On Earth, in Vietnam, dawn had just begun to break. The sky slowly shifted from deep blue to pale pink as the first rays of sunlight slipped through rooftops, tree canopies, and streets still veiled in lingering morning mist.

  The city streets gradually came alive. Motorbikes hummed in steady streams, short but frequent honks echoed through the air. Roadside shops lifted their shutters, the aroma of drip-brewed coffee blending with the scent of freshly baked bread. Schoolchildren in neat uniforms pedaled toward their classrooms, university students slung backpacks over their shoulders as they hurried to catch buses. Workers and office employees crowded the main roads, each carrying the familiar, hurried rhythm of a new workday.

  In front of D?ng’s villa, the designer and several staff members were pressing the doorbell. Inside the yard, D?ng was scattering food for the koi fish in the pond. Hearing the bell, he quickly walked over to open the gate:

  – “Ah, you’re here already? Have you had breakfast? I can ask Aunt T? to prepare something.”

  The designer quickly waved his hand, smiling politely:

  – “Thank you, sir, but we’ve already eaten. We came early today to take measurements and prepare for the wedding decorations.”

  After everyone entered the yard, C?u D?ng remained standing, his tone turning serious as he clearly stated his requirements:

  – “I want the decorations done at the gate and the front of the house. Inside, the living room and the ancestral altar as well. Everything must be immaculate, all flowers — fresh flowers only.”

  The designer nodded. He was already well accustomed to this family’s strict standards:

  – “Yes, we’ll design everything very carefully. One hundred percent fresh flowers, you can rest assured. Since the wedding is on Sunday, we’ll come early Saturday morning and finish everything within the day. If we do it too early, the flowers won’t look their best by then.”

  C?u D?ng nodded in satisfaction. The designer and his team began unloading their tools, preparing for a long, demanding day of work.

  ***

  At the ?à L?t headquarters, after a sleepless night of research, the little demons were still fast asleep. They were curled up in thick, soft, warm blankets, faint snores drifting from room to room.

  In stark contrast, their masters had already been awake since early morning.

  On the first-floor balcony of the castle, the morning sky of ?à L?t was washed in a clear, pale blue. Clouds drifted lazily at eye level, and a thin layer of mist still clung to the distant pine trees. The wide-open balcony, paved with light-colored stone, was arranged like a classic outdoor café: round tables with wrought-iron legs, high-backed wooden chairs, small flower vases neatly placed, and gentle morning sunlight pouring down.

  Everyone was having breakfast while sipping hot coffee. Din took a sip, his voice low:

  – “I heard that Phong Túc and Bách Di?n will be using disguise techniques to enter the modeling competition for that cosmetics brand. We still don’t have anyone on our side.”

  Erion curled his lips into a faint smile:

  – “What are you worried about? The female vampire agents aren’t bad. Let them pretend to be contestants and blend in.”

  Yin crossed his arms over his chest, suspicion clear in his eyes:

  – “That won’t work. He’ll recognize their identities. When our agents or the Lord appear, their aura and energy are immediately noticeable. It’s completely different from the disguise techniques those two use — they can conceal their energy frequency.”

  Trang frowned slightly, thinking:

  – “Then the only option left is to observe via satellite.”

  Charles nodded thoughtfully:

  – “Remote observation is fine, but if we want to gather more clues… getting close will be very difficult.”

  Chen leaned forward and made a suggestion:

  – “Why doesn’t the Princess join the competition as well? With Phong Túc and Bách Di?n involved, there’s no need to worry. Outside, there will always be subordinates and the masters ensuring the Princess’s safety.”

  Trang tilted her head, hesitation flickering in her eyes:

  – “I’m not sure. My appearance doesn’t match current trends. I might get eliminated right from the registration round.”

  Din looked at Trang for a moment, then nodded in agreement:

  – “The Princess is right. The current beauty trend favors fair, glowing skin, big eyes, high noses, and V-line faces.”

  Yin added coldly:

  – “The body must be slender — delicate, almost fragile. The face is always covered in makeup. The Princess’s beauty goes against mainstream standards. She doesn’t wear makeup or use cosmetics, so even if she shows up, they won’t pay attention to her.”

  Chen nodded in agreement:

  – “The boss is right. A model representing a cosmetics brand who doesn’t wear makeup or use cosmetics… they wouldn’t even spare a glance.”

  Erion slowly rotated his coffee cup, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes:

  – “Then on casting day, we’ll just go. Blend into the crowd like ordinary spectators… and see how that black cat and chameleon conduct their business.”

  In the VIP room of the international hospital, Mr. Quy was completing the discharge procedures for his daughter. Inside the room, Mrs. Lan and Tu?n were carefully checking My’s personal belongings, each item neatly arranged one by one.

  Tu?n smiled, his tone confident:

  – “Everything’s here. I’ve checked carefully.”

  Mrs. Lan nodded in satisfaction:

  – “Thank you.”

  Then her voice shifted, becoming more serious:

  – “Anh Th?’s wedding is this Sunday. I also hope My can soon settle down and have a family of her own.”

  Tu?n understood the implication and nodded lightly:

  – “I’ve already prepared everything as well. Once My’s mental health is stable, my uncle will come over to formally speak with you and Uncle.”

  A trace of sadness flickered in Mrs. Lan’s eyes as she looked at Tu?n.

  – “I feel sorry for you too… on such a happy occasion, yet your parents aren’t by your side.”

  Tu?n smiled, but his expression dimmed slightly:

  – “My parents divorced when I was very young. Later, they both had new families, with lovely children of their own… and gradually forgot that they still had a son — me. My uncle took me in, raised me, taught me business. To me… he’s like my real father.”

  Mrs. Lan nodded, letting out a soft sigh:

  – “When you lose a father, there’s still an uncle; when you lose a mother, there’s still an aunt. Everyone’s life is different. What matters is how we choose to live.”

  Just then, the bathroom door slowly opened. My stepped out. Her face was meticulously made up: a thick layer of foundation, heavily lined eyes, and dark red lips. Under the room’s lighting, her face looked dazzling — yet somehow… unnatural.

  Tu?n froze for a brief moment:

  – “Where are you going, dressing up so heavily?”

  Mrs. Lan also shook her head, worry in her voice:

  – “You’ve just recovered. You should go home and rest. Where do you think you’re going like this?”

  But My seemed unconcerned. In her hand was a small mirror, her eyes obsessively inspecting every detail of her face, carefully adjusting her hair:

  – “I’m preparing for the model representative competition for the cosmetics brand I’m collaborating with. I have to be absolutely stunning — so I can outshine those younger girls.”

  At that moment, Mr. Quy walked in, discharge papers in hand. The moment he saw his daughter, he nearly froze:

  – “My goodness… what are you doing, wearing such heavy makeup? The competition doesn’t even start until next week.”

  My leisurely sat down on the edge of the bed, the corners of her lips curling into a confident smile:

  – “I still need to practice catwalk walking. Once I become a famous model, the family business will grow even more.”

  ***

  At D?ng’s villa, while the staff were measuring and noting every detail for the decorations, a delivery driver arrived with a large pair of butterfly wings, covered in glitter that sparkled under the morning sun.

  The moment the designer saw them, he immediately knew who they belonged to.

  Inside the house, Anh Th? ran out, her face glowing with excitement:

  – “They don’t look too bad. This is fine.”

  Anh Tú followed behind her, his expression slightly weary — clearly accustomed to his indulged sister-in-law’s ever-changing demands.

  The designer lowered his voice and asked quietly:

  – “I thought she chose angel wings?”

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  Anh Tú let out a soft sigh and replied in a low voice:

  – “She changed her mind again last night and switched to butterfly wings. I had to message the shop to deliver them urgently this morning — and still adjust the decorations to match her taste.”

  He tilted his head and whispered, just loud enough for the designer to hear:

  – “Huy is really going to suffer this time. Becoming a live-in son-in-law here — he’ll see it for himself.”

  The designer chuckled softly, lowering his voice as well:

  – “In your case, your family background is even more formidable than Mr. D?ng’s, so your parents-in-law show you respect. But Huy… he’s definitely in for a rough time.”

  Inside the luxurious villa, the morning sunlight streamed through expansive panels of high-grade tempered glass stretching from floor to ceiling, pouring a layer of crystal-clear light into the space. The open-plan design allowed the sunlight to flow freely, reflecting off the pale marble floors, gliding along the delicate metal lines of the railings, and spreading into every corner of the room. The air was quiet and pristine, broken only by the faint whisper of wind slipping through carefully designed ventilation gaps, carrying with it the scent of greenery from the garden outside.

  On the first-floor balcony, Nicolas leaned against the railing, closing his eyes to savor the gentle warmth of the sun on his skin and the cool breeze brushing past his collar. He let out a soft sigh, murmuring as if speaking to himself.

  – “Women like that are really hard to find… or am I just too demanding?”

  He opened his eyes, his gaze drifting into the distance:

  – “A girl with a royal aura… yet completely natural, not constrained by rigid frameworks.”

  – “Not elaborate, yet effortlessly refined. Not ostentatious, but even standing still is enough to draw every gaze.”

  – “She doesn’t live by royal rituals, isn’t bound by etiquette… she’s a free woman, living in her own way.”

  – “…Someone both noble and wild…”

  – “Noble not because of status. Wild not because of rebellion. But because she’s never allowed any mold to define who she is.”

  Nicolas lightly tapped his forehead and let out a dry chuckle:

  – “As if someone like that actually exists.”

  His gaze lowered to the garden below. There, his two trusted subordinates, Grimm and Kane, sat by a stone table, tablets and laptops spread before them, displaying countless online application profiles. Both looked utterly exhausted.

  Grimm took a sip of his latte and shook his head in frustration:

  – “There’s no girl like the boss described. You could flip the whole world upside down and still wouldn’t find one.”

  Kane propped his chin on his hand, his voice weary:

  – “See these dark circles under my eyes? I pulled an all-nighter, digging through profiles of internet hot girls too… not a single one matches those criteria.”

  ***

  At the Bình Chánh headquarters, Bách Di?n had returned to his true appearance. His short, energetic hair featured a striking ombré — jet black at the roots, transitioning into a bold green at the tips. His distinctive heterochromatic eyes — left mint green, right turmeric gold — sparkled like glass, each moving independently with remarkable agility.

  He was intently studying the images on the screen: facial features, eyes, nose bridge, lips, body proportions… every detail meticulously analyzed to select the most suitable disguise.

  Arian glanced at Bách Di?n’s laptop and teased him with a grin:

  – “Have you picked a model yet? I heard Phong Túc plans to disguise himself as an innocent, pure Japanese-style schoolgirl.”

  Bách Di?n sighed, rubbing his wrist:

  – “Phong Túc can stick to his schoolgirl fetish if he wants. I’m choosing the mature woman type.”

  Just then, the Grand Madam Advisor stepped over, coughing lightly a few times:

  – “A brand ambassador with a mature-woman image… won’t be easy to get through.”

  She glanced at the screen, her voice slow but firm:

  – “I’ve thoroughly reviewed that cosmetics brand’s product lines. Their upcoming launch targets high school and university students specifically. You’ll need to figure out a way… to at least pass the preliminary screening before you can hope for anything else.”

  At the ?à L?t headquarters, morning draped the surroundings in the plateau’s signature clarity and gentle chill. A thin mist still lingered along the ancient stone corridors, while a faint breeze slipped through narrow gaps, carrying cold air that slowly seeped into the skin. The entire headquarters was so quiet that even footsteps echoed clearly before dissolving into the vast silence.

  Erion set his coffee cup down on the wooden table, the soft clink sounding unusually distinct in the stillness. He slowly lifted his gaze, sharp and cold, sweeping toward the staircase leading down to the resting quarters of the lesser demons. An invisible killing intent spread outward, causing the already chilly air to sink even further.

  – “Chen, go down and wake those idiots up immediately. The masters have already finished an entire round of coffee, yet the subordinates are still snoring.”

  Chen startled and jumped to his feet, bowing hastily:

  – “Yes! I’ll wake them up right away!”

  No sooner had he finished speaking than he turned and rushed down the corridor, his hurried footsteps echoing sharply against the cold stone walls.

  After Chen left, Din rose unhurriedly and slowly put on his black leather gloves, his movements calm and unbothered, as though there were no urgency at all. He glanced at Erion, the corner of his lips curving with hidden meaning:

  – “So, shall we go to the Valley of Love now? That place… is quite suitable for couples.”

  Trang flinched slightly upon hearing that. Her cheeks instinctively flushed, unclear whether it was due to ?à L?t’s chilly air or the deeper implication behind those words. She lowered her head a little, avoiding someone’s gaze.

  Erion cleared his throat softly and stood up, slipping on his dark overcoat. Turning his eyes toward the front garden, his voice dropped noticeably:

  – “Ah… Din is right. Let’s go there.”

  Trang nodded gently:

  – “Then… let’s go.”

  Behind them, Yin and Charles exchanged glances and smiled. Charles leaned in and whispered softly:

  – “Looks like the Great General is a bit… shy today.”

  Yin adjusted his vest collar, replying in a voice low enough to avoid causing a fatal incident:

  – “At first, he even declared he’d rather stay single for another thousand years than marry Princess Trang.”

  Din had already stepped forward, his voice indifferent:

  – “Let’s go get the car. If the lesser demons can’t wake up, just leave them at home.”

  ***

  Meanwhile, in the living room of D?ng's villa, the atmosphere was completely different. On the long table lay a pair of enormous butterfly wings, surrounded by scattered beads, crystals, glitter, and silver-toned stones… all reflecting the lights in a dazzling display.

  Anh Th? propped her chin on her hand, her expression troubled:

  – “I don’t even know which type to attach first. It’s so hard to choose.”

  Mary tilted her head, observing carefully while brainstorming:

  – “Let’s densely decorate the upper part, then gradually thin it out toward the bottom. Mix different kinds of beads to create depth.”

  Join nodded in agreement:

  – “That’s a good idea. But sewing them on will take forever. Let’s use glue instead — it’ll be much faster. Don’t worry, this glue holds really well.”

  Anh Tú crossed his arms, approving:

  – “Join’s right. If we do it by hand, it probably won’t be finished even by Tet. And we still have tons of other things to do.”

  In another corner, Anh ?ào and Anh Ph??ng were glued to their phones, endlessly scrolling through hairstyle ideas and makeup layouts for the upcoming model representative competition. The two occasionally leaned close together, whispering animatedly.

  C?u D?ng sat on the sofa, flipping through pages of the company’s financial reports. He shook his head slightly, his voice growing serious:

  – “Don’t overdo it. If you go too far, it’ll just look flashy and tacky.”

  Down in the kitchen, Dì T? — played by Phong Túc — stood before an enormous basket of raw vegetables. He bent down to examine them carefully, waiting until no one else was paying attention.

  A faint smirk tugged at Phong Túc’s lips:

  – “For twenty years, I’ve lived like this… not because I have time to serve your family.”

  Immediately after, a pale bluish mist rose subtly from his fingertips. Fine, thread-like strands of energy spread swiftly, sweeping across the basket. In the blink of an eye, wilted leaves fell away, dirt and grit vanished as if sucked into nothingness, and each stalk of vegetable became fresh and tender, gleaming faintly with moisture.

  Phong Túc withdrew his magic and dusted off his hands as though nothing had happened. The basket of vegetables remained there, looking completely ordinary… yet impossibly, flawlessly clean.

  In the early morning before the entrance of the Valley of Love in ?à L?t, the plateau’s signature chill enveloped everything, draping the scenery in a thin, lingering mist like the last breath of the night. The distant lake appeared and disappeared behind the pale fog, vapor drifting slowly across its surface, reflecting the first rays of sunrise. Weak beams of light filtered through the towering pine trees, falling onto the ground in slender streaks, soft like ribbons of silver silk.

  In front of the tourist entrance, the atmosphere gradually grew lively. The parking lot was already full, rows of 30- to 50-seat tour buses neatly lined up, their engines just shut off, still releasing faint warmth into the cold mist. Tour guides holding small flags called out to their groups, their voices ringing clearly through the quiet morning.

  Vietnamese tourists stepped down from the buses wrapped in thick sweaters, light padded jackets, and scarves snug around their necks, exclaiming softly at the pleasant chill. Foreign visitors carried cameras and slung backpacks over one shoulder, constantly lifting their lenses to capture the pine forests, the misty lake, and the fog-covered entrance, their mouths filled with admiration for ?à L?t’s uniquely tranquil scenery.

  The hum of laughter blended with the sound of playful footsteps on stone paths, the opening and closing of car doors, and birds chirping from the tall trees above. All these sounds intertwined, forming a gentle yet lively rhythm — a very ?à L?t kind of morning, as the Valley of Love slowly awakened.

  Din stepped up to the ticket counter, his demeanor familiar and composed. He quickly purchased tickets for the entire group, while behind him the lesser demons dragged their feet, each one bleary-eyed, yawning nonstop.

  One of them clutched his stomach and complained:

  – “I’m starving… I didn’t even get breakfast before being dragged out to play.”

  Erion turned his head slightly, his gaze turning visibly colder:

  – “Then why didn’t you stay home and sleep? I can send you straight back to the Dark Planet. No need to stay here whining about being tired and hungry.”

  The lesser demons immediately fell silent, only daring to mutter under their breath. Yin stepped forward, his tone gentle with a hint of teasing:

  – “Great General, just ignore them. What matters is that today you’re taking your future wife out for a stroll.”

  The moment the words fell, Erion seemed reinvigorated. His expression softened as he turned toward Trang, his gaze deepening, noticeably warmer.

  – “Let’s go now. It’s very beautiful inside.”

  Trang lowered her head slightly, her cheeks flushed from the cold… or perhaps from something else she herself couldn’t quite tell:

  – “Then let’s go. I’ve never been here before.”

  Erion’s voice grew low, slow, yet resolute:

  – “From now on, I’ll take you everywhere you want to go. I won’t let you be at a disadvantage anymore.”

  ***

  At the Bình Chánh headquarters, the atmosphere was entirely different. In the vast grand hall, Demon King Satan sat majestically upon a throne carved from ironwood, its dark grain radiating ancient authority. On the massive ironwood table before him lay rows of cosmetics that had been examined throughout the night.

  He picked up a lipstick and slowly rotated it between his fingers, his gaze contemplative:

  – “Not everyone is affected by the active compound Velvet Crave… so what is the cause? Is it that Erion’s group and Charles are immune due to their constitutions, or is there another reason?”

  The Grand Madam Advisor clapped her hands three times. Instantly, the Royal Satan Intelligence agents — both male and female — lined up neatly and bowed in unison:

  – “We pay our respects to the Lord and the masters.”

  The Grand Madam Advisor gestured:

  – “Each of you, apply a small amount of the lipstick. If hallucinations occur, the forensic experts will intervene immediately.”

  One by one, the agents complied. A heavy silence fell over the grand hall.

  Within minutes, the first two female agents began to show clear symptoms. In their eyes, reflections became distorted and alluring: flawless porcelain skin, lips red and full like velvet petals, eyes sparkling as though inlaid with gemstones. They saw themselves as impossibly beautiful, like living paintings favored by the divine.

  Several male agents soon slipped into hallucinations as well. In their vision, their bodies became tall and powerful, muscles perfectly sculpted, facial features sharpened without a single flaw, radiating strength and charisma like legendary heroes stepping out of myth.

  Seeing that the compound had taken effect, the Grand Madam Advisor signaled. The forensic experts immediately stepped forward, using cloths and clean water to wipe away the lipstick, severing the hallucinations.

  She turned to Satan, her voice firm:

  – “This confirms it. Erion, Princess Trang, Charles, and the lesser demons are indeed exceptions. Their bodies counteract the active compound of Velvet Crave.”

  Satan remained silent for a long while before shaking his head:

  – “I don’t think it’s merely a matter of constitution. The toxin of Velvet Crave strikes directly at desire — greed, anger, and obsession — amplifying it within the mind. If so… those who remain unaffected are so because, deep within, their desires are not strong enough to activate its toxicity.”

  Lita exclaimed in disbelief:

  – “But no one is completely without desire, are they?”

  Master V?nh immediately countered:

  – “There are. Kind hearts and pure souls still exist — it’s just that they are so rare we’ve come to believe they don’t.”

  The Grand Madam Advisor nodded in agreement:

  – “Exactly. When there is no desire in the heart, Velvet Crave meets its natural nemesis. Trang, Erion, and Charles are not greedy, nor are they scheming or deceitful. As for the lesser demons, their minds are filled only with eating and sleeping, so they aren’t affected at all.”

  She paused briefly, then continued:

  – “But Din is different. A highly capable vampire with great ambition… yet that doesn’t necessarily mean Velvet Crave can control him.”

  Satan smiled faintly, his gaze sharpening:

  – “Ambition achieved through one’s own ability and effort is different from the ambition of those who cannot stand on their own, who resort to schemes to seize the fruits of others’ labor.”

  Only then did H?ng Nhung understand, softly exclaiming:

  – “So the degree of Velvet Crave’s toxicity depends entirely on the desires within one’s soul.”

  Satan nodded slowly, the corner of his lips lifting into a profound smile:

  – “You see it now. The more scheming and deceitful one’s heart is… the faster Velvet Crave devours them.”