Ha An Nhien moved through the party's curious and calculating gazes, each step a tense effort. She walked directly towards Tran Gia Minh, their shared enemy, yet she had to wear the deadly charm Lanh Thien Phong had just forced upon her. The music played on, a soft melody, but in her ears, it was a symphony of danger and deceit.
As she approached Tran Gia Minh, he immediately offered a fawning smile, his eyes fixated on the curves of her dress. "Oh, Miss Ha. What an honor for you to show interest in an old man like me." He was clearly drawn to her appearance, but his eyes still held a cunning glint.
Ha An Nhien offered a smile she had practiced hundreds of times in front of the mirror – a smile both alluring and subtly mysterious. "Mr. Tran is too modest. A powerful man like you, how could anyone call you 'old'?" She used her sweetest possible tone, her hand gently resting on his arm, feeling his perceptible shiver.
Tran Gia Minh chuckled gleefully, falling completely into her seductive trap. He began to boast about his career, new projects, and even his shady connections. Ha An Nhien maintained a facade of attentive listening, occasionally interjecting with subtle questions to keep him talking. She watched the corner of his mouth, knowing that the minuscule listening device Lanh Thien Phong had placed on him was working at full capacity.
Meanwhile, Lanh Thien Phong remained at a distance, his razor-sharp gaze following Ha An Nhien's every move. He watched her skillfully draw Tran Gia Minh in, saw the other man's ravenous eyes fixed on her. A peculiar unease stirred within him, an emotion he couldn't name, distinctly different from the satisfaction of his plan unfolding smoothly.
After nearly an hour, Ha An Nhien gracefully excused herself, leaving Tran Gia Minh still enthralled. She turned back towards Lanh Thien Phong.
"I'm done," she said softly, her eyes weary but resolute.
He said nothing, only nodded. His hand suddenly seized her wrist, pulling her out of the ballroom and towards the villa's back garden. The brilliant moonlight illuminated the stone path.
"You did well," Lanh Thien Phong said, breaking the silence. "He revealed almost everything I needed to know." He stopped beneath a large tree, turning to face her.
Ha An Nhien flinched as Lanh Thien Phong reached out to touch her cheek. His fingers were cold, but his eyes held a complex emotion she couldn't decipher.
"You're a talented actress," he said, his tone a mix of subtle mockery and a hint of... admiration? "Or perhaps, you truly possess the instincts of a vixen."
"I did it for An Khang," Ha An Nhien retorted, her eyes flaring with indignation. "Not because I wanted to seduce your enemy!"
Lanh Thien Phong scoffed, but he didn't withdraw his hand. His thumb gently stroked her cheekbone. "Don't be so quick to deny it. In any case, you've completed your task."
He abruptly pulled her into a kiss. This time, there was none of the brutality of previous nights, but also no tenderness. It was a strong, possessive kiss, as if he wanted to test her reaction, or assert his control even when no one was watching. Ha An Nhien squeezed her eyes shut, trying to remain unresponsive. But as he deepened the kiss, she felt her body tremble slightly, uncontrollably.
When he released her, his eyes scrutinized her, as if searching for some trace in the depths of her gaze. "Let's go," he said softly, then turned and walked away before she could react.
Ha An Nhien stood there, alone under the moonlight, feeling utterly drained and utterly confused. She hated him, hated his domineering nature and the way he used her. But at the same time, his touches, that complex gaze, planted a seed of doubt in her heart.