Chapter 20 — After All, We All Learn How to Be Better People

"Just guessing. Since I was little, I've liked to stand in the back and watch everything."

His eyes stopped on me. No more probing. No longer cold.

“You did a great job.”

“A lot bigger than you think.”

"In the past, I always thought... girls couldn't do big things."

He bowed his head.

“You're stupid.”

Those three words fell. The stick in his hand tapped hard on the floor. Like crucifixion. I walked closer.

"In the future, don't climb stairs too much, and don't worry too much. Health is the most important thing."

He raised his head to look at me. I looked at him. The two faced each other for a few seconds. No need to say anything more. He turned around, leaned on his cane, and slowly walked towards the elevator. After taking a few steps, he stopped. Don't turn around.

“Tieu Thanh.”

“If your grandmother were still alive… she would be very happy.”

His voice broke at the last few words. Then he continued. I stood in the hallway. Look at that hunched back figure entering the elevator. The door closes. I turned around. Lean against the wall. Eyes a bit stingy. Don't cry. But… almost. In early November, Diep Minh Huy's story had a final result. Stripped of civil servant status. Deposit for industrial land—lost completely. After dissolution, Huy Dat Company still owes consulting and brokerage fees, a total of about 800,000 yuan. 200,000,000 yuan—less than three months, nearly 60,000,000 yuan evaporated. The remaining amount of about 140,000,000 yuan was taken back by my grandfather under the name of "custody". He forced me to go to the bank to open a term account and lock all the money. Diep Minh Huy did not object. Not because of agreement. It's that... I don't have the strength to object anymore. These stories are told by my father. His voice became much lighter.

"Your grandfather told me that no one can touch this money. We'll continue to deal with it later."

“Tieu Thanh…”

“Your grandfather… asked me to ask you something.”

“What?”

"You asked... when will Thinh Hang's dividends be paid this year?"

I paused for a second. Then burst out laughing.

“Why do you ask that?”

“He said… he wanted to buy some shares.”

“Dad, the stock price of Thinh Hang is now 317 yuan.”

"I know. You said you wanted to buy... ten shares."

Three thousand one hundred and seventy yuan.

“Let me buy it.”

In mid-November, Tien To Phuong came to see me once. Not to cause trouble. She stood under the studio building, calling.

“Tieu Thanh, can I say a few words?”

I told Tieu Ha to lead her up. She walked in, holding a bag of fruit. Put it down on the table, don't sit, just say three sentences. First sentence:

"Minh Huy is at home reviewing books, preparing to retake the exam for another position. He said he won't do business again in the future."

Second sentence:

"Grandpa's health has been better recently. Every morning he opens his phone to check the Thinh Hang stock price."

Third sentence— She hesitated for a long time.

"About the letter... I still haven't officially apologized to you. I just came today to say one thing—I was wrong."

Having finished speaking, she turned away. Don't wait for me to answer. I looked at the bag of fruit on the table. Peel one fruit. But... still edible. December. Winter comes. Thinh Hang's year-end meeting schedule is full for the whole month. European branch officially operates. Three new partners signed contracts. The domestic AI segment won two government model projects. Annual revenue forecast exceeds 18,000,000,000 yuan. But my life… remains almost unchanged. Every day drive to the studio. Adjust drawings, make proposals, meet customers. At night, cook yourself or order food. Occasionally jog on weekends. Diep An An is still interning at the studio. Good project Her career won second prize at the school level. Three edits—I edited together.

“Miss Thanh, after I graduate, can I stay here and work?”

"Okay. But don't call Ms. Thanh anymore. Call Mr. Diep."

"Eh? So people don't reveal your identity in public?"

"At the studio, I'm Mr. Diep. No one in Thinh Hang knows who I am. It's okay to distinguish clearly."

“Yes… Mr. Diep.”

After she finished calling, she laughed until her shoulders shook. I glanced at it. It laughed even louder. Late December, a weekend. I returned to my old house again. It wasn't anyone who called me back. Just... suddenly wanted to go back and take a look. Pushing the door into the yard, the cinnamon flowers have long since faded. The yard is empty. But the steps are swept very clean. In the living room, grandfather was watching the news. Seeing me, he lowered the volume.

“Are you back?”

"There is noodles in the kitchen. Your mother will bring it over this afternoon. Serve it yourself."

I went into the kitchen and got a bowl. Come back and sit down next to him. He watches TV. No one said anything. Halfway through the bowl, he suddenly spoke up.

“My Thinh Hang company is down two percent today.”

I almost choked.

“Do you watch it every day?”

"Why can't you see it? You bought ten shares. If you reduce it by two percent, you'll lose 63.4 yuan."

His voice was very serious.

“It's okay, it will increase again tomorrow.”

“You know for sure?”

"Because it's my company. I say monk is monk."

He glanced at me. The corners of the mouth moved slightly.