Chapter 2: Những lối đi mới

For a short time, the boy got exactly what he wanted. He was blissful, spending every day with his crush. Meanwhile, left in the ashes of her heartbreak, the girl underwent a transformation. She realized her own worth, started loving herself more, and found a new job that matched her hobbies, where her colleagues truly loved her. She completely transformed herself by buying new clothes, pampering her appearance, and expanding her knowledge.

"1. Left in the ashes of
​​English: Being abandoned or remaining in a completely ruined, heartbroken situation.
​Vietnamese: Bị bỏ lại trong tàn tro / sự đổ vỡ hoang tàn của...
​Collocation: Left in the ashes of + heartbreak / relationship / failed dreams.
​2. Underwent (Undergo)
​English: Used when experiencing a big process of change, a transformation, or a medical surgery.
​Vietnamese: Trải qua, chịu qua (một sự biến đổi lớn hoặc ca phẫu thuật).
​Collocation: Undergo + a transformation / a change / a surgery / medical treatment."

​It was at this new company that she crossed paths with a man. Holding a thick stack of documents, she was rushing down the hallway and didn't notice the path ahead. Meanwhile, this man was focused on his phone, checking his work, with a cup of coffee in his hand. The sudden collision sent the coffee spilling all over his white shirt. Panicked and deeply apologetic, the girl politely offered her apologies in a sweet, gentle, and remorseful voice. Hearing her tone, he looked up, and his heart skipped a beat.
At that moment, she had no idea he was her boss. Feeling guilty for carelessly ruining his shirt, she offered to take it home to wash it for him. Still captivated by her presence, he offered a warm smile and replied, "Oh, it's alright. I should be the one apologizing for not paying attention and blocking the way." However, she insisted, feeling too uneasy to just let it go. Helplessly giving in with a soft sigh, the man suggested, "How about you treat me to a cup of coffee sometime? We can grab a drink together, and it’ll count as your apology. " After a brief moment of thought, she nodded in agreement.

"3. Cross paths (Cross paths with someone)
​English: To meet someone by chance, or to have your life intersect with someone else's.
​Vietnamese: Tình cờ chạm mặt, vô tình gặp nhau, bước vào đời nhau.
​Collocation: Cross paths with a stranger / Our paths crossed at the company.
​4. Rushing down (Rush down)
​English: To move or run down a specific path, hallway, or stairs in a very fast, hurried manner.
​Vietnamese: Lao nhanh xuống, vội vã chạy dọc theo (hành lang, lối đi).
​Collocation: Rush down the hallway / Rush down the stairs.
5. Collision (Noun)
​English: An accident in which two people or things crash into each other.
​Vietnamese: Sự va chạm, cú va quệt.
​Collocation: A sudden collision / Avoid a collision.
​6. Panicked (Adj)
​English: Feeling a sudden, strong emotion of fear or worry, making you unable to think calmly.
​Vietnamese: Hoảng hốt, hoảng loạn, hoang mang.
​Collocation: Feel panicked / Look panicked.
​7. Remorseful (Adj)
​English: Feeling extremely sorry and guilty for something bad or wrong that you have done.
​Vietnamese: Hối lỗi, đầy sự ăn năn, hối hận.
​Collocation: A remorseful voice / Look remorseful / Feel remorseful.
​8. Captivated by
​English: Filled with wonder and delight, being completely attracted by someone's beauty or charm.
​Vietnamese: Bị cuốn hút, bị mê hoặc, bị làm cho say đắm bởi cái gì/ai.
​Collocation: Be captivated by her beauty / voice / presence.
​9. Presence (Noun)
​English: The fact of being in a particular place, or the special feeling that a person brings when they are there.
​Vietnamese: Sự xuất hiện, sự hiện diện, vẻ quý phái/phong thái toát ra từ một người.
​Collocation: Her glowing presence / In the presence of someone.
​10. Insisted (Verb)
​English: To say or demand something firmly, refusing to change your mind or accept a "no".
​Vietnamese: Khăng khăng, nằng nặc đòi, kiên quyết giữ ý kiến.
​Collocation: Insist on doing something / Insist that...
​11. Helplessly giving in
​English: Stopping to fight or argue against something because you feel you cannot win or resist anymore.
​Vietnamese: Bất lực chịu thua, đành phải nhượng bộ/đồng ý (trong sự bất lực nhưng vui vẻ).
​Collocation: End up helplessly giving in to someone.
​12. Count as
​English: To be considered as something, or to have the same value as something.
​Vietnamese: Được tính là, coi như là.
​Collocation: Count as a mistake / Count as an apology."

​After that, the girl asked for his phone number, and they parted ways as she rushed off. The man watched her retreating figure and smiled. Returning to his executive office, he sat in his luxurious chair behind a neat and organized desk. He opened his documents to read, but the image of the girl from this morning, along with her sweet voice, kept flooding his mind, making his heart suddenly thud against his chest.
​He called his assistant in and asked for the resumes and onboarding profiles of all the recent new hires. Flipping through them, he found her file. He stared at her ID photo—a beautiful girl with rosy-white skin; chubby cheeks; a small, ruby-red heart-shaped mouth; and large, round dove eyes that sparkled as if staring right back at him. Unconsciously, his fingers traced her picture, a spontaneous smile appearing on his face as he thought to himself, "Oh, I truly look forward to seeing her again."

"​13. Parted ways
​English: To separate from someone and go in different directions.
​Vietnamese: Chào tạm biệt, đường ai nấy đi (sau khi gặp mặt).
​Collocation: Part ways with someone / After the meeting, they parted ways.
​14. Rushed off
​English: To leave a place very quickly because you are in a hurry.
​Vietnamese: Vội vã rời đi, vội vàng chạy đi.
​Collocation: Rush off to work / Rush off without saying goodbye.
​15. Retreating figure
​English: The form or shape of a person who is walking away from you.
​Vietnamese: Bóng lưng khuất dần, dáng hình đang đi xa dần.
​Collocation: Watch someone's retreating figure.
​16. Heart suddenly thud against
​English: When your heart starts beating very loudly and strongly because of excitement, fear, or love.
​Vietnamese: Tim bất giác đập thình thịch liên hồi vào lồng ngực.
​Collocation: His heart thudded against his chest.
​17. Traced (Verb)
​English: To move your fingers gently over the surface of something.
​Vietnamese: Miết nhẹ, lướt nhẹ tay lên, sờ theo đường nét của cái gì.
​Collocation: Trace a picture / Trace a contour / Trace a pattern."

​That evening, after showering and winding down, the girl sat at her desk to finish up some leftover work. Suddenly, a business card slipped out from her stack of documents. She leaned down to pick it up and saw the unfamiliar phone number. It hit her all at once: "Oh dear, it totally slipped my mind! This is the number of that handsome guy whose shirt I ruined with coffee this morning. I need to find a free slot in my schedule to invite him for coffee as an apology." She quickly checked her calendar to arrange the time and place to meet him.
​Meanwhile, back at the office, the man was still working when his phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: "Hello, do you still remember me? I’m the one who accidentally spilled coffee on your shirt this morning. I’m so, so sorry about that. Are you free this Sunday? If you are, let’s meet up at 3 PM at the coffee shop opposite our company for convenience. Looking forward to your reply!"
Reading the message adorned with cute emojis, he couldn't help but picture her adorable expressions in real life. A warmth filled his chest, bringing a deep smile to his face. Not wanting to keep her waiting, he typed back: "I'm free this Sunday. See you then." He quickly saved her number. Having already seen her name in the files, he saved her contact with a cute emoji right next to it.

"​18. Winding down (Wind down)
​English: To rest and relax after a period of work, stress, or excitement.
​Vietnamese: Thư giãn, thả lỏng, nghỉ ngơi xuôi xịu (thường là vào cuối ngày sau khi làm xong hết việc).
​Collocation: Wind down after a long day / Take a hot bath to wind down.
19. Leaned down (Lean down)
​English: To bend your body forwards and downwards.
​Vietnamese: Cúi người xuống, khom lưng xuống.
​Collocation: Lean down to pick something up / Lean down to talk to a child.
​20. Adorned with
​English: Decorated with something to make it look more beautiful or attractive.
​Vietnamese: Được tô điểm bởi, đi kèm/trang trí với cái gì.
​Collocation: A room adorned with flowers / A message adorned with cute emojis.
​21. Couldn't help (Couldn't help but + V-inf)
​English: Unable to stop yourself from doing something or feeling a certain way.
​Vietnamese: Không thể không, vô thức làm gì, chẳng thể kìm lòng được.
​Collocation: Couldn't help smiling / Couldn't help but laugh."