Chapter 17 — I Bring My Grandparents to Celebrate Tet

I put down the tea cup. The phone vibrated once. It's a message from Trinh Minh.

“Miss To, the results of the industry's annual poll have just been announced.”

“Her old factory renovation project was selected in the Top 10 Best Designs of the Year.”

“Tomorrow the organizers will send an official announcement.”

“I told you in advance to congratulate you.”

Top 10 nationwide. An industry-level award nationwide. I looked at the message for a few seconds then put the phone back in my pocket. Don't say it right away. I waited another ten minutes. Trieu Uyen Tinh was still raising her glass, still talking and laughing, the whole private room was almost filled with only her voice. Waiting for her to finish her round of toasts, I stood up.

“Sister Uyen Tinh, Aunt Trieu.”

“I also have something to tell everyone.”

Trieu Uyen Tinh turned her head and smiled naturally.

“Tieu Niem just keep talking, everyone listens.”

“It's not a big deal.”

“The project I did today was just selected in the Top 10 Best Designs of the Year.”

“National vote.”

The whole room fell silent. This type of silence is completely different from when Trieu Uyen Tinh gave the gold just now. Really quiet. The first person to react was a relative of Trieu My Phan.

“Top 10 nationwide?”

“Is that terrible?”

The eldest girl, who was holding a glass of wine in mid-air, also stopped. My father sat at the head of the table, looking at me, his lips moving slightly as if he wanted to say something. The smile on Trieu Uyen Tinh's face is still there. But her fingers holding the wine glass were clenched until they turned white. Tran Dong put down his chopsticks. The first time he really looked at me with serious eyes.

“Is this prize… very valuable?”

The other relative continued to ask.

“The whole industry only organizes it once a year.”

“All domestic design projects can participate.”

“In the end, only ten projects were selected.”

“So that means… you're in the top 10 in the country?”

“It's that project.”

There was immediately another commotion in the room. From that moment on... Trieu My Phan's birthday party no longer revolved around her. Trieu Uyen Tinh sat down. The glass of wine in her hand was never raised again from then on. When leaving, Trieu My Phan pulled me to the door of my private room.

“Tieu Niem.”

“The prize you talked about today… is it real?”

“Tomorrow the organizers will send an official announcement.”

Trieu My Phan smiled wryly.

“So it's true… it's not easy.”

“You have to try your best.”

“Don't miss these opportunities.”

“Thank you, Aunt Trieu, for your concern.”

“Ah yes…”

"About that house, your father also told me."

“Don't be hot.”

“Let's discuss slowly…”

“Aunt Trieu.”

I interrupted her.

“That doesn't need to be discussed anymore.”

“The lawyers have already started the procedure.”

The smile on Trieu My Phan's face immediately disappeared. I turned around and left the private room. When going downstairs, Trieu Uyen Tinh chased after her.

“Tieu Niem.”

I stopped walking.

“Congratulations.”

Her voice is still very easy to hear. But the familiar layer of softness and tenderness... was gone.

“You're really good now.”

“It's normal.”

She looked at me for two seconds.

“Tieu Niem.”

“Do you remember the year you graduated from college and the first time you came home to eat?”

“Don't remember.”

“That day you said something to me.”

“Even though we are not blood related…”

“But I always see you as my own sister.”

“If you have any trouble, just tell me.”

“I will help you.”

“That sentence is still valid today.”

She smiled slightly Turn around and go upstairs. I stood on the stairs, hearing the sound of her high heels stepping away.

“Still valid.”

What she doesn't mean is:

“I will help you.”

“I still have value.”

“Don't be so quick to kick me off the board.”

The wind direction has changed. Trieu Uyen Tinh's sense of smell... is always more sensitive than anyone else's. After the news of the Top 10 Best Designs of the Year was officially announced... There was almost no quiet moment in my studio's email and phone for three consecutive days. Industry insiders send their congratulations. The investor came to ask for cooperation. Two design magazines wanted to interview. There is even a local urban planning office that sends out invitations to bid. Lam Kha was so busy that his feet couldn't touch the ground. Tieu Chu worked overtime every day drawing manuscripts. While handling all that work, I received a phone call from lawyer Chu.

“There is good news.”

“The application for name transfer has been rejected.”

"Because she is the legal heir but has not signed the confirmation, the real estate center does not accept the application."

“How did Trieu My Phan's side react?”

“She hired another lawyer to discuss.”

"Saying that Mr. To Kien Quoc has fully authorized her to handle it."

“Wanted to ask if the procedure could be simplified.”

“I answered the other side that inheritance involves many heirs.”

“All must be present for notarization.”

“The process cannot be shortened.”

“That means she hired another lawyer?”

"That's right."

“It looks like she's not planning on giving up easily.”

I thought silently for a few seconds.

“Lawyer Chu.”

“Has the clearance time been finalized yet?”

"As far as I know, the deadline to sign the clearance agreement for the old house in Cam Ho town is the end of June this year."

“In other words…”

“If before the end of June, ownership transfer and inheritance notarization have not been completed…”

“Release compensation may be delayed.”

Late June. There are more than four months left.

"I got it."

“The notarization of my inheritance will be promoted soon.”

Just hung up the phone... Trieu My Phan's call immediately came. She almost never proactively called me. This is the second time.

“Tieu Niem…”

“I want to tell you something.”