Chapter 25 — Leaving You, I Shine

Not Co Hanh's cold silence, but a silence that makes people feel secure and relaxed.

“Okay,” I said, “let me think.”

He smiled, without asking, stood up and brushed the dust off his clothes: "Then I'll go home first. See you tomorrow."

“See you tomorrow.”

As soon as he left, Phuong Du poked his head out from the office: "What did you two just say?"

“Are you eavesdropping?”

“The door is not closed, my ears are sharp.”

“He's officially pursuing me.”

Phuong Du let out a shrill scream that was as loud as a dolphin's voice, then I immediately covered her mouth.

“Calm down.”

“Have you accepted yet?”

“I said let me think.”

"What are you thinking about? Just agree!"

“Phuong Du.”

“What?”

"I spent a whole year learning how to be myself. I don't want to be too hasty and disrupt the rhythm I worked so hard to regain."

He closed his mouth, looked at me for a few seconds, then patted my shoulder.

“Okay. Your rhythm, you control it yourself.”

I nodded. But that night when I got home, when I stood in front of the mirror and untied my hair, the corner of my mouth curled up out of control. Just a fleeting smile like that.

—

Next spring, Chieu Bach's cultural tourism town project officially opens. In the first month of opening, the number of visitors exceeded expectations by 40%. At the summary meeting, in front of all the big bosses of Tinh Than Group, Do Minh Vien said: "The success of this project, the Chieu Bach team contributes at least 60% of the factors." The applause in the hall was not a form of polite courtesy, but recognition in exchange for real money. After the meeting ended, the General Director of Tinh Than Group Brand Center called me aside to talk privately for half an hour.

"Director Lam, we want to sign a 3-year strategic cooperation agreement with Chieu Bach. Covering all brand operation support activities for the entire creative culture segment of the group."

“Contract value?”

“Minimum insurance of 20 million yuan/year, no ceiling limit.”

My facial expression didn't change, but my heartbeat skipped a beat.

“I will review the contract and reply to you later.”

“Okay. No rush.”

Out of the Tinh Tinh building, I stood waiting for the car on the side of the road, my phone kept ringing. Phuong Du: "Have you heard? 3 years! 20 million a year!" Do Minh Vien: "Congratulations, your strength is worthy." Luc Dich: "I heard you closed a big deal today? I'll invite you to dinner tonight." I answer each person in turn. The last message came from the courier – saying there was a package delivered at the station below my house. When I got home that night, I went to pick up the parcel. There is no sender name, just an address line. I recognized it immediately - it was Co Hanh's company address. Open it, inside is a book. Hardcover version. Turning the first page, it was Co Hanh's handwriting -

“For Lam Chieu. This book is about how to run a sustainable company. You are more suitable to read it than me. — Co Hanh”

No unnecessary words, no ambiguous meanings. A clean book, with clear text. I put the book on the bookshelf. The relationship between me and him is the most beautiful. Not friends, not enemies, no longer entangled with each other. Just – acknowledge the other person's existence, respect the path the other person is taking. This It's more meaningful than anything he's ever given me during our 6 years of marriage.

—

In May, industry media published an exclusive interview. The title is: “Chieu Bach's Lam Chieu: From Assistant General Director to Million-Dollar Brand Consultant, it only took her 1 year.” The article mentioned my 6 years of experience at Co Thi, but spent the most ink writing about Chieu Bach's methodology, case study data, and business model.