On the other side of the restaurant, the atmosphere at the table where Hương Chà and the man across from her sat was entirely different. A palpable tension seemed to hang over them. The man, mature in appearance, dressed impeccably in a suit, had eyes that revealed a mix of concern and worry.

"Hương Chà, can you stop pursuing a singing career? Come back to Định Tường with me," he said, his tone persuasive yet firm.

Hương Chà gently placed her wine glass on the table. Her eyes, sharp and enigmatic, exuded a hint of mystique as she looked directly at the man across from her.

"Second Master Đức Thái, what will happen will happen. Trying to prevent it won't change a thing. Why are you so insistent on me returning to Định Tường?"

The man was none other than Nguyễn Đức Thái-a high-ranking official in Định Tường, and someone her family had arranged for her to marry long ago. He had loved Hương Chà since high school, but his feelings were never reciprocated. Despite her constant rejections, he never stopped pursuing her, undeterred by time or circumstances.

"I'm worried about you. Don't you remember the time you were nearly assaulted and ended up with a broken arm?" Đức Thái said, his voice stern yet laced with genuine concern.

Hương Chà smirked faintly, her smile carrying both pride and defiance.

"That was a long time ago, back when I had just entered the industry. When a star shines too brightly, everyone wants to pull it down, don't they?"

"But... Hương Chà, I just want you to be safe..." Đức Thái implored, his voice filled with desperation.

Cutting him off, her tone turned cold, though her pride remained undiminished:

"No more buts. If you mention this again the next time we meet, don't expect to see me again."

Nguyễn Đức Thái sighed softly, his gaze softening as he looked at her, as if trying to etch her image into his memory.

"Alright, alright, I won't bring it up again. I'll wait for you," he said, his voice warm yet resigned. His eyes held a quiet sadness.

Hương Chà took a sip of tea, her gaze enigmatic but detached, exuding her characteristic aloofness. She spoke again, her voice light yet cutting:

"Second Master Đức Thái, you already know... my feelings are not with you. I see myself more as your younger sister than someone who could share a bed with you."

His eyes flickered briefly at her words, but he maintained his composure. He let out a faint, bitter laugh, his eyes reflecting silent pain.

"I understand. Feelings can't be forced." He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing:"But when you've spent so much time with a car, invested so much love in it, even if it breaks down a hundred times, you'd still be willing to repair it."

Hương Chà smirked, a fleeting smile that was both dismissive and sympathetic. Tilting her head, her enigmatic eyes locked onto his, her lashes fluttering as she delivered a challenging yet wistful response:

"Hugging a cactus doesn't hurt, does it, Second Master Đức Thái?"

He met her gaze without hesitation, replying in a calm yet deeply pained voice:

"Even blood can nourish a cactus. It doesn't hurt."

His words caused her to pause momentarily. She looked at him, her eyes briefly betraying a flicker of uncertainty before quickly returning to their usual coldness. Letting out a soft sigh, she responded:

"You're truly..."

Before she could finish, Đức Thái interrupted, his tone steady but laden with sincerity:

"Because my heart is with you. No matter what happens, it can't be moved."

She remained silent, her gaze turning introspective as though deep in thought. After a moment, she closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, as if brushing away whatever emotions had surfaced.

Standing up, her voice was calm but distant:

"Then wait if you must, but don't wait too long. I'm afraid your cactus won't have the strength to endure more blood."

With that, Hương Chà turned and walked away, her graceful figure tinged with an inexplicable sadness. Đức Thái remained seated, his eyes following her until she disappeared from sight, like a man willing to endure any pain just to be near her for a little while longer.

Nguyễn Đức Thái, now 25 years old, was a young, handsome, and highly educated man. As a high-ranking official in Định Tường, he had quickly become the ideal son-in-law for many prestigious families in the region. However, his heart had long been set on one person-Âu Hương Chà, the girl he had fallen for at first sight.

At 17, Hương Chà had quietly left her hometown for Sài Gòn to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. Her beauty was like an ink wash painting-aloof, gentle, yet full of pride-instantly captivating his heart. Yet the distance between them always lingered, as she had never returned his feelings.

Their families had been close friends for generations. Out of this bond, her father and his had arranged for them to marry since they were young. Đức Thái cherished this arrangement, not merely out of familial duty, but because of his deep and unwavering love for her.

Despite his busy work schedule in Định Tường, he frequently found excuses to visit Sài Gòn, just to see her. Four years had passed since she had left home, and Đức Thái's dedication to these visits remained unshaken-a ritual he could not abandon.

As the daughter of a powerful provincial governor, Hương Chà had grown up in a strict and distinguished household. Đức Thái knew she was not only the woman he loved but also the pride of her family. His affection for her was not driven solely by familial arrangements but by his profound admiration for her strength, resilience, and independence.

Yet, his love for her was anything but simple. While her family adored him, her heart remained elsewhere-a place he could never reach. Even so, he willingly waited and loved her as though it were a destiny he could never escape.

The contract signing concluded smoothly and swiftly. Though her work was done, Thái Yên Pha didn't rush to leave. She remained seated, poised and elegant, a glass of red wine in her hand. She sipped slowly, her gaze fixed on a corner of the table where Âu Hương Chà sat.

From her vantage point, Yên Pha could see the entire exchange between Hương Chà and the man sitting across from her. She couldn't hear their words, but Hương Chà's expressions and gestures spoke volumes-she was clearly uninterested in him.

When she saw Hương Chà rise to leave, followed by Lý Anna, Yên Pha turned her head slightly and gestured to Trí Tuấn.

"Settle the bill, and then we'll go," she said, her voice soft as a breeze yet imbued with quiet authority.

Outside, her luxurious car was already waiting at the restaurant entrance. Just as she approached the car door, a black vehicle glided past. Her eyes briefly caught a glimpse through the window, and in that fleeting moment, her gaze locked with Hương Chà's.

Those amber eyes, seemingly containing an entire galaxy, glimmered with an enchanting, mysterious beauty. In that brief instant, everything else seemed to fade away, leaving only that gaze-profound and captivating beyond measure.

Yên Pha paused briefly, a faint smile curling on her lips, though a wistful feeling stirred within her. "So beautiful..." she murmured, her eyes following the car as it disappeared into the distance.

Once inside her own car, she leaned back against the seat, her eyes gazing out the window, but the image lingered in her mind. Somehow, amidst the ceaseless hustle of life, that figure had become a radiant point of light, drawing Yên Pha in as if the entire world had stopped for her.

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"Believe in yourself - one day, even the cactus will bloom" - Hy