Chapter 12 — After Divorce, I Take Everything Back

I looked through the rearview mirror. Trieu Thanh still stood there, looking in the direction of the car. Two seconds later, he turned around. I turned back to the front. There are things... there's no need to rush. There are people who... don't need to rush. First of all, you must stand firm on yourself. Tran Hao's first installment arrived on time. 5,000 yuan, not a day late. The same goes for the second item. The same goes for the third clause. By the fourth month, he texted.

"Nien Senh, this month may be two days late, the company has some problems, the bonus is delayed."

I replied: “Okay.” Two days later, the money came in. He did not break his promise. I took a photo of the message and saved it in a folder. Name: “Return Record.” Not because I'm afraid he'll cheat. But because I'm used to it. Recording… is engraved into the bones. Company annual meeting date. General Tham stood in front of all employees and announced my promotion to deputy general. After the meeting, everyone took turns coming to congratulate. A colleague who joined two years before me patted me on the shoulder.

“Mr. Lam, you are the person who has risen the fastest here, from project manager to deputy general in three months, it's really admirable.”

“I just had the right opportunity.”

“If you have an opportunity if you can't keep it, it's useless.”

He laughed and left. I stood in front of the desk, looking at the new nameplate.

“Lam Niem Senh — Deputy General Director.”

I reached out and gently touched each word. Then take your phone and take a photo. Do not post online. Just save it on your device. Send Tri Thu a message.

“Promoted.”

She answered immediately.

“Up what?”

“Deputy General.”

“Are you serious???”

“Lam Niem Senh, you hacked my life!”

I laughed and didn't answer anymore. Actually, it's not a "hack". It's just that before, all my energy was sucked into a hole called "the Tran family". Now that hole is gone. Everything that belongs to me… comes back. The ability returns. Ambition returns. Even the light returned. When it's time to shine... I can truly shine. After the meeting, I met Trieu Thanh at the parking lot. He is the representative of the partner side.

“Vice President Lam.” He smiled slightly. "Congratulations."

"Thank you."

He gave me a small bag.

“Give you a small gift, nothing too expensive, just I think you should have a pen worthy of your current position.”

A black Montblanc pen, very neat design. Not cheap, but not too ostentatious.

“Brother Trieu—”

“Don't refuse.” he said. “Work gift.”

I looked at him. Eyes very straight. There is no ambiguity. No probe. Simply a respect.

"Nothing."

He laughed.

"Vice President Lam, when are you free to have a meal together so we can discuss the next project?"

“Okay, I'll arrange it.”

He left. I stood in the parking lot, holding a pen. Suddenly remembered Tran Hao's birthday gift that year. A set of hand cream for two hundred yuan. He also said: "Your hands are too rough, don't just worry about washing dishes." At that time, I still smiled, thinking that he was interested in me. Now that I think about it… It's not that he doesn't have money. But in his heart, I have never been worth more than that number. I hung up. The green light turns on. The car rolled again. I don't cry. Eight years of humiliation... not even a "sorry" can erase it. And there's no need to delete it anymore. Those things will stay, in my notebook, in my memory, but will no longer bind me. Phuong Chinh Group's project lost three months to complete. The framework contract was signed, the implementation plan was finalized, and the team was also established. I lead a group of five people, meet with partners twice a week, everything runs in a very clear rhythm. Trieu Thanh helped a lot. If the other side did not cooperate, he coordinated. Wherever the process was stuck, he pushed it to run, but he never took credit for it. He only occasionally said one sentence in the project team, "Whatever CEO Lam says, follow her lead." One time during a meeting, Mr. Ton from the partner's side said a sentence, his voice was very calm but the whole room heard it clearly.

"General Tham's ability to choose people is not bad. I found someone who works with such solidity."

Then he looked at Trieu Thanh.

“You're not bad either, the person you introduced is perfect.”

Trieu Thanh just smiled and said nothing. After the meeting, I met him in the hallway and he said a very light sentence.