Chapter 15 — Healing After Days of Neglect

“My project is called 'Place of Memories', each building will retain an old wall, recording the story that once existed, each residential area will have a wall of memories... where people write their own lives."

I talked for forty minutes. Five seconds of silence. Then a round of applause rang out. Results a week later. Van Chu Design is at the top. The 50,000,000 yuan project… belongs to me. The day it was announced, Phuong Vien cried right in the office.

"50,000,000! Lam Van! That's 50,000,000!"

“Stop crying.”

"I keep crying! A year ago we were eating donuts on the street!"

I laughed. Co Tham's message appeared.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

“I'm just giving information.”

“But I can get it myself.”

“Want to go eat hot pot?”

I stood in front of the glass window, watching the city light up in the sunlight. A year and a half ago, I sat in my motel room eating dry cakes, with 79,800,000 yuan in my account... but my heart was empty. Now, I have a company, a team, a work… and someone tells me “every year”. Money… is just the starting point. The path I take... is everything. In April, news of Tran Hao Vu arrived. He… ran away. Overwhelmed with debt, disappeared without a trace. The creditor came to Lam Huyen and forced her to pay on his behalf. But this time… The lawyer got involved. Trieu Loi helped Lam Huyen complete the property division clause in the divorce agreement, proving that she left empty-handed and was completely unrelated to Tran Hao Vu's debt, the creditor was helpless to turn to his other relatives. Lam Huyen called me, her voice was much lighter, as if she had learned to put herself down.

“Van Van, thank you for helping me find a lawyer.”

“No need to thank me, how are your baking lessons going?”

"The teacher said the cake you made was better than those who studied for five years."

“So that's the right direction.”

"I'm thinking, after I finish school, I'll open a small shop in the countryside. It doesn't need to be big, just enough to support us both... can you help me design it?"

“Yes, but there is a fee.”

“Discount for you.”

She laughed, for the first time no longer feeling distant.

“Okay, but don't charge too much.”

“Depends on performance.”

Hanging up the phone, I leaned back in my chair and looked out the window. There was a bird flying by, so light that it almost left no trace. There are relationships... that are not good from the beginning. But there are also relationships... that have to be broken before they can be put back together. Perhaps, that is family. In June, Van Chu Design turned two years old. The staff increased to sixty people, the revenue exceeded 30,000,000 yuan, the first phase of the urban renovation project was completed and was rewarded by the construction authority, five of the tourism group's eight hotels were put into operation, and the number of check-ins on social networks exceeded one million. The magazine came to interview again, this time the headline was: "Lam Van - using design to recreate the memories of a city." The association awarded me the title of “Outstanding Young Designer of the Year.” On stage, I only say one sentence.

“Design changes space, space changes people.”

Below, my parents sat there. The first time they came to see me receive an award. My mother cried. My father clapped his hands until his palms turned red. After the ceremony, they stood waiting for me behind.

“Van Van, you are really good.” Mom held my hand, her eyes were still red.

“This prize isn't worth much money, Mom.”

“Money is not important, the important thing is that you do what you do I like it.”

Hearing that sentence from my mother's mouth, I almost thought I heard it wrong.

“My mother didn't say that in the past.”

“Mom, you said a lot of things wrong… don't remember anymore.”

Dad stood next to me, saying nothing. But the look in his eyes... was pure pride. No more guilt. Just proud. I said to myself in my heart. Twenty-seven years of self-pity… ends here. At the party afterward, I sat next to Co Tham.