Chapter 17 — From Noodles to Glory

“So… just keep moving forward.” The applause below the stage became even louder. I saw Truong Loi sitting in the first row, giving me a thumbs up. Next to him was the deputy general director of Tri Vien Group, also clapping. When stepping off the stage, many people came to give business cards, socialize, and arrange cooperation. Dao Vi next to me helped me block half. After being busy, it was almost ten o'clock. I went out of the hall and stood under the awning for a while, catching the night breeze. Phone vibrates. It's a name that hasn't appeared for a long time. Chu Han. The message had only one sentence. "Congratulations. You deserve it." I looked for two seconds. No reply. Put your phone in your pocket and walk towards the parking lot. The night wind blew on my face, cold but alert. Another three months have passed. Spring. Niem Bach Factory moved into a new office — an entire floor in a downtown office building. Three hundred and eighty square meters, three sides of the window are close to the ground, you can see half of the city skyline. On the day of moving house, the whole team ate hot pot together to celebrate. Dao Vi drank two glasses of beer, her face turned red and she asked me. "To Niem, have you considered a love affair?" "What love affair?" "Don't pretend. Truong Loi has already introduced you two people, right? You both refused." "Not suitable." "Not compatible at all?" "I don't want to pair up because of a couple." "So what kind of thing do you want?" I thought for a moment. "There's no need for me to stop for him." Dao Vi looked at me, raised the beer glass. "Then you just go ahead and get married." Anyway, now you... deserve the best person in the world." I clinked glasses with her. The hot steam of the hot pot rose, blurring the silhouette of the person in front of my eyes. In this one year, I have accomplished a lot. The factory's annual revenue exceeds forty million. Buy a new house of one hundred and twenty square meters, completely in my name. Dai Bao attended the best kindergarten. A one and a half year old daughter already knows how to call "mom". I hired a maid to stay at home to help take care of the children. Life is stable, prosperous, and free. Every penny, every inch of space, every choice is earned by me. Don't rely on anyone. I don't need anyone to "raise" me. That night when I got home, the maid put the two children to sleep. I stood on the balcony, looking at the city night scene outside the window. New news popped up on my phone. "An advertising company was removed by the industry association for falsifying projects, and the person in charge, surnamed Chu, was put on the industry's blacklist." I clicked to see it twice. It's Zhou Han's company. It's not because of Tri Vien's story, but because it was later investigated for counterfeiting in other projects. Investigate once to the end, the whole company's roots are rotten. Chu Han is not on the list, but the news illustration shows half of his face in profile. In the meeting room, bow your head, like a dry log. I turned off the news. Put the phone on the coffee table, go to the bathroom to take a shower. Hot water poured over me, I remembered that afternoon a year ago. Tenth day after cesarean section. He pushed the door open and walked in, leading the woman and telling me to cook ten dishes. At that time, I was weak and helpless, thinking my world had collapsed. Now I look back... The door that he roughly pushed open became the exit for me to step out again. Two years later. The valuation of Niem Bach factory exceeds one hundred million. It's not because of raising capital — I've always not accepted outside capital. It's because of the brand value and customer renewal rate that lies there, the industry rating organization gives this number. At the industry summit that day, I as a special guest gave a half-hour keynote speech. The theme is “the globalization path of the original Chinese design brand”. There were more than three hundred people on stage. After the speech ended, the applause lasted for nearly a minute.

Stepping off the stage, someone brought a bouquet of flowers. It wasn't Dao Vi who arranged it. The flower giver was wearing a dark gray suit, in his thirties, and his eyes were very clean. "Miss To, I'm taking a risk. I'm Tham Chu, the person in charge of the overseas affairs department of Tri Vien Group. I've worked in London for five years, and just returned home last month." "Hello." "Our London team has used the Asia Pacific vision system you worked on for a year. Every time we present a plan to a customer, the other person asks: who designed this?" "I said the factory." The best design in China. They didn't believe it until they saw the implementation effect with their own eyes." He smiled a bit and handed over the flowers. "So today... I personally came to say thank you." I received the flowers. Baby flowers, light purple, unobtrusive. “Thank you, General Manager Tham.” “Just call me Tham Chu.” He took a step back, not meaning to get involved. "If it's convenient, I'll invite you to dinner another day. Let's talk about the new plan for the overseas market." "Okay. Let Dao Vi set a time." He nodded, turned and walked into the crowd. Dao Vi emerged from the side, staring at the bouquet of flowers for three seconds. "Who is it?" "From Tri Vien's overseas affairs department." "Single?" "Did you check the household registration?" "I'll help you check." She said with a righteous expression.