Chapter 14 — After my engagement was canceled, I went to Shenzhen and lived the most brilliant version

I smiled softly.

“So do you still dare to continue to find out?”

“Up until now, I have never been afraid of difficult things.”

I won't say anything more. But when walking side by side, my elbow occasionally touched his sleeve. No one avoids. In April, after returning to Shenzhen, the capital raising information of "Shan Hai" was officially announced. In round A, Loc Minh is the leading investor, with two more famous investment funds participating. The company is valued at 100 million yuan. During the plenary meeting, Co Dien announced one thing: "'Son Hai' will separate from Loc Minh and establish a subsidiary. The CEO will still be Trieu Minh. The COO and Brand Director will be held by To Niem." The whole hall was silent for two seconds. Then there was a round of applause. Trieu Minh was the first person to stand up and applaud.

“Totally worth it.”

After the meeting, I pulled Co Dien back.

“Why didn't you tell me before?”

“I haven't agreed yet.”

“You will agree.”

I stared at him.

“Your habit of ‘deciding for me’…”

"It's not the decision for you. It's that I know what you will choose. If I guess wrong, you can refuse at any time."

I thought for a moment. Indeed... He did not guess wrong.

“Okay. But I have one condition.”

"The IP of 'Niem Bach' must be independent of 'Son Hai'. I can give 'Son Hai' priority cooperation rights, but the copyright will forever belong to me personally."

"Of course. It was originally your property."

“So it's over.”

I held out my hand. He grabbed it. Dry hands, sufficient grip strength. It's been a year since I arrived in Shenzhen. The half-year revenue of “Shan Hai” has exceeded 30 million yuan. The team expanded to thirty people. The product line from cultural creations extends to homewares, fashion and digital accessories. Personal brand “Niem Bach” achieves revenue of more than 8 million yuan per year. The picture book was published, the first printing was thirty thousand copies, and it was sold out in a week. I bought a house in Shenzhen. Not big, eighty square meters. But it's my own home. On the day of moving house, Chu Vi came to see the new house, stood on the balcony and shouted loudly:

"To Niem! You've made a fortune!"

“Just keep your voice down, the neighbors will call the police now.”

"A year ago, I was still on the sixth floor of the village in the middle of the city. Now I can buy a house! This is truly the legendary comeback!"

"It's not that exaggerated. Just go to a normal job and make money."

“What do you call normal?” She patted my shoulder. “You are the most quietly talented person I have ever met in my life.”

That night, after the party, everyone had gone home. It's just me sitting in the living room of my new house. Outside the balcony is a night view of Shenzhen. The lights in the distance continued to form a strip, like another starry sky. A year ago, when I sat by the window on the sixth floor of the village in the middle of the city, what I saw were the antennas on the opposite roof and the neon lights of the shopping mall. And now... What I see is an entire city. The phone rang. It's Co Dien.

“Are you done moving?”

“If you're missing anything, just tell me.”

“Nothing is missing.”

Both sides were silent for two seconds.

“Are you happy now?”

That question made me pause. Happy? I thought for a moment.

“I don't know if that's possible call it happiness or not. But I feel very reassured.”

“Reassurance is enough.” he said. “More trustworthy than happiness.”

I replied softly.

“Can you come to my house for dinner this weekend? I cook.”

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds. Hanging up the phone, I stood on the balcony. The wind blows from the south, bringing with it a bit of salty sea air. On this day one year ago, I pulled a suitcase and fled to this city. At that time, I thought I had lost everything, lost my job, lost my love, four years of my life shattered into pieces. Now, I have my own career, my own house, my own team and the people I choose to walk close to. The things that I used to think were happiness were within my reach, Tran Duy's promise, the marriage certificate I never received, that red dress, now recalling it all seems like someone else's story. It's time to close it. Closed a long time ago. I closed the balcony door, went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. What should I cook this weekend?