Chapter 11 — After Ten Years of Silence, the Whole Industry Sees Me

She stood up. Put the bouquet on my table.

"If you're busy, I'll go first."

After she left. Ha Than walked over from the office next door.

“What did she say?”

“Come and apologize.”

“Do you believe it?”

I looked at him.

“What do you think?”

Ha Than shook his head.

“Before snakes bite people…”

“Usually stick out your tongue first.”

I laughed out loud.

“Your analogy is also vivid.”

“Miss Tham, I think she came to apologize just as an excuse.”

“Inquiring is the real purpose.”

“Inquiring about what?”

“Ask her if she intends to leave Thinh Hang or not.”

“If you leave, there will be no one left to manage the Cam Hoa project.”

“Until then…”

Ha Than did not finish his sentence. But I understand what he means. If I leave. The entire next implementation phase of the Cam Hoa project will fall into the hands of Hua Uyen Thanh. She doesn't have enough capacity to do well. But he is very good at taking that position. Customer relations. Reputation in the industry. The results of the whole team. In the end, everything will become a ladder for her to climb higher. Like the Thuy Phong project three years ago. Just like my mother's old works. The final judging ceremony for the title of Best Innovator of the Year will take place after one month. But before that. My life is still not at peace. Hua Uyen Thanh's side no longer openly causes trouble. But the silent tricks never stopped. A visual designer who had worked on my team for two years suddenly submitted his resignation. I called him in to talk. He hesitated for a long time.

“Director Tham, it's not like I have any opinions on you.”

“It's just... something happened at home.”

Ha Than silently researched. Finally discovered that person had signed a contract with Cao Vuc Media. Salary increased by 50%.

“It's Cao Vuc again.”

Ha Than placed the investigation documents in front of me.

“Hua Uyen Thanh is digging our people.”

“Just one person?”

“That's it for now.”

“But I heard that she is still in contact with two other people.”

I was silent for a while.

“If you want to dig, just dig.”

“Everyone has their own choices.”

"People who want to leave can't keep it."

“But access to documents must be revoked.”

“All original data of the Cam Hoa project.”

“Only you and I are allowed access.”

"I got it."

The next two weeks. I have just accelerated the implementation progress of the Cam Hoa project. Just preparing documents for the defense round of this year's award. Zhu Hac Minh sent a message from Shanghai:

“The defense will take place in Beijing.”

“I will be there too.”

“Don't stress.”

"Just maintaining the same status as the day the Cam Hoa project was announced is enough."

Professor Ly Minh Vien also called me.

“Nhuoc Tinh.”

“The fact that you were on the nomination list didn't surprise me at all.”

“Over the years, I have followed your work.”

“My qualifications have long surpassed the position of creative director of a local media company.”

“Thank you, teacher.”

“But I have to think carefully about something.”

“After the prize ends.”

“Whatever the outcome.”

“My life in Thinh Hang will not be pleasant anymore.”

“Tong Chi Vien is the type of person who cannot accept that anyone is better than him.”

“I have to prepare a way out from now on.”

I know you're right. Recently. Tong Chi Vien's attitude towards me is very strange. On the outside, it's still polite. But in reality it is continuous cause difficulty. The budget I presented was withheld by him. Work application is delayed. The request to recruit more personnel was pressed down. According to Ms. Tan:

“He doesn't dare offend me.”

“But I also don't want to see you stand out more than me.”

This type of person. I've met too many. One week before the defense. The real storm is coming. During the management meeting. Tong Chi Vien proposed a new regulation: All the company's works participating in external awards must be in the company's name. You are not allowed to participate in any industry poll on your own behalf. The spearhead was aimed straight at me. Because the nomination list for Best Creator of the Year was submitted under my personal name. Not under the name Thinh Hang Media. Ha Than was so angry that he walked back and forth in the office.

“He is trying to block your eligibility to participate!”

“Can't block it.”

I picked up the phone.

“The nomination list is decided by the Advertising Association.”

“It's not up to the company to decide.”

“This regulation only takes effect at a later date.”

“It cannot be applied back to those who have already been nominated.”

“But will he use another method?”

“For example, don't let her take leave to go to Beijing to protect her?”

I looked at him.

“He might not give me a break.”

“But the evaluation is an official invitation from the association.”

“I can use my personal time to participate.”

“What about travel expenses?”

“I paid for it myself.”

Ha Than was silent. A moment later he said:

“That's not fair.”

I picked up the evaluation file.

“Since when is life fair?”

“The rest.”

“It will be resolved in Beijing.”

The final defense was held at the headquarters of the National Advertising Association. Three people made it to the final round. Three protections. Each person has twenty minutes. There are nine people in the jury row. I looked over. The four are famous seniors in the industry. The two are senior leaders of leading brands. The two are prestigious professors in the academic world.