Chapter 10 — Dear Wife, Do You Remember Me?

Unauthorized access to official employee review process. Each line has a timestamp. Each action violates the company's information security regulations. No one in the group spoke up. At three o'clock, Uncle Trieu personally called Chu Dien. I don't know what they said. But at four o'clock, HR called Phuong Tinh away. At five o'clock, Phuong Tinh's seat was empty. Furniture has been cleaned. On the table, there was only a pair of thermos cages left. As I passed by, I glanced at it. Inside is empty. When I got off work, I encountered Phuong Tinh downstairs. She stood in front of the company gate. Eye rims are red. The makeup is half smudged. Seeing me, she stood up straight.

“To Niem.”

“Yes.”

“That was your intention, right?”

I don't deny it.

“Let me get humiliated on the podium, then release that access log.”

“Kill two birds with one stone.”

“If you didn't do those things, there wouldn't be any diary to release.”

She stared at me for a few seconds.

“You thought you won?”

“This is not about winning or losing.”

“Do you think Chu Dien will protect you forever?”

“His mother didn't nod, you're nothing.”

“That's between me and him.”

She laughed. Not the gentle smile like before. It's the kind of smile that comes after ripping off the mask.

"To Niem, you wait. She won't forgive you."

She turned around and climbed into a taxi. The car drove away. I stood alone. The wind blew. A bit cold. The phone rang. Chu Dien.

“Where are you?”

“Down the hall.”

“Wait for me. Three minutes.”

I leaned my back against the streetlight pole. Phuong Tinh's last words kept echoing in her head. *She won't forgive you.* I know. Phuong Tinh is just the first hurdle. The real obstacle is still behind. 11 Three days after Phuong Tinh left. Chu Dien's mother arrived. When I saw her in the company lobby, she had just gotten out of a car. Over fifty years old, extremely well maintained, wearing a cheongsam and a marble bracelet. The aura emanating from her body could be felt even from ten meters away. She went straight to the twenty-third floor. No one informed me. But the whole building heard the shocking news — President Chu's mother came to the company herself. At noon, the Administrative Director called me.

“To Niem, President Chu called me up for a ride.”

I put down the document I was holding in my hand.

“Yes, I know.”

Up to the twenty-third floor. The office door is open. Chu Dien sat behind the desk. His mother sat on the sofa. On the tea table there is a teapot and two cups. There is no third cup. I stood outside the door.

"Mr. Zhou, are you looking for me?"

Chu Dien stood up: "Mom, this is To Niem." His mother glanced at me. Take a look from head to toe.

“Are you the girl from the To family who lived next door?”

“Hello, uncle.”

“Sit down.”

I sat down. Chu Dien took out a cup from the cupboard, poured tea and placed it in front of me. His mother saw that action and her eyebrows frowned slightly.

“To Niem, right?”

“Yes.”

“Are you working in the Administration department now?”

“Yes.”

“What education?”

“Normal regular university.”

“What is your family situation like?”

“My parents are both normal wage earners.”

She nodded, picked up the cup of tea and took a sip.

“Tieu To, let me be honest.”

“Just say it.”

“Chu Dien mentioned her to me. Say you two knew each other when you were little, and now you want to get together.”

“I disagree.”

The room fell silent. Chu Dien spoke up: “Mom ——”

“Shut up.” She glared at him, then turned back to me.

“It's not that you're not good. But it's not appropriate."

“Chu Dien is the deputy general manager of this company.”

“Later it will take over the entire company.”

“The other half of it is needed, not an ordinary administrative employee.”