A sudden beam of sunlight pierced through her eyelids, furrow her brow as a dull ache spread across her temples. She turned away to escape the intrusive glare, pulling the blanket over her head in a desperate attempt to cling to the fading warmth of sleep. But it was all in vain.

Sunbeams snaked through the gaps in the window, falling directly across her bed, as if mocking her stubbornness. Finally, Huệ Tây could only sigh, sitting up in irritation.

It was, as always, a familiar tactic of Thu Huệ, her "beloved" older sister. She always had a way of ensuring her younger sister couldn't lounge in bed for a minute longer. Admittedly, effective as it was, it certainly wasn't pleasant. And Huệ Tây's morning grumpiness never seemed to subside.

Her family lived in a spacious three—story house in the heart of bustling Saigon. There were three bedrooms: the first belonged to her parents; the second was shared by her older brother, Cao Luân, and his best friend, Duy Anh. Though not related by blood, Duy Anh had been welcomed into their home two years ago to live with them while he studied in the city. The final room was shared by her and Thu Huệ.

Despite her parents' generosity in taking him in, Huệ Tây had never felt comfortable with Duy Anh’s presence. Though he had never done anything to offend her, his mere presence somehow irritated her. 

Huệ Tây rubbed her eyes, whining in a drawn—out tone, “Sister, please, just five more minutes…”

A warm, unexpectedly gentle voice suddenly replied, “Wake up, Huệ Tây. It’s six o’clock.”

She froze. That wasn't Thu Huệ's voice, nor was it Cao Luân's. She recognized the voice instantly.

Duy Anh.

Her heart skipped a beat. She curled up tighter in her blanket, her voice sharp with a mix of irritability and embarrassment, “Why are you in my room? Just leave. I'll get up!”

“Your sister asked me to. She said I wasn't allowed to leave until you got out of bed.”

Huệ Tây stiffened, her face flushing deep red. She hated it when people entered her room unannounced, especially in the morning when she wasn't dressed for company. If it had been Thu Huệ, it wouldn't have been a problem, but with Duy Anh standing there? How was she supposed to get out of bed now? 

“J-Just go outside first! If I'm not out in five minutes, then come back.” Her voice trailed off, struggling to remain calm, yet failing to hide how flustered she was. 

Without another word, he left. The sound of his fading footsteps, followed by the click of the door closing, made her let out a sigh of relief.

The moment the door closed, she sprang from the bed and hastily got dressed. Her gaze landed on her bra carelessly draped over a chair, and her face burned even hotter. Had he noticed it? The thought made her wish she could crawl back under the blanket and never come out. 

“How on earth am I supposed to face him now?”

Stepping out of the room, Huệ Tây saw Duy Anh leaning against the hallway railing, his gaze fixed on something in the distance. Seeing her, he didn't say a word, simply turning to head down the stairs. He acted as though nothing had happened, which only made her feel even more embarrassed. 

Huệ Tây bit her lip and followed behind him.

After finishing her morning routine, Huệ Tây asked her sister for breakfast money, hopped on her bike, and sped off toward Mỹ Dung's house, her childhood best friend.

She had spent the entire past week preparing for an artificial intelligence competition, so she hadn't seen Mỹ Dung at all. Today, she was eager to catch up.

Upon arriving, Huệ Tây rang the doorbell, expecting her friend to answer the door with her usual enthusiasm. But this time, the person who opened the door was not her friend…

Standing before her was a tall, unfamiliar man.

He wore a tank top that exposed both arms, where dark, intricate tattoos twisted across his skin like coiled serpents. There was nothing particularly frightening about his appearance, yet something about his cold gaze made her uneasy. 

Huệ Tây instinctively took a step back, swallowing hard. “Who are you…?” she asked, her voice faltering. 

The words had barely left her lips before she regretted them. The man before her could simply be a guest. Or worse, he could be Đức Anh—the older brother her friend had always spoken of in such glowing terms.

Trying to regain her composure, Huệ Tây softened her voice: “Excuse me, sir. I'm looking for my friend, Mỹ Dung.”

The man looked momentarily blank, his eyes clouded with confusion. After a brief pause, he replied: “Are you looking for the previous tenants? They’ve moved out. I only rented this place a few days ago.”

“Oh...”

For a moment, she could only stand there in stunned silence.

Just last week, she was still here. How could they have moved out so suddenly? Why didn’t she say anything? If something had happened, she should have at least sent word. Was Dung trying to cut ties with me?

No, that’s impossible. Dung would never do that… but I’ve checked my phone, messages, and social media every day, andI haven't heard from her. What could have happened to her family that forced them to leave so abruptly?

“Do you happen to know where they moved?” Huệ Tây blurted out.

The moment the question left her lips, she regretted it. Why would he know something like that? Her shoulders slumped as she turned to leave.

“I do,” the man replied, his voice flat, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. “Near Harley Fox High School. There's a coffee shop called The Dream in the alley next to it. Their house is right next to it. You'll recognize it immediately—it's the one with the glass-walled top floor. I’ve been there a few times for work.”

Relieved, Huệ Tây quickly thanked him. Despite his intimidating appearance, he had been surprisingly helpful. Without wasting another second, she hopped onto her bike and sped off toward the address he had provided.

The moment she arrived, Huệ Tây froze at the sight of the massive villa. Its sleek, modern design was a far cry from the cramped house Mỹ Dung had lived in only a week ago. She stood rooted to the spot, staring at it in disbelief. 

How could someone move from a place like that to somewhere like this so suddenly?

After a moment of hesitation, Huệ Tây decided against ringing the doorbell. Maybe she had the wrong address after all. Turning her bike around, she prepared to leave.

The front door opened.

Startled, she spun around.

A young man stood in the doorway.

One glance was enough for Huệ Tây to recognize him. This had to be Đức Anh, the older brother Mỹ Dung talked about so often. Yet the person before her looked nothing like the image she had built in her mind.

From the way Dung described him, she had expected someone gentle and approachable, the kind of boy who seemed to belong in a romance novel. Instead, the man standing before her carried himself with a quiet intensity that made him feel distant and difficult to approach.

Huệ Tây stood frozen. No wonder Mỹ Dung never stopped talking about her brother.

His sharp features, cool gaze, and effortless presence made him stand out immediately. The loose curls framing his face did little to soften the distance in his expression. For a split second, Huệ Tây forgot why she had come. He looked unreal, like a character pulled straight from the pages of a comic book.

To her horror, Huệ Tây’s heart began to race, but her rational mind immediately sounded the alarm. “Don't fall for a pretty face. Absolutely not.” She clenched her fists, struggling to maintain her composure.

Đức Anh frowned slightly, his cold gaze sweeping over her. She had no idea what he was thinking, but merely standing in his presence made her feel strangely pressured. Panicking, Huệ Tây immediately turned away, determined to pretend she had come to the wrong address.

“Forget it. I’m not going with her today. I’ll just grab breakfast and head to school early,” Huệ Tây thought, trying to suppress the growing confusion in her chest.

Before she could leave, a deep voice carrying a distinct Northern accent called out from behind her.

“Huệ Tây! Come on in.”

The words drifted past her ears like a cool breeze. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. It wasn't just his appearance. There was something strangely captivating about his voice, making it difficult to decide whether to leave or turn around.

“Aaaaaaaa!”

A shrill squeal shattered her thoughts.

Turning around, she saw Mỹ Dung sprinting toward her at full speed. Without slowing down, Dung threw her arms around her, nearly knocking Huệ Tây off balance. Fortunately, a steady hand caught her wrist before she could stumble.

Mỹ Dung was tiny, barely 1.50 meters tall, while Huệ Tây stood at 1.68. She was used to supporting her friend whenever she launched herself into one of these enthusiastic hugs.

Even so, Huệ Tây couldn't help complaining.

“Get down. You're heavy!”

Dung grinned but obediently let go. She immediately grabbed Huệ Tây's hand and began pulling her toward the house.

As they passed Đức Anh, Huệ Tây caught a glimpse of the corners of his lips lifting ever so slightly.

The smile vanished almost as quickly as it appeared, yet it still made her heart flutter. 

What unsettled her even more was the strange sense of familiarity that followed. She couldn't explain it. Perhaps it was his scent. Perhaps it was the calmness in his gaze.

Whatever it was, the feeling lingered, leaving her oddly unsettled.