Trần Ngọc Linh recalled how Hoàng Hải Vân had once said that food wasn’t delicious, but he was. And yet now, she was rejecting him so decisively. He felt confused, unable to figure out a solution.
When he got home, he searched the internet for advice on how to pursue a woman.
Only now did he realize that underestimating his rival had been a mistake. Vũ Phi Toàn was exactly the kind of man Hoàng Hải Vân wanted—wealthy, good-looking, and talented. Most importantly, they both stood in the light. If she married Vũ Phi Toàn, she could have a stable life, free from violence and bloodshed. She had always said she wanted a peaceful life, even if it was boring.
If it weren’t for the soul swap, his chances would have been zero. But he knew—he had felt it—Hoàng Hải Vân had been moved by him. She had even accepted his proposal.
As for Vũ Phi Toàn, he was lucky but didn’t know how to cherish it. A woman as beautiful and charming as Hoàng Hải Vân had captured Trần Ngọc Linh’s heart at first sight. That day, when he saw her standing in front of Nguyễn Thế Anh’s gun, he had wanted to protect her. And yet, Vũ Phi Toàn had wasted years, letting her slip through his fingers. Trần Ngọc Linh wouldn’t make the same mistake.
—
The next day, Hoàng Hải Vân went to work as usual. Around noon, a flower delivery service arrived with a bouquet of roses. She was a little surprised but still accepted them with a smile.
When she opened the card, she saw the sender's name—Trần Ngọc Linh.
Her heart ached again.
But she had made her decision. There was no room for hesitation. She took the bouquet and gifted it to a female colleague in another department.
That afternoon, when Vũ Phi Toàn invited her out after work, she accepted without a second thought. After all, he was the kind of man she had always dreamed of. What more could she ask for?
Just as she agreed, her phone rang. It was Thu Thảo.
"Are you free tonight? Let’s go watch a movie together!"
Hoàng Hải Vân laughed, wondering why she was suddenly getting so many invitations today.
"Let’s go tomorrow instead. I already have plans with Phi Toàn tonight."
There was a long pause on the other end. Then, Thu Thảo said softly,
"Hải Vân… don’t marry Vũ Phi Toàn."
For a moment, Hoàng Hải Vân was stunned. If I don’t marry Vũ Phi Toàn, does that mean I should marry Trần Ngọc Linh instead?
She chuckled and replied, "Why do you say that? Besides, he hasn’t even proposed yet. Isn’t it too early to talk about marriage?"
Thu Thảo wanted to say more but hesitated.
The day Hoàng Hải Vân returned home—her body as fragile as a candle in the wind—Thu Thảo had visited her. She hadn’t expected that the moment she laid eyes on Hoàng Hải Vân, a splitting headache would strike, and her yin-yang vision would suddenly upgrade. Before, she could only see the death dates of others. But now, she saw the circumstances leading up to Hoàng Hải Vân’s death.
To her horror, it wasn’t far away.
In the vision, it was Hoàng Hải Vân’s wedding day. She looked stunning in a pure white gown, stepping onto the altar with Vũ Phi Toàn. Everything seemed perfect—until a figure dressed in black appeared.
His eyes were as dark as an abyss, like a demon from hell.
In the blink of an eye, he slaughtered Vũ Phi Toàn as easily as breaking a twig.
Hoàng Hải Vân was devastated, unable to breathe from the pain. She killed him in retaliation—then turned the weapon on herself.
Thu Thảo thought she must be mistaken. Her head spun violently, forcing her to stumble out for fresh air.
And then she saw him.
Trần Ngọc Linh stood outside the gate, lurking. The headache intensified as she felt the overwhelming energy radiating from him—the boundless power of a demon.
What stunned her even more was when she looked at his death.
It was identical to Hoàng Hải Vân’s.
Trần Ngọc Linh was the man in black at the wedding.
Fate had given him absolute power, but it had also led him to the one person destined to end his life.
A twisted, inescapable fate.
Now, Thu Thảo didn’t know what else to do except stop Hoàng Hải Vân from marrying Vũ Phi Toàn. She couldn’t bear to see her friend die in a pool of blood. She couldn’t bear to see a pure white wedding dress stained crimson.
—
That evening, Hoàng Hải Vân went on her date with Vũ Phi Toàn—dinner and then a casual stroll.
For the first time, she was experiencing a normal date with a normal man. There was a lighthearted joy, a tinge of excitement mixed with nervous anticipation.
Back when she had first come back to life, she had teamed up with Trần Ngọc Linh to tease Vũ Phi Toàn. Yet, he hadn’t gotten angry. He had forgiven her and continued to pursue her.
Perhaps the only time he had ever shown true darkness in his eyes was when he chased down Nguyễn Thế Anh in vengeance.
Hoàng Hải Vân still didn’t understand why Thu Thảo was trying to stop her from being with Phi Toàn.
In her eyes, he was exactly the kind of man worth entrusting her life to.