Chapter 14 — President Lu, We Are Just Trade Negotiators

And standing right above the starting point of this chain — Luc Thi — was a person. Luc Dien Chu. A person is being pushed into a corner. A person is desperate to find a life buoy. A person has just learned the true identity of To Niem Duong but does not yet understand the whole picture. If Thinh Hoai Vien wants to use someone to probe her - Luc Dien Chu is the perfect chess piece.
“Uncle Lam, help me keep an eye on Luc Dien Chu's schedule.”
"…Yes."
"Besides." To Niem Duong stood up and walked to the window. “If within the next 48 hours, Thinh Hoai Vien proactively contacts Luc Dien Chu... I must notify you immediately.”
“Clear.”
Hang up. To Niem Duong stood in front of the window, his right hand unconsciously rotating the black ring. Three rounds. Stop. She lowered her head to look at the tiny writing inside the ring. *“Nien Duong, the one who keeps the ring, keeps the house.”* The sunlight outside the window penetrated the clouds, illuminating her face. In the light and shadow, it was impossible to see her expression clearly. The phone rings again. Screen display: Luc Dien Chu. She looked for three seconds. Didn't pick up the phone. Let it all ring. Then she put on her coat and walked out of the office. When passing by Ha Nhac's workplace, she left a sentence.
“Preparing for the opening match.”
Ha Nhac raised his head: "Fight with whom, boss?" To Niem Duong did not look back.
“With everyone.”
* Two o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. Luc Dien Chu's phone received an encrypted message from an unknown number. The message had only one line of text: *"Mr. Luc, my name is Thinh Hoai Vien. About your company's current difficulties, and some old stories of your ex-wife... should we sit down and talk?"* Luc Dien Chu stared at this message, his heart suddenly skipped a beat. His finger hovered above the screen. Answer, or don't answer. Outside the window, a black Maybach passed under the Luc Thi building, without stopping. * On the top floor of the InterContinental Hotel, the wind whistled like a knife. Luc Dien Chu looked at the man in front of him. Thinh Hoai Vien, a notoriously cruel member of the second branch of the Thinh family, was gently shaking a glass of red wine, offering a condition that was enough to drive any drowning person crazy.
"Mr. Luc, as long as you nod, I will make up the 8 billion money shortfall. Not only that, I will also help you regain the dignity you lost in front of To Niem Duong. That woman is too arrogant, does she really think that the To family can always have the To family name?"
Luc Dien Chu's eyes passed Thinh Hoai Vien and looked out the ground-level window. The Luc Thi building opposite is brightly lit. That was the passion of half of his previous life, right now it was shaking and about to collapse.
“What do you want me to do?” Luc Dien Chu's voice was hoarse.
“It's simple.” Thinh Hoai Vien leaned closer, a sinister glint in his eyes. "The ring in To Niem Duong's hand is the key to the To family's trust fund. I want you to use your ex-husband's identity to date him out. My people will take care of the rest."
Luc Dien Chu was silent for a long time. In his mind, the words from his grandfather's letter echoed: *You are teaching a blind man how to open his eyes.* *(Damn, grandfather was right, I was indeed a blind man before.)* Luc Dien Chu suddenly laughed out loud, in that laughter carried the self-satisfaction of a person who has let go of barriers. He took out the wedding ring that To Niem Duong had thrown away from the inside pocket of his vest, his fingertips running along its rough inside surface.
“Mr. Thinh.” Luc Dien Chu raised his head, his eyes exuding an unprecedented clarity. “Do you think that even if I lose my company, Luc Dien Chu, I will still be willing to sell my backbone to you?”
Thinh Hoai Vien's smile stiffened.