Chapter 3 — After my engagement was canceled, I went to Shenzhen and lived the most brilliant version

I didn't reply. On the same day, the plan is sent to the customer. Two hours later, the partner called. From my seat, I vaguely heard the director continuously reply:

“No problem.”

Hanging up, he stuck his head out of the room.

“Customers want to make an appointment in person.”

“They also want to hand over next year's branding project to our company…”

He stopped for a moment.

“And name you in charge.”

The whole room fell silent. Chu Vi stood next to her, her mouth open so wide she could fit an entire egg. I just replied briefly. After work that day, Chu Vi took me out to eat hot pot.

“Please tell the truth.”

She picked up the piece of beef while looking at me.

“What background do you have?”

"Do not have."

“I'm just a normal working person.”

“Can a normal working person draw such a design in one day?”

Chu Vi shook her head.

"From color combination, layout to how to leave white space... Even though I'm not an expert, I can still see it. It's the style of someone who has a very complete composition system."

“I've been thinking a lot.”

Chu Vi looked at me for a long time. In the end, I didn't ask anymore.

"Okay."

“If you don't want to talk, don't say it.”

She raised her glass of beer.

"Anyway, I'm an expert now. Remember to have my back in the future."

I clinked glasses with her. That night when I got home, I turned on my phone. In the private mailbox of the official account "Niem Bach" there is a new invitation for cooperation. The sender... is the manager of Thanh Tu's brand department. It's the same person who contacted my company the other day. Only thing... This invitation was sent to "Niem Bach". Delivery time is three days in advance. In other words... From the beginning, they wanted to cooperate with "Niem Bach". Just because I couldn't get in touch, I took a step back and went to the design company. But the plan I submitted today... It's too similar to the style of "Niem Bach". What if you go to a face-to-face meeting... What if the customer notices? I turned off the phone screen. My back suddenly felt cold. The next morning when I went to the company, the director announced. The meeting with the client is scheduled for next Wednesday. And the partner side... Just asked me to attend by name.

"Prepare well. This is a big project."

I nodded. Chu Vi stood next to her and asked in a low voice: "Let me help you prepare for the presentation, okay?"

"No need. I'll do it myself."

Over the next few days, I kept thinking about how to handle this matter. I have intentionally restrained the style of the plan, but if during the meeting, the customer asks more in-depth questions... Wednesday has come. I wore a black shirt and light makeup. When I arrived at the meeting room, the director was present. Three people came from the customer side: the brand manager, the market manager and one person... I paused. The third person is Co Dien. He was sitting on the client's side, flipping through my plan documents. The director told me in a low voice: "This year Thanh Tu received investment from Loc Minh, Co Dien is a member of their board of directors." I sat down, my expression unchanged. The brand director spoke first: "You are To Niem, right? Our team really likes your plan. Especially the way the white space is handled in this series, there is a feeling... how should I put it, very similar to the style of 'Niem Bach'. Do you know that IP?"

“I know a little.” I said.

“Actually, we always wanted to collaborated with 'Niem Bach', but that creator is too mysterious, has never appeared, and does not accept commercial painting orders." She sighed, "Your style is very similar to hers, is it because you were influenced by her?"

“It can be considered that way. I really admire her work.”

She nodded: “No wonder. Basically, we are very satisfied with this plan of yours, there are only a few small details..." The next half hour was a normal project exchange process. During the entire session, Co Dien said almost nothing, only occasionally flipping through documents. After the meeting ended, everyone stood up. I walked in last. I turned around. Co Dien stood at the door of the meeting room, holding a printed copy of my plan in her hand.

“Where did you work before?”

“Beijing. An advertising agency.”

“How many years have you been working?”

He looked at me.

“Her color matching habits are very special.”

My heart suddenly skipped a beat. Co Dien didn't say anything more, turned around and left. That night, I searched for information about Co Dien. Deputy general director of Loc Minh Technology, thirty-two years old, graduated from Tsinghua University, is a serial entrepreneur. He has invested in more than a dozen companies, spanning technology, consumer and creative culture. Information about private life is almost zero. Chu Vi sent a text message: "During the meeting today, Co Dien kept looking at you, did you notice?"

"Are not. You looked at it wrong.”

“I'm sitting across from you! When he saw my plan, he turned it over and over three times!”

"He is a member of the board of directors. Isn't the plan very normal?"

“But when he looked at other people's plans, he didn't turn them over three times.”

I put down the phone. The next week, the Thanh Tu project progressed very smoothly. The plans I propose are basically approved by the customer the first time, with only a few small details occasionally being corrected. The director's attitude towards me was clearly much better, even the seat was changed to a position near the window. Chu Vi said bitterly: "A successful project."

“Don't cause trouble.”

“You're the group's trump card now, do you know that? Yesterday, Mr. Trinh even told the director that he was considering promoting her to project manager."

“I've only been here for a few months...”

“It's okay to have the ability. Quan Chi is not a state-owned enterprise.”

I didn't reply. It doesn't matter if I get promoted or not, I'm just here to have a normal social status. What really makes money is still "Niem Bach's" work. If you continue to stay here, sooner or later your identity will be revealed. I started to consider whether or not to quit my job. Before a decision could be made, the appearance of someone disrupted the entire plan. That afternoon, I went to the convenience store downstairs to buy a sandwich. While bowing his head to pay, a voice suddenly rang out from behind. I turned around.