Chapter 14 — Healing After Days of Neglect

This year's meal is much simpler, no more expensive seafood, no more fanfare, but the cake is still cake, the flavor is still the same—it's just that the people eating it... are different. After eating, Lam Huyen put Tieu Bao to bed and her mother went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. The living room only left me and my dad. He took out a cigarette, but didn't light it.

“Van Van, dad wants to apologize to you.”

“No need.”

“Let Dad finish.” He put down his cigarette and looked at me frankly for the first time.

"About the compensation... it's my fault, 4,200,000 yuan for all my sisters, not even a penny for me, it's unfair."

I was silent.

"I think your sister has a family, has children, and needs more money, and you are alone... you don't spend much, but I forgot one thing."

“What?”

“You… are also my daughter.”

I lowered my eyes.

"During those years, my sister gave me everything she wanted, and my dad pushed me away. My sister took piano lessons, dad paid for me, my sister learned drawing, dad said it was a waste, my sister passed the university exam, dad threw a party, and when I passed, it was like it was nothing... Even when I went to work, dad never asked me if my life was okay."

"Dad thought you didn't live well because you didn't try hard enough. Only now do you realize... it's because I never gave you a chance."

“No dad, I—”

“Let Dad finish.”

His voice was hoarse.

"Hao Vu's story made me understand that that money can't save anyone, but it can also harm people. It makes that guy think he has capital and can be reckless. If he didn't have that money... he wouldn't have come to this step."

“It was Dad's favoritism… that harmed both of us.”

I looked at him. The two words "bias"... was the first time I heard it from his mouth.

“Dad, the past… just let it go.”

“Can't get through.” He shook his head. "Dad owes me a debt, I can't pay it off in my whole life."

"I don't owe you anything, I gave you this life, gave you a place to grow up, I just... don't know how to love you."

He bowed his head. Long time no talk. I stood up, walked over and sat next to him.

“Dad, I live very well, the company is growing, I have partners, I have a team... and I also have a very good person by my side.”

“Co Tham?”

I stopped.

“How do you know?”

"Your mother saw the news of your contract signing. She said... the way he looked at you was not normal."

“What do you mean it's not normal?”

“My mother said… those are the eyes that like someone.”

I was stunned for a few seconds, then burst out laughing.

“Dad, next year I will bring him home.”

He finally lit a cigarette, took a drag, and then spoke slowly.

“I won't ask how much money you earn, but remember one thing.”

“Money is just a tool, not a goal, don't let money turn you into someone else.”

I looked at him and nodded.

“I know, I won't be like that.”

On the first day of Tet, I returned to the city. Co Tham was waiting downstairs.

“My dad… already apologized to me.”

“Have you forgiven me?”

“Not angry anymore?”

“Being angry for twenty-seven years, that's enough.”

He opened the car door for me.

“Come to the company, there are some new projects to see.”

“It's the fifth day and you're already working?”

"Can't wait, the second phase of the hotel project starts in March, there is one more project... you will like it."

“What project?”

“Old urban renovation, state bidding, budget 50,000,000 yuan.”

I looked at him.

“Can you help me get this opportunity?”

"I'm just helping you give me information. Whether you get it or not... is up to you."

“How many units are participating?”

“Six, including two top design institutes in the country.”

"Time?"

“Submit at the end of March.”

“A month and a half.”

"Enough Are not?"

I took out my phone and texted Phuong Vien.

“Project meeting on the sixth day, call all key personnel.”

As soon as the message was sent, she replied immediately.

“It's the sixth day?! Are you crazy?!”

“Project 50,000,000.”

Three seconds later.

“I'll be there at 8:00 a.m. on the sixth day.”

March, bidding day. I held the 120-page plan and walked into the meeting room, six companies sat opposite, two large units wearing neat suits, clearly hundreds of people worked on the design. When it was my turn, I stepped up.

"Hello everyone, today I don't talk about design, I don't talk about materials, I don't talk about construction... I tell a story."

The whole room was silent.

“I grew up in an old alley of this city, where dozens of families used to live, each family had a story… some were born, some broke up, some waited for love, some watched the moon on the roof.”

“Then one day, the alley disappeared.”

“And the stories… disappeared too.”

"Urban renovation is not about destroying the old and building new... but about keeping the old soul in a new form."

I turned to the next page.