Chapter 4 — They Think I'm Leaning on My Brother-in-law... Until I Flip the Cards

“So if I said… I am the president of Dang Long Group, would you believe it?”

Trieu My Phuong froze, then burst out laughing.

"Lam Vu Vy, are you daydreaming too much? How can a girl from the countryside like you be the president?"

“To Chi Cuong.”

I turned to look at him.

"You say it. Tell your mother... who I am."

He slowly raised his head, his voice hoarse.

"Mom... Vu Vy is telling the truth. She... is indeed the president of Dang Long Group."

The living room immediately fell into absolute silence. Even the sound of breathing can be heard clearly. Trieu My Phuong's expression changed from anger to shock, then to disbelief.

“No way!”

“Chi Cuong, is it forcing you?”

“Mom… no one forced me.”

He smiled bitterly.

"Today at the company, she proved her identity to everyone. The projects I've been in charge of for the past three years... were all arranged by her."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Trieu My Phuong shook her head continuously.

"She's just a country girl, how can she build such a big company?"

I took out my phone, opened the corporation's official website, and went to the "Company Introduction" section.

“Mom, see for yourself.”

On the screen clearly visible: Chairman and General Director of Dang Long Group - Lam Vu Vy. Below is my resume and photo. Trieu My Phuong held the phone and looked at it over and over again. Her face became increasingly pale.

“This… how is it possible…”

Her voice trembled.

“A kid from the countryside, no education, no background… how could it be…”

“Who says people from the countryside don't have education?”

I interrupted.

"Do you remember, Mom? I graduated with an MBA from Tsinghua University and studied abroad in the US."

“But… but Chi Cuong said I'm just a secretary…”

“I used to work as a secretary.”

I calmly replied.

“But working in your own company, to experience from the grassroots level.”

"I spent three years, from nothing to build a corporation with hundreds of billions in revenue. All... I built it single-handedly."

Trieu My Phuong's hand trembled as she held the phone. Obviously she still cannot accept this truth. At that moment, To Chi Hoa came out of the kitchen, her face not looking any better.

“Vu Vy… why didn't you tell us?”

“I already said it.”

I looked at him.

“Ever since we met, I said I was starting a business, having my own company.”

“But I never said the company was this big!”

He was a bit agitated.

“You made us think you were just a small business owner!”

“Do I have an obligation to report my assets to you?”

I asked back.

“Besides, in the past three years, every time I wanted to explain… would anyone listen?”

I turned to Trieu My Phuong.

“Do you remember last year's Tet?”

"Chi Cuong bragged in front of his relatives that he was a high-ranking leader, implying that I had a good job thanks to him. At that time, I was about to explain—what did mom say?"

Her face turned red. She remembers it very clearly.

"Vu Vy, don't be unreasonable. Chi Cuong helps you so much, what's wrong with letting him show off in front of his relatives?"

“Last year's Mid-Autumn Festival too.”

I continue.

"Chi Cuong brought his colleagues home and said in front of outsiders that he held power in the company and that my promotion was all arranged by him. I was about to stand up and make it clear—what did you say again?"

Her face became even redder.

"What's the difference between family members? If it helps you, it helps the whole family, so what do you measure?"

I sat down on the sofa, voice slow but sharp.

“So, it's not that I don't want to talk.”

“But mom… never wanted to hear the truth.”

“In my mother's eyes, Chi Cuong is always the best.”

“And I—just a country girl who was lucky enough to climb high.”

The living room fell silent again. But this time— it was the kind of silence that made people not dare to breathe loudly. After a long while, Trieu My Phuong spoke with difficulty:

“So… Does Chi Cuong really have no real power at the company?”

I replied leisurely.

“But it was given to me.”

"I assigned him a few projects, gave him the title of deputy general... just so he could have a decent job. I didn't expect him to use that identity to pretend to be the real person in power."

To Chi Cuong finally raised his head:

"Vu Vy... you know it's wrong, can you..."

“Impossible.”

I interrupted bluntly.

“To Chi Cuong, in the past three years, how much glory have you enjoyed that did not belong to you?”

"You stepped on me to elevate yourself in front of others. You not only damaged my reputation, but also embarrassed the entire company."

“But we are one family!”

Trieu My Phuong was excited again.

“Even if it's wrong, you can't treat it like that!”

“One person?”

I laughed coldly.

"Yesterday, when my mother stood in front of more than three hundred guests and insulted me... why didn't you remember that we are family?"

Trieu My Phuong immediately became speechless.

"Besides, I fired To Chi Cuong to follow company regulations."

I stood up.

"He violated the regulations and damaged corporate interests. That is the consequence he must bear."

“If someone else made the same mistake, the result would be the same.”

“So what now?”

To Chi Hoa was worried.

"Chi Cuong lost his job, how does he live?"

“That's his problem.”

I hold my bag.

“I gave him three years of opportunity, but he didn't know how to appreciate it.”

“Lam Vu Vy!”

Trieu My Phuong suddenly shouted loudly.

"You can't be so cruel! He's your brother-in-law, you can't ignore him!"

I stopped walking and turned to look at her.

“Do you really think I should worry about him?”

"Of course!"

She said firmly.

“You're so rich now, what's the point in helping him a little?”

"Okay."

I nodded.

"Then I'll help him find a job. Monthly salary of 5,000 yuan, what do you think?"

Her eyes were round.

"How can it be so little? His previous annual salary was 5,000,000 yuan!"

“I gave that salary.”

I said calmly.

“Now that I'm fired, I'm lucky to have 5,000 yuan.”

“Furthermore, with his true ability… 5,000 yuan is already high.”

"Impossible!"

Trieu My Phuong immediately objected.

“It must be at least 500,000 yuan!”

I laughed.

“Do you know how much power that level requires?”

"To Chi Cuong besides his mouth... what else does he have?"

His face turned red, but he couldn't argue.

“Besides, just now my mother said my success was thanks to him.”

I looked straight.

“Now you want me to help him find a job?”

“If he's really that good... finding a job on his own shouldn't be difficult, right?”

Trieu My Phuong was speechless when I talked about it. I looked around at this family. In my heart, only a faint bitterness remained. It's been three years. I tried to fit in, tried to please everyone— In return, I only got disdain and exploitation.

"I'm tired. Go rest first."

I turned around and walked up the stairs. To Chi Hoa called back.

“Can we talk properly?”

I don't spin head.

“Are you saying I should continue to endure your disdain?”

“Or should I continue to be a woman who must rely on her brother-in-law to succeed?”

I went up to my room and closed the door. Finally... can take off all the mask layers. Through the window, I saw To Chi Cuong bow his head and walk out. Don't know where to go. Downstairs, Trieu My Phuong and To Chi Hoa are still arguing. This family... is broken. But I don't regret it. There are things... someone must clarify. There are debts... someone must account for them. The next morning, I was awakened by the phone ringing. It's only six o'clock. I picked up the phone, my voice still sleepy.