Chapter 19 — After Notarizing 5 Houses, I Just Got Married

She didn't go on stage, she sat in the last row. I see she is smiling. A very small smile, others don't notice. But I can feel it. At the end of the year-end meeting, I met Co Dien in the elevator. Today he also came as a representative of the strategic investment partner to attend the meeting.

“Congratulations, General Manager To.”

"Thank you."

The elevator door closed, leaving just the two of us. He pressed the 1st floor.

“Are you free next week?”

“Is there something wrong?”

"Dinner. No business discussions."

I watched the numbers on the elevator jump continuously. Thirty-two, thirty-one, thirty... The elevator reached the first floor and the door opened. He stepped forward, took two steps then turned around.

"Your speech today was very good. It moved people's hearts even more than your design plan."

I stood in the elevator, not moving. The door was about to close, he reached out to stop it.

“Don't stand in the elevator anymore, it's sunny outside.”

I walked out. The sunlight outside the lobby is very beautiful, reflecting through the glass onto the floor. He stood right in the middle of that sunlight. I walked next to him. The shadows of the two of us fell on the ground, overlapping for a short while. A year and a half ago, I came out of a failed marriage. Half a year ago, I built my own career department. Now, I'm standing in the sunlight, next to someone who isn't looking at my houses. That dinner date was on Saturday. I booked a very quiet French restaurant. There are no private rooms, but the location is in the corner, with enough privacy. After sitting down, he gave me the menu.

“Let me order.”

“Aren't you picky about eating?”

“Not picky.”

I ordered two main courses, an appetizer and a dessert. I leave the choice of wine to you. He chose a bottle of Burgundy. We talked for two hours. Don't talk about work, don't mention your ex, don't bring up any heavy topics. Tells about the story when he was studying at Stanford and ran away to Mexico to surf and almost drowned. Tell me about the story when I worked part-time at an art museum in college and was startled by a performing arts artist. Tell the story of him raising a Shiba dog named "Annual Report", because the pressure of raising it is as great as reading the annual report. Tell me about how when I was little, she taught me to recognize the names of plants. There are plants whose scientific names are more complicated than human names. During the two hours, there was not a single moment of feeling awkward. When dessert was brought, he put down his fork.

“To Niem, there is something I want to clarify with you.”

"I invited you to dinner tonight, not to explore, nor to be ambiguous."

“So what is it for?”

“It's to express attitude.”

He looked at me.

"I like you. From that night on the rooftop in Chengdu I already knew it. But I know you've been through really bad things, so I don't want to put any pressure on you. If you feel like we can only be cooperative partners, I'm completely accepting. But if you're willing—"

He hasn't finished his sentence yet. Because I spoke first.

“If you're ready for what?”

“If you are ready… let me into your life.”

I picked up the glass of wine and took a sip of Burgundy. Taste of black cherry and The scent of the earth rushed into my mouth. Very rich.

“You know I have five houses, right?”

“I know.”

“Don't you feel that a woman with five houses will bring great pressure?”

“Why is there pressure?”

“My ex-husband came for this reason.”

"That's his problem. It has nothing to do with the house, and it has nothing to do with you."

His tone was very calm.

"And if I'm being precise, I probably have more than five houses. 30% of the shares of the Cam Hoa design subsidiary were given to me by Chairman To, if calculated according to market valuation—"

“You even figured this out?”

"I'm an investor and project appraisal is a professional habit. But rest assured, I only investigate public information and do not violate your privacy."

“So how much do you think I'm worth?”

He tilted his head slightly.

“This is not a question that can be quantified with numbers.”

“Investors don't quantify?”

“There are assets that cannot be measured with numbers.”

I put down the glass of wine.