Chapter 26 — After Divorce, My Ex-Husband Kneeled and Begged Me to Sign a Trillion Billion Contract

La Ninh looked at the phone and gave it to me.

“He only wrote one sentence.”

I take it. On the screen is a post shared from the Women's Legal Aid Fund. No photos available. There is no explanation. There are also no excuses. Just one line:

'Thank you for making that money mean more than anything I've ever done.'

I looked for two seconds. Then return the phone. La Ninh raised his eyebrows.

“No answer?”

“Not touched at all?”

“People often confuse regret and love.”

“But those are two different things.”

La Ninh nodded.

“That's right.”

"He's probably regretting it to death now."

I looked at the car in front of me merging into the crowded crowd.

“That's his problem.”

The car rolled away. The city outside the window glows in the afternoon light. Three months ago. I once stood in that hall, ending a marriage. Three months later. I stood there again, signing a new contract. Life turns out to be like that. What ends is not necessarily lost. Sometimes it's just making room for another beginning. That evening. I worked overtime until nearly ten o'clock. When preparing to leave the company, La Ninh knocked on the door and entered.

"What is up?"

“Thanh Hoa sent an invitation.”

She placed the card on the table.

“Combined laboratory project in Switzerland starts next month.”

“General Manager Tham wants to invite you to go survey with him.”

I opened the card. Inside is a strong, neat handwriting. Just one sentence: If Mr. Ha has time, I would love to be a tour guide. Below is the signature. Tham Nghien. La Ninh stood next to her, trying not to laugh.

“Did General Manager Tham write a letter of invitation for cooperation or a letter of invitation for a date?”

I glanced at her.

“Are you free?”

La Ninh immediately turned serious.

“No time.”

“But the whole company is betting.”

“Should I deduct everything from my salary?”

La Ninh coughed.

“Let's pretend I didn't say anything.”

I closed the card. The corners of the lips suddenly curled up. Tham Nghien is a very smart person. You never asked about my past. Never used past trauma as a topic. He just stood at a sufficient distance. Don't get too close. Also don't make others feel pressured. Just like the first day we met. He called me General Ha. Not anyone's wife. Not anyone's ex-girlfriend. Just Ha Kieu. Think about this. I picked up the pen. In the bottom corner of the card, write one word: One month later. At Zurich airport. The first snow of the season has just fallen. La Ninh pulled her suitcase behind her.

“I heard that Switzerland is minus two degrees today.”

"I know."

“I heard that General Manager Tham waited at the airport for an hour.”

“I know too.”

La Ninh looked at me.

“So you're not stressed?”

I laughed.

“What's there to be nervous about?”

The airport doors opened. Cold wind rushed in. Not far away. A man wearing a black coat is standing under the light. In hand holding a small bouquet of flowers. Not a rose. It's a lily of the valley flower. The flower symbolizes new beginnings. He saw me. Smiling softly. I also laughed. That moment. I suddenly understood something. There are people who appear in life to teach us lessons. There are also people who appear to prove that. After all the losses. I still deserve to be loved. I pulled my suitcase and walked forward. Behind us, the years have ended. In front is white snow. It's the light. It's a very long road. And this time. I'm no longer a lost person. La Ninh glanced at the phone.

“He said…”

She paused for a moment.

“May every love that has been overlooked have the courage to leave.”

I laughed.

“Finally learned how to speak human language.”

“Do I need to respond?”

"No need."

I sat in the car.

“His life…”

“It has long ceased to concern me.”

The car door closed. La Ninh asked:

“About Hoan Vu?”

I looked at the sunlight stretching outside the window. The whole city seems to be covered with a new layer of light. Just like an opening act.

“To the cemetery.”

Grandfather's grave is located in the suburbs. The cemetery is very quiet. I brought a bouquet of white roses. My mother likes white roses. My grandfather always criticized white as bland and not as exciting as red. But every time he visits his mother, he brings a bunch with him. I placed flowers in front of the gravestone. The man on the stele still looks as serious as ever. As if blaming me for being late. I sat down. Take out the letter he left behind.

"Grandfather."

“I passed the exam.”

The wind blew through the pine trees. No one responded. I bowed my head and smiled softly.

“I've also loved the wrong person.”

“But it's okay.”

“I brought myself back.”

I sat in front of the grave for a long time. Until the sunset gradually falls. Before leaving. I took out the “Risk Approved” stamp. Place the tombstone in front for him to see.

“It's made from a wedding ring.”

“It's not a waste.”

“Later it was specifically used to close risk files.”

"It's also considered a wonderfully useful object."

If he's still alive. He will definitely scold me for doing such nonsense. After scolding him, he secretly showed it off to his old friends. I put the seal back. Get up and walk out. At the cemetery gate. La Ninh is waiting. She didn't ask if I cried or not. Just give me a cup of hot coffee.

“Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock is the official handover ceremony of the Board of Directors.”

I received the cup of coffee.

“I know.”

She said again:

“The press release title has also been prepared.”

“What title?”

“Hoan Vu officially entered the Ha Kieu era.”

I paused a bit. Then burst out laughing.

“It's a bit ostentatious.”

“So can we change it?”

"No need."

I looked at the sky gradually darkening in the distance.

“Let it be.”

The next morning. Exactly nine o'clock. Meeting room on the top floor of Hoan Vu. All members of the Board of Directors were present. Chu Minh Le read the document transferring control. La Ninh stood behind me. Tham Nghien attended as a representative of a strategic partner. The camera's red light simultaneously lit up. I walked to the chair position. There was a time... Giang Thinh said that an ordinary girl like me only needed 5,000,000 yuan to live a lifetime. Someone once said that Bach Uyen Uyen's position as Mrs. Giang's was more important than mine. There was a time when the whole Giang family thought that I was just a woman hidden by Giang Thinh. But now. I stand in this place. No need for anyone's recognition. No need for anyone to give. No need to turn back. Chu Minh Le gave me the appointment decision. I picked up the pen. Sign your name. The moment the last stroke of the pen falls. Applause echoed throughout the meeting room. I raised my head and looked towards the lens.

“From today.”

“Hoan Vu officially entered a new phase.”

“Every cooperation must first look at the rules.”

“All old debts must be handled according to the law law."

“All risks…”

“Not leaving anyone out.”

I picked up the burned seal from the wedding ring. Close down the first document of the Board of Directors. Red ink marks appear clearly on the page. RISK APPROVED. I remember the third anniversary of my marriage. The day Giang Thinh pushed the divorce petition towards me.

“Don't make things too unsightly.”

that day. I also signed. Just that time. I signed to end a marriage given to the wrong person. And today. I sign my name under an era that belongs to me. Amid applause. La Ninh asked softly:

“Next category?”

I closed the file.

“Let's begin.”

Outside the window. The sunlight is just beautiful. A new story. Officially starting from here.