Chapter 1 — Fluent in 9 foreign languages, I just want to be a normal employee

Fluent in 9 Foreign Languages, I Just Want to Be a Normal Employee Hiding the fact that I'm fluent in 9 foreign languages to become an anonymous employee, the day I was fired I revealed my identity, the entire board of directors turned pale! To be an anonymous employee in the company, I deliberately hid the fact that I was fluent in nine foreign languages, and everyone only admitted that I knew Chinese. Therefore, my colleagues all laughed at me for faking my degree, just being a useless person relying on connections to get into the company. But I did not expect that the management would use that same reason to announce the layoff of all employees who do not know foreign languages, and my name is obviously at the top of the layoff list. Just as my colleagues were opening champagne to celebrate finally getting rid of me, the company suddenly accepted an international cooperation project worth trillions. And I... am the only person in charge appointed by the partner. The sound of the printer rang softly, spitting out the last sheet of paper still stained with the warmth of ink. On that thin A4 sheet is a list of "components" that are about to be eliminated by the giant machine named after the company. My name, Lam Khe, is in first place. Like a sign nailed to a pole of humiliation. The whole office fell into a strange silence. Immediately after that, countless eyes turned towards me. Some people gloat, some people wait to see a good drama, the joy on their faces does not bother to hide. The air stirred slightly, as if something was crawling in the darkness. Giang Anh stepped forward with high heels. The "clack" sound echoed steadily, stopping right in front of my desk. The scent of perfume was so strong that it was suffocating, mixed with the feeling of triumph of a winner. She bent down, pretending to be friendly and placed a hand on my shoulder, her tone was sickeningly sweet.

"Lam Khe, don't be so sad."

Her bright red painted nails stood out against the simple cotton shirt I was wearing.

"It's already difficult to find a job these days, so we can't blame the company for this."

"After all, our company does international trade. If you don't know foreign languages, you really won't be able to keep up with the development direction."

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough for the whole office to hear every word clearly. Immediately someone followed.

"That's right, Ms. Giang is right."

"Miss Khe is normally free. After firing her, the matter will be divided."

"Share what? She has nothing to do with it."

"Aren't we just organizing documents and ordering afternoon tea? Ha ha ha..."

Sarcastic laughter was like a sticky spider web, surrounding me from all sides. I didn't raise my head. His eyes just quietly stopped on the small stone lotus pot placed at the corner of the table. The leaves are plump, with pale pink edges, calm and quiet. I picked up the wet towel and slowly wiped the table surface. Then again. It was as if there was a stain there that could never be wiped clean. I felt Giang Anh's hand on my shoulder stop. Maybe she didn't expect me to react like that. No crying. No questioning. Not even an expression. It was as if she had put all her strength into a punch and landed on a ball of cotton, causing the performance she had worked so hard to prepare to be completely lost. The phone on the table vibrated slightly. I bent down to look. It's a message from Tran Mac. Don't be sad. If you need any help, just tell me. Tran Mac is the only person in the office who has never looked at me with strange eyes. Every time people intentionally or unintentionally isolate me or you They all quietly poured me a cup of hot water. I type two words. Then turn off the screen and continue cleaning the table. Seeing that there was nothing left to perform, Giang Anh withdrew his hand. She stood up straight, deliberately spoke louder, then turned to chat with her colleagues in English.

"Jenny, how about we go to that new French restaurant this weekend?"

"Sounds great! I heard their chef is from Paris."

The tone is full of boasting. The pronunciation is ridiculously distorted. After speaking, she suddenly turned to me, the corners of her lips curled up provocatively.

"Oh my god, I forgot Lam Khe doesn't understand."

"Sorry. We're used to speaking foreign languages. After all, we need it for work."

Once again, all eyes in the office focused on me. Everyone was waiting to see me humiliated. At this point I stopped wiping the table. Slowly raised his head, looking straight into Giang Anh's elaborate eyeliner eyes. My eyes are very calm. Calm like the surface of a deep ancient well with no bottom, not reflecting anyone's silhouette. Being looked at like that by me, the smile on Giang Anh's face gradually became forced. Perhaps she expected to see shame, anger or humiliation. I didn't give her anything. I only looked at her once. Then calmly looked away, as if in front of me was just a lifeless mass of air. At that moment, the internal phone on the desk suddenly rang shrilly. Secretary of General Director Vuong.

"Lam Khe, General Manager Vuong called you to his office."

I stood up, adjusted my shirt and calmly walked towards the general manager's office. Behind him, Giang Anh's sneer rang out clearly.

"See? The ultimatum is here."

The air conditioner in General Director Vuong's room was very cold. But I only found the atmosphere so stuffy that it was hard to breathe. He leaned back in a large leather chair, his fat body almost covering the back of the chair. Fingertips gently tapped on the layoff list placed on the table. He spoke, his voice slow and official.

"You've probably seen the personnel adjustment this time."

"The company is in a transition phase, targeting the international market. What we need is talent who can expand operations abroad."

"As for your case..."

He paused for a moment, looking regretful.

"We also considered it. But in terms of foreign language ability... this is truly your weakness."

I listened quietly. It's like listening to a news report that has nothing to do with me. Only... Inside I burst out laughing. When I first joined the company, in the nine-language foreign language proficiency test, I only glanced once to know the level of the person taking the test. I submitted a blank paper. I'm so tired of life being treated like a translation machine all the time. I'm also fed up with the "genius" label that has stuck with me for so many years. Wherever you go, you will be dragged away. Whatever you do, you have to shoulder it by default. I just want to live like a normal person. Go to work in the morning, get off work in the afternoon. Silently, quietly. I became the only employee in the company who "only knew Chinese". A person who is considered useless by everyone, who only knows how to rely on connections to get a job.

"The company has also considered you."

General Director Vuong changed his face to full of "mercy".

"If you follow the official dismissal process, you won't have a good resume when looking for a job in the future."

“I mean… you took the initiative Apply for resignation."

"Thus, both sides can save face. What do you think?"