Chapter 8 — Dawn After the Crack

"Protect." Lam Niem So repeated these two words, "Do you still remember the names of the guards that year?"

"It's in the case file, but the people have all dispersed."

“The name Tran Quoc Dong, do you have any impression?”

Lam Sung Son frowned and thought for a moment: "It seems... there is this person. He was one of the security guards on duty that day. Later he resigned and left Hai Thanh."

“He is my current father-in-law.”

Lam Sung Son slowly stood up.

“What did you say?”

"Tran Quoc Dong, my father-in-law. Twenty-eight years ago, he worked as a security guard at Hai Thanh No. 1 Hospital. He quit his job two days after I went missing and left Hai Thanh. Before he left, his bank account had an additional fifty thousand yuan."

The office was silent for a few seconds. Lam Sung Son walked to the desk and pressed the internal phone.

“Call Trieu Toan here.”

Three minutes later, a man in his fifties walked in. A skinny, resourceful person, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses.

“Trieu Toan, 1996 case.” Lam Sung Son said, "Security of Hai Thanh Hospital No. 1, Tran Quoc Dong, re-investigate."

Trieu Toan nodded: "I will arrange it right away today."

“Nien So.” Lam Sung Son turned to her, "Before clearly investigating Tran Quoc Dong's story, don't pull the strings and stir up trouble for now."

“I know.”

“Where are you living now?”

“At my friend's house.”

"Let's move back to our house. You need someone to take care of you."

“No rush.” Lam Niem So shook her head, "Before clarifying Tran Quoc Dong's story, I don't want the Tran family to know my identity."

“I know that moderation is okay.” Lam Sung Son nodded, "But from today onwards, I am no longer alone. I have a home."

He picked up an old photo on the table and gave it to her. In the photo, the young woman is holding a newborn baby, smiling gently.

"This is my mother. Taken on the day I was born."

Lam Niem So received the photo. The woman in the photo looks a lot like her. Same eyebrows, same eyes, same jawline.

"My mother passed away three years after I went missing. My father said that she missed me so much that she got sick and passed away."

Lam Niem So's fingers caressed the edge of the photo.

"Mom." She moved her lips wordlessly.

She didn't cry. But she pressed the photo to her chest and held it tightly for a long, long time. The night he signed the contract and returned from Cam Lan, Lam Niem So received a phone call.

“Miss Lam, I am Tham Tinh Van.”

“Director Tham, what's going on?”

"There's an industry exchange tomorrow, everyone who works in jewelry design will come. I've already registered your name."

"You're the chief designer of 'So Kien', you should at least show your face in the world. Or are you planning on hiding forever?"

"What time? Where?"

“Tomorrow night at seven o'clock, Hai Thinh hotel banquet hall.”

Lam Niem So accepted. The next evening, she changed into a black maternity suit, applied light makeup, and called a car to Hai Thinh hotel. There were many people in the banquet hall, all of whom worked in the jewelry industry. As soon as Lam Niem So entered, she felt the scrutiny. The more than seven-month pregnant belly really stands out on an occasion like this. Tham Tinh Van stood at the door to welcome her, with two other people next to him.

"Already here? Let me introduce you a bit, this is Trieu Bang Trinh, long-time designer of the Cam Lan product department. It should be The position of chief designer of ‘So Kien’ should be his.”

Trieu Bang Trinh was in his thirties, round face, wearing glasses, glanced at Lam Niem So, politely but coldly nodded.

“Hello.”

Tham Tinh Van led her around the banquet hall, introducing everyone he met: "This is the chief designer of the brand 'So Kien', the contestants were chosen freely, without any background backing." Every time we introduced each other, the other person's expression was similar - surprise, then staring at her stomach, then a subtle contempt. Lam Niem So always kept a smile on her face and didn't explain much. Halfway through the exchange session, it was time for the free exchange session. Lam Niem So took a glass of juice from the tea party area and a middle-aged man walked over.

“Lam Niem So, right? I heard you won first prize in the Cam Lan Cup?”

“I am the Design Director of Minh Chau Jewelry, Chau Dao.” He held a glass of wine, "To be honest, your concept of cracked aesthetics, someone on our side already did it three years ago. The market reaction is not good, consumers are not interested. Are you sure you can make it happen?”

“Three years ago, you considered the crack a defect to cover up. And I consider the crack to be the design itself.”

Chau Dao raised his eyebrows.

“What do you mean we did it wrong?”

“What I mean is that different angles of approach will result in different results.”

The attention of several people around was attracted.