Chapter 13 — Women Don't Need To Be Chosen

She didn't make an appointment, stood at the front desk and said she wanted to see me, her voice was so low that she almost lost all momentum. Chu Can asked if I had seen him. Bach Nhuoc Tinh walked in, no makeup, hoodie and jeans, so simple that it looked like two different people. There is no longer any trace of the girl who once smiled brightly at the party. She stood at the door, not daring to sit.

“To Niem… I came to apologize.”

She hesitated then sat down on the edge of the sofa, clasping her hands together.

"The video thing... I didn't know my dad was also involved. He came home and scolded me, saying I shouldn't have informed you about Tien Ngoc Hoa's plan."

“He scolded you?”

"Not only did he scold me, he said that if To Thi prosecuted me, my company wouldn't be able to survive. He told me to come and beg you..."

“Bach Nhuoc Tinh.”

She immediately fell silent.

“Have you ever thought about what you are in this matter?”

She bowed her head.

"You are just a pawn, Tien Ngoc Hoa uses you to approach Luc Canh Tham, Bach Khai Minh uses you to please Tien Ngoc Hoa, and you yourself... have never had the right to make decisions."

"...I know."

Her voice was small, almost breaking.

“So how do you want to continue living?”

She looked up, her eyes red.

"I don't know, from childhood to adulthood, what to study, what to do, who to know... it's all my father's decision. I thought I would escape by getting married, but unexpectedly I would fall into another cage."

“It's just a change of control.”

She nodded. I looked at her, for the first time I didn't feel disgusted, I just felt... pitiful.

"Go tell your father, I won't move on the matter of the construction materials company for now, but there are two conditions."

“You say it.”

"First, completely cut off ties with Tien Ngoc Hoa. From today on, do not get involved in any affairs of the Luc family."

"Monday." I looked straight at her, "think about whose life you want to live, stop being a chess piece."

She paused for a second, then stood up and bowed deeply. She left, this time her back was lighter than when she came. Chu Can walked in and raised his eyebrows.

“You're too soft on her.”

"It's not soft, it's not worth wasting effort, the one who needs to be dealt with has never been her."

“So who is it?”

“Tien Ngoc Hoa… and the whole family name Co behind.”

Tuesday noon, riverside clubhouse. Zhu Hai came alone, no secretary, no driver, his attitude was completely different from last time. Simple vest, proactive smile, even a bit ingratiating.

"President Su, last time I said too much. Mr. Chu apologizes to you."

He lifted the teacup like a glass.

“It's okay, everyone is for their own benefit.”

“So about the East project…”

“Frankly speaking, I do not intend to continue investing in the shopping mall model anymore.”

His hand stopped in mid-air.

"The regional orientation has changed, Dinh Huy will be a medical technology park, pure commerce will no longer be the center."

“So my 80,000,000 yuan…”

“I can help you connect with Dinh Huy. If you agree to convert the project into a commercial area supporting medical technology, they will consider cooperating.”

He was silent for a moment, his eyes changed.

“Don't withdraw capital, but change direction?”

“Yes, the profit after conversion is better than the original plan, my finance team will send you a detailed report.”

“General Su… are you helping me?”

"I'm helping myself. If that area becomes chaotic, no one will benefit. Cooperation is better than confrontation."

He nodded, this time without hesitation.

“Okay, me Agree on principles and details for the team to work on.”

The meal ended in a light atmosphere, like a game of chess that had just changed positions without needing any extra moves. At the door, Zhu Hai stopped and turned to me.

“President Su, there is one more thing.”

“Last week Tien Ngoc Hoa contacted my people and wanted to hire them to handle you.”

He paused for a moment, his eyes more straightforward than the first time we met.

“I refused.”

“I thank Mr. Chu for reminding me.”

"Nothing, I've been doing business for thirty years, the thing I'm most afraid of is getting involved with someone who's out of control. Tien Ngoc Hoa has shown signs like that now, be careful."

I nodded, my eyes lowered a bit. On the way back to the company, I texted Luc Canh Tham a sentence, short but strong enough.

"Your mother has contacted Zhuhai's people. If you don't intervene, the next step will be a criminal case."

He replied almost immediately.

“I'll go see her tonight.”

I don't text back anymore. At three o'clock in the afternoon, To Cam Hoa called, her voice this time was softer than the previous day.

“Nien Niem, are you free? Mom wants to take you to meet someone.”

“Your grandmother, she just flew in from Shenzhen and is waiting for you.”