Chapter 4: Tempestuous Hearts

A veil of twilight silently descended upon the city, as a gentle breeze carried the faint fragrance of blossoms, mingling with the distant hum of traffic, creating a symphony of tranquility that belied an undercurrent of unease.

At a rooftop café, perched atop a towering building, Minh Hoang sat quietly by the window, gazing down at the throngs of people below. He had spent a pleasant evening with Duat Van and Ngoc Han, yet a lingering sense of unrest lingered within him. The image of Thanh Khai haunted his thoughts, like a beautiful dream just beyond his grasp.

Ngoc Han, resting her chin on her hand, observed Minh Hoang with a teasing glint in her eyes.

"Who are you thinking about? Let me guess, none other than our ice prince – Thanh Khai?"

Minh Hoang startled, hastily shaking his head, his cheeks betraying him with a subtle blush. "No… I was just thinking about random things."

Duat Van chuckled softly, swirling the coffee in his cup. "You can't fool anyone, Minh Hoang. Your feelings for Thanh Khai are so obvious, even a blind man could see them."

Minh Hoang lowered his gaze, his hand unconsciously tightening around the silver spoon. He was well aware of his emotions, but lacked the courage to confront them. Despite his attempts to appear composed, his heart constantly betrayed him.

Just then, a deep, yet chillingly calm voice echoed from behind.

"Is that so? I wasn't aware that I was so memorable, Minh Hoang."

Minh Hoang froze, his heart seemingly skipping a beat. He turned his head, and before him stood Thanh Khai, his eyes sharp yet laced with a hint of amusement.

He was at a loss for words, able only to stare at the man before him.

Ngoc Han and Duat Van exchanged glances, their lips curving into subtle smiles, as if they had just ignited an intriguing game.

Duat Van leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his eyes filled with hidden meaning as he observed Thanh Khai. "Oh, finally, the main character has arrived. Your timing is impeccable; we were just talking about you."

Thanh Khai paid no mind to Duat Van's teasing, his gaze fixed solely on Minh Hoang, making him feel as though he had been encased in ice.

"You… what are you doing here?" Minh Hoang stammered.

Thanh Khai's lips curled into a slight smirk as he pulled out a chair and sat down opposite him, his movements refined yet exuding an invisible pressure. "I just happened to be passing by. But… I must say, I didn't expect you to miss me so much."

Minh Hoang felt his ears burn, and he hurriedly waved his hands in denial. "No! It's not like that!"

Ngoc Han giggled. "Heavens, Minh Hoang, your reaction is too suspicious."

Duat Van took a sip of his coffee, his eyes gleaming with interest as he watched the two men before him. "Let me be frank, if you don't acknowledge your feelings, you might miss your chance with Khai, Minh Hoang."

Minh Hoang's body stiffened, his eyes wavering visibly. "I…"

But before he could finish his sentence, Thanh Khai unexpectedly rose to his feet, approached Minh Hoang, and leaned down to whisper in his ear.

"If you truly like me, then prove it," he murmured, his voice like a chilling breeze yet carrying an irresistible allure.

Minh Hoang felt as though all the blood in his body had rushed to his face, his heart pounding like a drum. "I… how do I prove it?"

Thanh Khai tilted his head slightly, a faint smile gracing his lips. "Don't keep hiding. I have no patience for cowards."

Minh Hoang's eyes widened, his entire body frozen. He didn't know what to do at this moment, able only to stare into Thanh Khai's deep, unfathomable eyes. Within those eyes, he didn't detect mockery or coldness, but something much deeper – a sense of anticipation.

He clenched his fists, taking a deep breath. If this was the moment of truth, he wouldn't allow himself to have any regrets.

"Thanh Khai, I really…"

But at that very instant, a phone rang, shattering the tense atmosphere.

Duat Van glanced at the screen, raising an eyebrow before answering the call.

"Hello?"

A hurried voice came from the other end: "Young Master, something has happened!"

The entire space seemed to freeze over. Duat Van immediately stood up, his eyes turning more serious than ever before.

"What is it?" he asked, his tone completely different.

The voice on the other end trembled. "The Old Master… he's had an accident!"

The air in the café suddenly grew heavy. Minh Hoang, Ngoc Han, and even Thanh Khai were stunned.

Duat Van gripped his phone tightly, his sharp eyes flashing with a dangerous glint.

"Minh Hoang, Ngoc Han, we're leaving."

No one said another word, but everyone understood that tonight would be anything but peaceful.

Within Minh Hoang's heart, his feelings for Thanh Khai remained unresolved, but he also knew that the true storm… had just begun.