The opulent room of Chief Pao Hong was adorned with silk tapestries and intricately carved wooden furniture, featuring golden dragons winding their way across every surface. In the center, a grand mahogany desk was cluttered with scrolls, maps, and a half-empty goblet of wine. The soft glow of lanterns illuminated Pao Hong's stern face as he studied a document. The silence of the room was abruptly shattered as the door slammed open.
Pan stormed in, her platinum hair gleaming under the light, her piercing green eyes fixed on her father with fiery indignation.
Pan: (shouting) Father! How could you order Van's death?!
Pao raised his eyes from the parchment, feigning surprise as he leaned back in his chair, intertwining his fingers.
Chief Pao: (calm, mocking) Which Van, my dear daughter?
Pan: (furious, crossing her arms) You know exactly which Van I'm talking about. Don't play dumb with me!
Pao's eyes narrowed, his patience beginning to wane.
Chief Pao: (still controlled) I did not order Van's death.
Pan: (pointing a finger at him, voice trembling with rage) You're lying to me! How dare you lie to your own daughter?!
Pao suddenly stood, his chair scraping loudly against the floor as his indifferent expression turned to irritation.
Chief Pao: (yelling) I am not lying, Pan!
Pan refused to back down, stepping closer to the desk.
Pan: (teary-eyed, voice shaking) Father, Chain's men told me you gave him the order to execute Van!
Pao hesitated for a moment, stroking his beard as his calculating eyes assessed the situation.
Chief Pao: (sighing) Wait... are we talking about the Van who was part of Chain's crew?
Pan: (impatient) You know exactly who we're talking about! Van, the one you sent on a mission two days ago!
Chief Pao: (reluctant, looking away) Ah, now I remember. Chain requested permission to kill Van.
Pan: (confused) Why would he request that?!
Pao leaned slightly over the desk, his tone cold and authoritative.
Chief Pao: (with disdain) Chain caught him red-handed… with one of his concubines. We cannot allow a man's honor to be tarnished in such a way.
Pan's eyes widened in disbelief.
Pan: (angry) That's a lie! Van would never do something like that!
Chief Pao: (ironic) And what do you know about him, Pan?
Pan slammed her hands on the desk, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her face.
Pan: (crying) He's not like that, Father! You're lying!
Pao's eyes narrowed further, his anger beginning to boil.
Chief Pao: (angrily) Why are you so upset about this, my dear daughter?
Pan stepped back, hesitating. Her face turned red as she struggled with the words she wanted to say.
Pan: (quietly, through sobs) Because... because I... I love Van!
Pao's expression shifted from surprise to fury in an instant. He slammed his hand on the desk so hard the goblet of wine nearly toppled over.
Chief Pao: (shouting) You what?! You loved that wretched fool?!
Pan: (wiping her tears, defiant) No... I didn't love him. I still love Van!
Chief Pao: (furious, pointing a finger at her) Then you are gravely mistaken, my daughter! How dare you love a dead, disgraced, and useless man?!
Pan: (sad but firm) Father, don't speak about Van that way!
Pao laughed bitterly, shaking his head.
Chief Pao: (ironically) Fine, I'll help you find a man who is strong, brave, intelligent, handsome... and wealthy.
Pan: (screaming, crying) I don't want another man! I want my Van, Father!
Pao took a step back, his face twisted with anger. He looked toward the door and bellowed:
Chief Pao: Din! Get this girl out of here!
The door swung open, and Din entered swiftly. His scarlet hair glistened under the room's light, and his yellow eyes were sharp and alert.
Din: (firmly) Yes, sir.
Din approached Pan, who stepped back, trying to resist.
Pan: (struggling) Din, let me go!
Din: (calm but determined) I'm sorry, Miss Pan, but I can't do that.
He grabbed her arms firmly but carefully, making sure not to hurt her.
Pan: (screaming, trying to break free) You idiot! Let me go right now!
Din didn't respond, guiding her out of the room as she continued to struggle and cry.
In her luxurious bedroom, adorned with tapestries featuring detailed dragons and lotus flowers, Pan was pushed inside by Din. The dark wood bed with red silk sheets stood grandly in the center, but all the opulence of the room felt stifling in that moment.
Din closed and locked the door behind him, watching her with a mix of pity and caution.
Din: (in a low tone) Miss Pan, please... calm down.
Pan sat on the edge of the bed, tears streaming down her face.
Pan: (through sobs) How could he do this, Din? How could he order Van's death?
Din hesitated, clearly uncomfortable.
Din: (avoiding her gaze) I don't know, Miss Pan. But... maybe you should rest.
Pan: (shouting) I don't want to rest! I want Van back!
Din sighed deeply but said nothing more. He exited the room, leaving Pan alone, her quiet sobs filling the air as she collapsed onto the bed.
Meanwhile, in Chief Pao's quarters, he stared at the map on his desk, though his gaze was distant.
Chief Pao: (murmuring to himself) I can't allow my decisions to be questioned... not even by my own daughter.
He clenched his fist, his thoughts consumed by strategies and maintaining his power, even at the cost of Pan's pain.
Back in her room, Pan lay on her bed, her platinum hair cascading like a waterfall against the red silk sheets. The weight of her grief was crushing, but beneath it burned a simmering resolve.
Pan: (whispering through tears) My dear Van... I will avenge you.