Chapter 10 — Never Look Down on Women

“President Li, let's be frank, I don't have much time.”

My coldness made his smile stop.

“Okay, Chairman Tham was straightforward, so I won't beat around the bush.”

He poured the wine and pushed the glass towards me.

“We are also very interested in the Nam Thanh and Hong Hai projects.”

“How about this, both sides cooperate for development, profit… we are seven, you three.”

"After all, Tham Thi has just restructured, in terms of capital and relationships... there are probably some limitations."

“I'm helping you.”

He said it as a favor. I laughed. I raised my glass and gently swirled it.

“President Li… are you kidding me?”

“It's not a joke.” A junior cut in.

"President Ly let you participate, it's already a great honor."

"You're a woman, so you don't understand anything about real estate. Don't be unreasonable."

The sentence just ended. The glass of wine in my hand... was thrown straight into his face. Dark red liquid slid down his greasy hair, flowing all over his face. He stood still. Li Hongchang was also stunned. He didn't expect... I dared to take action. The other guy regained his composure, slapped the table and tried to stand up. My eyes turned cold.

"Sit down."

The voice is not loud. But enough to make him... not dare to move. I stood up and threw a file down in front of Ly Hong Xuong.

“Before talking about conditions… you should see this.”

He frowned and opened it. Just one look. His face immediately turned pale. Inside is all the evidence of tax evasion and illegal capital mobilization of his company. Every number, every line... is so clear it cannot be denied. Enough to put him... in prison for life.

“Where… where did you get this?”

His voice trembled, completely losing his original arrogance.

“Where did I get it… you don't need to know.”

I looked down at him.

“You just need to know, the Nam Thanh project... now has the surname Tham.”

“Not only that, your land west of the city… I also want it.”

“Tomorrow, my team will bring the purchasing contract.”

“The price… is half the market price.”

“You—” he trembled with anger, “you are blatantly robbing!”

I laughed coldly.

“You may not sell.”

“It's just… I'll send this file to the tax and economic investigation authorities.”

“Let them… talk to you.”

Ly Hong Xuong's face turned purple. He understands. He… had no choice. He had provoked someone... a hundred times scarier than the Co family. I didn't look at him again. Turn around and walk out the door. At the door, I stopped, turned around, and flashed a brilliant smile.

“Ah, President Li.”

“In the future… don't look down on women.”

“Because you don't know… how cruel she can be.”

Having finished speaking, I stepped on my high heels and left without looking back. Leaving behind... a room full of lost souls. New order. Set up by me. If you agree with me, you will live. If you resist me... you die. 18 Silent goodbyes Time... is the best healer, but also the cruelest knife to carve everything. Enough for everything to calm down. Under my leadership, Tham Thi Group was reborn from the ashes. Not only will we recover all that was lost, but we will also expand our business map to an unprecedented scale. I became a new legend in the business world. A queen of steel... famous for her lightning tricks and chillingly precise gaze. As for those who were once opponents... They have been crushed and dried by time... with no trace left. On Nha's case... has been declared half a year ago. Combination of many crimes... life imprisonment. The child she gave birth to in a detention center... because the father could not be identified, was sent to a welfare camp. It is said that she herself... went crazy in prison. There is no longer any appearance of the old days. Co Vien Son... after a stroke, was bedridden, unable to take care of himself. The late lady... in the sanatorium was no better. The family was once glorious. Has completely... disappeared from the stage. And Co Thanh. The last news I heard... was that he was released from the mental hospital. No one accepted. He was alone... disappeared in a sea of people. I thought… we would never see each other again. Until that day. One afternoon in late autumn, the sunshine was just warm enough. My car drove quietly on the familiar road. While passing by the square in front of the company building... I accidentally looked outside. And saw... a familiar but strange figure. He was wearing an orange sanitation worker's suit. In his hand is a large broom. Slowly sweeping fallen leaves. Clumsy movements. Her hair is more than half gray. The back is slightly hunched. Face... full of marks of time. If it weren't for the slightest bit of familiarity... I wouldn't have recognized it. That's Co Thanh. The car passed by. In that moment, he felt like he... raised his head. Our eyes... met through the dark car window. His eyes were… empty. Like dead water... no more ripples. No regrets. There's nothing left. He just looked at me. Then bend down. Continue sweeping leaves. As if… I was just a stranger. Or… he no longer recognized me. Or… no longer care. The driver looked through the rearview mirror.

“President, do you need to stop the car?”

I was silent for a while. Then gently shook his head.

"No need."