Chapter 13 — Healing After Days of Neglect

On New Year's Eve, I wore a black dress and simple pearl earrings. For the first time... I actually wore makeup for someone. Up on the rooftop, Co Tham was there. He wore a dark blue suit and held two glasses of champagne.

“You are very beautiful.” He gave me a drink.

There were about a dozen people on the rooftop, all residents of the same area. Everyone chats, waiting for the New Year's Eve moment.

“Lam Van, I have something to say.”

“What?”

"Next year, my company wants to invest in three design projects. I want to invest in Van Chu."

"How much?"

“10,000,000 yuan, in exchange for 15% of the shares.”

“Are you planning to take advantage of the New Year's Eve atmosphere to discuss business?”

“Not business.” He looked at me. “It's cooperation.

And… it's not just about the company.” My heart skipped a beat slightly.

"What do you mean?"

Countdown begins. Ten, nine, eight…

“I don't want to be just your neighbor... or your customer.”

Seven, six, five…

“So what do you want?”

Four, three, two, one— Fireworks exploded in the sky. The whole city erupted. Co Tham bent down to look at me, the light of the fireworks reflected in his eyes.

“Do you really want to hear it?”

“I want… to be the person to celebrate New Year's Eve with you.

I stood under the fireworks sky, holding a glass of champagne. But I don't feel cold. On New Year's Day, I received a special package. Inside is a painting. A girl sat in front of a desk, quietly drawing a design. The back reads:

“For Lam Van. Drawing on an overtime night. — Co Tham.”

I hung the painting on the office wall. Phuong Vien saw it and screamed.

“When did he draw?! Does he even know how to draw?!”

"Don't know."

“Lam Van, you're in love, right?”

"Don't know."

“You don't know anything! Your face is red!”

“Go to work.”

"Are not! You must tell! What happened on New Year's Eve?!”

"Nothing."

“There's nothing to hang other people's pictures on?!”

“Beautiful painting or beautiful person?”

“...all beautiful.”

“Aaaaaaa!”

The whole office turned to look. I just want to put Phuong Vien in a box and send it somewhere else. In mid-January, Tham Nguyen Capital officially invested in Van Chu Design. 10,000,000 yuan, in exchange for 15% shares. The signing ceremony was attended by seven or eight media units. Co Tham stood on stage and spoke.

“I invested in Van Chu, not because of how much money they are making.

But because founder Lam Van knows what he wants... and what he doesn't want. In an era where everyone is chasing traffic and fame, she only pursues the quality of her work. That is the rarest quality.” The applause rang out endlessly. I sat down, trying to keep a calm expression. Then the reporter interviewed me.

“From a salary of 3,500 yuan to a revenue of tens of millions, what did you learn?”

I think a bit.

“Don't wait for others to give you a chance.

Create it yourself.”

“How does your family view your success?”

“Slowly… they are learning to see.”

The interview was published, causing another wave of discussion in the world, but this time I was no longer worried about my family seeing it anymore, because they already knew all the things they needed to know, and the things that needed to be faced... it was time to face them. In February, before Tet, my father called me, his voice was strangely calm, as if he had gone through a long storm.

“Van Van, will you come back for Tet this year?”

"My sister is also at home, she's learning to bake now, she said she'll open a small shop in the future."

“I have a few words… I want to say to you in person child.”

On New Year's Eve, I drove my Porsche home, this time I didn't hide it anymore, I didn't turn around anymore, I just parked right at the beginning of the alley, as a way to clearly say - I'm different. Pushing the door open, my mother was wrapping the cake. When she saw me, she smiled brightly and called out.

“Van Van is back! Come in quickly!”

I walked in. The large TV has disappeared, the sofa set has also changed to the old one, the house suddenly feels so simple that it feels strange. Tieu Bao sat in the corner doing homework, Lam Huyen in the kitchen was frying food, his hands were covered in flour, he looked at me and then looked down again. My father sat on the chair, saw me and stood up. He walked over and looked at me for a long time, his eyes as if he wanted to remember every change.

“You've gotten thinner.”

“I'm just busy.”

“That car out there…”

“Porsche, 1,480,000 yuan.”

He opened his mouth, then remained silent.

“Dad, don't you have something to say?”

“Let's talk after we finish eating.”