Chapter 3: A Fragile Line

Over the next three weeks, Diệu My and Thành Đạt had to meet more often to make the “contract” convincing: dinners with both families, appearances at social events, even planning a weekend trip at Mrs. Ngọc Lan’s request.

On that beach trip, a sudden downpour forced them to shelter under the awning of a small roadside café. The yellow light fell on Diệu My’s rain-soaked face, her hair plastered to her cheeks. She looked flustered and strangely adorable.

“What are you smiling at?” Diệu My asked when she caught Đạt staring at her.

“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head, his voice dropping low. “You just look completely different from the sharp Diệu My I see at work.”

The air between them suddenly changed. Something tense and sweet crept into every moment of silence. Diệu My realized her heart was beating faster than usual, and the feeling scared her.

“We had a deal,” she said first, trying to regain her composure. “No real feelings.”

“I know,” Đạt replied, his eyes unusually serious. “But what if real feelings already got involved at some point? What then?”

Diệu My was struck silent. She didn’t dare meet his eyes. She just turned away and pretended to watch the rain as it slowly let up. But inside her, a new feeling, thrilling and terrifying at once, had begun to take root, and she could no longer deny it.