Chapter 4: An Unexpected Encounter
1138 Words
Saturday afternoon arrived with a quiet kind of brightness.
For the first time since transmigrating into this world, Nguyen Kha Han wasn’t rushing to work, nor bracing herself for another confrontation.
Instead—
She was being summoned home.
The car drove smoothly through the city, eventually slowing as it entered a quiet, high-end residential district.
Kha Han sat in the backseat, her gaze fixed out the window.
Her fingers rested lightly on her lap, but her thoughts were far from calm.
“Meeting the parents…”
She murmured under her breath.
In the original novel, Nguyen Kha Han’s parents had always been distant figures—wealthy, powerful, but cold.
They spoiled their daughter materially.
But emotionally?
Almost nothing.
Which, perhaps, explained the original Kha Han’s personality.
“…Let’s hope they’re not too difficult.”
She exhaled quietly.
The car stopped.
A large villa stood before her.
Elegant.
Imposing.
Silent.
Kha Han stepped out, her heels clicking softly against the stone path.
The front door opened before she could knock.
“Miss, welcome home.”
A housekeeper greeted her respectfully.
Kha Han nodded slightly.
“I’m back.”
Even the words felt unfamiliar.
Inside, everything was… perfect.
Too perfect.
Every piece of furniture was placed with precision.
Every detail is immaculate.
But it lacked warmth.
A house that looked like a showroom.
Not a home.
“Your parents are in the living room.”
The housekeeper informed gently.
Kha Han paused briefly.
Then walked forward.
The living room was spacious, bathed in soft afternoon light.
A man and a woman sat across from each other.
Elegant.
Composed.
And undeniably powerful.
Her parents.
“Father. Mother.”
Kha Han greeted, her voice calm.
They both looked up.
For a brief moment—
Silence.
Then her mother spoke first.
“You’re late.”
Her tone wasn’t harsh.
But it wasn’t warm either.
“There was traffic.”
Kha Han replied simply.
Her father set down his teacup.
“You’ve been busy at the company.”
It sounded more like a statement than a question.
“Yes.”
A short answer.
No elaboration.
The air felt… formal.
Like a business meeting.
Not a family reunion.
After a few more brief exchanges, her mother stood up.
“I need to pick out a few things this afternoon. You’ll come with me.”
Kha Han blinked slightly.
“…Shopping?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
“And your father will join us.”
Kha Han looked at both of them.
Then nodded.
“Alright.”
The shopping mall was one of the most luxurious in the city.
Bright lights.
Polished floors.
Designer stores lined every corner.
Kha Han walked between her parents, feeling slightly out of place despite the expensive clothes she wore.
“This is your world now,” she reminded herself.
Even if it still didn’t feel like it.
They entered a high-end boutique.
Her mother began browsing immediately, selecting dresses with practiced ease.
“This one.”
“And that.”
“Try them later.”
Kha Han nodded, following along quietly.
Her father, on the other hand, seemed less interested.
He stood nearby, occasionally glancing at his watch.
Then—
Something caught Kha Han’s attention.
Across the store.
Two familiar figures.
Her steps slowed.
Her gaze sharpened.
No way…
But—
Yes.
It was them.
Thẩm Nguyên.
And—
Bui Anh Nguyet.
They stood near the display section.
Anh Nguyet was holding a dress, looking hesitant.
“I think this is too much…”
She said softly.
Tham Nguyen shook his head slightly.
“It suits you.”
His tone—
Gentle.
Patient.
Completely different from the cold indifference he showed at work.
Anh Nguyet lowered her gaze, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
“…Then I’ll try it.”
“Go ahead.”
He nodded.
Kha Han stood still.
Watching.
Not with jealousy.
Not with anger.
But with a strange sense of… distance.
“So this is one of their scenes…”
She remembered.
In the novel, this was an early bonding moment between the male and female leads.
A simple shopping trip.
But filled with subtle emotions.
Trust.
Care.
Affection.
And for the villainousness—
This was where her jealousy began.
Where she would step in.
Mock the female lead.
Provoke the male lead.
And worsen everything.
“Kha Han.”
Her mother’s voice pulled her back.
“Are you even paying attention?”
“Yes.”
Kha Han replied calmly.
But her gaze drifted again—
Back to them.
At that moment—
Anh Nguyet stepped out of the fitting room.
Wearing a dress.
Soft blue.
Elegant.
Perfectly fitting her gentle aura.
Even Kha Han had to admit—
“She looks good.”
Tham Nguyen’s eyes softened slightly.
“I told you.”
Anh Nguyet smiled, shy but genuine.
“…Thank you.”
And then—
Thẩm Nguyên noticed hem.
His gaze shifted.
Sharp.
Cold.
Locking onto Kha Han instantly.
The warmth from moments ago vanished completely.
Replaced by vigilance.
“…”
Kha Han met his gaze.
Unflinching.
Unemotional.
For a brief second—
Time seemed to pause.
Anh Nguyet followed his line of sight.
And froze.
“Director Nguyen…”
Her voice was quiet.
Uncertain.
Kha Han’s mother noticed the shift.
She turned slightly.
Her eyes landed on the two figures.
Then narrowed, just a fraction.
“… Do you know them?”
She asked.
Kha Han didn’t look away.
“Yes.”
She said simply.
“Colleagues.”
Silence lingered.
Heavy.
Expectant.
In the original story—
This was where everything would escalate.
Harsh words.
Public humiliation.
A complete scene.
But—
Kha Han didn’t move.
Didn’t step forward.
Didn’t speak.
She simply turned her gaze away.
As if they didn’t matter.
Her mother raised an eyebrow.
“…Interesting.”
She murmured softly.
Noticing something subtle.
Something different.
Across the room—
Tham Nguyan frowned slightly.
His grip on the shopping bag tightened just a little.
“… She’s not reacting.”
He thought.
That wasn’t like her.
Not at all.
Anh Nguyet, on the other hand, looked… conflicted.
Her fingers lightly touched the fabric of the dress.
Her eyes lingered on Kha Han for a second longer.
Then she lowered her gaze.
“Let’s go.”
Kha Han said quietly to her parents.
Her tone steady.
As if nothing had happened.
Her mother studied her for a moment.
Then smiled faintly.
“…Very well.”
As they walked out of the store—
Kha Han didn’t look back.
Not once.
But inside—
She knew.
Another turning point…
Had just been avoided.
And somewhere behind her—
Tham Nguyen was still watching.
His expression was unreadable.
Because for the second time—
Nguyen Kha Han had acted differently from what he expected.
And that—
Was far more unsettling than hostility.
- Writer
