Chapter 17 — Leaving You, I Shine

When I returned to the studio, Phuong Du was sitting on the sofa editing photos. When she saw me walk in, she immediately asked: "How's the result?"

“Additional capital has been injected.”

“How much more?”

“4 million. A total of 6.4 million.”

Phuong Du's brush slid off the tablet screen and fell to the ground: "How much did you say?"

“6.4 million. Including actual deployment in the later stages.”

He jumped up and hugged me and spun me around twice: "Lam Chieu, you're crazy! You're really crazy!" Being shaken by it made me dizzy, I pushed it away: "Don't get excited, the job isn't done yet."

"You're amazing like this. You've only been working independently for 3 months and you're getting a deal of over 6 million - do you know how many people have opened a studio 3 years later and still only get cheap contracts of 5-80,000?"

“Just luck, meet the right customer.”

“Stop being humble. This is bravery.”

I smiled, sat down and opened the computer to continue making a progress chart. It's true bravery. Six years with Co Hanh were not a waste. The experiences of writing plans, supporting decision making, coordinating resources for him... have not been wasted at all, all are deeply ingrained in my being. Does he think his assistant will no longer have value if he leaves him? Wrong. Does he think those abilities belong to the title "Assistant General Director Co Thi"? Even more wrong. That's mine. It has always been mine.

—

The project entered its third month, Co Thi's acquisition of Tinh Than was officially completed. On the day of the press conference, I watched the livestream online. Co Hanh stood on the podium, wearing a straight suit, with an indifferent and leisurely demeanor like when doing anything else. He said: "Spirit Cultural Media is an excellent business. Co Thi's participation will retain the independent decision-making power of the old management board." Maintain the independent decision-making authority of the old management board. I chewed this sentence over and over again a few times. If he keeps his word, then Do Minh Vien's project will not be affected, and my contract will also be safe. If he says one thing and does another – then that's a different story. Half an hour after the press conference ended, Do Minh Vien sent me a WeChat message:

"Don't worry, the President just opened a private meeting with us, clearly stating that contractors outside the project in the East China region will not change the current decision-making process."

I texted back two words: "Received." But I know it's only temporary. The first three months after capitalism jumps in is always the honeymoon. After three months, we knew each other. What I can do is – in these three months, turn everything into a nail. Continue to put your mind to work. By week 11, out of 12 brands, 3 had begun official operations, and the performance data far exceeded expectations. Among them is a handmade jewelry brand called "Thap Quang" (Gathering Light), whose revenue in the first month of launch reached 280,000 yuan, 5 times more than before. Do Minh Vien threw this data set at Tinh Than's group of senior managers. That afternoon, I received an email from the Brand Center of Tinh Than Group headquarters. It was not sent by Du Minh Vien's East China region, but sent directly by Beijing headquarters.

“Dear Ms. Lam Chieu: Regarding the excellent performance of your company 'Chieu Bach' in the creative cultural brand incubation project In the East China region, the Group Brand Center would like to invite her to participate in a conference to discuss national brand strategies for the next stage. Time: 15th of next month. Location: Beijing. Please respond to confirm attendance.”

National brand strategy. This means that Chieu Bach has the ability to jump from a regional supplier (East China) to a national strategic partner of Tinh Than Group. Completely different scale.