Chapter 23 — The Day You Pulled Your Lover On Stage, I Recovered All My Investment

“Assistant Lam, it's been hard.”

Lam Man was a little stunned. This is the first time in Thanh Hoa that someone has called her by her current position in a formal way. She replied softly:

“That's what I should do.”

At that moment, General Manh was surrounded by a group of creditors. The phone in his pocket kept ringing. As soon as he received a call, his face immediately changed.

“Van Dinh is under investigation?”

He suddenly turned to look at me. I just laugh:

“General Manh, can you handle the investigation?”

He didn't answer. But the answer was clear on his face. The dinner party in chapter twenty was as exciting as the day of the bell ringing in chapter three. The location is still Van Dinh hotel. Only this time, the organizing unit has changed to Thanh Hoa and Luc Thi. I stood at the main door, watching groups of guests enter one by one. Co Man wore a neat suit and held the guest list in her hand.

“The Luc family is here.”

“Old Luong is also coming.”

“Sister Jiang is also coming.”

"General Manh is nowhere to be found. It is said that he is still coordinating the investigation."

Chu Du walked out from inside.

“Sister Khuong, the media area has been arranged.”

Lam Man held a file of documents and walked behind.

“The speech is here.”

“Do you want to watch it again?”

I take it. Turn to the correct first page and close. Lam Man immediately said:

“I cut it right away.”

Co Man burst out laughing.

“Finally know that the boss doesn't like to listen to nonsense?”

Lam Man bowed her head to edit the manuscript. Right before the party started, Co Trach appeared. He was wearing an old suit. So skinny that he almost no longer looks like he used to. Security stopped him. He took out the invitation. Co Man's face immediately darkened.

“Who gave him the invitation?”

Lam Man looked at the list.

“Trieu Tue Lan.”

Co Man cursed softly. Trieu Tue Lan also came. She followed behind Co Trach. Her hair has turned more than half gray. Hands clutching the bag. No more arrogant, shouting appearance like before. Co Trach walked in front of me.

“Khuong Le.”

“I just want to attend the rest of this party.”

“I want to see you standing in the brightest place with my own eyes.”

That sentence reminded me of the paper stuck under the thermos from years ago. I looked at him for a few seconds then said:

“But don't cause trouble.”

Trieu Tue Lan bowed her head. Very small voice.

“Khuong Le... I was wrong before.”

Co Man crossed his arms.

“You spoke so softly today.”

Trieu Tue Lan's face immediately filled with shame. Co Trach pulled her hand.

“Mom, let's go in.”

Two people sat at the last table. The party officially started. The host holds the microphone. The voice echoed throughout the hall.

“Next, please give everyone the warmest round of applause to welcome the founder of Thanh Hoa Capital — Miss Khuong Le!”

The stage lights fell. I walked up. Below are the people who witnessed my hardest times. These are also the people who stood by my side later. I hold the microphone.

“Good evening everyone.”

The applause gradually subsided. I don't read the manuscript.

“Five years ago, I used the name Phuong Thanh Hoa to make my first investment.”

“At that time I thought, helping someone stand up is something worth doing.”

The hall was quiet. At the last table, Co Trach bowed his head. I continue.

“I understood later.”

“Money can save people in times of danger.”

“But I can't save you product.”

“Faith can be given once.”

“But not for the rest of my life.”

The camera was pointed straight at me. Trieu Tue Lan quietly wiped her tears.

“Today Thanh Hoa cooperates with Luc Thi.”

“It's not to prove who is better than who.”

“It's not to trample anyone under your feet.”

“We're just doing what we should do.”

“Pay the debts that need to be paid.”

“And keep the people who deserve to be kept.”

I looked towards Chu Du. He stood under the stage. Bright eyes. I looked at Co Man. She tilted her chin at me. As if to say: Then I looked at Lam Man. She stood in the corner of the room. Still holding the unfinished statement in his hand. This time she didn't avoid my eyes. I continued:

“Thanh Hoa does not need perfect people.”

“Because perfect people usually only exist in fairy tales.”

“Thanh Hoa needs people who dare to accept responsibility.”

“Dare to correct mistakes.”

“And dare to make the work successful.”

Lam Man bowed his head. Shoulders trembled slightly. I put the microphone back on the stand.

“Thank you.”

Applause echoed throughout the hall. The sound of applause no longer drowns me out. In the middle of the party, Co Trach walked over.

“Can we talk for a few minutes?”

I don't refuse. On the terrace. The night wind is a bit cold. Co Trach looked at the traffic below.

“In the past, I always thought success was standing among the crowd.”

“Let everyone look at me.”

“I did it.”

He smiled bitterly.

“That's right.”

“Then everyone saw me fall.”

He took out an old piece of paper from his pocket. That's the piece of paper I once tore from the thermos. Perhaps Chu Du returned it to him. He looked at the writing on it.

“When I wrote this sentence, I was sincere.”

I looked at the piece of paper.

“It will be true later.”

“It's just that the person I wanted to put in the brightest place has changed.”

Co Trach nodded. The night wind blew. The paper in his hand shook slightly. There are promises that were once very sincere. It's just a pity that the speaker changed his mind before implementing it.

“Khuong Le, I don't expect you to forgive me. I know I have no qualifications.”

“So what do you want?”

“I will pay the compensation for the old case involving my mother.”

"I will also pay the outstanding debts Minh Chau owes in installments."

“As for Lam Man, I will never bother her again.”

He stopped for a moment.

“I want to ask you something.”

“Can you let me work at Luc Thi's factory?”

“The lowest position is fine.”