Chapter 2 — The Child You Never Knew

She held her child in one hand. Receiving a warning letter from a lawyer with one hand. The Legal Department of Pho Thi Group coldly sent a notice:

"If you continue to spread or tolerate false statements, we will initiate legal proceedings."

Even the right to defend herself... She never had it.

"Miss Khuong."

A backstage staff member gently poked his head into the break room.

"Tomorrow's recording schedule has been adjusted."

"Filming will start at seven in the morning."

Khuong Niem nodded slightly.

"I know."

The other employee hesitated for a few seconds then added:

"That's right."

"The producer asked me to tell you."

"Tomorrow there will be a big investor coming to the studio."

"Parents remember to pay attention to image and behavior."

Khuong Niem only responded briefly. Then bend down. Gently pull back the corner of the blanket for Tieu Chau. Wait for the other person to leave. She just raised her head to look at the ceiling. Big investor... And the largest shareholder of this program... is the entertainment company of the Pho Thi group. Khuong Niem slowly closed her eyes. The fingers unconsciously tightened the filming schedule. Finally... This day still comes. Even if I hide some more... I can't avoid it. The next morning. The studio lights all flashed brightly. Six families quickly gathered at the recording area. Parents stand in a line. The children obediently stood nearby. Wait for the director to announce the mission. Khuong Niem stands in the outermost position. Tieu Chau quietly held her mother's hand. Dark eyes calmly observe everyone around. Different from their mother and daughter. Other parents who had just met were already chatting away. Their eyes still glanced at Khuong Niem from time to time. Carrying an aloof and scrutinizing look that's hard to hide. The most prominent person is Ms. Luu. Mother of child star Doa Doa. The child is considered the most prominent face this season. Ms. Luu stood next to the actor's arm, smiled and said meaningfully:

"Have you seen yesterday's hot search?"

"The part at the second-hand market."

"The editing is also really clever."

She deliberately glanced at Khuong Niem. The corners of his lips curled up sarcastically. Trieu Hang immediately laughed and echoed:

"The boy is really smart."

"But children."

"Being famous once because of a hot search doesn't mean anything."

"If you want to stay hot, you still have to see the performance in the following episodes."

Right at that moment. The director clapped his hands to gather everyone.

"Alright."

"Today we start a new challenge."

"The topic is..."

"My little butler."

"Each family will receive 100 yuan."

"The children have to go to the market themselves to buy ingredients to prepare for lunch."

"The rules of the game are very simple."

"Which family can buy the most ingredients and have the most nutritionally balanced menu..."

"It will be the winning team."

The children started to get excited. Doa Doa pulled her mother's hand and danced, another boy shouted to buy fried chicken. Tieu Chau had no expression, just took the 100 yuan bill, looked at it carefully and said to Khuong Niem: "Mom, I want to see the price of food first before deciding." Trieu Hang standing next to him burst out laughing: "This baby is just like a little boss." The director shouted to start filming. The lens lit up, Khuong Niem instinctively pulled the brim of his hat down a bit. At that moment, the side door of the studio was pushed open. A few people wearing black suits walked in first, their eyes scanning around as if to clean up the scene. Then, a tall figure appeared at the door. Dark gray, cropped trench coat With sharp eyes, the whole person exuded a kind of oppression that made the atmosphere quiet. Ms. Luu was the first to notice, the expression on her face immediately changed: "It's Pho Tu Nien." Trieu Hang was holding a thermos and drinking water. Hearing that, he almost choked. The backs of all the staff present tensed up at the same time. The director ran slowly, bowed his back and said something. Pho Tu Nien didn't look at him, his eyes swept over everyone, stopping straight at the woman standing outside with her hat pulled down low. Then, his eyes moved half an inch down, falling on the boy's face, looking up at him. Five-year-old Khuong Du Chau stood there, one hand holding a 100 yuan bill, the other holding his mother's finger. He raised his head to look at this strange man who suddenly appeared, without fear or curiosity, just using a calmness completely unsuitable for his age, observing for exactly three seconds. Then he turned his head and said to Khuong Niem: "Mom, this uncle's eyes looking at us are not very polite." The whole studio was silent. Everyone's eyes kept moving back and forth between Pho Tu Nien and Khuong Niem. Ms. Luu tugged on Trieu Hang's sleeve, her lips moved but no sound came out. Pho Tu Nien withdrew his gaze and said something to the director. The director immediately nodded vigorously, turned around and announced to everyone: "Today's outdoor filming schedule is delayed by half an hour. Parents and children return to the rest area to wait for the announcement." When the crowd dispersed, everyone walked around Khuong Niem as if avoiding an infectious disease. Only Tieu Chau's hand was held tightly. The boy raised his head to look at his mother's expression, his small face showed a vigilance beyond his age.

“Khuong Niem.” Pho Tu Nien's voice came from three steps away.

Khuong Niem slowly turned around. This face that I hadn't seen in three years was colder and tougher than in memory, the chin line was as if it had been cut with a knife. She remembered that the last time she faced this face was on the afternoon of receiving the execution order three years ago, his assistant threw the documents on her desk, saying: *"The Deputy General's intention is that I hope you never appear in this world again"*.

“Please follow me for a moment.” Pho Tu Nien's tone was not one of negotiation, but of command.

“Filming is about to start.” Khuong Niem's voice was very calm.

“I said stay back half an hour.”

Khuong Niem did not move. Tieu Chau's hand held her index finger even tighter. The boy looked at Pho Tu Nien and suddenly spoke: "Who are you? My mother doesn't know you, please go away." Pho Tu Nien's eyes fell on the boy. This child's tone of voice, his attitude that was neither arrogant nor flattering, made him momentarily panicked. Ha Than leaned close to his ear and whispered something. Pho Tu Nien calmly withdrew his gaze.

“Your son?” He asked Khuong Niem.

“What does it have to do with you?”

“I think we both know well whether it has anything to do with me or not.” Pho Tu Nien's voice was low, "Talk in private, or talk in front of so many cameras? You choose."

Khuong Niem was silent for five seconds. She squatted down and looked straight into her son's eyes: "Chau Chau, go to the rest area and wait for me. Ten minutes." Tieu Chau's eyes moved between her mother and the tall man twice before finally letting go. He took three steps, looked back and said: "Mom, ten minutes. I'll come out and look for you in a second." Khuong Niem nodded with children. In a storage room at the end of the hallway, the lights were dim, filled with unused props. Pho Tu Nien reached back and closed the door. As he turned around, he threw out a question:

“That child is my child.”

Not a question. Khuong Niem leaned against the door frame, arms crossed over her chest. “What proof do you have?”

“Its face is the proof.” Pho Tu Nien took a step forward, "Khuong Niem, five years old. When she left, she was pregnant."

“What if it's true?”

“Based on what do you dare to hide from me?”