his eyes made her words catch in her throat.
He didn't reply, simply gesturing to Hoan:
"Take the car. We're late."
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