A gentle amber glow from the streetlights bathed Nguy?n Hu? Walking Street in warmth. Street performers sang their hearts out, laughter echoed among tourists, locals, and couples strolling hand in hand beneath the night sky. But inside a vintage-style rooftop café, with its European classical design, a strange silence settled over the air.

  My rested her chin on her hand, eyes lost in a daze as she stared blankly out the window. Her mind replayed the image of Trúc Di?n over and over — the man with soulful, enigmatic eyes, a cold yet refined face, and a graceful posture that exuded an untouchable, aristocratic aura that made her heart ache.

  – “He’s like a poetic scholar stepped straight out of a novel. Distant, unreachable. But maybe that’s exactly why... I want him. I want to make him mine.” My whispered to herself, her cheeks flushing pink.

  Beside her, Tu?n sat with legs crossed, absentmindedly turning a now-cold cup of cappuccino in his hands. His usual composed demeanor gave way to a subtle unease.

  – “That girl from earlier… who was she? I’ve never met a woman with that kind of presence. Cold, sharp… beautiful in a wild way. Not the painted, fragile kind you see every day. No makeup, no flashy clothes… just raw, effortless beauty radiating from within. No, it’s even more than that.”

  He frowned slightly as Trang’s face unexpectedly appeared in his mind. He had no idea she was once the tomboy girl who used to admire him from afar — the same girl he once looked down on for her low social status.

  Across the table, Ti?n stirred his black coffee in silence, his gaze fixed on the tabletop.

  – “Those companions of Master V?nh… they’re way out of our league,” he muttered, his voice fading into the ambient hum.

  – “You could feel the regality in every step they took.”

  Deep leaned back in his chair, one arm resting on the window ledge, staring out toward the balcony lights twinkling like stars.

  – “They’re terrifying… every one of them carried a towering aura. It’s like they stepped right out of legend.”

  None of them knew — those otherworldly figures who had just departed weren’t merely wealthy and powerful. They were cosmic-level entrepreneurs, timeless beings who held galaxies and the fate of the world in their hands. Wielding magic and power far beyond human comprehension, they existed beyond the boundaries of mortality.

  ---

  Meanwhile, back at Yin’s restaurant in District 1, laughter and joy filled the air.

  – “Are we going to buy snacks now?!” one impish little demon exclaimed, eyes shining like stars.

  – “General! Don’t forget bubble tea! Humans have this amazing drink, I’m totally addicted now!” another begged with hands clasped together.

  – “Very well. Let’s go.” Erion rose from his seat like a nobleman of the cosmos, smiling benevolently. “Eat and drink whatever you like. It’s all on me.”

  Applause broke out in the VIP room as the little demons cheered wildly, bouncing up and down like children about to visit a fair.

  Erion — once cold, arrogant, and dangerously aloof — now seemed... different. Maybe after encountering his fated soulmate, created and destined by the universe just for him, something within his immortal heart had finally begun to stir with warmth.

  The group stepped outside, heading straight for an upscale supermarket under the night sky. A midnight banquet was about to begin — one hosted by beings who did not belong to this world. A feast prepared with karmic flavors, for guests with sinful pasts and blood-stained hands, long buried by time.

  And now, everything was about to be unearthed.

  The Supermarket – Where Little Demons Go Wild Over Human Snacks

  The moment the group stepped into the upscale supermarket in District 1, all eyes turned to them. But the true center of chaos? The band of little demons in black hoodies — each one grinning from ear to ear, eyes sparkling like they’d just wandered into a candy-coated paradise.

  Within five minutes, every one of them had filled an entire shopping cart to the brim with chips, popcorn, candy, and — at minimum — two cups of bubble tea each.

  – “I thought we’ve been feeding them pretty well?” Din muttered, rubbing his forehead in disbelief. “Why do they look like they’ve been starved for weeks?”

  – “Human food just smells too good. Can’t really blame them for going nuts,” Yin said with a shrug, carrying a bag of Taiyaki fish-shaped pastries.

  As they wandered down the aisles, Trang’s eyes caught on the display of premium chocolates. The soft golden lighting glinted off the silver wrappers like a treasure trove of edible jewels. She stopped, her eyes glimmering, and let out a soft cough.

  – “I really like chocolate…” she murmured absentmindedly.

  In an instant, Erion was at her side. He said nothing — just took her hand and marched her over to the shelf. A minute later, half the chocolate stock had disappeared into his cart.

  Not to be outdone, Trúc Di?n stepped forward with a suave smile and began piling boxes of chocolate into his own cart.

  – “I’m not letting you win that easily,” he said, smirking with quiet challenge.

  Erion scoffed, eyes narrowing.

  – “Back off, snake. You’ll never beat me. I am a royal-grade black diamond — the universe’s finest gem… And she was created by the cosmos to be mine. Only I am worthy of her.”

  Din, Yin, and Master V?nh nearly fell over laughing at the absurd scene playing out in the snack aisle.

  – “Looks like she’s set for the next three months,” Din chuckled.

  – “If Princess Trang can’t finish it all, we’d be honored to help!” chimed in the two bodyguards, with the little demons eagerly nodding behind them.

  Meanwhile, curious onlookers whispered among themselves, phones snapping photos non-stop. Two impossibly handsome men vying for the same girl — it was like watching a K-drama unfold live at the supermarket.

  Erion and Trúc Di?n didn’t just look like celebrities. They looked like gods who had stepped out of myths and into the fluorescent aisles of modern-day Saigon.

  ---

  While these celestial beings stirred up a sugar-fueled storm, just a few streets away... silence reigned.

  Tu?n and My — soon-to-be newlyweds — sat across from each other, but their gazes… didn’t meet. He stared into the milk foam of his cappuccino. She looked out the window. In their hearts, they each held someone else — a soulmate they'd unknowingly longed for their entire lives.

  Not far from them, Ti?n and Deep leaned silently against a balcony railing, eyes lost in the distance. Once arrogant and self-assured, proud of their wealth, looks, and success — they now stood humbled, shaken to the core.

  For the first time, they saw themselves clearly: just shadows, drifting in a world that now belonged to legends.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  Yin checked his wristwatch and spoke in a calm, deliberate tone.

  – “Let’s head back to the Bình Chánh headquarters and get ready for tonight’s gathering.”

  The little demons and the two bodyguards erupted into cheers, as if they were headed to a red-carpet movie premiere. In sharp contrast, the “lords” of the group merely smirked — their eyes cold and calculating, carrying the edge of seasoned assassins.

  Three sleek black luxury cars pulled away from the city center, heading southwest toward Bình Chánh. Tonight, they chose not to use teleportation portals. Instead, they drove — as if choosing to immerse themselves in the pulse of Saigon’s dazzling, chaotic night. A city alive with meaning beneath its neon glow.

  ---

  At that same moment, over on Nguy?n Hu? walking street, Tu?n’s group climbed into a matte-black Mercedes. Deep took the wheel. Ti?n sat beside him, dazed and hollow-eyed, as if the world had just pulled the rug out from under him.

  They used to think of themselves as ideal men — sophisticated, confident, successful — the pinnacle of what a modern gentleman should be. But all of that collapsed the moment Din, Yin, and Erion appeared. One crushing blow after another to their egos — these new men were better looking, richer, more powerful, and carried themselves with a nobility that felt... untouchable. Divine.

  In the back seat sat Tu?n and his fiancée, My — a bride-to-be in a marriage that was transactional at best. No love, no emotional connection, no mutual understanding. Just strategy. A careful merging of power, status, and wealth.

  The silence between them was deafening — but inside, each heart was a storm.

  Tu?n’s thoughts:

  – “She… she’s exactly the kind of woman I’ve always dreamed of. Wild. Untamed. Real. Not like those pretty little heiresses I’ve dated — all filters and fa?ades.”

  My’s thoughts:

  – “Trúc Di?n… he’s everything a woman could ask for. Gentle, graceful, refined yet youthful. Not like Tu?n — fifteen years older than me, his youth long gone…”

  The car sped past Saigon’s bright, buzzing streets — a city that never sleeps. But inside that car, it felt like time itself had frozen.

  ---

  The Mercedes stopped outside a luxury villa in Th?o ?i?n. Tu?n gently helped My out, managing a forced smile.

  – “Sleep well. I’ll come by tomorrow.”

  She nodded, holding back a sigh.

  – “Drive safe… Goodnight.”

  The car pulled away into the night, taillights glowing like the eyes of a soulless beast, veering off into Th? ??c — a district aglow with wealth, yet cold as steel. There, three men lived in penthouses only blocks apart. So close — yet each trapped in his own isolated world.

  ---

  Tu?n entered his penthouse and collapsed onto the couch. The lights of the city filtered through the tall windows, casting shifting patterns across his weary face — half in shadow, half in light.

  But in his mind, there was only one image:

  A woman, fierce and untamed.

  Eyes sharp like black diamonds.

  Lips curled with defiance.

  Long, jet-black hair flowing like a river.

  Skin bronzed and radiant with life.

  The body of a warrior — strong, wild, unapologetically real.

  A beauty untouched by plastic perfection. A presence that stirred something deep inside him — something he thought had long been numbed by age and ambition.

  Tu?n leaned back, gazing at the chandelier above. Its soft golden glow felt like it pierced through him, revealing what he didn’t want to admit.

  – “Calling off the wedding? It’s not that simple. The price… could be everything. My career. Dozens of contracts. Millions in investments. I’m not just marrying a woman — I’m merging two empires. Securing the future…”

  – “But how do I live like this? Waking up each morning beside someone I feel nothing for… What’s a marriage without love?”

  My sat silently at her vanity, the soft yellow light casting a warm glow across her contemplative face. Her eyes stared into the large mirror in front of her, where the reflection showed a beautiful, regal woman — but one riddled with doubt. In the hazy mist of her memories, the image of Trúc Di?n reappeared clearly — a man of refined elegance, gentle eyes, and graceful gestures.

  Her long black hair fell past her shoulders like strands of silk. Her skin was fair with a healthy glow, her nose high and straight, her features delicate — like a heroine stepped out of a Chinese historical romance. Compared to him, the image of Tu?n in her heart was beginning to blur. A sophisticated man in his forties, once admired for his wealth and composure — but now, faded. Dimmed by the youth and brilliance of Trúc Di?n.

  She whispered to herself, barely audible:

  – “Did I decide too quickly...? Why didn’t I meet Trúc Di?n sooner… why?”

  Still gazing at her reflection, My picked up a cotton pad and gently wiped away the bold red lipstick from her lips — a luxury shade she’d worn like war paint.

  – “If I let go now, I’ll lose everything — the money, the real estate, the shares, the benefits... all of it. But if I marry him, I’ll spend every day next to a man who’s old and tired… while Trúc Di?n shines like a beacon pulling me out of this calculated life.

  I want to love. I want to feel.

  I want my heart to race again.”

  Outside, the night had settled over Saigon like a velvet curtain. Stars shimmered in the sky, and the full moon hung high, glowing softly with golden light. But inside, within both Tu?n and My, the silence had become a weight — thick and stifling.

  Their relationship had never been rooted in love. It was an arrangement — a marriage of class and power, crafted for mutual gain. They both knew this. And yet, within each of them now flickered the spark of something genuine… something true. But perhaps… too late.

  ---

  At the Bình Chánh headquarters, the illusion gate shimmered to life as three dark-colored cars rolled up to the border shield. Internal agents swiftly opened a spatial gateway, allowing the vehicles to pass through one by one.

  As the engines came to a halt, the little demons jumped out with energy to spare, each hugging an oversized bag of candy or a tall cup of fragrant milk tea.

  The two bodyguards brought up the rear — each carrying a towering stack of chocolates over a meter high. All purchased by Erion and Trúc Di?n, who had practically cleared out the store shelves like a pair of handsome sweet-toothed tycoons.

  The group marched into the grand living hall, where the Demon King Satan sat regally upon a solid ironwood throne. In his hands was an encrypted laptop, its screen flooded with financial data and breaking news streams.

  From behind, the elderly Grandmistress approached, holding a thick photo album.

  – “Master V?nh, come here. I’m reviewing photos of the princess’s foster parents so we can prepare the disguises. You should take a look too.”

  Master V?nh quickly seated himself beside her, studying each image closely, whispering calculations under his breath.

  Then came Satan’s voice, booming through the grand hall — deep and commanding, like thunder breaking the sky:

  – “I’ve had private rooms prepared. The agents will guide you. Rest and get ready. The time is near.”

  Everyone nodded in understanding, though behind their smiles was the steady rise of focus — hearts steeling themselves for what lay ahead: A confrontation of fate, and retribution for those who trampled over morals for selfish gain.

  At a luxurious villa in District 2, under the star-studded sky, the soft moonlight gently bathed the Japanese-style garden. The glow shimmered over rows of bonsai trees and sparkled on the surface of the koi pond, creating a tranquil scene of serenity.

  But inside the grand living room, the atmosphere was anything but peaceful.

  M? Linh and Anh ?ào sat slumped on the sofa, their hands still trembling, eyes vacant after the terrifying illusions they'd witnessed. Fresh fruits had been neatly arranged on the table, but no one touched them — except for Anh Th?, who casually munched on a slice of green mango dipped in fermented shrimp paste while scrolling on her phone, completely oblivious.

  – “Tomorrow afternoon, I’ll find a way to bring Mom and Dad to the Gothic mansion,” Anh Tú muttered, deep in thought, his eyes tense. “I need to hear the full story for myself... but I have to be careful, or my in-laws will start suspecting something.”

  Suddenly, the roar of a motorcycle engine shattered the silence outside. The front gate echoed with loud banging and angry shouting:

  – “Anh Th?! Pay your damn debt, now! If you don’t, your whole family’s going down with you!”

  The doorbell shrieked non-stop, accompanied by curses and pounding fists.

  Anh Th? turned pale. Her phone slipped from her hands and hit the floor. Her lips trembled.

  – “Crap… They’re back again…”

  C?u D?ng shot up from his seat, shaking with fury as the truth hit him like a punch in the gut.

  – “You borrowed five billion from loan sharks… for gambling?! Where the hell am I supposed to get that kind of money, you damned brat?!”

  – “Dad…” Anh Tú quickly stepped in to support his father. His voice was tight, full of urgency. “These guys don’t bluff. If they say they’ll ruin us, they’ll do it. We need to handle this now.”

  Just then, two private security guards from the neighborhood arrived. After a heated exchange, the gangsters reluctantly left on their motorcycles — but not before throwing back one final, bone-chilling threat.

  M? Linh clutched her chest, struggling to breathe.

  – “Maybe… maybe we really do have to sell the three-story house… She’s our daughter. How can we abandon her? We… we have to save her... right?”

  Crash! — The glass in C?u D?ng’s hand shattered as it hit the floor. He roared like a wounded beast:

  – “You—! You’re the ruin of this family! You’re going to bankrupt us all!”

  Grabbing his phone, he immediately called his assistant.

  – “Put the Gò V?p three-story house on the market — now. I need cash, and I need it fast!”

  He ended the call and turned to glare at Anh Th?, his bloodshot eyes blazing with fury.

  – “Will you only be satisfied once we’re completely bankrupt, Th??!”

  Anh Th? curled up on the floor, sobbing. Anh ?ào, overcome with rage, snapped at her younger sister:

  – “Because of you, Mom and Dad are losing their home. All you do is spend, gamble, and destroy everything. You’ve never done anything right in your life.”

  Anh Tú gently held his wife back.

  – “You’re not well. Don’t get worked up. What’s done is done. We need to think clearly now, anger won’t solve anything.”

  M? Linh nodded, trying to calm herself.

  – “Tú’s right. Even if your father smashes everything in this house, it won’t change what’s happened.”

  C?u D?ng sank into the couch, his face pale and clenched with rage, about to lose one of his most valuable properties — all because of the daughter he’d once doted on.

  The air inside the house thickened like a storm cloud gathering overhead — a prelude to the greater tragedy looming just beyond the horizon...