Chapter 1 — President Lu, We Are Just Trade Negotiators

Third floor of Civil Affairs Department. To Niem Duong arrived fifteen minutes early. She wore an ivory white coat, her hair tied back arbitrarily, with a bare face, looking no different from normal women who came to this building to check in. The staff gave her two copies of the agreement. She took it, turned to the last page, and confirmed the property division section: *The bride's family voluntarily gave up all common property.* It was written by her own hand. The pen nib paused in the air for two seconds. Not because of hesitation. But waiting for the other person. Exactly nine o'clock, at the end of the hallway, the sound of leather shoes stepping on ceramic tiles was heard. The rhythm is very steady, neither fast nor slow. Luc Dien Chu pushed the door and walked in. He wore a dark gray suit, a tie with no wrinkles, and the watch on his left wrist was last year's newest Basel model. When he entered, he was on the phone, his voice was very low, his attitude was completely as if he were handling work.
“…Tell lawyer Chu, if the seventh clause of the contract is not changed, then do not sign this form.”
To Niem Duong sat on the chair, silently watching him come and sit down on the opposite side. He hung up the phone, without looking at her, pulled a pen from the inside pocket of his vest.
“Which page?”
To Niem Duong pushed the agreement over and tapped his finger on the signature section at the bottom. Luc Dien Chu glanced at the content. His eyes stopped at the line *"The bride's family voluntarily gave up all common property"* for less than a second.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
The tone was calm, as if confirming a normal commercial document.
"Sure."
I signed. The sound of the pen nib gliding on the paper is very light. The three words "Luc Dien Chu" are exactly like him: decisive, cold, without any unnecessary features. To Niem Duong also signed his name. The staff compared the information, stamped it, and then produced two divorce books. Dark green cover, gold-plated lettering. To Niem Duong picked up his notebook and put it in his bag. From start to finish, it took less than eight minutes. Three years of marriage. Finished in eight minutes. Very high performance. Luc Dien Chu stood up, called back the phone call from earlier, and walked towards the door. After two steps, as if remembering something, he turned to look at her.
“The Luc family's villa, when will you clean it?”
To Niem Duong zipped up his bag and stood up.
“It's already cleaned up.”
Luc Dien Chu paused for a moment. Then he nodded, pushed the door and walked out. In the hallway, his voice faded away: "...Lawyer Chu, let me say the terms again..." The door closed. To Niem Duong stood in place, bowing his head and looking at his right hand. Hands are very steady. She has been practicing. Three years ago, the first time she signed the marriage agreement, her hands were shaking. At that time, she told herself, this marriage has its meaning. Three years later, that sense is over. She put her right hand in her coat pocket, her fingertips touching a cold metal ring. A black ring. Not a wedding ring. She took off her wedding ring three months ago and left it on the dressing table in the main bedroom of the Luc family villa. Luc Dien Chu probably didn't realize that he hadn't stepped foot in that bedroom for a year and four months. To Niem Duong tightened his grip on the black ring, then let it go and walked out of the Civil Affairs Department. Outside it is raining and dusty. She didn't carry an umbrella. Standing on the steps, she pulled out her phone and made a call. The bell rang and someone picked up.
“Sister-in-law.” On the other end of the line was the voice of a young man, a bit careless. “Are you done?”
"Done."
“So our next step…”
“According to the old plan.” To Niem Duong raised his hand and caught a drop of rainwater. “Inform the legal department that all procedures for unfreezing the assets of the Niem Duong Fund must be completed today.”
The other end of the line was silent for a second.
"Sister-in-law... oh wrong, sister, are you telling the truth? Completely unfreeze? That's 3,200 billion."
“Have I ever not been serious?”
"Alright." The voice on the other end suddenly became serious. "Also, Uncle Lam told me to ask you if you want to go back to the main house to live? He's reminded you several times."
To Niem Duong's eyes fell on the black Maybach parked in the parking lot. It was her own car, not the Luc family's. For the past three years it has remained dormant in a private garage in the city center.
“Wait, don't come back.” She pulled the car door open and sat inside. “I've been out for three years, there are some things I need to clean up first.”
“Understood.”
Hang up the phone. To Niem Duong started the car and joined the main road. The windshield wipers flashed across the windshield, the outlines of the city appearing and fading through the streaks of water. Three years. She spent three years being an invisible daughter-in-law. And she did a very good job. From top to bottom of the Luc family, from the old lady to the maid, no one saw anything special about To Niem Duong. Average education, no influential family, quiet personality to the point of almost non-existence. The only time she attracted attention was at last year's Mid-Autumn Festival party. Luc Dien Chu brought a woman home. Hua Nhuoc Tinh. The eldest lady of the Hua Group. She wore a wine red evening dress, exquisite makeup, and walked in generously, holding Luc Dien Chu's arm. The old lady smiled brightly and stood up to welcome him.
“Dien Chu, this person is…”
“My partner, Miss Hua.” Luc Dien Chu said.
Partner. That day, Hua Nhuoc Tinh stayed at Luc's house until eleven o'clock at night. To Niem Duong was in the bedroom upstairs and heard her laugh in the living room, her voice was very clear and pleasant. When the old lady praised her a hundred times better than Dien Chu's daughter-in-law, she did not lower her voice. At that time, To Niem Duong was reading a foreign investment analysis report. She overheard that sentence. And also finished reading the report. The next day, Luc Dien Chu's assistant came to inform her, saying that Mr. Luc would no longer live in the villa but move to an apartment in the city center. To Niem Duong said: "Okay." After the assistant left, she took out the black ring from the safe and put it back on her finger. Wear it for three years then take it off, take it off then wear it again. This is the last time. * One and a half hours after leaving the Civil Affairs Department, To Niem Duong's car parked in the underground garage of an office building on Lam Giang Street. This building does not stand out too much in the commercial area. 32 floors high, cold gray glass exterior. There are no company signs in front of the door. But the whole building has only one tenant. Niem Duong Capital. The elevator goes straight to the top floor. The moment the door opened, a young man in a black uniform was waiting. With a crew cut and a straight body, when he saw To Niem Duong, he bowed his head slightly.
“Boss To, the department heads are already in the meeting room.”
To Niem Duong changed into a pair of flat shoes to wear indoors, and asked as he walked: "Ha Nhac arrived yet?"
“Boss Ha arrived ten minutes ago, checking documents with the legal department.”
“Tell him to just wait.”
The work area was along both sides of the hallway. The staff saw her enter, but no one showed any signs of surprise. But everyone's sitting posture suddenly became straighter. To Niem Duong pushed the meeting room door. Twelve people sat around a long table.