Chapter 16 — Eating a piece of sea cucumber, I sent my husband's family out the door

“General Manager Trieu.”

“Have your people ever touched our source code?”

The expression on Trieu Minh Vien's face immediately changed. Not guilty. It's anger.

“Who told you that?”

“Someone had external access to our core code repository.”

“The traceable IP address is located at the coffee shop under your company building.”

Trieu Minh Vien stood up. Go to the window. He was silent for a long time.

“General Manager Lam.”

“I don't know about this.”

“But I will investigate clearly.”

He turned around. Look straight into my eyes.

“I have been in business for twenty years.”

“Never stole anyone's source code.”

“Do you believe it or not?”

I looked at him. Those eyes are very straightforward. Don't avoid it at all.

“For now, I believe you.”

He nodded slightly.

“Give me three days.”

Trieu Minh Vien called me.

“General Manager Lam.”

“I investigated.”

“A technical manager of my company.”

“Last name is Phuong.”

“He was bribed by someone else.”

“Who bribed?”

Trieu Minh Vien was silent for a few seconds.

“Do you know someone named Tran Kieu?”

I was stunned.

“Tran Kieu?”

“That person named Phuong is Tran Kieu's boyfriend.”

“Tran Kieu told him to steal your company's source code.”

“Saying that we just need to get the core technology.”

“It is possible to sell to competitors.”

“Win big.”

I leaned back in the chair. Gently close your eyes. It's true that I still haven't given up.

“Where is the evidence?”

"The Phuong family has already confessed."

“I have chat records and transfer history.”

“If you need it.”

“I can turn it all over to the police.”

“Move.”

“There's one more thing.”

“What?”

“That person named Phuong was fired by me.”

“This is an error in my management.”

"I'm sorry."

I opened my eyes.

“General Manager Trieu.”

“You don't need to apologize.”

“It's not your fault.”

“But anyway, it was someone from my company who caused it.”

“I still have responsibilities.”

I thought for a moment.

“Then invite me for a meal.”

“Consider it compensation.”

The other end of the line was silent for a second. He laughed. That was the first time I heard Trieu Minh Vien laugh.

“You choose the location.”

A quiet Japanese restaurant. Trieu Minh Vien arrived before me. He changed his usual suit into casual clothes. Dark blue sweater. Black long pants. Different from the usual image. Looks a few years younger.

“General Manager Lam.”

“Please sit down.”

I pulled out a chair and sat down.

“No business discussion today.”

“Stop calling me General Manager Lam.”

He was a bit stunned.

“So what should I call you?”

“Just call Nhuoc Van.”

He nodded.

“Then don't call me General Manager Trieu.”

“Call Minh Vien.”

I laughed.

“Minh Vien.”

The dishes were brought out one by one. We chat a lot. Talk about work. About profession. About the difficulties on the path to entrepreneurship. At the age of twenty-five, he started his business. The first project lost 500,000 yuan. He had to borrow from everywhere. The most difficult. There was only 20 yuan left in the bag.

“So how did you get over it?”

He thought for a few seconds.

“Bite your teeth and endure.”

“Other than that.”

“There is no other way.”

I looked at him. he asked.

“How did you get to this day?”

“I'm just like you.”

“Bite your teeth and endure.”

He laughed. We looked at each other for a second. Then at the same time, he looked away. After dinner. He walked me to the car.

“Nhuoc Van.”

“I am very happy today.”

"Me too."

He stood there for a moment. As if wanting to say something. But in the end just smiled.

“Be careful on the road.”

I got in the car. The car rolled slowly. Through the rearview mirror. I saw him still standing there. Until the car turns a corner. That figure just disappeared from sight.

“Nhuoc Van.”

“The surgery was successful.”

“He... wants to see you.”

“I already said it.”

“I won't come.”

“Nhuoc Van.”

“He has really changed.”

“He quit drinking.”

“I talk about you every day.”

“He said the person who is most at fault in this life is you.”

I hold the phone. Stand in front of the window. Outside is the autumn sunlight.

“Nhuoc Van.”

“You only need to go see him once.”

“Once is enough.”

I closed my eyes.

“Let me think some more.”

After hanging up. I sat alone for a long time. Trieu Minh Vien sent me a message.

“Nhuoc Van.”

“Tomorrow there will be a technology forum.”

“Come with me?”

Look at that message. I suddenly felt strangely warm inside. The forum the next day was actually quite boring. But Trieu Minh Vien sat next to me. Sometimes. The two exchanged another look. There was a speaker whose presentation was so bad that he fell asleep. Trieu Minh Vien wrote a line in his notebook. Then pushed it to me.

“Is this person giving a lecture or reciting an anesthetic spell?”

I almost laughed out loud. After the forum ends. We went for a walk in the nearby park. The autumn park is very beautiful. Ginkgo leaves cover the ground. A bright yellow color.

“Nhuoc Van.”

“Have you ever thought about what your future life will be like?”

I bowed my head. Gently kick a fallen leaf under your feet.