Chapter 18 — Fire the Wrong Person, the Whole Company Pays

That was the last time she appeared on that street. That same afternoon, Co Hanh called me into his office.

“The cooperation between you and Thinh Hoa…”

“I heard that.”

“Do you still want to stay in Hoa Nhan?”

I thought for a few seconds.

“General Manager Co.”

“The cooperation between me and Thinh Hoa is technical cooperation.”

“The systematization of the entire formula of Hoa Nhan…”

“I will finish it.”

“Don't give up halfway.”

“What happens after it's done?”

“After completing…”

“I will continue to maintain relationships with Hoa Nhan as an external cooperation consultant.”

“But most of the time…”

“I will give it to Thinh Hoa.”

Co Hanh nodded.

“Not unexpected.”

“It's just a bit unfortunate.”

“There's nothing to regret.”

I looked at him.

“What Hoa Nhan needs…”

“It is a research system that does not depend on any individual.”

“I leave behind knowledge…”

“More important than me staying.”

He was silent for a while.

“You are much more mature than I thought.”

“Because I have suffered losses.”

Co Hanh stood up and reached out to me.

“No matter what happens in the future…”

“Hoa Nhan still owes you a thank you.”

I shook his hand. The moment I walked out of the office… The phone in my hand vibrated. It's a message from Thinh Hoa.

“The cooperation contract has officially been completed.”

“The independent lab will open next Monday.”

“The recruitment team has begun.”

“The approval report for the first three projects has also been approved.”

I looked at the phone screen. Standing in the middle of the hallway. Don't laugh. But my heart felt strangely peaceful. Three months ago… I was kicked out of this building. Phone was smashed. The pen holder was broken. Slandered. Defamed. And today... I completed the final handover in this place. Then step onto a bigger stage. Not because of luck. It's because step by step... I have never retreated. Three months later. The annual product announcement of Thinh Hoa Group was held at the international exhibition center. More than five hundred guests were present. Industry association representative. Core distributor. Communication. Investor. The scale was three times larger than Hoa Nhan's announcement that year. I'm behind the scenes. Wearing a white blouse provided by Thinh Hoa. Place a name tag on the chest. It is clearly written above:

“Thinh Hoa Group — Core research partner.”

“Formula research team leader.”

Phuong Dinh flew from Beijing. Come especially to see me. When she rushed from the crowd... Her face was filled with joy.

“I saw your name printed right on the new product packaging!”

“Do you know what the distributors are saying outside?”

“They said three new product lines this time from Thinh Hoa…”

“It is the biggest breakthrough in the cosmetics industry in ten years.”

“An investor even directly raised his intention to invest 20,000,000 yuan.”

“It doesn't matter how much.”

“What is not important!”

Phuong Dinh lightly slapped my hand.

“Now you are the most noted formula researcher in the industry, you know that?”

I looked at her.

“Phuong Dinh.”

“You didn't just come to flatter me, did you?”

She laughed.

“I came to report the latest situation.”

“After Ha Vy left Hoa Nhan, she joined a small company as an administrative assistant.”

“Tran Hao worked at a dishwashing liquid factory for two months before being fired.”

“Now unemployed home."

“And To Dao…”

“Divorced.”

“Move back to the countryside.”

“I heard he's currently helping out at a friend's skin care salon.”

After listening, I didn't say anything.

“Aren't you happy?”

“Not to the point of being happy or unhappy.”

“They came today…”

“It's all their own choice.”

The product announcement officially begins. Ha Van stepped onto the stage to give the opening speech. Next is the new product introduction. Share technical roadmap. Coming to the most important part… The big screen behind the stage displayed a list. Above are seven formula patents recently approved by Thinh Hoa in the last three months. In the inventor column… Each patent has the same name written. The applause lasted for a long time. Someone in the first row stood up and clapped first. Then comes the second row. Then the third row.