A sudden giddy warmth enveloped Ngoc Vy's small heart, as her mind filled with countless romantic scenes straight out of a Korean drama.
Phan Thanh Luong, his cold, handsome face, his warm breath tinged with the faint scent of alcohol, those broad, steady shoulders, slowly approached and stood before her. Sweet, flowery words whispered in her ear:
"Actually, what I want to tell you is..."
"I..."
Ah! She couldn't dare think any further!
Her cheeks flushed red as she buried her face in her pillow, laughing wildly. She felt utterly foolish, yet she couldn't stop, her heart seeming ready to leap out of her chest.
Before, whenever Lam Tuan messaged her, her heart would race with anticipation and excitement. But now, even a short, simple message from Professor Luong made her feel light and warm, as if sunshine had spilled into her chest.
Strangely, though, this joy didn't bring along the usual dreamy fantasies. Instead, it carried a quiet, gentle feeling, as if she herself was gradually growing up, learning to cherish the small and kind things in life.
A few seconds later, Ngoc Vy finally calmed down, patting her face to force herself to stay alert.
But what if it was true? What should she do?
After hesitating for a long while, she bravely typed a message.
"Then I guess you must be tired today too, so I won't bother you from resting anymore."
Just as she was about to look away, another message came.
"I can't sleep when I'm drunk."
So, he couldn't sleep and wanted to talk to her? But between them, what was there really to say?
She suddenly remembered that she had been like that too. Every time she got drunk and couldn't sleep, she would send messages or act mischievously.
She recalled that time on a field trip with the class, when Lam Tuan had to stay up all night to watch over her. Everyone shook their heads in disbelief, fearing the chaotic effects of alcohol on Ngoc Vy.
During that class party, who would have expected that a once gentle, modest girl could become so wild smashing the doors of other rooms, wandering the streets, hugging strangers, and even confessing her feelings to people she barely knew?
Yes, that person could only be her!
Another message came from him:
"By the way, I want to ask something."
Once again, she froze in front of the screen.
Could it be that her random thoughts were actually coming true?
Was he about to ask if she had a boyfriend? Or maybe, "Do you like me?"
She muttered to herself, her face flushing bright red. She knew her mind was wandering, but she couldn't control it.
Oh my god!
Vuong Ngoc Vy! You're overthinking this way too much!
Professor Luong could never be that ordinary.
Impossible... absolutely impossible!
"Is there something you want to ask?" – she typed.
"Where are you from?"
Ah, so it was just that. Why didn't he ask sooner, making her imagine all sorts of scenarios?
"I was born and raised here, in this city." – she replied.
"I see. Are you mixed race?"
Honestly, she wished she were mixed, maybe she'd be a little prettier, taller, a little smarter. But alas, she wasn't part Western, nor part Eastern, she was fully local.
"Huh?"
She knew it was probably just a casual question late at night. Yet somehow, it sent a quiet warmth spreading through her heart.
Could it be that just a gentle question, a little bit of care, could make her heart flutter so much?
Or perhaps... after all the hurt she'd been through, she was unconsciously seeking something kinder, a presence that was gentler and less painful?
"Oh, it's because I saw on Facebook that your name is written in Korean." – he said.
Before she could think of anything to continue the conversation, he quickly sent another message:
"Good night, girl."
A sense of unease crept over her, and she couldn't understand why she felt everything was suddenly so unstable.
Why would he ask about these things all of a sudden? There's something hidden here!
"Good night, sleep well and have sweet dreams! See you bright and early tomorrow, how sad!" – she typed, half-joking, half-serious.
She put aside her suspicions for the moment, sent her goodnight message, and quickly drifted into a deep sleep.
After all, no matter how much she thought, she could never guess the sophisticated thoughts of the other person, and there was no need for her to exhaust herself trying.
The next morning, just like any other day, she walked into the classroom and instinctively glanced at Professor Luong first.
Phan Thanh Luong was still focused on typing on his computer, his mouth moving continuously as he explained the lesson, paying her no attention at all.
Ngoc Vy let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thinking about yesterday, her heart had been uneasy, expecting something to happen, but it turned out to be nothing. He was still Professor Luong at the podium, cold, professional, and completely in his element.
Perhaps... he was just keeping the proper distance that a lecturer should maintain. After all, not everyone in real life behaves the same way as they do in messages.
She shook her head slightly, feeling a bit foolish for expecting anything different. Maybe she had overthought it all? Really, how could she judge a gentleman by the standards of a petty heart!
She quickly took her seat, pretending to focus on the lecture.
The classroom was quiet, everyone absorbed and attentive, occasionally erupting into laughter at Professor Luong's jokes.
The lesson was truly engaging, rich in content and style, especially with such an outstanding, handsome, almost godlike lecturer.
Ngoc Vy covered her mouth, stifling a yawn. Perhaps all of that still couldn't compete with the sleepiness weighing on her.
She lazily watched the figure strolling back and forth across the podium.
For some reason, the feeling was completely different. It was as if the professor Luong who had chatted with her yesterday and the one, she saw in the lecture hall were two entirely different people.
Could it be an imposter? Maybe... it was possible!
Finally, the last class ended. She quickly packed her bag and dashed out of the room.
Her hunger gnawed at her like claws tearing at her stomach. She finished an entire bowl of pho in one go and wandered around campus, looking for the perfect spot to settle down.
Following the corridor behind the schoolyard, she finally found a wonderful place.
The trees whispered and rustled in the breeze, and a neat row of stone benches sat quietly in the shade.
Here, whether she wanted to nap or read, it was an absolutely ideal spot.
Ngoc Vy stretched, savoring the gentle atmosphere around her, then dashed excitedly toward the row of stone benches. But as soon as she sat down, she froze in shock at the sight before her.
Under the shade of an ancient tree, Professor Luong sat calmly reading, legs crossed, his long fingers leisurely flipping through the pages. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a soft, warm glow over him.
The scene was breathtaking, almost too perfect!
Even if she were a goddess, she wouldn't dare disturb such serenity, but here she was, trampling on his peaceful moment.
Professor Luong frowned slightly and looked up at the intruder, gently closing his book.
Ah! She really had disturbed his quiet time.
Ngoc Vy lowered her head in greeting, smiling coyly, her heart tangled in knots.
"Hello, Professor. I... just happened to walk by. Please, continue reading, I'll leave right away."
Just as she turned to slip away, his deep, warm voice reached her, carrying a mix of authority, teasing, and subtle warning.
"Running into me again today... are you sad?"
Wow, confirmed!
Although two sides of him, it's still the same person—he must have been thinking about what she said last night.
To be precise, the person she chatted with yesterday was none other than professor Luong himself.
"Yes... very sad indeed."
Oh my god! Words really do run faster than the brain sometimes.
Only now did she realize that fear and anxiety could make someone say silly things.
Seeing him waiting expectantly for her answer, his finely shaped brows slightly furrowed, Ngoc Vy felt suddenly flustered.
This is tricky! Could she really say she was sad because he pretended not to know her?
No way! That would be so weird.
In a sudden flash of mischief, a cunning idea sprang to her mind.
"There are actually two kinds of sadness." – she pretended to ponder thoughtfully.
Seeing that, he looked seriously into her eyes, a sharp glint sparking in his gaze, though his tone remained gentle enough.
"What are these two kinds of sadness?"
She smirked slyly, avoiding Professor Luong's gaze.
"Sleepy and funny. LOL."
(* This is a wordplay: in Vietnamese, "buồn" usually means "sad", but in "buồn ngủ" it means sleepy and in "buồn cười" it means funny. The pun comes from using the same word for different meanings.)
She stole a quick glance at his reaction; those lips seemed to have curved before, and the sharp gaze from earlier now seemed softer, gentler.
Just then, the bell rang, and Professor Luong stood up, slipping his book into his bag.
"I have a class. I'll go ahead."
Before leaving, he didn't forget to leave a parting shot, his eyes flashing with mischief.
"Next week, when I hand out the test, you'll probably have three kinds of 'sad'."
Suddenly, her world seemed to darken; the once idyllic scene turned dim and shadowed.
Professor Luong's words carried a dangerously strong impact!
So cruel, so loaded with meaning!
Yet she couldn't quite understand herself. Was it his teasing that made her flustered, or the strange flutter in her chest every time his eyes passed over her?
Perhaps... whether it's two kinds of 'sad' or three, just one glance from him was enough to make her heart skip a beat.
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