[FULL] HÔN MÊ 10 NĂM BA ĐƯA EM VẪN SỢ CHỊ GÁI || Thạch Anh Tím Audio.

0:00You are watching the Thach Anh Tim Audio YouTube channel . A small reminder : Remember to stay hydrated and take care of your health . I hope you enjoy the story . Prologue : I woke up to the smell of antiseptic . The ceiling was stark white , a light bulb flickered overhead , and in my ears , the steady ,

0:12rhythmic sound of a heart monitor ticked away like a countdown . I blinked once , then twice ; my whole body felt heavy as lead , my limbs numb and unresponsive , my throat so dry that even swallowing felt painful . An IV needle was stuck in the back of my hand , with tubing running up to the fluid

0:24bag hanging high above . Beside the bed was a plastic chair with its armrests completely worn down . The kind of wear from someone sitting here for a long time , many times , over a long period ; my head felt stuffed with cotton , and disjointed memories rushed back in fragments . My name is Ta Canh Ninh , and

0:36I don't know how long I've been lying here . Just then , a voice echoed from outside the door , a young man's voice trying to stay composed but still trembling . " Chairman , I beg you to reconsider . If you really sign this deal to buy that entire shopping mall as a gift for Ms. Lam Uyen , the group's

0:48cash flow won't be able to handle it . " Another voice replied , deep and cold , without a hint of hesitation . " So what ? " " Then the Ta Corporation could lose control . Sir , this is no longer just a gift ; this is an entire conglomerate . " Three seconds of silence , then that

0:59cold voice let out a single word : " Buy . " I lay on the hospital bed staring at the ceiling , and only one thought crossed my mind . My younger brother was just about to squander the entire family fortune to buy a gift for a woman . And at that very moment , my memories flooded back , missing not a

1:11single piece . I remember it all . When I was 14 , my parents died in an accident . In just one night , the four of us became orphans . I was the eldest sister . Under me were three younger siblings . Each of us was exactly two years apart . I learned how to cook at 15 , learned

1:23how to sign documents , how to read people's expressions , and how to soothe a crying sibling in the middle of the night without waking the other two . Canh Tham : " The second child , back then he was a sullen boy , always clutching onto my shirt . " " Minh Duong , the quiet third child who always sat in a corner

1:34reading books ; A Nhien , the baby sister who cried easily , afraid of the dark , afraid of rain , and had to sleep with the lights on . And I remember that fateful night , the year I was 20 , I drove out and then ... everything went black . After that , there was this place

1:44, this white ceiling , this smell of antiseptic . I raised my emaciated hand in front of my face . Pale skin , bony fingers , a lock of long hair falling over my shoulder , much longer than the hair I still remembered . It was as if my body had been left somewhere , standing still while the rest of the

1:57world kept running . How old am I now ? That question hadn't even been answered when the room door swung open . A man in a white lab coat walked in , tall and upright , with a face so calm it was almost expressionless . In his hand was a medical file . He looked up , his gaze

2:09met mine , and his whole body froze . The file in his hand fell to the floor , papers scattered everywhere , but he didn't pick them up ; he just stood there staring at me . Those calm eyes were trembling in waves . " " Sister , " his voice broke on the first word . " I

2:21looked at that face , it was familiar , very familiar . I searched through my memories , matching it with the face of a 16 - year-old boy who used to sit reading books in the corner of the room . " Minh Duong . " I asked hoarsely . Hearing his name , that calm doctor's eyes suddenly turned red ; he stepped

2:32forward , knelt by the bed , and reached out to hold my hand — his hand was warm and shaking . You're awake , you're finally awake . He kept repeating that sentence , as if afraid that if he stopped , I would disappear . I wanted to ask so many things , but my throat was so dry I could only let out a cough .

2:45Immediately , Minh Duong let go of my hand and reached over to the bedside table to pour a glass of water . Warm water ; he supported my head , brought the glass to my lips , one hand shielding my chin so the water wouldn't spill . I was stunned , not because of the glass of water , but because of that

2:57bedside table . On it , there was a thermos and a glass , placed in the exact position that someone right-handed like me would find easiest to reach . It was as if for all these years , someone had set a glass of warm water there every single day . Waiting for me to wake up and drink it . I

3:08swallowed the water , my throat soothing . And the first question I asked in a hoarse voice wasn't where I was , nor what had happened . How long have I been asleep ? Minh Duong froze ; he set the glass down , silent for a moment before answering . His voice tried to stay calm , but I could hear something being

3:22suppressed underneath . Ten years , sister , you've been in a coma for ten years . Ten years , I repeated the number in my head . So I am 30 , Canh Tham is 28 , Minh Duong is 26 , and An Nhien is 24 . The three kids I used to hold hands with on the way to school are all

3:34adults now . I should have cried , I should have screamed that ten years of my life had evaporated . But strangely , the first thing that surged in me wasn't fear for myself , but that cold voice at the door earlier . Buy me . I took a breath and yanked the IV needle out of my hand . " Sister ! " Minh Duong

3:47lunged forward in a panic . What are you doing ? You just woke up , your body isn't — That guy at the door earlier . I cut him off , propping myself up ; my whole body swayed and my head spun , but I gritted my teeth and endured it . It was Canh Tham , wasn't it ? What was he

3:58planning to buy ? Minh Duong stood stunned . You heard everything ? Where is he ? At the corporation . But I won't take you there . You just woke up after 10 years . For the first time , this calm man's voice raised in pitch . You can't even walk yet . I am a doctor , I know

4:10how your body is . I looked him straight in the eyes . " Minh Duong , " I said . The " Yes " slipped out of him by reflex before he even realized it . Exactly like 10 years ago . You asked if my body couldn't walk yet , right ? Yes . Then you will carry me . Minh Duong was rooted to

4:22the spot . Why are you just standing there ? Carry me to the car . " Sister ... " he muttered . The stoic doctor's face twisted in helplessness . You've just woken up and you're already this fierce ? I didn't answer ; I only looked at him with the gaze that , 10 years ago , made

4:34the three of them automatically sit down at their desks . And that look still held its power after ten years . Minh Duong let out a long sigh , the sigh of someone who knows they have lost . He leaned down , sliding one arm under my back and the other under my legs , lifting me up as gently as if I

4:46were fragile . " Alright . " He said softly , his voice now calm . " I’ll take you , but you must promise me : if you feel dizzy or unwell , you have to tell me right away , don't hide it . " I scoffed , refusing to promise . He carried me out into the hallway . I looked out the

4:58window at the end of the hall and , for the first time , I truly saw what those ten years looked like . The skyline had sprouted several high-rises I had never seen before . Electronic billboards flickered with strange , unfamiliar light . People on the street were all holding slim phones with glowing screens . Ten years is enough for a city

5:13to grow new skyscrapers , enough for the three children I raised to become people I might no longer know . That thought made my chest tighten . Just then , a wave of dizziness washed over me . The hallway ceiling swayed , and everything blurred into a white haze . I gripped Minh Duong's shoulders tightly , gritting my teeth and waiting for it to

5:26pass . He noticed immediately and his footsteps faltered . " I’m taking you back to the room . " " I'm fine . " I let go , forcing myself to look composed . After ten years , getting dizzy when standing up is normal . " Keep going . " He looked at me for a second longer , his

5:37expression holding something I couldn't quite read . Then he tightened his grip on me and continued walking . At that moment , only one thing was on my mind : I had to get to the corporation . Before my foolish younger brother could sign something that would leave our whole family homeless . The car turned onto a

5:48grand avenue and slowed before a glass skyscraper , so tall I had to tilt my head back to see the top . On the roof were three large letters . Glistening in the sun : Ta Thi Group . I looked at my family name hanging on that high-rise and the corner of my mouth twitched . That sullen little boy who used to

6:01cling to my shirt . Now his name sits proudly in the sky . The corporate lobby was vast , with polished stone floors and people bustling in and out . Everyone was wearing a suit , clutching laptops and documents . This was clearly a giant machine running smoothly . And I , a gaunt woman in a hospital gown with

6:14disheveled hair , was led by a doctor straight into the middle of that luxurious lobby . All eyes turned toward us . A receptionist hurried over , her expression both polite and wary . Excuse me , this is the corporate work area ; who are you here to see ? Do you have an appointment ? I looked at her and said

6:29six words , as calmly as if ordering a drink : " I want to see Ta Canh Tham . " Both the receptionist and the employees nearby froze . Some turned to look at me , their eyes puzzled as if they had just heard something ridiculous . Behind me , several employees began to whisper softly . " Who is that woman ? Demanding

6:43to see the chairman ? " Minh Duong tried to speak , but I shook my head slightly . " I don't need to explain who I am ; I just need to go see the guy sitting in that office up there and remind him . " Even if he's a CEO who has built an empire reaching the clouds , to me , he's

6:55still the kid I used to flick on the forehead for skipping school . " Call the chairman's office , " I told the receptionist , my voice not loud but enough to make her straighten up , " tell him someone is here to collect a debt — a 10 - year debt . " The receptionist hesitated for a moment before picking

7:07up the phone to dial . I saw her hand tremble slightly , but we didn't have to wait long . A young man in a suit ran out from the elevator , adjusting his tie as he walked . He was in his thirties , with a sharp look on his face . As soon as he saw me , he stopped in

7:18the middle of the lobby , eyes wide , showing a very strange expression . It was like seeing a ghost , but a ghost he was happy enough to cry over . " Sis , Sis Ninh , " he stammered . " You are Sis Ninh , aren't you ? " I frowned . " You know me ? "

7:29" I'm Tieu Tran , the chairman's secretary . " He turned sharply to Minh Duong , his voice breaking . " Dr. Ta , she's awake ? Is she really awake ? Why didn't anyone tell me ? " He just woke up this morning , Minh Duong replied briefly . She insisted on seeing Canh Tham , I couldn't stop her . Xiao Chen

7:42looked at me , his eyes red and swollen . I didn't understand why a secretary I'd never met would be so emotional , but I had no time to care . Canh Tham is upstairs in his office . Actually , the chairman is in a meeting , a very important meeting . About the mall acquisition deal , take me up right now .

7:55The elevator took us to the top floor . At the end of the thick-carpeted hallway was a large wooden door , with voices echoing from inside . The cold , deep voice I heard on the phone earlier was talking about terms and closing rates for today . I let go of Minh Duong's shoulder . I’ll go in myself .

8:07Wait here , miss . I didn't let him finish his sentence . I pushed the door open and walked in . The conference room was vast , with a long polished wooden table , and over a dozen people in suits sitting seriously on both sides . At the head of the table sat a man , back straight , radiating such a cold aura

8:18that the room seemed to drop several degrees . He was tall , broad-shouldered , with sharp , cold features and deep , emotionless eyes . The whole room was turned toward him , waiting for his orders . This was Canh Tham . My sullen little boy was now sitting there like a king . Everyone turned to look at me . A

8:32stranger suddenly barged into a billion-dollar meeting , and in a hospital gown at that . An older man frowned , ready to kick me out . But I didn't care about anyone else . I walked straight to the head of the table , to Canh Tham's spot . He looked up at me , eyebrows slightly furrowed ; before he

8:45could recognize me , I raised my hand and smacked him hard on the head . * Thwack * , the whole room went silent . Ta Canh Tham , I glared . Are you planning to sell the whole corporation to buy gifts for girls ? Is something wrong with your brain ? The most powerful man in this building , the one the whole

8:57room had been holding their breath for , was just smacked on the head by a frail woman at the conference table . And what stunned everyone even more was his reaction . Canh Tham held his head and looked up , that icy cold face completely frozen in shock . His eyes widened , his pupils trembling as he

9:08stared at me , as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing . Then , out of a reflex ingrained ten years ago , before he could even think , he blurted out : " Yes . " If someone had dropped a pin right then , the whole room would have heard it . Over a dozen high-level

9:20executives , who had once seen Canh Tham tear up a billion-dollar contract without batting an eye , were now gaping at their chairman , who had just said " yes " as obediently as a little brother being scolded by his sister . In the corner of the room , I heard Xiao Chen , who must have snuck in at some point ,

9:31sniffle , half-laughing and half-crying . Canh Tham jumped up , his chair scraping loudly against the floor as it was pushed back . He looked at me from my long hair down to my hospital gown , his voice hoarse , " Is it really you ? " Am I dreaming ? I raised my hand and tapped him on the exact same spot again . " Ow .

9:44" What kind of dream hurts this much when you're hit ? I huffed , " Are you awake yet ? " The corner of his mouth twitched , and tears actually welled up in his eyes . A tall man , a notorious CEO , stood there clutching the head I’d just tapped , tearing up like a little boy . " You're back ? " He muttered .

9:56" You're really back . " I glanced around the room and then looked back at him . " This meeting is about the shopping mall acquisition , right ? " " Yes . " " Postpone it . " He turned to the executives , his voice , which had just been commanding billions , still sounding stiff . " The

10:07meeting is suspended , everyone leave first . " The group scrambled to stand up , glancing back as they left to look at the unimaginable scene . A few people passed by me , their gazes a mix of awe and bewilderment , as if trying to memorize the face of the woman who had just made their chairman say " yes "

10:17twice in a row . Soon , only I , Canh Tham , and Xiao Chen , who was huddled by the door , were left in the room . Canh Tham pulled out a chair for me to sit , as careful and gentle as if he were afraid I might fall . He poured a glass of warm

10:26water and pushed it in front of me , then stood there with his arms at his sides , his eyes not leaving me for even a second , just like a child afraid their mother might disappear again . The cold , notorious CEO from earlier had completely vanished . Now , only my younger brother is left sitting before

10:37me . I told him , why stand and get tired . He obediently sat down beside me . Now tell me the whole story about buying that shopping mall . Canh Tham hung his head slightly like a student called to the board , " I wanted to buy it as a gift . " Her name is Lam Uyen . Your

10:49girlfriend ? How much did it cost to buy a shopping mall for your girlfriend ? He remained silent . How much ? Not that much . He said softly , just to be able to buy it . I had to restructure some shares and take out a loan . Meaning you intended to mortgage the family's shares just to buy a gift . I cut him

11:03off , my voice turning cold . Ta Canh Tham . Do you know what those shares are ? They are what Mom and Dad left behind , what I stayed up nights to preserve for you all ; you meant to trade them for a red ribbon tied on a mall rooftop just to give to someone . Canh Tham kept

11:14his head bowed , " Sis , listen to me , Lam Uyen isn't a materialistic person , she didn't even want it , it was me who wanted to give it . " " Whack . " He clutched his head , his mouth still defending her the moment he opened it . " I haven't said a word about her yet ,

11:23and you're already taking bullets for her . " He shut his mouth , rubbing his head , not daring to argue anymore . Seeing him like that , my anger also softened . I glanced around his office and my eyes landed on the corner of the desk . There , among files and an expensive computer , was a small frame ;

11:36the frame was new , but the photo inside was so old it had discolored . In the photo were four children , a girl standing in the middle with her arms around two boys ' shoulders , and the youngest girl being carried on her back . All four were grinning wide , missing a few front teeth . That was us many

11:49years ago ; that photo is placed on the desk corner where every time he looks up , Canh Tham sees it . I looked at the photo , then at my brother sitting there rubbing his head , the one who built this entire skyscraper . And suddenly I realized one thing , all of this — the corporation , the power , the money —

12:02might look like ambition to outsiders , but to the eighteen-year-old boy who lost his sister back then , perhaps it was just a way to fill a void . Canh Tham , why did you build this corporation ? He looked up , slightly dazed , then lowered his head and tightened his fingers . When you first fell ill , our family wasn't exactly

12:17well-off . Your medical bills , my tuition , and even for Minh Duong and An Nhien , I handled it all by myself . I just thought that if I earned enough money , then by the day you woke up ... His voice grew faint . By the day you woke up , you would never have to worry

12:27about anything ever again . You would only need to rest . I can take care of everything . I fell silent . This boy , for ten years , has built an entire empire . Turns out it was just to prepare for a day that he wasn't even sure would come . I meant to say something , but my throat felt tight , so

12:39in the end , I just reached out and gently rubbed the head I had just tapped twice for being a fool . I said . Canh Tham looked up at me , and that cold man's eyes turned red once again . Just as the atmosphere was softening , the door opened . Minh Duong walked in . The doctor's calm face immediately

12:52furrowed when he saw Canh Tham . She needs to be under medical observation . Minh Duong said , we aren't here to sit and listen to you complain about your love life . She just got back , Canh Tham glared back , you only care about hospitals , she needs to be at home too . At home , who will monitor her blood

13:04pressure ? You ? Can you even measure it ? Two grown men , one CEO , one doctor , standing in the middle of the office , started bickering sharply over who I belonged to . I sat between them , looking from one to the other , then tapped my hand on the table . Both of them immediately fell silent and

13:16snapped their heads toward me . What are you two doing ? Canh Tham and Minh Duong looked at each other and replied in unison , their voices as obedient as when they were children . Nothing . I sighed , I'd only been back for half a day , and I already felt my ten years of rest were effectively over . Listen to

13:28me , I'm not going to lie in the hospital all day , it's a waste of time , but I'm also not staying here at the corporation listening to you two argue . We're all going back to the old house for dinner tonight . Both of them looked stunned . The old house ? Canh Tham asked . I mean the old villa ; is it still

13:41there ? Or did you kids sell it ? Canh Tham hurriedly replied . It's still there , no one dared to sell it ; Uncle Phuc is still looking after it . Uncle Phuc , that name warmed my heart a little . The old butler who had been with my family since my parents were alive ; call Uncle Phuc and tell him to

13:54prepare , we're all going back tonight . Canh Tham immediately pulled out his phone to call . I faintly heard an old man's voice on the other end , initially skeptical , then bursting with emotion , stammering as he asked again and again . " Ms. Ninh has woken up , young master ? " " Ms. Ninh has really woken up ? " Canh

14:05Tham had to confirm several times before he believed it . He hung up , turned to me , his eyes rimmed with red again . " Why was Uncle Phuc crying ? " He said for the last 10 years , he cleaned your room every day , dusted the tables , changed the sheets , and opened the

14:15windows for fresh air . He said in case you came back , the room had to be clean so you could sleep well . I didn't say anything ; I just looked out the large glass window , gazing at the strange city stretching out below . Ten years , an old man cleaning an empty room every day , waiting for someone who might

14:27never wake up . A brother looking at an old photo every day , building an empire for a day that might never come . I thought 10 years was enough for everyone to forget me , but it turns out I was wrong . Alright , I stood up , wobbling slightly , and both of them immediately lunged forward to support

14:38me . I waved my hand , I can walk . Canh Tham , clear your schedule for this afternoon . Minh Duong , see what medication I need to bring along . And little A Nhien , I paused . A Nhien , my youngest , who 10 years ago was just a 14 - year-old crybaby who wouldn't let go

14:51of my shirt . Where is A Nhien ? I asked why she hadn't been mentioned all day . Canh Tham and Minh Duong glanced at each other , very quickly , but I caught it . An Nhien is busy . Canh Tham hesitated . She's been very busy lately . I'll call her to come back tonight .

15:03Busy with what ? You'll know when you see her tonight . Minh Duong said , his voice sounding somewhat evasive . Let me take you to the hotel first . I looked at the two of them ; there was clearly something they didn't want to say , but I decided not to press them , as I’d be seeing them tonight anyway . It’s

15:14just that a vague sense of unease suddenly rose within me . My two sons were just as I remembered them the moment I saw them . A rap on the head and they were as obedient as puppies . But for some reason , I felt afraid of my youngest daughter . Afraid of that moment when I open the door and see

15:26someone I no longer recognize . That afternoon , Minh Duong took me back to the old villa . The house appeared before my eyes , exactly as in my memories : the tiled roof , the bougainvillea trellis , and the second-floor window where I used to sit in the sun . Mr. Phuc was waiting on the steps . He had grown old ; his hair was

15:38completely white , and his back was slightly hunched . Seeing me step out of the car , he hurried over , his clouded eyes brimming with tears . " Miss Ninh , " he choked out . " Miss Ninh has truly come home . " " Mr. Phuc , " I took his wrinkled hands , " have you been well ? "

15:49He nodded repeatedly , tears rolling down his face , whispering to himself , " Coming back is good , it's good to be back . " He led me to the second floor and opened the door to my old room . I stepped inside and froze . Everything was exactly as it was : the desk , the

16:00bed , the curtains , and the books I had left on the shelf . The bedsheets were pristine , smelling of sunlight as if I had only left yesterday , not ten years ago . " You kept everything as it was ? " I asked softly . " Yes . " Mr. Phuc wiped his eyes . " I cleaned it every single day . "

16:12" After you left , the house was so empty . " " Mr. Tham is busy with the company , Mr. Duong with the hospital , and Miss An Nhien rarely comes home . " " Often , in this big house , it’s just me , but I still cleaned your room every day . " " I just thought , perhaps ... " he

16:22didn't finish his sentence , but I understood : perhaps one day I would return . And that day had truly come . Lying on the old bed , I let my mind settle down . The past half-day went by so fast , but there are some things I cannot ignore . First is An Nhien ; the way her two brothers evaded my

16:34questions clearly suggests something is going on . Second , and more urgent , is this business about buying the shopping mall . Canh Tham said Lam Uyen isn't materialistic and even refused the gift , which sounds touching , but something feels off to me . Why would a woman who isn't materialistic let her man restructure the entire corporate equity

16:48just to buy a property ? If she really didn't want to accept it , wouldn't a firm " I don't need it " be enough ? Unless that very refusal is exactly what makes Canh Tham want to give it to her even more . I haven't met Lam Uyen yet , so I can't jump to conclusions .

16:59She could very well be a good girl , and I’m just being suspicious out of an instinct to protect my brother's assets after just waking up from a coma . But my gut feeling hasn't been wrong in ten years , so I decided not to take anyone's word for it and see for myself . There is a very simple way to tell if

17:12someone loves money : just threaten that they are about to lose it and watch their expression . That evening , Canh Tham came home , and he wasn't alone . The door opened , and behind him was a pretty young woman , dressed elegantly without being gaudy . A simple yet sophisticated dress , light makeup , a

17:25gentle face , and a modest smile . She’s exactly the type of girl who makes people feel fond of her right away . " Sister , " Canh Tham said , looking a bit shy . " This is Lam Uyen , I wanted to introduce her to you . " Lam Uyen stepped forward and bowed to greet me ,

17:36polite and proper . " Hello , sister . " " Tham has told me so much about you . " " You’ve just woken up and are still weak , you really need to take care of your health . " She spoke softly with a sincere gaze , showing concern at the right moments ; there wasn't a single

17:45flaw to criticize . " Sit down , " I said , gesturing to the chair opposite me . She sat down , looking poised , with her hands neatly placed on her lap . Canh Tham sat beside her , glancing at her occasionally with a look of pure infatuation . The boy is in love — deeply in love , in fact . I heard from

17:57Canh Tham that you two are planning to buy a shopping mall . Lam Uyen looked slightly flustered and quickly waved her hands , " Oh no , sister , Tham just insists on buying it for me ; I don't need anything at all . " I’ve told him so many times , that money should be used to take care of you and the family

18:09, why waste it on gifts for me ? I really don’t need those things . She said , her tone sincere , her gaze steady and unyielding . Canh Tham chimed in immediately , his face full of pride . See , sister ? I told you so . Lam Uyen isn’t like the others , I want to give

18:21to her . Yet she still refuses . I nodded , appearing satisfied on the outside , but a silent alarm went off in my mind . Her response was too perfect , too on point ; every word landed exactly where it needed to be to touch the listener . She knew exactly what a sister who had just woken up from a coma would want to

18:34hear from her brother's girlfriend . People are usually clumsy when they are being genuine , but when someone is flawless without a single scratch , that is when you need to be careful . After chatting for a while , very naturally , in the middle of the conversation , Lam Uyen turned to Canh Tham , " Oh , by the

18:46way , is the progress of that riverside project still on track ? " I heard the real estate market in that area has been heating up lately . Canh Tham nodded , " It's fine , dear , we’re handing it over this quarter . " The conversation flowed smoothly , and no one noticed , but I took note of the

18:58riverside project . I had only been awake for half a day and didn't even know how many projects the corporation had , but I knew for a fact that for an internal project , not yet handed over or publicly announced , a regular consultant had no reason to know its name so clearly . She didn't just know

19:10the project's name ; she even knew its progress . A girl who doesn't care about money but is well-versed in the group's internal figures . How interesting . It's getting late , I set my teacup down , you should head home and rest ; come by whenever you're free , treat this place like your own home . Yes , thank you . Lam

19:24Uyen stood up and bowed politely again . Canh Tham walked her to the car , leaving me alone to sit in silence , my fingers tapping lightly against the chair ; the net was cast , the prey had exposed one hair , but one hair wasn't enough . I need her to shed her entire coat herself . A few days later , I began

19:37observing Lam Uyen more closely . She is truly skillful , very skillful . If you only look at the surface , she is the ideal daughter-in-law . But I don't just look at the surface . For the first test , I invited her out to eat . " Uyen , for lunch today , I want to have noodles at

19:49a street stall near the house . " " I used to eat there a lot . You and Canh Tham come along with me for fun . " " That would be great ! " She answered immediately and cheerfully . " I also love street stalls ; they’re affordable and delicious . " That noon , the three of us sat at a small roadside

20:00noodle stall with low plastic stools , old plastic tables , a noisy fan , and a crowded , loud atmosphere . Canh Tham , a CEO used to five-star restaurants , sat on the tiny plastic stool , struggling to figure out where to put his legs . He picked up the chopsticks , examined them , and asked me timidly , " Sis , do these

20:12chopsticks need to be wiped off ? " I glared at him to just eat , and he obeyed and ate obediently . As for Lam Uyen , she sat down with a bright smile on her face . " Oh , it's been so long since I've eaten at a place like this . " " It really brings back my student

20:23days . " But I noticed that when the bowls of noodles were brought out and set on the slightly grimy plastic table . The smile on her face stiffened for half a second . She picked up the chopsticks , hesitated , and then put them back down . She picked them up and put them down three times . Her gaze

20:34flickered over the plastic stool and the discolored wooden chopsticks with a faint trace of annoyance that she hid away very quickly . Then , she began to eat slowly and carefully . Her mouth still kept praising how delicious it was . She acts well , very well , but the chopsticks she picked up and put down three times betrayed her . I bowed my

20:47head to take a sip of broth , hiding my smile . For the second test , I invited her to my home . After the meal , I pretended it was unintentional . " Uyen , help me clear these bowls ; my back has been sore lately , so it’s uncomfortable for me to bend down and wash them . " Lam Uyen's face changed

20:59color for a fleeting moment , then she quickly grabbed her wrist with an apologetic expression . " Oh , Sis , I really want to help you , but my hand has been hurting lately , probably from working too much . " " The doctor told me to avoid cold water , or my arthritis will get worse . " " I'm so embarrassed ;

21:10let me ask Ms. Phuc to help you instead . " I nodded , putting on a sympathetic face . Yeah , if your hand hurts , then don't worry about it , just rest . Canh Tham , sitting nearby , furrowed his brows slightly . I knew what he was thinking , because just the other day he

21:20told me that Lam Uyen had spent the whole afternoon shopping , carrying two heavy designer bags without a word of complaint — her hand hurt too much to wash dishes , but carrying luxury bags was perfectly fine . He didn't say anything yet , but I had already planted the seeds of doubt in his mind . Two

21:31small tests , two slip-ups , but still not enough to convict her . Anyone can be a picky eater , and anyone can be lazy with housework . What truly made my heart sink was that evening when Tieu Tran brought me a folder ; I had asked him to discreetly make me a detailed copy regarding that mall acquisition

21:45deal . Canh Tham didn't know ; I wanted to review it myself first . That night , I sat alone under the living room light , turning the pages of the file , and the more I read , the colder my spine felt . To acquire that mall , Canh Tham had to restructure the issued shares and take out cross-loans through

21:57several intermediary companies . On the surface , it looked like a normal expansion , but if you piece everything together by tracing the cash flow and share distribution . The end result is that after this deal , the Xie family's controlling stake will be diluted . Diluted to the point that with just a few more steps , my family would lose

22:11control of the very corporation that bears our name . This wasn't a red bow tied on top of a shopping mall ; it was a sophisticated noose disguised as a romantic gift , slowly strangling the entire family . I set the file down , my hands feeling a bit cold . Tieu Tran stood by , noticed my expression , and

22:25asked anxiously , " Ms. Ninh , is something wrong ? " " Do you find this structure strange ? " I asked . Tieu Tran picked up the file , read for a moment , and his face turned pale . " Huh , how did the share ratio end up like this after the restructuring ? " " If this is the

22:36case , the Chairman will lose power . " He looked up quickly , " Ms. Ninh , who would design a deal that shoots themselves in the foot like this ? " " Could it be that the Chairman didn't notice ? " " Canh Tham didn't notice . " I said softly , " Because he's in love . They told him to

22:46buy a shopping mall for his lover , he only saw the mall and the lover , he didn't see the structure underneath . I stood up and walked to the window , but the problem isn't that Canh Tham doesn't realize it , the problem is who came up with this structure . " Tieu Tran was stunned , a girl working as a

22:59regular consultant . I turned back to look at him , a girl who doesn't care about money . Do you think she could devise such a sophisticated financial noose ? Tieu Tran shook his head , his voice dry , " Impossible , this must be someone very professional , very knowledgeable about corporate structures to set it up . " " Exactly . "

23:13So the question now is not what Lam Uyen wants . I looked at the folder , my gaze turning cold . The question is who is behind Lam Uyen ? Who taught her ? Who is holding this knife ? I kept thinking I just needed to chase a gold digger out of the house . It turns out I am

23:24facing a hidden hand aiming straight at the entire family . But to find that hand , I must make the knife reveal itself first . And I have a way . The next day , I pulled Canh Tham into a corner . I want to test something , tonight when Lam Uyen comes , I need you to play a part . Just complain to her

23:38that the company has been having a hard time lately , and that you might lose everything . Tell her you are on the brink of bankruptcy , and see how she reacts . Canh Tham's face immediately darkened . Are you trying to test her again ? I already told you . Lam Uyen is not that kind of person . If she is

23:50sincere , then a test won't hurt anything . She will be by your side during hard times , right ? Then after the test , you can be even more confident about getting married . And if I'm wrong , I will apologize to her , and to you too . Okay ? Canh Tham looked at me , his jaw tightened , he wasn't happy ,

24:02but in the end , he still nodded . Because deep down , even if he didn't want to admit it , perhaps he himself had started to have a little doubt . That night , when Lam Uyen arrived , Canh Tham got into character , he slumped into a chair , clutching his head , looking haggard . Uyen , I've been so

24:13tired lately . Lam Uyen sat down beside him , tenderly , " What's wrong ? Is something the matter ? The company is facing a major issue , the latest deal might fall through , if I can't handle it , I might lose everything . The whole group might be heading toward bankruptcy . I stood hiding behind the

24:26wall , quietly observing , and I saw the moment the word " bankruptcy " was uttered , the gentle smile on Lam Uyen’s face vanished , cut off like a light switch being flicked , so fast and decisive she couldn't hide it . Just half a second later , she regained her worried expression and placed a hand on

24:38Canh Tham's shoulder . Bankruptcy ? Her voice wavered slightly . Are you being serious ? What about the shopping center deal ? And what about the things you promised me ? She asked in a rapid-fire stream , and every question revolved around the same thing . It wasn't about whether he was okay . It wasn't about us

24:50getting through this together , but about the things he promised her . Are they still happening ? I closed my eyes for a second . Enough , the knife's blade has been revealed , but I won't strike yet , because while the knife is visible , the hand holding it is still hidden in the shadows . If I expose Lam Uyen

25:03now , I would at best remove a pawn ; the puppet master is still there and would just release another . Moreover , there is another issue . After that night of acting out the bankruptcy scene , Canh Tham has been silent ever since . I know he saw that smile vanish . But for a man in love , when his trust begins to crack

25:16, the first thing he does isn't to accept the truth , but to deny it . Sure enough , that night he came into my room , his face tense . " Sis , can you stop testing her ? " This is the first time since I woke up that he has spoken to me in that tone . " She's just a bit

25:29practical . " He cut me off . " Who wouldn't be worried when hearing their partner is about to go bankrupt ? " " Why are you so insistent on thinking the worst of her ? " I could have slammed the file onto the table and shown him the stock market noose . But I didn't . Because I know how he is . He is

25:41stubborn . If I force him to believe , he will only resist more . He has to see it for himself . Only with his own eyes will he wake up . So I just sighed , " Alright , I won't test her anymore . " Canh Tham was a bit surprised , probably not expecting me to give in so easily .

25:53But remember this : it's not wrong for you to love someone , but you must distinguish whether they love you or they love what you have . Those two things are very different . And the price of that confusion can sometimes be an entire family legacy . Canh Tham stayed silent ; he didn't answer , just turned and headed back to his room ,

26:06still looking resentful . I watched his retreating figure and sighed , " He's angry with me , but some things he has to stumble over and feel the pain of on his own to truly grow up . " It’s just painful for an older sister to watch her brother head toward a pit without being able to pull him back . A few days

26:19later , I set aside the matter of Lam Uyen to spend time with another sibling . Of the three , Minh Duong is the one who puts my mind at ease the most . He is calm , mature , and has a steady job , but precisely because I'm so at ease with him , I paid less attention to him .

26:30That was until one afternoon , when I stopped by the hospital to find him . I went to Minh Duong's department , intending to take him out for a meal , but he was on shift . A young nurse led me to the waiting room . And while I waited , I began to take notice . Doctors

26:41and nurses passing by spoke of Minh Duong with such evident respect . That case was so difficult , yet Dr. Ta handled it perfectly . Yeah . Dr. Ta has the golden touch in this department . I heard that a major hospital abroad invited him a while ago , but he didn't go . I froze at that last sentence . Just

26:54then , an elderly doctor with graying hair walked by . He saw me . He paused , his gaze inquisitive for a moment , then suddenly relaxed . You're Minh Duong's sister , aren't you ? I am Dr. Ha , the head of the department and also his mentor . I stood up to greet him . Sit

27:05down , please , sit down . He sat in the chair opposite me , his eyes filled with both joy and sentiment . So you have finally recovered . That's wonderful . Minh Duong will surely be thrilled when he finds out . I heard from the professor that Minh Duong was invited to go abroad but didn't go ? Professor

27:16Ha let out a sigh . He looked at me for a few seconds , as if carefully weighing his words . Do you know why ? Three years ago , a top-tier neurological research center across the ocean sent him an invitation . A full scholarship . An opportunity that a medical professional might only see once in a lifetime . I

27:28advised him to go . With his capabilities , going out there ... would open up an incredible future , but he refused . He shook his head and declined without a second of hesitation . I asked why , and he just said one thing , he looked at me and said , " I can't go anywhere far , my sister is still lying

27:41in this hospital . " I was stunned ; for all these years , he hasn't taken a single full week off , no travel , no friends , almost no personal life at all . Outside of work , he only has two places to go : one is the lab , and the other is your hospital room . Do you

27:54know what he is researching ? I shook my head . Neurological recovery after prolonged comas — he chose that exact field , it wasn't by coincidence . I sat there unable to say a word , my throat tightening . The 16 - year-old boy from back then , the kid who used to sit in a corner reading books , it turns out he

28:08has lived like this for 10 years , framing his whole life around a sister lying motionless . Right at that moment , the door to the room next to us opened with an urgent call . Dr. Ta , there's an emergency in room three . Through the glass , I saw Minh Duong ; he put on his

28:19lab coat and walked quickly into the emergency room , his face absolutely calm , his hands giving orders decisively , his voice steady yet authoritative as he coordinated the entire team . Every movement was precise , not a single second wasted . I watched him through the glass and suddenly my eyes stung . The 16 - year-old boy from

28:31that day stood outside an emergency room , helpless and unable to do anything while his sister lay inside . 10 years later , he stands inside ; he is the one holding the scalpel to save lives , he has become exactly what he once wished to be . It’s just that the price for it was his entire youth . By

28:43the time his shift ended , it was already dark . He walked out and was a bit startled to see me still waiting . Sister , why are you here ? I've been waiting all afternoon and I'm exhausted , why didn't you call me ? He immediately switched to nagging mode , reaching out to check my forehead for a

28:55fever . " I'm fine , " I said , brushing his hand away . " I'm hungry , let's go get a bowl of pho . " He took me to a pho shop near the hospital , ordered me a bowl , and told the owner to go easy on the salt and fat — the doctor in him just

29:05couldn't help it . While waiting for the pho , I looked at him and asked a question I'd been wanting to ask since the afternoon . " Minh Duong , why did you choose to study medicine back then ? " He was pouring tea , but his hand froze , and he set the teapot down . He was

29:14silent for a moment , his gaze drifting toward the tabletop , lost in thought . " Because of that night , the night you had the accident . " I held my breath ; he was sixteen , and they had just rushed me into the emergency room . " I stood outside , the doors closed , the red

29:25light above them turned on , and I couldn't do a thing . " " Canh Tham was calling everywhere , and An Nhien was crying . " " As for me , I stood there staring at that red light , and I realized just how useless I was . " He looked up at me , and in those calm eyes

29:35, there was something very soft and very painful . " At that moment , I told myself : if I were better , if I were a doctor , could I have done something for you ? " " Would you not have had to sleep for ten years ? " I opened my mouth to say something , but no words came out .

29:48For the first time since I woke up , I — the person who always has a comeback ready — was completely at a loss for words . " Minh Duong , " I finally said , my voice hoarse , " that wasn't your fault . " " You were only sixteen that year , you were just a kid , no one blamed you . " " I

30:00know , " he smiled slightly , a sad smile , " but knowing is one thing , and feeling is another . " There are things the mind understands , but the heart simply cannot let go . The pho was brought out , and he pushed the bowl toward me . " Go ahead and eat , it'll get cold . " I

30:12picked up my chopsticks , but I couldn't taste a thing . Two younger brothers — one built an entire empire just to prepare for the day I woke up , and the other gave up his future to guard my hospital bed . They loved me so much that they sacrificed their own lives to make up for something that wasn't even

30:24their fault . But that kind of love is too heavy , so heavy that it aches . There was something I knew absolutely nothing about . I only heard about this much later — that afternoon . After I left the hospital , Minh Duong stayed in the imaging room with his mentor . On the screen were the scans of my brain .

30:37Monitoring readings from the day I woke up . And Minh Duong discovered something unusual . Professor Ha pointed to an area on the film , his voice grave , " Do you see this ? After a 10 - year coma , your sister's nervous system hasn't fully recovered . It is very sensitive . " What if she overexerts herself , faces

30:51prolonged stress , sleep deprivation , or heavy mental pressure ? " Minh Duong asked , his voice already trembling , " There is a risk of a severe acute neurological event that would be unpredictable . " " You are a doctor , you understand what that means ? " Minh Duong stood there , his hands clutching the

31:02film folder tightly . " You must tell your sister so she can take care and avoid overworking . " But Minh Duong shook his head , " I can't , Professor . My sister just woke up ; she has only just come back to life . " " If I tell her now that she can't do this , can't worry

31:13about that , and can't get tired , it’s no different from telling her not to live . " " My sister isn't the type to sit still ; she would only worry and torment herself more . " " But while hiding the risk , I will make sure it never happens . " " I will monitor her

31:24every single day . " " As soon as there is any sign of trouble , I will intervene immediately . " " I'd rather bear this burden myself than let her live in fear . " Then he folded the folder , tucked it into his lab coat pocket , hiding it like a ticking time bomb he voluntarily chose to carry

31:35alone . That was the matter I knew absolutely nothing about at the time . I only knew that from that day on , Minh Duong stuck to me much closer , stopping by the house every day to check my blood pressure , take my pulse , and remind me to take my medicine . I just thought he was being overly cautious

31:45with his doctor's habits . I didn't know that every time he placed the stethoscope on me , he was silently checking to see if the bomb inside me had any movement . That evening , the whole family ate dinner , Minh Duong sat down and , as usual , began to check everyone's health at the table . " You

31:57eat too salty , " he said , picking some food out of my bowl . " Too much salt isn't good . " " Did I ask for your opinion ? " I glared . He remained indifferent . " I'm just informing you . " Cảnh Thâm , sitting next to me , saw this and leaned over to place a piece

32:07of meat into my bowl . " Eat this , it's delicious . " Minh Dương immediately picked that piece of meat out . " Too fatty . No. " " What are you doing ? " Cảnh Thâm glared , " I'm picking it for her . " " The way you feed her , she'll end up with high cholesterol . "

32:18Minh Dương replied coolly , then turned to him , " You look pale lately . Are you sleeping enough ? " " Give me your hand , let me check your pulse . " " No need . " Cảnh Thâm pulled back , " I'm not sick . " " No healthy person has panda eyes like yours . " Minh Dương

32:28grabbed his wrist . The two of them started bickering again . One insisting on a check-up , the other refusing , right there at the dining table . I sat in the middle , feeling both amused and touched . But then I suddenly noticed there were only three sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table . " Wait , why is

32:39someone missing ? " " Where is An Nhiên ? " Both of them froze and let go of each other . That familiar atmosphere of avoidance returned . " An Nhiên is busy filming . " Cảnh Thâm said , " Her schedule has been very packed lately . " " So busy that even though I've been home for a week , I haven't seen her . " "

32:50Does she know I've woken up ? " " She does . " Minh Dương replied softly . " Then why hasn't she come home ? " Both of them went silent . I looked at them , and a sense of unease rose in my heart . Something was clearly going on with my youngest sister , something her two

33:01brothers didn't want to — or didn't dare — tell me . She returned late one afternoon . I heard a car stop in front of the gate . The sound of high heels tapping on the gravel path . I was sitting in the living room and suddenly , my heart skipped a beat . The door opened , and a girl walked in . She was

33:13tall , slender , wearing a luxurious long coat , her black hair flowing , her face delicately made up — so beautiful it made people look twice . Her eyes were sharp , her aura cold and proud . This was the face I had seen flashing on digital billboards in the city . The face of a star . For a moment , I almost

33:28didn't recognize her as my own sister . She stood at the door , wearing sunglasses and looking toward me , radiating the aloofness of a celebrity used to being admired from afar . Then she took off her glasses , and that cold , haughty expression vanished completely in a second . Those sharply made-up eyes turned red , her lips

33:43trembled , and her entire star persona shattered , revealing something very childlike and fragile underneath . " Sister , " she blurted out , her voice breaking , " Sister Ninh . " Then she rushed forward , almost tripping in her high heels , but she didn't even care . She ran to where I was , collapsed to

33:56her knees by the chair , tears streaming down uncontrollably , sobbing like a child . " You're awake , you're really awake . " " I thought ... " she couldn't finish the sentence , only crying with her shoulders shaking in waves . In that moment , I instinctively reached out to pull her into my arms just like ten

34:09years ago . But my hand froze in mid-air . Because the person kneeling at my feet was not the fourteen-year-old girl from my memory . She was a grown woman , a star in a designer coat , wearing exquisite jewelry , someone I no longer recognized . I suddenly didn't know how to hug her ; would it be too abrupt to

34:23hold her tight like in the past ? She has grown up ; would my embrace make her feel like I still treat her like a child ? While I was still hesitating , my hand finally just rested on her head , clumsily stroking it a few times . " An Nhien , " I called her name , but for some

34:35reason , my voice felt distant and formal . " You’ve grown so much . " As soon as those words slipped out , I felt something wasn't right . An Nhien looked up at me , her tear-filled eyes flashing with a spark of hope , then sudden disappointment . She was waiting for an embrace . I knew she was waiting for an

34:49embrace , but I didn't give her one . She stepped back half a pace , wiped away her tears , and the smile on her lips became distinctly forced . " Yes . " She said softly , " I have grown up . " In that moment , something between the two of us quietly cracked . That evening , all four

35:01of us sisters had dinner together . For the first time in 10 years , there were four chairs at the table ; it should have been a happy occasion . And on the surface , it truly was . Canh Tham talked about work , Minh Duong grumbled about the food . I chimed in a few times , but

35:12I stayed observant . An Nhien sat somewhat quietly ; she still smiled , talked , and called me " sister " sweetly , but there was a thin distance in her eyes whenever she looked at me . As if she were probing , trying to read if the sister in front of her after 10 years was still the same sister she once knew

35:24. And I felt the same . Whenever I intended to say something intimate to her , I held myself back . She's grown up , I told myself , I must respect her . But I didn't know that this very respect , in her eyes , ended up feeling like distance . After the meal , the two

35:35boys left , but An Nhien stayed , saying she would sleep over tonight . I went to my room to rest , but in the middle of the night , I got thirsty and went down to the kitchen . Passing by An Nhien's room , I saw the door was ajar and there was light inside . I stopped to look in .

35:46She was asleep , but the room lights were still on bright — not a dim nightlight , but the main lights were fully on . I stood silently at the door . Ten years ago , An Nhien was afraid of the dark ; she had to keep the lights on every night to sleep . On nights when

35:56the power went out , she would scream and cry , having to crawl into my bed to fall asleep . I thought she would grow out of it ; doesn't everyone stop fearing the dark as they grow up ? But no , the 24 - year-old girl , a cold star before the cameras , still sleeps with

36:06the lights on at night ; some fears don't grow up with people . They stay exactly as they were from the day they began ; I gently closed the door , not wanting to wake her , but my heart ached . How has my little girl lived for these past 10 years ? The next morning , I woke up early to go to the kitchen

36:20and cook . It had been a long time since I last stood in the kitchen . My hands were weak , but holding the knife and chopsticks , everything felt as familiar as if 10 years had never passed . I cooked a few simple dishes and , out of habit , when making the eggs , I automatically left the green onions out

36:31of one portion . An Nhien can't eat green onions . It’s been that way since she was little ; if she ever ate any , she would spit it out with a pouty face . I scooped the egg portion without green onions onto a separate plate and placed it where she usually sits . Just then , An Nhien came down to the kitchen

36:41, her hair still messy , her eyes still sleepy . Without makeup and wearing those loose pajamas , she finally looked like the little sister I used to miss so much . She glanced at the dining table , then her gaze stopped on the plate of eggs without onions . She froze . She looked up at me , whispering , " You

36:54still remember I can't eat green onions ? " I was busy with the pot of porridge . Hearing that made me a bit flustered ; I don't know why I didn't want to admit I still remember every little thing about her . Perhaps because I was afraid . If I revealed how much I remembered , the awkward distance between us would

37:06become even more uncomfortable . So I just hummed and turned away . Who bothers remembering ? It's just muscle memory , I'm just used to cooking that way . An Nhien said nothing ; she just stood there , looking at the plate and then at me for a long time . In her eyes , something began to waver , a question

37:18she didn't dare to ask . If you don't love me anymore , why do you still remember I can't eat onions ? But she didn't ask it , and I didn't say it . So we each kept half the truth and sat down to eat breakfast in silence . By noon , An Nhien's phone rang continuously . She went outside to

37:31answer , and when she came back , her face looked tense . Is something wrong ? I asked . Oh , it's nothing , sis . She put on that professional smile , pulling it back over to cover everything up . Just a bit of work . My manager , Van , called about some trivial rumors online that

37:43need handling . She dismissed it lightly , but I noticed her hand was gripping her phone tighter than usual . I was about to ask more , but just then , Canh Tham called , his voice sounding annoyed . Have you been online yet ? Some secretly taken photos of our family , with me , Minh Duong , and you , are

37:56spreading everywhere . What photos ? Photos from when you came to the company and when we went out to eat ; someone must have snuck them and posted them online . Now netizens are making a huge fuss . Rumors about what ? Canh Tham was silent for a second , then let out a laugh . The kind of laugh that was both

38:09amused and helpless . They rumor that there is a mysterious , incredibly powerful woman who controls all three Ta brothers . A CEO , a famous doctor , and a top-tier celebrity . All three obey her every word . They say she must be a hidden tycoon or some underground force that has the whole family under her thumb . I hear it and can’t help

38:24but laugh . A hidden tycoon . An underground force . I look down at my rumpled pajamas , at my hair that hasn't had a proper cut in 10 years , and at my bony hands that can barely hold a pair of chopsticks . The whole city thinks you're a hidden mastermind . When you've only just woken up after 10 years and

38:36haven't even had time for a haircut . On the other side , Canh Tham also laughs . The funniest part is that every time I text one of the three to come home for dinner , something always happens . One day , Canh Tham was in a meeting with important partners , and I texted him to come home for dinner . He immediately

38:48apologized to the partners , closed his laptop , and stood up to leave . The partners sat there stunned , unable to understand what could make a cold-hearted CEO abandon a billion-dollar meeting . Then there was Ho Minh Duong , who was in a consultation session . I called him , and he answered . " Yes , sister , I'll be home

38:58right away . " Then he handed his shift over to a colleague . He walked out , leaving the whole department staring in disbelief . One day , An Nhien was on the red carpet at a major event . I texted him , and he immediately excused himself to the organizers and left for home , leaving all the reporters confused . And

39:09every time that happens , someone snaps a photo , posts it online , and public opinion goes wild . " Oh my god , it’s happening again ! That woman must have ordered something , and all three legends just dropped everything and ran home . " " Who on earth is she ? " " What kind of terrifying power is that ? " If

39:21they knew the supreme order that made the three legends obey so blindly was just three words — " come home for dinner " — they’d surely be disillusioned . But behind the laughter , I haven't forgotten . These photos didn't just appear out of nowhere ; they were taken on purpose . Someone is trying to turn my family into the

39:33center of attention , trying to drag the spotlight right onto us . And in the spotlight , sometimes , is where the greatest danger lies . The Lam Uyen affair , the stolen photos , the shareholding noose — are all these things just a coincidence , or are they pieces of the same chessboard ? I don’t have an answer yet , but my gut

39:49tells me someone is sitting in the shadows moving every piece , and my family , somehow , has landed right on that board . Fine , if someone wants to play , I’ll play along . It’s just that they’ve picked the wrong family to mess with . But before diving into that game , I want the four of us to

40:04have a proper meal together , a meal we haven't had in ten years . So that weekend , I declared that everyone was coming home for dinner tonight , and no one was allowed to be absent . Canh Tham , cancel all your meetings ; Minh Duong , switch your shifts . A Nhien , cancel your filming schedule , is that clear ?

40:16The three of them replied in unison . Yes . And then , my three " big bosses " came up with an idea I really wish they hadn't . They insisted on cooking themselves . " Just rest , " Canh Tham said , rolling up his sleeves . " It’s been 10 years , let us cook a meal for you . "

40:28" You just sit there and direct us . " I looked at those three eager faces , and a bad feeling rose in my gut . But still , they were being sweet , so I couldn't bear to refuse . A mistake , a huge mistake . My kitchen turned into a disaster zone within half an hour . Canh

40:41Tham was in charge of the rice ; a CEO who manages a multi-billion dollar group and reads balance sheets in three seconds was staring at the rice cooker with a grave expression , as if reviewing a merger contract . He turned the pot around , studied the buttons , then turned to ask me with extreme seriousness : " Sis , which button do I

40:55press to start it ? " I nearly choked , " The biggest one , the one that says ' cook , ' dear . " " Ah , " he nodded , pressed the button , and stood with his arms crossed , watching the rice cooker like a man overseeing a key project . An Nhien was in charge of the stir-fry ;

41:06she's an actress , so her cooking style was equally performative . She tossed the pan around artfully , with movements as beautiful as a commercial , so beautiful that she forgot to actually put the ingredients in . Only when I reminded her did she gasp and frantically dump everything in at once , causing flames to flare up and smoke to

41:19billow everywhere . The hand towel left near the stove also caught fire . The girl shrieked , throwing the burning towel into the sink . Oh my God , An Nhien , I rushed over to turn on the water , are you cooking or trying to burn the house down ? It's because the stove is too hot , she argued , her face

41:30all smudged . As for Minh Duong , this kid is a doctor through and through . He was in charge of the soup , and instead of tasting it like a normal person , he pulled a medical thermometer from his pocket , dipped it in , waited a few seconds , and read the result . The soup

41:41temperature is 82 degrees , he announced , then he pulled out a strip of litmus paper from somewhere and dipped it in . The pH is about 6.2 , a bit acidic . Scientifically speaking , you shouldn't eat much of it . I looked at the three of them : one who didn't know how to turn on the rice cooker , one who almost

41:53burned the kitchen down , and one measuring the pH of the soup . Three powerful figures the whole country fears , standing in a smoke-filled kitchen with a pot of soup deemed scientifically unfit to eat . I sighed , stood up , rolled up my sleeves , and told them to sit down ; I’ll cook , but

42:05Canh Tham tried to argue . I glared at him , and he shut his mouth and sat down . Half an hour later , I brought the meal out : white rice , hot soup , and simple dishes I’d been cooking by habit since I was 15 . The three of them cleaned their plates , not one of them

42:15daring to utter a single complaint . An Nhien ate two bowls , and Canh Tham kept piling food onto his plate . Minh Duong even forgot about the 6.2 pH and ate heartily . Watching the three of them eat , I felt an unusual warmth in my heart . This is it . This is what I’ve missed for the past 10 years . Not the

42:27corporation , not the fame , just this scene . Four siblings , one dining table . After eating , I took a sheet of paper and placed it on the table . Then I wrote three big words on it . House Rules . The three big shots looked at the paper and automatically sat up straight like students before an exam .

42:39Rule one , I said , from now on the whole family must eat dinner together at least three times a week , no matter how busy you are , you must come home . Is that clear ? Yes . The three of them nodded . Rule two , we divide the chores . Canh Tham does the dishes , Minh Duong

42:49mops the floor , and An Nhien clears the table . Canh Tham opened his mouth ; I guessed he was about to remind me he's a corporate CEO . That he has maids , that his hands sign billion-dollar contracts , not wash dishes . I looked at him , and he closed his mouth . Yes , sister , I'll wash them . I nodded in

43:01satisfaction . The guy out there who commands wind and rain is back home washing dishes . But just as I started cleaning up , all three of them made a fuss . Let me carry that , sister . Canh Tham lunged forward , trying to grab the stack of bowls . Give it to me , I’ll wipe the table . Minh Duong snatched the

43:12cloth . Sister , let me put the chairs away . An Nhien hugged a chair . I waved my hand . Enough , let me do it , you kids go rest . The three of them froze . Canh Tham looked at me , his voice suddenly very soft . You're always like this , never letting us do anything for you . I

43:24paused for a moment , then laughed it off , " I'm used to it , I'm faster . " At that moment , I didn't pay attention to their eyes . Thinking back later , I finally understood what that look meant . They didn't just want me to do less ; they wanted to take care of me , to make

43:36it up to me , to finally do something for the sister who sacrificed her youth for them . But I just kept doing everything myself . But that is a story for later . That night , it rained , a heavy downpour drumming on the tiled roof , thunder occasionally rumbling with flashes of lightning . I lay in my

43:50room listening to the rain and suddenly remembered something . Ten years ago , An Nhien was terrified of rain — not just a little , but so much that every time it thundered , she’d hug her pillow and run to my room , trembling under my covers . I had to hold her , soothe her , and tell her stories until she fell

44:03asleep . I wonder if she’s scared now , listening to this rain alone in that room . As soon as that thought crossed my mind , my feet automatically stepped out of bed . Following a decade-long habit that never faded , I walked down the hall to An Nhien's door . I gently pushed the door open ; the light was

44:16still on and she wasn't asleep . She was huddled on the bed , hugging a pillow , her shoulders trembling slightly whenever thunder rumbled . That posture was exactly like the 14 - year-old girl from back then . Hearing the door , she looked up , slightly startled . I didn't say anything , I just walked in and sat

44:28on the edge of the bed beside her , just like ten years ago . I didn't hug her ; the reservation was still there . But I sat there beside her , silently , just to let her know I was here . Another peal of thunder rumbled . Reflexively , she inched a little closer to me , and I

44:40also reflexively reached out and gently patted her back in a steady rhythm , like soothing a child . A gesture I had performed hundreds of times ten years ago . An Nhien froze , then whispered , her voice trembling . Sister , how did you know I was afraid of the rain ? My hand paused . I didn't know how to

44:54answer that question . If I said because I still remember , then I would have to admit that for the past ten years , even while immobile , I had still etched every one of her tiny fears into my mind . And if that were the case , wouldn't the guarded distance I was trying to keep be meaningless ? So I

45:05brushed it off . I stood up and pulled the blanket back over her . Go to sleep . It's late . I'll wake you up for breakfast tomorrow . Then I walked out and closed the door , but once I reached the hallway , I stopped , leaned my back against the wall , and closed my eyes . I

45:16heard a very soft sound from inside the room — not crying , just a sigh . A very light , very sad sigh of someone who had just touched something only to watch it slip away . An Nhien later recounted that she lay awake all night . She thought about the onion-free eggs , about me sitting by the bed during the

45:30rain , about me knowing she was afraid of the rain , afraid of the dark , couldn't eat onions , and she started to piece everything together . If you had forgotten me , if you didn't love me anymore , then why do you still remember all these little things ? Perhaps she thought I wasn't distant at all .

45:42Perhaps I was just shy , just as reserved as she was . She intended to ask me straight out the next morning , she would ask , " Sister , do you still love me ? " But she never got the chance to ask . Because the next morning , everything came crashing down . I was making breakfast when An Nhien's phone

45:55started ringing incessantly . Then my phone started ringing too . Someone rang the doorbell urgently ; it was Van , An Nhien's manager , her face deathly pale , rushing in with a phone in her hand . An Nhien , have you checked the internet yet ? It's a disaster , a total disaster . An Nhien ran out , took the phone from

46:09Van , and I saw her face turn white in an instant . What's going on ? I stepped forward . Van said , trembling , that someone had leaked dirty rumors targeting An Nhien . It’s spreading at a terrifying speed ; it hit the top of the search trends in just one morning . I took the phone and looked at the

46:22screen ; a post was going viral with thousands of comments and a sensational headline , implying things about An Nhien's private life and fabricating stories to paint a picture completely different from who she really is . This is not some baseless rumor ; this is an organized attack . The post was elaborately staged , released at the

46:35perfect time , and spreading at an unnatural speed . Someone is backing it , someone is pushing it . And I realized the game board I had sensed was finally in motion . The faceless culprit has made a move , but they didn't strike at me , nor at Canh Tham or the corporation . They struck at the weakest , softest

46:48person in my family — they struck at An Nhien . I looked up at her standing there , her hands clenched , her face trying to appear calm , but her lips were trembling , and a cold anger rose within me . The first thing I did was not to console An Nhien . She doesn't need comfort ; she needs someone to

47:02handle this , and I need to know who is behind it . " An Nhien , " I said in an unusually calm voice . " Stay calm , you're a professional ; you know how to handle this type of news . " " You just do your part , and leave finding out who's behind this to me . " An Nhien

47:13looked at me in slight surprise ; perhaps she didn't expect me to be this calm at a time like this . She took a breath , and the professional look of a star returned . " Yes , I can handle this kind of news . " " I've dealt with it often ; let me call Van to come up with

47:25a plan . " " This is my turf , I know how to handle it . " I looked at her , and a strange feeling rose in my heart . This is the first time I've seen my youngest sister not as a child needing protection , but as an adult standing tall , facing the storm with her own

47:38resolve . My little girl has truly grown up . While An Nhien was busy handling the rumors , I began searching for the answer to the question that had been haunting me . Who is behind all of this ? I called Xiao Chen over to give him a task . Investigate that shopping mall deal for me , trace back who would truly

47:52benefit if the Xie family loses control of the group , and follow the cash and share flows to see where they lead . Xiao Chen nodded , " I understand , Miss . " " But this might involve powerful people . " " Are you sure , Miss ? " " Positive . " Someone touched my family

48:04first . I am only returning the favor . Three days later , he brought me a thick file . His face was much more serious than usual . " Miss Ninh , I've tracked it down , but please prepare yourself . " " It’s bigger than you think . " I opened the file to read , and the more I read ,

48:17the clearer the whole picture became . That shopping mall deal , if completed , would dilute the Xie family's shares . But who would be the one to acquire those diluted shares ? Following a chain of intermediary companies through several layers , the flow finally led to one name : Hong Yuan Group . And the person heading it — a name Xiao Chen

48:31mentioned , making him turn pale . " Tan Vu ? Who is Tan Vu ? " I asked . Xiao Chen swallowed hard , " He is a major rival to the Xie Corporation . " " A very big one , Miss . " Hong Yuan and Xie Corporation have been competing for years . Tan Vu is known for being ruthless and playing

48:43dirty . He has long coveted Xie Corporation’s market share , but Cảnh Thâm held the group firmly , leaving Tan Vu no cracks to squeeze through . " Until , " I continued , " until Cảnh Thâm met Lâm Uyển . " Xiao Chen looked up abruptly , " You mean Lâm Uyển is Tan Vu's person ? " Try putting

48:55it together : a girl suddenly appears , approaches Canh Tham , makes him fall head over heels , then cleverly leads him into a deal that looks like a gift but is essentially diluting his controlling interest . An ordinary consultant who somehow comes up with such a sophisticated financial structure . Do you think she could do it

49:08on her own ? Or did someone teach her , give her the blueprint , and plant her there ? Tieu Tran went silent ; Lam Uyen is not the mastermind , she is just the knife , while Tan Vu is the hand wielding it . Since he couldn't shake Canh Tham in the business world , he attacked the weakest spot of a man —

49:22his heart — planting a woman to hollow out the corporation from within . Then what about the rumors regarding An Nhien ? I stayed silent for a moment ; perhaps Tan Vu realized his plan with Canh Tham was no longer going smoothly . Since I woke up , I have blocked the deal and started suspecting Lam Uyen .

49:35The first knife became blunt , so he pulled it out and struck another blow at the spot he thought was the softest in my family . An Nhien ; he chose An Nhien , who works in showbiz where image is everything — a single scandal big enough could destroy her and throw the whole family into chaos . Every piece

49:49has now fallen into place . These are not three separate incidents . This is a systematic attack from an enemy targeting my entire family from multiple directions at once : assets , reputation , and anywhere we are vulnerable . I closed the file , my hands feeling a little cold . For the first time since I woke up , I realized this

50:03opponent is not just some gold digger . Someone I could just send away with a few words . This is a conglomerate , a seasoned chess player with massive resources . And I am not strong enough on my own . For the first time , I realized I cannot shoulder all of this by myself . I need all of you , I need

50:15each of your strengths . But first , I have to resolve one thing . Canh Tham — as long as he is still infatuated with and trusts Lam Uyen , the knife remains embedded in my family . The problem is , I promised not to test her again . And if I were to expose Lam Uyen myself ,

50:26Canh Tham wouldn't believe me . He has to see it for himself . I didn't expect the chance for him to see it to come sooner than I thought . And in such a painful way , how did it happen ? Later , Canh Tham himself recounted every word to me with a face still full of shock .

50:38That day , amidst An Nhien's intense scandal , Lam Uyen appeared by Canh Tham's side even more . She acted gently to comfort him and was taking advantage of his turmoil to speed up the deal . That evening , after leaving my house , Canh Tham took Lam Uyen home . On the way , he got a work call and had to stop

50:52by the office for documents , so he told her to wait in the lobby while he went up . When he came back down , passing a corner of the hallway , he heard Lam Uyen's voice . She was on the phone in a hidden corner , her voice completely different from her usual gentle tone . She didn't know Canh Tham had come down

51:05, and he stood there in the shadows listening to her talk to someone . Yes , I'm pushing him now . But ever since his sister woke up , everything has been harder . She’s very sharp ; she’s already started to suspect something . Don't worry , Mr. Tan , he still trusts me ; we just need him to sign . Once he

51:19signs , he and I will have nothing left to do with each other . Canh Tham stood frozen in his tracks . Him ? Lam Uyen's voice echoed back coldly , laced with a hint of contempt . In love ? I'm just doing my job . Once the papers are signed , I’m gone . Who has time to

51:30bother with such a foolish , gullible man ? Then she hung up . Canh Tham said that , strangely , he wasn't angry in that moment . He didn't feel angry . He just felt something inside his chest break silently , without a sound . He stood there for a long time , then he remembered something I had told him .

51:43You have to distinguish whether people love you or they love what you have . And he realized , too late , that the girl he had been infatuated with for so long had never seen him as a person . To her , he was just a stamp , a signature , a tool . " So that was it , " Canh Tham

51:56told me . His voice was raspy . " It turns out I was never the person she needed . " She needs your signature , she needs your corporation , not you . That night , Canh Tham didn’t go straight home . He drove aimlessly all over the city . Then , near dawn , he returned to the villa

52:08and knocked on my door . I opened the door to see my younger brother , the cold , arrogant CEO notorious in the business world , standing there with red eyes , looking as if he’d just been through a storm . " Sister , you were right . " He couldn't say anything more . He just stood there , head bowed like a

52:21child who had done something wrong . I looked at him and I knew . I didn't need to ask ; I knew he had seen it for himself . I sighed , pulled him into the room , pushed him onto a chair , and poured him a glass of water . He held the glass , his hands trembling slightly

52:32. He looked up , voice thick , " I'm sorry , you were right , I was so stupid . " I sat down across from him . By reflex , I reached out to flick his forehead like always , but this time , Canh Tham didn't dodge . He bowed his head , closed his eyes , and waited , ready to take it . " Go

52:45ahead and flick me . " He said softly , " I deserve it this time . " My hand froze in mid-air . I looked at his bowed head , at his resigned expression , and suddenly I couldn't bring myself to do it . I remembered the last time I flicked his forehead was right before that fateful

52:57night ten years ago . Back then he was only 18 , just a kid . I flicked his head because he skipped class to go out . Then I disappeared for ten years . And in those ten years , no one flicked his head again . No one scolded him , taught him , or pulled him back . While I was

53:08gone , he had to grow up alone , carry the whole corporation , and stumble without anyone by his side . My hand lowered , but instead of a flick , I gently stroked his hair . " Silly , who said I'd flick you over this ? Loving the wrong person — everyone has done that . " " The important thing is that

53:21you've woken up . " Canh Tham looked up at me , and that tall man’s eyes grew red again . " I thought you would scold me . " I said , " Why would I scold you ? " " You're already scolding yourself harder than I ever could . " " It’s over now , so sit here and listen to me ; this

53:32matter is much bigger than just Lam Uyen . " Then I told him about the share snare , about Tan Vu and Hoanh Vien , how Lam Uyen was just a pawn , and that the rumors targeting An Nhien were orchestrated by the same hand . Canh Tham listened , his expression shifting from pain to a somber resolve . His

53:45sharp business mind , which had been clouded by love for so long , was finally becoming clear again . " Tan Vu , " he gritted his teeth , " so it was him ; he’s been coveting the Ta Corporation for a long time , but I never imagined he’d stoop to this . " Now that you’re clear-headed , I need you . I

53:56can see how dangerous that share snare is , but to dismantle it and strike back , I need someone who understands the corporation from the inside . That someone is you . Canh Tham raised his head ; the weariness and hurt in his eyes had faded , replaced by the cold , sharp gaze of a true CEO . " Sis , I have

54:10internal information ; I know what Lam Uyen accessed and what she managed to extract . And more importantly , while she thought I was a fool , just a naive , love-struck guy , she accidentally revealed a lot to me about how Hoanh Vien planned the takeover and where the loopholes were . " He looked at me , a

54:22cold smile tugging at the corner of his lips . " She thought I was stupid ; that was her mistake , and Tan Vu's mistake as well . " I looked at my younger brother , and a feeling of both pride and relief welled up inside me . The boy has truly grown up ; he stumbled , but he

54:33was able to get back on his feet . And when he rose , he was stronger than before . Alright , then let’s begin . Just then , the door opened and Minh Duong walked in ; he was staying over tonight to monitor my health . Hearing us talking , he came in to see why the two of us were still up so late . I

54:47looked at Minh Duong , then at Canh Tham , " Sit down , our family has something to discuss , and none of us can stay out of this . " Minh Duong sat down , and I recounted the entire situation to him . When I finished , the three of us sat in the room in the silence of the night .

54:59This is the first time in 10 years the three of us have sat together , not to eat or to chat , but to face a common threat . " So , what's the plan ? " Minh Duong asked . Tan Vu is striking at three points : the group's assets , An Nhien's reputation , and he thinks that

55:12by attacking multiple fronts at once , our family will be thrown into chaos , fall apart , and collapse from within . I paused , but he's wrong ; he thinks our family is just a group of disconnected people . He doesn't know that once we all unite — before I could finish my sentence , a voice rang out from the

55:25door . " Then you will regret ever messing with the Ta family . " We turned around . An Nhien stood at the door , no telling how long she had been listening . She was in pajamas , wearing no makeup , but her gaze was sharp and determined . It wasn't the look of a girl who

55:36needed protection , but that of someone ready to fight . Her sister stepped in . " I heard everything . " " Those rumors about me were stirred up by that Tan Vu guy , right ? " I nodded . An Nhien smiled coldly . " Fine , then let me handle my part . " " Media is my home turf . " " He

55:50wants to use public opinion to strike at me . " " I'll show him who really controls public opinion . " I looked at my youngest sister , at that strong and decisive appearance . And for the first time , I truly saw that she had grown up . She is no longer the 14 - year-old girl

56:01who needed me to shelter her . She has become an adult with her own strength , capable of fighting by my side . After 10 years , the four of us sisters were finally standing together in one room against a common enemy . " Alright , then listen to my assignments . " But just as I finished , a wave of intense dizziness

56:14suddenly hit me , and the room spun before my eyes . I hurriedly gripped the edge of the chair , trying to keep myself from falling . The dizziness passed quickly ; I regained my composure , hoping no one had noticed . But I forgot that there was a doctor in the room . Minh Duong looked at me ; her

56:26expression changed , and I saw her hand resting on her knee tighten slightly . She didn't say anything , but I knew she had seen it . The counter-attack plan begins . Can Tham handles the group's part . He quietly reviewed the entire share structure , seeking to disable the noose Lam Uyen had prepared , while preparing a counterattack aimed

56:40straight at the loopholes of Hoanh Vien . The very loopholes Lam Uyen had inadvertently exposed when she thought he was just a love-struck fool . An Nhien took care of the media side , and I must admit the girl is much more capable than I thought . I was worried she would collapse under the wave of rumors . But no , she was astonishingly

56:54calm . She sat with Ms. Van to analyze each wave of news , identifying the main sources of dissemination and the accounts hired to push the narrative . She planned a methodical counterattack strategy like a seasoned general . This kind of news , she told me in a professional tone , cannot be crushed by denial ; the more you deny it , the more

57:07it spreads . You have to let it expose its own flaws . I will organize a media meeting , not to explain myself , but to turn the tables . An Nhien's media meeting was a great success . She appeared before the cameras calm and sharp , without a hint of confusion . She didn't explain herself ; she just raised

57:20a few questions and clever details to lead the public to notice the holes in the rumors themselves . In just one afternoon , public opinion began to shift , and people started doubting the rumors themselves . Instead of doubting An Nhien , I sat at home watching her handle everything on screen and silently nodded . My youngest daughter

57:34has truly grown up , but Tan Vu is not one to give up easily . When his first attack was neutralized by An Nhien , he launched a second strike . And this time , his blow was much more vicious . Because this time , he was no longer aiming at An Nhien's career ; he was targeting the deepest wound in her

57:47heart . One evening while the whole family was at the villa , An Nhien's phone rang incessantly . She answered , and I saw her face , which had been so calm , suddenly turn pale . " What's wrong ? " I asked . She didn't answer ; her hand trembled as she handed me the phone . On

58:00the screen was a new post , a malicious article spreading at a dizzying speed . Its content dredged up the story from 10 years ago — the story of my accident . But it doesn't tell the truth ; it twists it , implying that the accident back then wasn't simple , that there is a dark secret in the Ta family , and

58:13that the youngest sister , An Nhien , was involved in her sister's misfortune . The article is written very cleverly ; it doesn't state anything outright , only hinting , posing questions , and casting shadows of doubt . But that is precisely why it is so poisonous . I read it and my anger flared up , but

58:25what chilled me more than the anger was An Nhien's reaction . She stood there frozen , her face deathly pale , her eyes wide and vacant ; the professional , calm composure she had maintained for the past few days completely collapsed . She wasn't angry , she didn't refute it ; she just stood there trembling as if

58:39someone had just laid bare something she had buried very deep for a very long time . An Nhien , I stepped forward , don't pay attention to this trashy news . This was made up by Tan Vu , wasn't it fabricated to frame you ? An Nhien suddenly cut me off , her voice small but trembling . It's not entirely

58:52fabricated , sister . I froze . What did you say ? An Nhien took a step back , avoiding my gaze , her hands clasped tightly together . Sister , you don't know , you don't know what I did . An Nhien , I frowned and stepped closer . What are you talking about ? Calm down and look at me . But she shook her head

59:06and retreated further away . For the first time since I woke up , she avoided me , she pushed me away . Don't worry about me . She said , as tears began to spill out . You don't know . If you knew , you wouldn't want to see my face ever again . Then she turned and ran to her

59:18room , slamming the door shut . I stood in the middle of the living room , bewildered . Canh Tham and Minh Duong also went silent ; it was clear that neither of them understood what was happening with their sister either . What is going on ? I turned to ask . What was An Nhien saying ? What did she do ?

59:30Canh Tham shook his head . I don't know , sister . Up until now , An Nhien has never mentioned anything about this . Minh Duong remained silent , but I saw a pensive look in his eyes , as if he were searching for a distant memory . I looked toward the door of An Nhien’s room , which was shut tight . Inside , I

59:42heard her crying , but it wasn't ordinary sobbing ; it was the stifled , hidden weeping of someone bracing themselves against a pain they had carried alone for too long . In that moment , I suddenly understood the distance between An Nhien and me all this time , her reserve and aloofness , and the way she wanted to be close to

59:57me yet seemed afraid of something . It wasn't just because of the 10 years apart ; she was carrying a burden , a secret , something related to the night I had my accident — something she believed would make me hate her if I found out . That night , I sat for a long time in front of An Nhien’s door . I

1:00:10didn't knock . I knew she wasn't ready ; if I pushed her , she would only close herself off more . But I sat there so she would know I was right outside . Whenever she was ready to open the door , I would still be here . All through that night , I searched my memories for

1:00:21that fateful night 10 years ago . The night I was 20 , the night I drove out . I tried to recall what had happened before I got into the car . And slowly , fragments of faint memories began to return . I remember that evening , 14 - year-old An Nhien was upset about something ; it seemed she was sulking .

1:00:35It seemed we had argued about something , something very small , very childish . But I couldn't remember clearly ; the accident and 10 years in a coma had blurred the final details before that moment . I only remember getting into the car feeling a bit frustrated , and then everything went black . Was it because of An Nhien that I drove out

1:00:50that night ? Did something happen between the two of us sisters ? And has she been blaming herself for that for the past 10 years ? The more I thought , the more my heart constricted . If that is true , then my little sister has had to live in torment for 10 years . Holding onto the belief all by herself

1:01:03that she was the one who pushed her sister into the accident . And that bastard Tan Vu , somehow or other , sniffed out this wound and poked straight into it . He used the girl's deepest pain as a weapon . My anger at this moment had turned cold as ice . While I stayed up all night outside An

1:01:16Nhien’s room , something else was unfolding in silence . Minh Duong did not sleep that night either . He sat in the living room , quietly watching me . He saw how exhausted I was , saw me staying up all night , and saw me rushing around these past few days . Worrying about Canh Tham , about An

1:01:28Nhien , hardly getting any rest . And he knew that with my neurological condition , this was the most dangerous thing . Near dawn , when I finally left An Nhien's door to head to my room . Minh Duong stopped me in the hallway . Sister , you have to rest , you can’t keep going like this . I’m fine . I

1:01:41replied out of habit . I still have to take care of An Nhien . She is — " You are not fine . " Minh Duong suddenly raised his voice . This was the second time I had seen this calm boy lose his composure . Do you even know how you’ve been these past few days ? How

1:01:52many times have you been dizzy ? Do you think I didn’t notice ? I froze . Minh Duong looked at me , and in his eyes was a fear I had never seen before . Do you feel anything unusual ? Headaches , blurred vision ? Have your hands or feet ever gone numb or felt sluggish ? Tell

1:02:04me the truth . I stayed silent . Actually , these past few days , the dizzy spells have been getting more frequent . Dull , throbbing headaches . Sometimes my vision blurs , and everything goes hazy for a few seconds . But I just thought that after 50 years , my body is weak , and those things are normal . I didn’t

1:02:17pay them any mind . Well , a little bit , I admit . But I thought it was from lying down too long . Just physical weakness . It is not just weakness . Minh Duong was practically screaming . He stopped , took a deep breath , trying to control himself , but his hands were already trembling . Sister , there is

1:02:28something I have been keeping from you ; I am sorry , but now I must tell you . My heart sank . What is it ? Minh Duong looked at me , his eyes red . Your brain , after 10 years in a coma , has a nervous system that hasn't fully recovered . It is very weak , very sensitive . If you

1:02:41keep overexerting yourself , staying stressed and sleep-deprived like this , if it falters for even a second , you could suffer an acute neurological incident . And if it happens , the consequences will be unpredictable . I stood frozen . So that was it . So that’s why Minh Duong’s gaze had been so strange for weeks , and why

1:02:53he’d been clinging to me so tightly . The paper he always kept hidden in his pocket . It was all because of this . Since when ? I asked softly . Since when have you known ? Minh Duong bowed his head . A few days after you woke up , when I reviewed the scans with Dr. Ha .

1:03:05You found out , so why didn't you tell me ? Because you had just woken up , he looked up , tears already streaming down . You had just been given a second chance at life . If I had told you that you couldn't do this , couldn't get tired , couldn't be stressed , it would be no different than telling you not to

1:03:16live . I know your personality ; you wouldn't just lie still . You would only worry more , so I thought it was better to monitor you myself every day , to keep watch rather than let you live in fear . He wiped his tears , but they kept falling . But I was wrong , I shouldn't

1:03:27have hidden it . These past few days you've been running back and forth , pulling all-nighters , constantly under stress . You're pushing yourself to that limit , and I can't just stand by and watch anymore . I looked at my younger brother , at his pained and panicked expression . The boy who was always calm and rational was now standing there

1:03:40crying like a child , just because he was afraid of losing me again . And I understood that he had carried this secret alone for weeks . Carrying the fear of losing me all by himself . Just like that night ten years ago , when he stood outside the emergency room , helpless . Minh Duong , I stepped forward

1:03:51and placed a hand on his shoulder , I’m sorry , I didn’t know . I’ve made you worry this whole time . Promise me , he grabbed my hand , his voice pleading , promise me you'll take care of yourself , that you won't push yourself anymore , okay ? I don’t want to lose you one more time . I looked

1:04:04into his red-rimmed eyes and I nodded . Yes , I promise . But even as I said those words , I knew in my heart that A Nhien's business wasn't over , and the situation with Tan Vu wasn't resolved . I couldn't just sit and rest while my youngest was crying alone behind that door . As my entire family was in the

1:04:17middle of a storm , there were times one had to choose between staying safe and protecting those they love . And I have never been the type of person to choose the former . The following night , the storm reached its peak . Rumors about An Nhien , after being fueled by old man Tan Vu , flared up violently again . The

1:04:30post implying dark secrets in the Ta Lan family spread everywhere , with pressure weighing down on her from all sides . The whole family gathered at the villa ; Canh Tham was stressed because the deal was reaching a critical stage . Minh Duong was worried because my health was worsening , and An Nhien remained shut in her room , refusing to

1:04:42come out . The atmosphere in the house was so stifling it was hard to breathe . I sat in the living room , my head throbbing , but I still tried to figure out a way to resolve everything . Canh Tham sat nearby , eyes glued to his laptop . Minh Duong occasionally glanced at me , full of worry . Then An Nhien’s

1:04:54bedroom door opened , and she stepped out , her eyes red and swollen from crying , her hair disheveled . There was no trace left of her image as a glamorous star . She was just a small , exhausted girl bracing herself under an unbearable burden . She stood in the middle of the living room , looking at

1:05:05me and then at her two brothers . The three of us stopped what we were doing and looked at her . An Nhien opened her mouth , her voice trembling and broken . I have to tell everyone something . She took a breath , and tears streamed down again . The night you had your accident , it wasn't a normal accident ; it was my

1:05:18fault . From start to finish , it was all my fault . The whole room went silent . And I knew the moment she had been avoiding for 10 years had finally arrived . Attacking my youngest sister , hitting straight at the wound she had hidden for 10 years . That was the biggest mistake that person could have

1:05:31made . An Nhien stood in the middle of the room , trembling as she recounted the night 10 years ago . She said that night , we argued over something childish . She threw a tantrum , said hurtful things , and ran out into the rain . I drove to find her , and the accident happened on the way back . It

1:05:43was me . She sobbed uncontrollably . If I hadn't run away that night , you wouldn't have had to drive out . You wouldn't have had the accident . The 10 years you spent lying there were because of me . I didn't dare to look at you . I was afraid that if you knew , you would hate me . The whole room went

1:05:54silent . Canh Tham was stunned . Minh Duong bowed his head . I sat there watching her struggle under the burden she had carried alone for 10 years . And then I understood everything . The cautious distance , the light always left on . The way she wanted to be close to me yet was so afraid . I stood up , my

1:06:06head spinning again . But this time , I didn't care . I walked up to her . And this time , I didn't hesitate anymore . I held her as tightly as I did 10 years ago , like the hug she had waited for since I woke up . An Nhien froze , then her whole body trembled , and she burst

1:06:19into tears like a child . Her hands clutched tightly onto my shirt . Listen to me , I patted her back , my voice hoarse , that night I drove to find you because I loved you , I was worried about you . That is a sister's duty , it wasn't your fault , it was never your

1:06:32fault . But if you hadn't run away , you were 14 then , you were just a child , it's normal for kids to be upset , but me looking for you was my choice . If I had to choose again , I would still look for you . A hundred times over , I would still go , I hugged her even tighter .

1:06:44For the past 10 years , you've blamed yourself , living in torment , you're so silly . Why didn't you tell me you were afraid ? Afraid of what ? I am your sister , no matter what you do , I am still your sister . 10 years in a coma didn't change that , and 100 years won't

1:06:55either . An Nhien cried louder , burying herself in my arms . All the years of repression , hiding , and enduring in silence , it all broke through now . I kept holding her like that , letting her cry it all out . Canh Tham and Minh Duong stepped forward , wrapping their arms around both of us . The four of us ,

1:07:07after 10 years , were finally hugging again in the middle of the room , in the middle of the storm . When she calmed down , I wiped her tears and looked straight into her eyes . Now listen to me , that Tan Vu , he used your pain as a weapon . He thought that by hitting this

1:07:19spot , you would collapse and our family would fall apart . But he was wrong . I stood up and looked at my three younger siblings . The secret she planned to use to destroy you is no longer a secret . She can no longer hold that knife . Because our whole family knows , and we are still here , still together . An

1:07:32Nhien looked at me , her swollen red eyes gradually regaining their light . The gaze of someone who has just shed a lifelong burden . She said softly , " Let me handle this . " " I will step forward myself . I will tell the truth — not Tan Vu's version , but the truth : that you

1:07:44searched for me because you loved me , that you sacrificed ten years , that this family never had any dark secrets , just a sister who loved her siblings . " I nodded , " Fine , it’s your court , you play it your way . " And she did it . An Nhien appeared in public , no makeup , no

1:07:58pretense , just a girl telling the true story of her family . She spoke of a fourteen-year-old sister who lost her parents and took on the whole family , of the rainy night she ran away and her sister rushed out to find her . Of ten years in a coma , of a family that never stopped waiting for one another . She

1:08:11didn't make excuses ; she just told the truth . And the truth , when spoken with such sincere tears , has a power that no rumor can withstand . Public opinion shifted instantly ; people no longer doubted An Nhien . People were moved by the story of the four orphaned siblings . Tan Vu's vicious article , instead of

1:08:24destroying her , became a platform for the whole country to know the beautiful story of the Ta family . As for Tan Vu , Canh Tham took action . With all the internal information that Lam Uyen had inadvertently leaked , and the vulnerabilities of Hoanh Vien that he had silently recorded while pretending to be naive , my brother launched a

1:08:37ruthless counterattack . The stock noose was removed , and instead of Ta Corp losing control , it was Hoanh Vien that revealed fatal weaknesses . Lam Uyen was exposed , the knife was broken , and the hand that held it was left with no way out . Tan Vu chose the wrong family to mess with . He thought we were a

1:08:51disconnected group : a CEO , a doctor , a celebrity , and a woman who just woke up after 10 years . He thought that by attacking each of us , the whole family would collapse on its own . He didn't know that what binds the four of us isn't the corporation , nor fame , nor money , but something he could never

1:09:04understand . A shared meal , a hug , a plate of eggs without scallions , a light left on through the night , a sister rushing into the rain to find her sibling . 10 years ago , I left behind three children . 10 years later , I returned to three adults , each strong in their own way . But no matter how big

1:09:17they are , or how high the empires they've built , when I ask them to come home for dinner , they drop everything and run back . Because there are things that don't change in 10 years , or even 100 . After it all , one weekend evening , the four of us sat around the table with all four chairs filled ; Canh Tham

1:09:29washed the dishes , Minh Duong mopped the floor , An Nhien set the table , and this time , I let them do it . I sat there watching my three siblings , letting them care for me as they had longed to do for 10 years . I kept my promise to Minh Duong . I learned how to

1:09:40rest , how not to do everything myself , how to let them share the burden , and my health gradually stabilized under the care of my doctor brother . Outside , the city changes every day , new buildings rise , and the world keeps moving . But in the old villa , under the tiled roof and the bougainvillea , a

1:09:54family has found each other again , whole and complete . Uncle Phuc no longer has to clean an empty room every day , because the person he was waiting for has finally come home . And this time , I am not going anywhere . The end . Thank you for listening .