Chapter 1 — Boss Huo Waited For Me For Eight Years

Working as boss Hoac's assistant for the eighth year, I submitted my resignation.

"Boss Hoac, I'm about to get married. The subject is someone I just met through a blind date last month."

His hand holding the cup of coffee stopped in mid-air, not moving for a full 5 seconds. The day I applied, my phone died. From the receptionist girl to the cleaning lady, a total of 27 messages, all unanimously agreed - scolding me for being blind. My best friend patted my shoulder and exclaimed: "Sister, it's not like she's been able to let go, but she's been blind for 8 years, and now she's completely blind." What does this sentence actually mean? Everything must be from 3 days ago. I am Tham Khe, 28 years old this year, working as Hoac Hoai Can's personal assistant for 8 years. 8 years. From the year he first took over the Huo family's group, until now. Huo Huaijin, how should I describe him? Cold. It's not the kind of deliberately acting arrogant and cold, but the coldness that radiates from the bones. During meetings, he can lower the temperature of the entire meeting room by 3 degrees, looking at people like he's looking at an Excel table - the kind that includes data analysis. But he treats me quite well. Every day he worked overtime, he would ask the receptionist to order dinner for me; When I go on a business trip, I will specifically ask if I fast or not; My year-end bonus is always 2 months more than other departments' salary. I always think it's because my working ability is excellent. It's true that I am truly excellent. Boss Hoac needs PPT for a meeting on Monday, I've already finished it on Friday. On my boss's work schedule, I can calculate exactly every second of the green and red lights at each intersection. My boss doesn't like eating cilantro, I always tell all my partner's restaurants in advance. For the past 8 years, Tham Khe has completely deserved this salary. So when I decided to quit my job, I prepared extremely carefully. Print the resignation letter in 3 copies: one to submit to personnel, one to give to the boss, and one to keep for records. The job handover list is 42 pages long. I even wrote a training plan for the next assistant. It was 3pm on Wednesday. Boss Hoac had just finished a video meeting and was leaning back in his chair drinking coffee. I knocked on the door and entered.

“Boss Hoac, I have something to tell you.”

He hummed, not raising his head. I placed my resignation letter on your desk.

"I'm about to quit my job. Next month I'm getting married. The person I met last month is the person I met last month. I want to settle down."

Quiet. Extremely quiet. His hand holding the cup of coffee stopped in mid-air. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. I thought you were thinking about handing over the job. Four seconds. Five seconds.

“Boss Hoac?”

He put down the coffee cup, his hand very steady. But I noticed that the coffee was a little sloppy, a few drops splashed out onto the edge of the cup.

"Let's see each other?"

"Yes, my father arranged it last month. He is very good-natured, the kind of gentle, responsible person."

He looked at me. I can't describe that look. Can't say what the feeling is. Like… he's grading a failed quarterly report? Then he smiled slightly.

“Congratulations.”

Just two words. Then he said that he would approve the resignation letter and told me to send the handover list to the human resources department. When going out, I conveniently closed the door. As soon as I got out of the elevator door, my phone vibrated. Message from Trieu Duy. [Damn rice, did you really apply?] [Sisters, you are talented] [I'm at the barbecue restaurant downstairs, come down here, I'll buy you a farewell drink.] I replied "Wait", then went downstairs. Trieu Duy is my close friend since childhood, also works at Hoac Thi Group, in the Administration department. It sat at the barbecue restaurant, looking at me with extremely complicated eyes. It's like looking at a death row prisoner about to be executed and still confused about what crime he committed.

“Come on, sit down.” He gave me a bottle of beer.

I took it and took a sip.

"What's wrong? Why are you making this face? Just quit your job, it's not the end of the world."

Trieu Duy took a deep breath and patted my shoulder.

“Sisters.”

“Huh?”

“It's not like you can let go.”

“What?”

“She was blind for 8 years, now she is completely blind.”

I froze for two seconds.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.” He gulped down a large gulp of beer, "Come on, finish the glass, congratulations to the happy newlywed."

That night I drank quite a lot. Back home, I lay down on the bed, tossing and turning about Trieu Duy's words. Blind for 8 years? What blindness? My eyesight is 10/10, every year my health check gives me an A grade. Can't think of it. Forget it, go to sleep. * Chapter 2 The next morning, as soon as I woke up, my phone was officially dead. Not a work group chat, but a private message. Receptionist Tran: [Ms. Tham! I heard you resigned? Really funny like that???] Mr. Luu of the Administration Department: [Tham Khe, have you thought this girl through?] Mr. Trinh's voice message, about 60 seconds long: [Tieu Tham, tell Mr. Trinh the truth, is it because your brain is short-circuiting? Is that guy looking at you the same angle as boss Hoac? Huh? I tell you! Say it!] After listening, I was bewildered and surprised. What's wrong with Mr. Trinh? I just quit my job, as if I just committed a heinous crime? The wildest thing still lies behind. Uncle Ly is a laborer. Yes, it was Uncle Ly who cleaned the floor in the hallway every day. He actually sent me a Wechat message. I don't even remember when he became friends with me. [Tieu Tham, I wonder if it's convenient to say this. Can't you see that boss Hoac likes you? 8 years ago, that kid looked at me with eyes that wanted to eat me alive, don't you see?] I stared at this message for a full 10 seconds. Then reply back with exactly one sentence: Boss Hoac? Like you? These three phrases placed next to each other are as mythical as the sentence "The sun rises in the West". What kind of person is Huo Hoai Can, how could he like me? What a joke. When he looked at me, his eyes were exactly the same as when he looked at the work report - extremely calm, objective, and filled with the characteristics of KPI evaluation. I texted back to Mr. Ly: [Uncle, you must have seen wrongly, with boss Hoac's personality, that is impossible.] Mr. Ly replied in one note: [I'm out of help.] Exactly 4 words. I became even more confused. Right after that, Mr. Trinh rushed straight to my seat. Mr. Trinh is 50 years old this year. He usually walks steadily and calmly, but now he runs quickly. He plopped down opposite me, his eyes wild.

“Tham Khe, tell me the truth.”

“Yes?”

“For 8 years, do you really not see it? Or are you pretending not to know?"

“See what?”

Mr. Trinh covered his face with both hands and let out a pitiful cry. That sound, like a cat whose tail was stepped on.

“It's broken, it's broken, it's broken.”

"Mr. Trinh ended up being..."

“I really can't see it.” He put his hand down, a look of despair on his face, "You really don't see it."

“But what is it? Everyone one after another, can you say it clearly?

Mr. Trinh stood up, took three deep breaths, as if he was doing his own mental work.