Chapter 4 — Seven Years of Silence, One Life of Freedom

Then press send. Then switch the phone to silent mode and place it on the table. I walked into my office, turned on my computer, and accessed an encrypted folder. Inside are all trust fund reports for the past seven years, annual dividend statements, records of changes in share structure... The same things that have never been made public. Handwritten letter from my grandfather. To Hoai Vien. On the envelope there was only one line of text.

"Dear thoughts. Please open when you are truly ready."

Three years ago I opened it. There was only one sentence in the letter.

"Don't let outsiders make decisions for you for too long, Niem. You won't always need others to stand in front of you and protect you."

I closed the folder. At nine o'clock the next morning, Wei Nhien sent me a set of documents.

"Finished investigating Lam Hieu San's records before joining the company. There is an unusual point."

"Her previous company was Dang Due Investment Fund. The legal representative's name was Chu Dinh Van."

I stared at that name. Chu Dinh Van. It was the person who three years ago had maliciously attempted to take over Thua Thinh Group, but was stopped by my grandfather's team of lawyers. I saved the document to an encrypted drive and texted it back to Nguy Nhien.

"Continue to investigate."

"Investigate the entire relationship between Lam Hieu San and Chu Dinh Van."

The next morning, I went to the company. The receptionist was stunned when she saw me. Only when he had time to react did he quickly stand up.

"Hello, President To."

I nodded slightly and walked towards the elevator. During the past seven years, I have rarely gone to the company. Once in a while, even the receptionist takes a few seconds to recognize me. The elevator door opens. Inside is Deputy General Director of Sales Tu Nhien. As soon as he saw me, his eyes flashed with complexity, then smiled.

"Mr. To, come early today."

I only replied once. The two were silent for more than ten seconds. Reaching the eighteenth floor, before stepping out, Tu Nhien turned back.

"What happened yesterday..."

"Everyone understood clearly in their hearts."

I said nothing. Just nodded slightly. He left. I continued to the top floor. Turn right from the elevator to the General Manager's office. The door was ajar. Inside came Lam Hieu San's voice.

"...You saw it yesterday too. She clearly came to cause trouble."

"Seven years without managing a company, suddenly jumping out. Do you think that's normal?"

Tran Thieu Quan's voice was low.

"Not normal."

"But in her hands she really has something to rely on."

"What about yes?"

"Controlling shares is not the same as running a business."

"What can an ignorant person like her do with that 51% stake?"

"Understood San."

"I'm just not willing."

Lam Hieu San's voice was a little higher.

"In the past seven years I've been with you, has there been a day when I haven't risked my life to work?"

"What about her?"

"What did she do?"

I stood in front of the door for exactly three seconds. Then raise your hand and knock on the door. Inside immediately fell silent. Tran Thieu Quan walked out and opened the door. As soon as he saw me, his face suddenly stiffened.

"Are you here?"

I walked in.

"Come see if my office is still available."

My office is located right next to the General Director's office. There is only one table and one chair. The betel pot on the windowsill has also withered. But the sign in front of the door is still intact.

"Strategic advisor - To Recite."

I pushed the door open, stood in front of the window, and looked down at the traffic on the street. Lam Hieu San followed. She leaned against the doorframe, folded her arms across her chest, a calm expression on her face that she tried to hide. She changed her address again.

"What happened yesterday..."

"Was there some misunderstanding?"

"There is no misunderstanding."

"So what do you want in the end?"

I turned around to look at her.

"Lin Hieu San."

I said slowly.

"Before joining Thua Thinh, she worked at Dang Due Investment Fund for two years."

Her shoulders tensed slightly. The amplitude is very small. But I still see it.

"That job has nothing to do with Thua Thinh."

Speaking speed is half a beat faster. I don't ask. Just look at her for two more seconds. Then turned around and left. Behind her, she still stood motionless in place. I went to the elevator door and pressed down to basement B1. The phone vibrated slightly. Wei Nhien sent a new message.

"Retrieved Lam Hieu San's account statement during his time working at Dang Due Investment Fund."

"There were three large sums of money transferred into her account."

"The money transfer party is a front company."

"The actual controller of that front company..."

"It's Chu Dinh Van."