A Familiar Routine

Raising an eyebrow slightly, Thien Thanh quietly continued eating her breakfast, showing no reaction whatsoever.

"You need to gradually get used to managing the company. Your eighteenth birthday will also be the time you take over the life's work of your parents from me!"

She nodded slightly to show she understood, reaching for the glass of milk on the table to take a sip. The cold milk helped clear her head. After staring at the man opposite her for a moment, she stood up and returned to her room. It was time for school...

Thien Thanh walked step by step along the dusty concrete road. She liked the feeling of walking like this; it was peaceful and made her feel connected to the rhythm of life around her. A few pale rays of sunlight filtered through the leaves, gently brushing against the hem of her skirt, shimmering softly. Taking a deep breath of life's air, despite the slight, unpleasant smell of dust and exhaust mixed in, she really wanted to smile, but she couldn't. Every muscle on her face seemed disobedient, stiffening into a straight line that looked like both resignation and an indescribable defiance.

The campus of Sakura Academy was quiet, with only a few teachers occasionally walking past on their way to class. No one paid attention to the white figure walking leisurely. Thien Thanh headed straight to the principal's office, where someone was already waiting... Her lessons officially began.

After five hours of classes, the tutors sent to teach Thien Thanh privately returned to the waiting room. She was left alone with the four walls and thick bookshelves. Gently massaging her shoulders, which were numb with fatigue, she walked to the desk and took a small picture frame from the drawer. Her slender fingers brushed over the glass, a hint of nostalgia lingering in her eyes. Trying to hold back the tears that were about to spill, Thien Thanh placed the photo on the desk, then moved her hand to the business books stacked with boring neatness beside it. Her eyes remained fixed on the small frame, and her movements slowed down until they stopped completely. She couldn't stop herself from spacing out, lost in old memories.

Knock... Knock... Knock...

The rapid knocking sounded, but it wasn't until the third round that Thien Thanh was pulled out of her daze. The person outside seemed to lack patience, pushing the door open and rushing in like a whirlwind, then shaking her shoulders vigorously.

"Thien Thanh, are you okay? Is something wrong..."

Startled by the sudden intrusion, Thien Thanh accidentally knocked over the stack of books on the desk, creating a loud crash. Only a few seconds later, her dazed expression vanished. She yanked her arm away from the hand shaking her shoulder, her gaze unwavering, and walked straight out of the room, leaving behind a person staring blankly at her retreating figure, a bitter smile playing on their lips.