Chapter 16 — Unforgettable Taste

One year later. Niem Chi Vi is officially listed. On the day of ringing the bell at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, To Niem only wore a white T-shirt and jeans. No tailored vests. No lipstick. Even... without makeup. She raised the hammer and knocked it down decisively. The bell echoed throughout the hall. Everyone below stood up and applauded. The numbers on the screen began to jump up and down — Niem Chi Vi Food Technology Co., Ltd., opening price of 38 Hong Kong dollars, had just opened. Market capitalization: 6.3 billion Hong Kong dollars. Equivalent to nearly 5.8 billion yuan. To Niem stood on the podium, turned his head to look at the background behind him. Niem Chi Vi logo - the outline of a loaf of bread is as simple as a small hill, above are the three words "Nem Chi Vi". Below is the small text: Starting from the first batch of cakes. The corners of her eyes were slightly stinging. Just for a moment. The ceremony ended, everyone rushed to congratulate. The CFO was so happy that he stammered:

“General Su… we… are on the floor!”

Ha Vien stood next to her and clapped her hands continuously, her eyes shining. Legal director, brand director, regional heads... The people who have been with her since the early days — everyone laughed, some shed tears. To Niem shook hands and hugged each person. Then, she stopped in front of someone. The crowd automatically split into two sides.

“Congratulations.” He said, as always, simply but sincerely.

"Thank you." She looked at him.

Then she did something. Take my hand. In front of the camera. In front of more than a thousand eyes.

“Co Dien, how long have you been waiting for me?”

“Three hundred and twenty-seven days.”

“That's exactly right.”

“Professional habits of investors.”

To Niem laughed, his eyes curved.

“No need to wait anymore.”

The whole hall — Silence for a beat. Then, applause erupted. Even louder than when the bell rang. This news climbed straight to the top of searches during the day.

"On the first day of Niem Chi Vi's listing with a capitalization of 5.8 billion yuan, founder To Niem publicly held hands with Co Dien of Hoa Thanh fund."

Comments section:

"This is what we call a good match! Two people of equal talent!"

“To Niem deserves to be loved like that.”

“Suddenly remembering her ex-husband… forget it.”

"What's that guy's name? Ah, it doesn't matter anymore."

Doesn't matter anymore. That was Luc Chinh's ending - Forgotten. Not revenge. Not an insult. But it was gently erased by the world. Three years later. To Niem stands in front of the gate of his baking school. The school has expanded into three campuses, training more than a thousand students. Among them, more than four hundred people have opened their own bakeries, spread across small towns and cities. The capitalization value of Niem Chi Vi has exceeded 10 billion yuan. But what makes her most proud — Not going on the floor. Not a number. But more than a thousand people have learned how to make bread. Someone sent her a letter:

"Miss To, the bakery in my hometown finally made a stable profit last month. My mother said, you are more trustworthy than those people who teach you how to get rich on Douyin."

To Niem finished reading and laughed for a long time. She folded the letter and put it in the drawer. There were several hundred such letters in there. Every photo... she answered. Co Dien pushed the door and walked in.

“Niem Niem, this afternoon's flight, is the Hangzhou restaurant still there?”

“Go, you must go.”

“Still eighty yuan per person?”

"Of course."

He stepped forward and gently kissed her her forehead. To Niem patted his hand:

“You're at school, keep up your image.”

“The students have all gone home.”

She looked around the empty classroom and smiled. The sunlight shines through the window, reflecting on the stainless steel table, sparkling. She walked over and out of habit gently stroked the edge of the dough table. Five years ago, when she made her first cake... she also used the same table. At that time, she did not know how far she would go. She just knew — The dough in front of her needed her. The oven at four in the morning needs her. The people waiting outside the door... needed her. And the man who used to sleep next to her but never understood her - Now, she can no longer remember his face. Not trying to forget. But because life is too full. So full that... there's no room left for things that don't matter. She took out her phone and checked the time. A quarter past one in the afternoon. She texted Co Dien:

“Let's go, let's eat vinegar fish.”

After that, she turned off the electricity to the classroom and locked the door. On the door was a poster written by her hand —

"Welcome to Niem Chi Vi baking school. Here, everyone deserves to be treated sincerely."

The spring breeze blew through the alley, causing the corners of the poster to curl slightly. To Niem reached out and stroked it back. Then turned around and walked away. Behind, in the bakery, the "ding" of the oven rang out. A new batch of cakes... just came out of the oven.