Chapter 15 — The Light That Calls Me

Te Quang Furniture... Not bankrupt. I kept the assets that the company previously planned to sell. At the same time... Cancel all cooperation with Tham Group. Supply chain... Reviewed from the beginning. Financial books... Checked again. Complete product profile... Fully re-registered. The first thing I do... Is to pay all the salaries owed to the employees. When Ly Mac received the owed salary. His eyes were red.

"I thought..."

"I can't get it back for the rest of my life."

"The company owes me."

"I didn't give it to you."

"But if you don't come back..."

"I just did..."

"Things that should have been done."

"So later..."

"Can you still come back?"

I looked at him.

"As long as you want."

One by one, more than ten former employees returned. They once left Te Quang Furniture... Because of Co Tram Chu's decisions. Some people go to a competitor company. Some people change jobs. There are also people... Who are no longer designers. I give each person... A new cooperation agreement. It's written very clearly. Creator... Enjoys full rights to sign the author's name. All core designs... May not be transferred without the consent of the author. All projects... Divide benefits according to the level of contribution. All authorized management rights... must clearly state the scope and duration. Someone finished reading the agreement. Just laughed and said:

"You wrote every clause carefully."

"I suffered a loss once."

"Then I'll remember to be more careful in the future."

"Will you continue to use the name Te Quang Furniture?"

I looked at the old sign hanging on the office wall. Te Quang... Is the name... Co Tram Chu and I named it together. The day before. I always think... In that name... There are feelings for both. Only later did I understand. It originally... Belonged to the first lamp I drew myself. I did not change the company name. I gave the new product line... A different name. Quang Street. Not to commemorate anyone. But to remind myself. There was a time... I gave my light to someone else to keep. And now... It's back... In my hands. The first product of the Duong Quang line... Named... The product still uses the semicircular structure as the main theme. But the gap on the lamp body... is wider than the Lunar Eclipse lamp. So that the light within... Can radiate fully. Ly Mac asked me:

"Why widen the gap?"

I smiled.

"Because this time..."

"I don't want the light..."

"Just got out through another little crack."

New product launch... Held in the fall. There is no Co Tram Chu. There is also no Tham Uyen Ninh. It's me... Step on stage. This is the first time in five years... I've appeared in public... As the original designer... And founder of the company. Below the stage... There are reporters. Investor. With many young designers. On the big screen... Don't broadcast the startup story. Also do not show photos of husband and wife. A blank sheet of paper. There was only one line written on it.

"Designer: To Duong."

Stand under the light. I suddenly remembered myself five years ago. I never wanted to appear in front of the camera. Co Tram Chu once said... I'm not good at speaking. Just let him speak for you. He once said:

"My work..."

"I will speak for you."

But about later... He held my own work... To speak up for another woman. So this time... I want to speak for myself.

"The first Duong Quang product line..."

"Started with a lamp..."

"It was never signed five years ago."

The whole auditorium... It was as quiet as paper.

"That lamp..."

"Used to bear someone else's name."

"It was also used to prove..."

"That I'm incompetent."

"But what it really wants to convey..."

"It's never been..."

"Who is standing under the light?"

"Who personally lit it?"

Below the stage... Someone started clapping. Applause... It's getting louder and louder. Finally... Echoed throughout the entire exhibition area. After the launch. A young female reporter ran after me.

"I will give this experience..."

"Into the design philosophy of the following collections?"

I thought for a moment.

"Probably will."

"Do you still believe in love?"

That question... Made everyone around them silent. I didn't answer right away. A few seconds later. I just said: The female reporter was a bit surprised.

"Because..."

"I've been in love."

"But what I believe now..."

"It's not just love."

"I still believe..."

"Enter the boundary."

"Respect."

"And believe that..."

"Even without anyone around."

"A person can still live his life well."

The female reporter continued to ask:

"So will you get married again?"

I smiled softly.

"Today..."

"That's not the topic."

Behind the crowd. Ha Lam stepped forward. In his hand he held a cup of coffee. Then give it to me.

"Congratulations."

"Mistress To."