Sweet of tears

The Mysterious Man

"How's the project progressing?" Bac Minh Duan asked Tran Thanh Anh as she brought over the documents.

"We are currently compiling the results from the scientist. After that, we need to recheck for errors and make additions. We also need to gather data from heart disease cases worldwide," Tran Thanh Anh answered professionally, a demeanor befitting a former Harvard student.

At that moment, her phone rang unexpectedly. She hurriedly excused herself to answer it, not before Bac Minh Duan remarked, "Using your phone during work hours?" His lips curved into a smile, the sight of her flustered state was a first for him. It was so different from her usual haughty demeanor.

Seeing who was calling, her face darkened, and her eyes turned menacing, looking like they could devour anyone.

"Hello?" she answered as she rushed to the restroom, lowering her voice as much as possible.

"How's it going?" a cold, deep voice from the other end, a man, asked.

"The infiltration was successful." Her mysterious aura was evident, the atmosphere grew tense, and even through the phone, one could sense the gravity of the situation.

"There's a new order for you. 2576 has also infiltrated successfully. Find a way to make contact and coordinate actions." The man's voice grew even deeper, and every word was enunciated with a teeth-gritting emphasis, as if issuing a warning.

"Wait, why send another person? Don't you trust me? Besides, I just infiltrated; attacking too soon will raise their suspicions." She spoke softly, despite her dissatisfaction, trying not to anger the person on the other end.

"I don't like to repeat myself. In short, 2576 will contact you. Don’t forget, your mother’s death hangs over you." With that, he hung up, leaving her wanting to say more.

When she stepped out, she put on a normal, cheerful face as if nothing had happened. But her eyes were slightly red, with a few unshed tears still lingering.

"Thanh Anh, come to my office," Bac Minh Duan called her as soon as she returned to her desk.

"Yes, boss." She quickly wiped away the tears and regained her composure before entering.

"This data has an issue. Come check it for me."

Meanwhile, in the main hall, a young lady stormed in, yelling at the staff. "Take me to Duan!" Seeing that she seemed familiar, the staff led her upstairs without question.

"These data points are not incorrect. They depend on the individual's body, endurance, and age, so the numbers don't necessarily correlate. This will be analyzed thoroughly before being included in the model," Tran Thanh Anh was explaining the AI heart model research when the young lady barged in.

"Duan, who is this girl, and why do you have a woman here?"

This was Ha Thien Kim, the eldest daughter of the Ha family, rumored to be Bac Minh Duan's fiancée. Their families had an arranged marriage. This girl, with her aggrieved demeanor, already had tears welling up, her voice weak, and legs seemingly about to give out. Normally, such a sight would evoke pity, but Bac Minh Duan wasn't normal, only finding it irritating.

"Why are you here? And don't think ill of my staff," he said, clearly annoyed, his eyes not acknowledging her presence, focusing instead on the computer screen.

"You seem tired these days. I'll take you to the beach for a break," he added, as if trying to get rid of her. Taking her to the beach might be bothersome, but at least it would keep her away for a while.

Of course, Ha Thien Kim insisted on coming along, and he reluctantly had to take her with them.