Chapter 12 — After Ten Years of Silence, the Whole Industry Sees Me

The remaining person... is Chu Hac Minh. He sat in the middle position. His eyes calmly looked towards the stage. In ninth place on the jury was someone I had never met. But on the nameplate on his chest were four words: Ma Minh Vien. That's the name Chu Hac Minh once mentioned. Master Ly Minh Vien's younger brother. Secretary General of the National Advertising Association. I was the second person to step on stage. The protection process is very simple. Ten minutes presentation. Ten minutes to answer questions. When I stand under the light. The light was so strong that it almost made it impossible to see clearly the rows of seats below.

“Hello judges.”

“I am Tham Nhuoc Tinh.”

“From Thinh Hang Media, Hai Thanh.”

“I've been doing this for ten years.”

Ten minutes presentation. I don't use any fancy visual effects. I just brought up one thing. All original drafts of projects I've worked on over the past ten years. Edit traces. Date. 23 awards. Each path of the idea is clearly visible.

“No illustrious background.”

“There is no aura of a prestigious school.”

“There are also no nobles to support me.”

“What I have is only ten years of time.”

“And the attitude of always treating each project as your last.”

Speaking of this. I stopped for a moment.

“In this industry.”

“Creative people are easily forgotten.”

“Our name is usually at the bottom of the list.”

“Sometimes they don't even show up.”

“But I am here today.”

“It's because someone finally saw it.”

I looked at the back row of seats. Chu Hac Minh sat there. He nodded slightly at me.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”

Go to the questioning part. A judge asked a very sharp question.

“The quality of her work is very high.”

“But I noticed that you have worked at Thinh Hang Media for ten years.”

“The highest position is just Creative Director.”

“If at many other companies.”

“With such ability and achievements.”

“You have been at partner level for a long time.”

“What is the cause?”

The whole hall immediately fell silent. I stand in front of the microphone. Calmly answered:

“Because my mother once taught me that…”

“Doing your job well is the most important thing.”

“And what title do others give me?”

“That's their problem.”

A few soft laughs rang out from below. Ma Minh Vien raised his head and looked at me. There was a very special emotion in his eyes. I can't name it. But it makes me feel secure. The defense session is over. I walked out of the hall. The phone has an unread message. It was sent by Ms. Tan.

“Nhuoc Tinh, something happened.”

“Today Tong Chi Vien announced within the company that the creative department and the strategy department are officially merging.”

“Hua Uyen Thanh was appointed as the new department director.”

“My position as Creative Director has been canceled.”

I stood in front of the hall door. Stare at your phone screen for a minute. Not a demotion. Not a job transfer. But directly delete that position. The phone vibrated again. It was Ha Than calling.

“Tong Chi Vien took advantage of the time you were in Beijing and directly issued the decision!”

“From today, the creative department will be under the management of Hua Uyen Thanh.”

“Even the nameplate in front of your office door has been changed!”

“Calm down first.”

“Miss Tham, how can you calm down?”

"There is the team she built for ten years!”

“If you say take it, take it.”

“What does he rely on?”

“Based on the fact that he is Deputy General Director.”

The other end of the line immediately went silent. A moment later. Ha Than spoke.

“So what do you plan to do?”

“Don't do anything.”

“Wait until I get home and then talk.”

I hung up. Lean your back against the wall in the hallway. Standing still for a long time. A beautiful pull of firewood from the bottom of the pot. While I was not in Hai Thanh. Silently adjust the structure. Don't give me a chance to meet you. Don't give me a chance to object. Complete everything directly. This is absolutely not a decision that Tong Chi Vien alone can make. There is definitely someone behind. At least tacit approval from higher levels. Just when I was thinking. A person stepped forward. It's Ma Minh Vien.

“Tham Nhuoc Tinh?”

“Secretary General Ma.”

In real life he is thinner than in photos. Dark shirt. Hair neatly combed. Not a single tangle.

“I heard your entire defense.”

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank me.”

“I've been in this industry for thirty years.”

“The young people who really surprised me were no more than ten people.”

“You are one of them.”

He took out a business card from his pocket. Give it to me.

“There's an event next week.”

“You came to attend.”

I take it. The business card says: National Brand Innovation Summit Organizer: National Advertising Association

“This is an event that only invites a hundred people every year.”

“They are all core figures in the industry.”

He looked straight at me.

“This year the theme forum needs a real-life speaker.”

“I nominated you.”

“Secretary Ma, my current situation…”

“I know.”

Ma Minh Vien replied calmly.

“Chu Hac Minh told me everything.”

His voice was very calm.

“That's why I invited you to join.”

“What you need is not to continue staying at a company to accumulate seniority.”

“It's about letting the whole industry see you.”