Chapter 6 — Freedom Is My Destination

I stepped onto the stage, and as soon as I appeared, there was immediately a stir below: "Oh my god, is the CEO this young?!" "And she's so pretty... it's mostly because of her beauty that she got here." "Do you have a lover? Can we get to know each other?" “Wow, this sister is so cool!” The initial chatter was noisy and chaotic, but gradually, when I started to speak... The whole hall fell silent. I talk about the company's development process, about the difficulties, failures, turning points, each word clearly, confidently, and proudly. The skeptical eyes at first were now replaced by concentration and admiration. Many people quietly took notes, afraid of missing a sentence. That was also the first time Luc Minh and I... officially met. He sat in the front row, wearing a perfect lead gray suit, his shirt buttons neatly buttoned, his neat hair framing his cold face. Light falls from the ceiling, highlighting the angular lines, light and dark like sculpture. His gaze left the document in his hand, slowly raised it, looking straight at me... That look was so deep that it seemed to penetrate all layers of defense. I tightened my grip on the microphone, my breathing was a bit disordered. My heart pounded in my chest, I told myself — Calm down, On Noan... don't forget he is Diep Nhiem's husband. 8 He sat lazily reclining in the front row, his head slightly tilted back, his appearance both noble and supported by wealth, while also carrying an evil spirit of carelessness trained from long years of working in underground power. Luc Minh slowly raised his finger, gently stroked the corner of his lips, his eyes sparkled with an appreciative smile. After listening to me, he was the first person to stand up and applaud, dragging the whole hall with him. As soon as I stepped off the stage, many people immediately came forward to give me business cards. After a few polite words, I quickly found an excuse to leave, walked out the main door, intending to find a car. When I arrived at the parking lot, Luc Minh was sitting right on top of my car, holding a cigarette between his fingers. Seeing me, he leaned over and smiled faintly: "Miss Wen, is it convenient? Come have a meal with me." I replied briefly and coldly: "It's not convenient." The corner of his eyebrows slightly raised, his voice sounded like a joke: "We... seem to have met somewhere before?" I didn't answer, walked straight into the car, stepped on the accelerator and left. Through the rearview mirror, I still saw him standing there, his lips slightly raised, his eyes filled with vague interest. After that, the company's key project suddenly came under fierce attack from competitors. The news reached my ears: "General Lu just said one thing - tell Wen Noan to come see him himself." But now, I am no longer the weak girl I used to be. Things like this cannot easily subdue me. However, this time he played very big - Bet all his assets, if I don't come, he will drag both sides to drown. I carefully prepared, adjusted every detail, and then arrived on time. In the VIP room, Luc Minh and his friends were drinking loudly. As soon as I walked in, a bottle of wine rolled to my feet with a few clicks. I bent down, picked up the bottle of wine, put it in the trash, curled my lips slightly, and politely said: "Mr. Luc is looking for me, what's going on?" Everyone in the room turned their heads to look, their eyes quietly assessing. A man nudged the pink-dyed haired girl sitting next to Luc Minh, lowered his voice and said: "Give up your seat, let Miss Wen sit." From the moment I walked in, Luc Minh never once looked straight. He did it himself poured a glass of wine, pushed it in front of me, and said leisurely: "Drink this glass... we will be friends." I reached out and grabbed the glass, briefly glancing at the bottom of the cup - there was a layer of fine powder settling, the light reflecting clearly. Bullets exploded: 【General Luc, times have changed!】 【I've been following the female lead from the beginning until now, if this time I fall, I'll cry to death.】 【Don't tell me it's chun medicine?! Seeing the color of the wine like that, I might not take the risk!】 【Not only that... the male lead knows that even if he sleeps with the female lead, he cannot threaten her. So he added another medicine, after drinking it for the rest of your life, it will be difficult to quit.】 【Once you drink this drink… the heroine will surely die!】 【She won't be… that stupid, will she?!】 【Oh my god… she came alone? Don't you know the "dog quality" of the Six Dog?!】 I curled my lips and smiled softly, raising my glass of wine... Just when all eyes were waiting for me to drink, I threw the entire glass straight away — "Swoosh!" The liquid splashed onto Luc Minh's face. The air in the room immediately froze. The remaining people simultaneously took a deep breath, their faces filled with horror. Luc Minh slightly raised his head, a smile curled up at the corner of his lips, but that smile was cold to the bone. His eyes locked tightly on me, looking so straight that it made my scalp numb. “You guys, lock the door.” I slowly curled my lips, keeping my faint smile: "It's late." Having finished speaking, loosening his wrist, the glass fell to the floor, with a sharp "clack" sound, as if announcing the end of the game. Soon after, a police team entered. The sound of shoes hitting the ground was loud, the atmosphere was oppressive. Luc Minh was momentarily surprised, but immediately regained his composure, his voice was deep and filled with laughter: "Is this your trump card? Believe it or not... I'll come out tomorrow and come find you to settle the matter."

“Crap!” Cold figure eight handcuffs locked his wrists tightly. A police officer's face turned red and angrily shouted: "The penal code doesn't even contain enough of the crimes you committed! Want to go out? Dreaming! This kid, finally caught you!" Luc Minh was stunned, his eyebrows furrowed: "What crime did I... commit? Wasn't it... just inviting someone to dinner?" He turned his head, looked towards the only "untainted" brother, his voice lowered: "Remember to redeem me."

Trieu Kha Xuyen gently pushed up his glasses and awkwardly replied: "Boss... I haven't saved this company yet, where will I get the money to ransom you?" The air was silent for a few seconds. Luc Minh stopped, his eyes were bloodshot and scary. His eyes swept over me, then looked at Trieu Kha Xuyen, as if a complex emotion was squeezing his chest. He suddenly laughed softly, but the broken smile was full of bitterness: "On Noan... Maybe... I don't know how to love, but... I really like you." His voice was hoarse and trembling as if confessing: "That night, it was you... right? From that moment, I can't forget you anymore. The scent on you, your voice... Do you remember... when you were little, did you use an umbrella to cover a boy standing in the rain? It was you... you..." Before he could finish his words, his mouth was stuffed with a towel by the police, and the whole person was dragged out of sight. The phone rang, it was Diep Nhiem. Her voice was suppressed but still clearly showing excitement: "Tieu Noan! The Great Duke announces the city! Come quickly, let's attend the celebration party, I'll send you the address!" Don't forget to add another sentence: "Call Tieu Trieu to come with you." Hearing his name mentioned, Trieu Kha Xuyen slowly took a step forward. The ash-gray suit hugged his broad shoulders, his gold-rimmed glasses reflected the light, his whole body exuded a calm but dangerous aura, the seductive, dangerous look seemed to be enhanced by this calmness. We hadn't seen each other for a long time, and suddenly there was a feeling between us that was both strange and familiar, mixed with a bit of awkwardness that was hard to name. I took a breath, curled the corners of my lips: "Let's go." The address was not far, the two of us walked side by side, the autumn night was cool, the breeze blew across our faces, the atmosphere was so quiet that it was like going back to college days. I didn't know where to open my mouth, so I awkwardly bowed my head. Suddenly, my fingers lightly touched the back of his hand. In that moment, my heart jumped, I quickly dodged to the side. Trieu Kha Xuyen looked straight ahead, then suddenly sighed, his voice low: "Tieu Noan... General Luc is in prison, I... lost my job. Now... what should I do?" I tilted my head to look at him, smiled, my voice was firm: "You are talented, our company is definitely competing to invite you. I will introduce you internally." He paused for a moment, then tilted his head to look at me, the corners of his lips curled up: "Really? Then... I'm truly honored. Your company is fighting to have me... What about you? Do you want me?" I stiffened, my ears burned, my breathing became erratic, and finally I blurted out a series of numbers: "20... 23... 84." His eyes flashed with suspicion, his eyebrows slightly raised: "What?" I tightened my grip on the bag strap and mumbled: "My password..." At that moment, Trieu Kha Xuyen stopped walking and turned his head slightly to look at me. His lips were pressed tightly, the corners of his lips were slightly curved, clearly trying to suppress a smile, but the light in his eyes was so bright it was dazzling. “Um… take orders.” 9 It was autumn, the wind was cold, and it was also the time when the Luc family officially collapsed - collapsing until not a single piece remained. All... thanks to Trieu Kha Xuyen. He remained patient for many years, gradually penetrating the internal affairs of Luc Thi Group, collecting all the evidence about tax evasion, money laundering, market manipulation, sexual bribery, and even the underground system behind Luc Minh and his network of gray connections. Also thanks to Ms. Diep Nhiem. She pretended to be on Luc Minh's side, secretly provided information about his movements, and even secretly monitored his phone for a long time. She said, she was bored with Luc Minh, she needed an heir for the Diep family, so all the plans were precisely calculated, for her to marry the child, leave the father - keep the bloodline, destroy power. And... also thank the bullets. If it weren't for all the reminders, I probably... would have gradually fallen into the male protagonist's vortex, being led into a predetermined plot, without being able to take charge of my own destiny. Now, I stand in the light, welcoming a bright golden future — a future of freedom, independence, and no constraints. I turned my head to look back, a faint smile on my lips. “Thank myself… for daring to live, for daring to choose, for persevering… and not abandoning myself.” Full text complete.