Chapter 16 — Healing After Days of Neglect

“Your speech was too short.”

“That's enough.”

"Aren't you going to say anything else? For example, thank you to the investors?"

“Thank you for spending 10,000,000 yuan to buy 15% of the shares, now the value is 30,000,000 yuan?”

He laughed.

“That's because you're good.”

“How many projects has your fund invested in?”

“Three, but you are the most profitable.”

“Then you should give me more money.”

“Really greedy.”

“You taught me.”

We clinked glasses. In the distance, my parents were talking to Phuong Vien. She was trying to explain what "brand design" was. My mother didn't understand but still nodded repeatedly, and my father interjected a sentence while eating fruit.

“Van Van was very good at drawing when she was young.”

I heard it. He once called this a "wasteful" statement. Now… it becomes “nice drawing.” I don't fix it. Just let him be proud. In August, I made a decision. I decided to tell my parents about winning the prize, not over the phone but face to face, and this time I took Co Tham home with me. In the living room were my father, mother, Lam Huyen and Tieu Bao, everyone was sitting there as if waiting for something.

“Dad, Mom, I have something to say.”

“What?”

“The day Dad said compensation of 4,200,000 yuan for all of my sisters, that day I... won the lottery.”

"How much?"

“After tax… 79,800,000 yuan.”

The whole room was silent. Ten seconds passed. The glass of water in my mother's hand almost fell. Dad's hand stopped in mid-air. Lam Huyen opened his mouth but couldn't say a word.

“Seven… seventy-some million?” Mother's voice trembled.

“Then why didn't you say it then?”

"Because everyone had already decided that day, saying it wouldn't change anything, it would just give everyone more reasons not to share with the child."

Her mother's eyes were full of shock, guilt, and heartache.

“So you kept it from us all this time…”

“It's not a secret, I just choose to live my life.”

“What about home, company…”

“House 42,000,000 yuan, shop 23,000,000 yuan, car 1,480,000 yuan, starting a business 5,000,000 yuan, the rest is invested.”

“I… did all that alone…”

“Not alone.”

I looked at Co Tham.

“Someone help me.”

Dad looked at him for a long moment.

“Are you from that investment fund?”

“Hello, uncle.”

“How do you treat my daughter?”

“I will do my best.”

“‘Do your best’ is not enough.”

“Then I'll spend my whole life trying to make ends meet.”

Dad looked at him for another ten seconds, then nodded.

“The person you choose, I have no objections, but if he causes you to suffer—”

“No dad.”

“I didn't ask him, I asked you.”

“No, Dad.”

He nodded again, then went back into the room. A moment later, he returned, holding a paper envelope.

“Van Van, this is for you.”

Inside was a bank card and paper.

"Van Van, this is the pension I saved for a year, 47,000 yuan, I know you don't lack, but this is the part I owe you, pay it off little by little."

"Take it, if you don't take it, you won't forgive Dad."

I take it. Compared to 79,800,000 yuan, it's nothing. But this is the heaviest gift I have ever received. Because for the first time... Dad proactively gave me money. First time. In October, Lam Huyen's bakery opened, just a small 30 square meter store in town, named "Huyen Hoa Bakery", I designed the entire space and brand, for only 1,000 yuan. Phuong Vien said I was at a loss. I say… worth it. On opening day, Co Tham and I arrived. Lam Huyen stood behind the counter, wearing an apron, her face covered in powder, but Very clean smile.

“Van Van, try this, new matcha roll cake.”

I took a bite.

"Really?"

Tieu Bao ran around the store, giving cakes to each customer to try. Mom stood there collecting money, but her calculations were still wrong. Dad sat in front of the door, basking in the sun, looking at people coming in and out, his face peaceful. Co Tham stood next to me and took a photo. In the photo, I'm standing in front of the small shop, the sunlight falling on my shoulders, and I'm smiling. He used that photo as his phone wallpaper. When I discovered him, he just smiled softly and said that my smile was very beautiful, so from now on, smile a little more. I replied that before there was nothing worth smiling about, but in the future... we have to see how he performs. Two years later, Van Chu Design reached the top twenty design companies in the country, with one hundred and fifty employees, annual revenue reaching 120,000,000 yuan, Tham Nguyen Capital poured in an additional 20,000,000 yuan, valuing the company beyond 500,000,000 yuan, the urban renovation project became a national model, the hotel chain of the tourism group opened its tenth store. two and become the industry standard. At the annual conference, I gave a speech on the topic "The temperature of space". At the end, someone asked me what my biggest motivation was, I only answered briefly: "being forgotten", because I was forgotten, I longed to be seen, and if I wanted to be seen, I would risk my life to shine. When I shine, I not only shine on myself but also on those around me. The applause was very loud, I walked down the stage, then saw a person sitting in the last row - my father, without warning, took the high-speed train for several hours just to sit there quietly listening to my speech.