Chapter 15 — Fired in the middle of a livestream, a year later I made the whole company go bankrupt

On the other end of the line. He smiled softly.

"This time I'm serious."

"Next month Tinh Ha will hold a Strategy Conference."

"I want you to attend..."

"As Co-Founder."

I stopped.

"What do you mean?"

"The board of directors has officially approved it."

"Acknowledge you as Co-Founder of Tinh Ha."

"With what you contributed in the past half year."

"This title..."

"You should have had it a long time ago."

I burst out laughing helplessly.

"...Why do you always like to pay for the reward?"

"Because I learned from you."

I can't bear it anymore. Laugh out loud. Outside on the balcony. The gentle night breeze passes by. The lights on the Huangpu River stretch like a silver silk strip.

"Tong Di Tham."

"I heard."

"Thank you."

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds. Then his voice slowly rang out.

"No need to thank me."

"All you have today..."

"It's all yours to win."

"I just..."

"Don't let her bear the burden alone."

The call ended. I pressed the phone to my cheek. Gently close your eyes. For the first time in many years. I feel... I can really let go. Tinh Ha Strategy Conference. More than 500 guests were present. All major media agencies in the industry attended. I wear a white suit. Standing next to Tong Di Tham. On the giant LED screen appeared two lines of text. Co-founder of Tinh Ha and Director of Content The flash in the auditorium was as bright as day. I only spoke for three minutes. Don't talk about data. Nor is it about strategy. I'm just saying.

"A year ago."

"I was fired right during the livestream."

"I used to think..."

"The sky has fallen."

The whole auditorium was silent.

"But I understood later."

"The scary thing is not the sky falling."

"The scary thing is..."

"You accept what other people say."

"'You only deserve to live forever in that little room they built for you.'"

"Today I stand here."

"It's not because I'm lucky."

"It's not because anyone supported me."

"I never allowed myself to stop."

"I want to send to everyone who is in adversity..."

"You deserve to stand higher."

"But first..."

“You have to step up for yourself.”

Applause rang out. Stronger than the previous capital call announcement. I turned my head to look at Tong Di Tham. He is still standing next to me. No clapping. Just quietly looked at me. In those eyes. There was something I had never seen on anyone's face before. Not admiration. Not proud either. Absolute trust. Right from the first day. I knew. I will definitely go today. One month after the conference. Tinh Dieu Media officially announced delisting. Three consecutive quarters of losses. Cash flow completely disrupted. Phuong Chinh Vien was accused of embezzling public funds. Currently being investigated by authorities. Tran Trac also submitted a resignation letter. I heard I went everywhere looking for a new company. But in the world... No one dares to accept it anymore. Tham Kha posted a post on Weibo.

"I decided to return to a normal life, to be a normal girl."

Right below. Someone reposted her highest livestream data. Online views: 12,000 GMV: 3,000,000 yuan With a comment.

"Truly the level of a normal girl."

I don't read. Duong Thien sent it in work group. Tieu Lam only texted one word. I sent a smiley sticker. Say nothing more. Raise your head and look out the window. The skyline of Luc Gia Chuy. It's still the same scene. A year ago. I used to stand under the building. Looking up at the sixty-seventh floor. And now. The sixty-seventh floor... Is where I work every day. Also that week. Compensation from the labor dispute has officially been transferred. 2,300,000 yuan. Plus 480,000 yuan in overtime pay. Not a penny missing. I immediately transferred 500,000 yuan to my mother. Mom called to ask.

"What money?"

"Tien Tinh Dieu compensates you."

"Mom, just take the pepper."

"I can't spend this much..."

"So I'll keep it."

"Let's take care of Do Do's tuition later."

The other end of the line was silent for a long time. Then mother spoke softly.

"If your father knew."

"He must be very happy."

I smiled. One year later. Tinh Ha completed Series C capital raising round. Valuation exceeded 30,000,000,000 yuan. My stock options alone... Are worth more than 600,000,000 yuan. Plus 35% stake in Thanh Nguyen Khoa Ky. According to the latest valuation. That portion of assets has exceeded 5,000,000,000 yuan. Co Niem So. The person who was fired right in the livestream room a year ago. A shareholder of two companies. As Co-Founder of a platform. Total assets... Exceeded 5,000,000,000 yuan. To me. All those numbers. Neither is as important as one thing. That day was Saturday. Do Do's kindergarten held a Family Festival. Tong Di Tham and I brought her here together. He squatted down. Patiently tie Do Do's shoe laces. A parent next to him smiled and asked.

"Is this your baby's father?"

Do Do raised her head to look at him. Turned to look at me again. Then he answered very seriously.

"Not yet."

"But soon."

I almost choked on the water. Tong Di Tham is still calm. He stood up. Brush off the dust on your knees. Then turned to look at me.

"She said..."

"...Shut up."

I saw him smile. Not the usual polite smile. It's a real smile. The bottom of his eyes also sparkled with laughter. I quickly turned away. Ears are hot. Do Do held his hand. Jump forward. Two small braids sway with each step. The strawberry-shaped clip on the backpack sparkled in the sunlight. I go behind. Quietly looking at the two people. Suddenly I remembered the rainy night a year ago. I stood alone under the Tinh Dieu Media building. The whole body is wet. At that time I just thought. As long as in the future... Du Do doesn't have to live by looking at other people's faces. And now. The baby doesn't need it anymore. No need anymore. Five years later. Tinh Ha officially listed. Valuation reached 120,000,000,000 yuan. I appeared at the bell ringing ceremony on the Nasdaq floor. Wear a red suit. Stand to the right of Tong Di Tham. Do Do is now nine years old. Wear a plaid skirt. Get between the two of us. In his hand he holds a small hammer used in rituals. Smiling to the point of showing gaps because teeth are being replaced. My mother sat in the front row. Cry until your eyes turn red. Duong Thien sat next to him. Give three tissues in a row. The moment the bell rang. In my mind, I don't see the livestream room that year. Not a layoff call. It was not Phuong Chinh Vien's threat. It's not Chu Boi Nguyen's fake smile. The paper has turned yellow. With Dad's scribbles.

"If one day you stand tall enough..."

"Let's take back what belongs to us."

I'm already tall enough. I also got it all back. Not only that. You won more... What I ever dared to imagine. The bell rang throughout the hall. A hand quietly held mine. It's Tong Di Tham. He tilted his head. Don't say "congratulations". Also don't say "I love you". Just smiled and asked.

"Let's go eat hot pot?"

"Do Do specifically wants to eat cow stomach."

I squeezed his hand.