Chapter 20 — Trainee Shreds Dress For 8 Million Yuan, Asked For Compensation Right On The Red Carpet

Tham Tri Y stood next to him and suddenly spoke:

“Very soon, they will believe.”

I turned to look at her. She took out her phone and gave it to me. On the screen is Van Doan Gia's latest announcement.

“Van Doan Gia officially invited Ms. Le Duong to take on the position of Chief Visual Consultant of the Non-Heritage Red Carpet Project.”

Tong An An jumped up from the chair.

“Chief advisor?!”

I haven't had time to react yet. Manh Tuyet Chau reshared that post. She only wrote one sentence.

“She is the one who connects the needle that I recognize.”

That one sentence. Much heavier than the words "chief advisor". The Milky Way burned down twenty-three years ago. Tinh Ha was torn apart twenty-three years later. Finally found someone who can continue to stitch together that unfinished dream. The next time I met Lam Kieu Kieu. It's in the mediation room. She became noticeably thinner. Hair has been dyed black again. There are no more ostentatious jewelry on her body like before. Lam Quoc Cuong sat next to him. Looks a lot older too. Lawyer Nghiem. Compensation representative of Van Doan Gia. Temporary person in charge of Tinh Dieu. All are present. As soon as he saw me. Lam Kieu Kieu immediately bowed her head. Tong An An leaned close to my ear and whispered:

“She stopped rolling her eyes at me today.”

“Don't talk nonsense.”

The mediation begins. Lawyer Nghiem announced the losses one by one. Cost of restoring formal attire. Loss of brand reputation. Red carpet emergency treatment costs. Expenses arise from the photography team having to adjust the schedule. One account at a time. It couldn't be clearer. Listen to the end. Lam Quoc Cuong's face turned pale.

“Eight million yuan... my family really can't get it out.”

Tan Man calmly replied:

“Can pay in installments.”

“But we must publicly apologize and sign a compensation agreement.”

Lam Kieu Kieu raised her head.

“If I publicly apologize... how will I live in the future?”

Tong An An couldn't bear it.

“When you cut the dress, did you think about the future?”

Lam Kieu Kieu did not argue. She looked at me.

“Ms. Le Duong.”

“I know you don't like me.”

I calmly replied:

“I don't have that kind of free time.”

Her face flashed with shame.

“For the past few years, I've always thought... as long as someone supports me, I can get anything.”

“Aunt Giang says you're beautiful.”

“My dad said having money can solve everything.”

"Mr. Tran said I have a topic and can be famous."

“So I really think I'm very good.”

Tong An An muttered:

“Finally know how to speak human language.”

Lam Kieu Kieu continued:

“That day when I cut the dress, Duong Duyet stopped me.”

“I even scolded her for being cowardly.”

“You will understand later.”

“The only person who truly wanted to save me... was her.”

Duong Duyet was also present today. She sat in the corner of the room. Hearing that, he still didn't show any emotion. Lam Kieu Kieu looked at her.

“Duong Duyet.”

Duong Duyet was silent for a long time. Then said:

“I accept the apology.”

“But we can't be friends anymore.”

Lam Kieu Kieu nodded. Tears fell silently. Lam Quoc Cuong lost patience.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry.”

“Can compensation be reduced?”

Tan Man looked at him.

“Apologies are not coupons.”

Lam Quoc Cuong's face immediately turned red. Lawyer Nghiem opened the file.

“After determining responsibility.”

“Lam Kieu Kieu is directly responsible for the destruction vestments.”

“Giang Man is responsible for loose management.”

“Tinh Dieu is responsible for the storage environment and management.”

“Compensations will be distributed proportionally.”

Lam Quoc Cuong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Shouldn't I have to make my family bear all the burden?”

Lawyer Nghiem looked at him.

“But Lam Kieu Kieu's responsibility is still not low.”

Lam Kieu Kieu holds the pen. Hands shook for a long time. Never put it down on paper. She asked me:

“If I sign... will everything really end?”

“If you don't sign, it's over.”

She looked at me.

“Why are you still willing to tell me these words?”

I thought a bit. Then answer:

“Because now what I ask is about compensation.”

“Not how to steal the spotlight.”

Lam Kieu Kieu burst out laughing. Laughing and crying at the same time. Finally put pen to sign. The apology video was published the same day. There are no filters. There is no tragic background music. There is no story cutting and stitching to sell rugs. Lam Kieu Kieu sat in front of the camera. Every sentence and every word admitted. How did I voluntarily enter the shaping room? How did Tinh Ha break down? Bragged in the group. Tried to blame others. End of video. She stood up. Bow deeply in front of the camera.

“Sorry, Ms. Manh Tuyet Chau.”

“Sorry, Ms. Tham Tri Y.”

“Sorry Van Doan Gia.”

“Sorry Miss Le Duong.”

Netizens do not forgive because of an apology. But at least. She no longer lies. The results of Giang Man's treatment were also announced. Revocation of office. Responsible for compensation. Coordinate investigation. The day she left Tinh Dieu. Many people came to see. Duong Duyet did not go. She applied for a job transfer. Want to go back to the shaping department.

“I want to go to the shaping room.”

As soon as Tong An An heard it, he was alert.

“You're not here to be a spy, are you?”

Duong Duyet nodded.

“Previously I was in the artist coordination department.”

"I've really done a lot of stupid things."

“I'm right to suspect you.”

Tong An An put her hands on her hips.

“There is no doubt.”

“I said it straight.”

Duong Duyet smiled.

“So I'll start with the simplest thing.”

“Loading things.”

“Form registration.”

“Running work.”

“I can do it all.”

I looked at her.

“Why do you want to come here?”

Duong Duyet replied very seriously:

“That day, I watched everyone save Tinh Ha.”

“For the first time I understand.”

“Clothes are not something to compete for attention.”

Tong An An crossed her arms.

“What is it?”

Duong Duyet looked towards the rack full of formal gowns.

“It is the life of many people.”

Right at that moment. Manh Tuyet Chau walked in. Hear that sentence. She nodded.

“This girl can keep it.”

Tong An An immediately changed his attitude.

“If Ms. Manh could say it.”

“Then give it a try.”

Duong Duyet breathed a sigh of relief. I handed her a stack of registration forms.

“First renumber all the samples in the warehouse.”

She took it. Tong An An leaned close next to him.

“If you get one wrong number, I'll scold you for half an hour.”

Duong Duyet burst out laughing.

“It's okay.”

“If I get scolded, I remember it longer.”

The imaging department finally gets new sounds. No more blaming. No more taunts. It's the sound of steam from the iron. The sound of hangers gently hitting each other. It is the voice of people who have learned to respect a dress. And also learn to respect the effort behind every stitch. Outside window. The early winter sunlight penetrates through the glass. Falling on a dress called "Tinh Ha". The stars on the dress sparkle. Like it had never been cut off. Just like those who have fallen. Finally able to stand up. Continue to shine.