Chapter 11 — Unforgettable Taste

He tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. To Niem has been looking at the ceiling of this apartment for three years. Every morning when you wake up at four in the morning, what do you think? Thinking of how to make better bread? Thinking about the company's decisions tomorrow? Or are you thinking, is this marriage worth continuing or not? He will never know. News in the industry is spreading more and more. Someone dug up a rumored story between the founder of Niem Chi Vi and Luc Chinh's ex-wife and posted it on a closed forum of financial people. Title: "Manager with monthly salary of 150 thousand criticizes ex-wife for earning 6 thousand, ex-wife just turned around and revealed her identity as founder of a brand valued at 800 million yuan." The article caused a fever. The comment area explodes —

“Isn't this the real-life scenario of 'having eyes without eyes'?”

"People have assets of 800 million, at home kneading dough and baking cakes. This man really lives in a bubble of illusion."

"Do you know what's the most shameless? His ex-wife even helped him pay off his 800,000 debt! If this type isn't called an ungrateful person, what else can you call it?"

"Luc Chinh, right? Remember this name."

The article was screenshotted and shared in many industry groups. The name Luc Chinh, overnight, became a synonym for "someone who invests but doesn't know how to look at people". Boss Chau called him into the office.

“Have you seen what happened online?”

“I see.”

"The company's reputation has been affected. We have had several potential customers ask us 'is that guy who mistakenly looked at his ex-wife part of your company?'"

Luc Chinh closed his eyes.

"Luc Chinh, I don't want to be evil, but your existence right now is a negative label for the company. Consider it yourself."

“What does Mr. Chau mean that he wants me to quit my job?”

“What I mean is — see for yourself.”

Luc Chinh stood up and walked out of the office. He didn't take much time to think. The next morning, he submitted his resignation. From monthly salary of 150 thousand to 90 thousand and then to 0 dong. Less than two months. As he drove the Porsche out of the company's basement parking lot, he remembered the coolness of the first day he drove this car to work. At that time, To Niem was sitting in the passenger seat and helped him clean the dust on the dashboard. She said: "New cars must be carefully maintained." He replied: "Of course, the car is over a million yuan." To Niem smiled and said nothing. Now he knew — more than a million yuan, in To Niem's eyes, it was nothing. She just didn't say it. Like so many other things, she chose to stay silent. To Niem's baking school officially opened. The location chosen was a renovated old factory on the outskirts of Hangzhou. The classroom, the baking practice area, and the dormitory were all redesigned according to her requests.

“The first course recruits thirty students?” Ha Vien asked.

"Fifty."

“Fifty… is the budget enough?”

"Enough. The money from round C is enough."

“Is round C signed?”

To Niem took out a contract and placed it on the table, with two signatures on it - To Niem and Co Dien.

"Signed yesterday. 300 million yuan."

Ha Vien almost threw the pen in her hand away.

“Dad, 300 million yuan?”

“So the valuation…”

Ha Vien stood there for half a minute to digest the information.

“You are truly too powerful.”

To Niem looked up at him and smiled.

“Sketch of admission announcement of Your school should do it and submit it to me next week.”

When he turned around and walked out, Ha Vien was still in shock. In 2020 when he joined Niem Chi Vi, this company had only twelve stores, with an annual revenue of less than 5 million. Four years later, valuation 1.5 billion. He witnessed with his own eyes To Niem step by step bringing this brand to today, without borrowing the glory of any man. That guy Luc Chinh, Ha Vien thought to himself, is really blind. News about the C round of capital raising quickly spread across business media.

"The dark horse of the pastry industry, Niem Chi Vi, completed raising round C capital, valued at 1.5 billion yuan, led by Hoa Thanh investment fund."

This news hit the front page of many financial platforms. Following that are a series of stories about To Niem himself -

“From a 15 square meter bakery to a chain of thousands of stores — The five-year journey of founder Niem Chi Vi To Niem”

“After divorce, valuation doubled: The startup legend of founder Niem Chi Vi To Niem”

"I was once criticized by my husband for 'only knowing how to make bread', but now I am the 'Queen of Cakes' worth 1.5 billion yuan"

The last title... almost nailed Luc Chinh to the column of shame. Even though he didn't mention his name directly, those who knew him knew... who he was talking about. When Luc Chinh saw those articles, he was sitting alone in a motel room, eating instant noodles. The Porsche was sold, used to pay off part of the home loan. The apartment is also for sale, but has not yet been transacted. Currently, he lives in a rented room in the east of the city, costing three thousand yuan per month, with an area of about thirty-five square meters. Twice the size of To Niem's old bakery. But… there was no warmth like that place. Hot smoke rose from the bowl of noodles, he sat quietly, staring at To Niem's photo on the phone screen. In the photo, she is wearing a dark blue vest, her hair loose, standing on the podium of a signing ceremony. Next to him is Co Dien. The distance between the two was just right — not too close, but not far either. Luc Chinh stared at that distance, an unnameable emotion welling up in his heart. The noodles have cooled. He did not move his chopsticks.