Chapter 14 — From Noodles to Glory

The lawyer pushed the agreement in front of him. "Mr. Chu, please confirm the terms and sign." He picked up the pen and turned two pages. On the third page, he stopped. "Child support eight thousand?" "Yes. Two children, each four thousand a month." "My current situation..." He smiled bitterly. "You know too. The company demoted me, my salary was cut by forty percent. Eight thousand I..." "That's the lowest standard under the law." The lawyer interrupted him. He didn't speak anymore. Turning the last page, he picked up the pen. Before signing, he raised his head and looked at me. "To Niem." "Yes." "You really... don't regret it at all?" "What regrets?" "We've been together for seven years. Married for five years. Do you really say cut is cut?" I looked at him. Seven years. The first two years, he was gentle and thoughtful, pampering me all the way. At that time I thought I had married a good man. Five years later, he told me to resign, told me to have children, told me to turn around the pots and pans, so that I turned into a faceless housewife. And he's outside stealing my work, feeding his "comrades", enjoying his moment to shine. Seven years. I wasted seven years. “Chu Han, this feeling of regret, leaving it to you alone is enough.” His hand stopped. Then sign. The sound of the pen tip falling on the paper is very light. But I heard clearly. Like some door finally closed. The lawyer collects the agreement. "Within three working days, it will be submitted to the Civil Affairs Department. At that time, both parties will be notified to receive the divorce certificate." "Okay." I stood up. “Wait.” Chu Han also stood up. I looked at him. "The prosecution of trespassing... I said I would sign and withdraw." "I will withdraw. I keep my word." "So Luong Uyen's side..." "Luong Uyen's compensation is her personal matter. You can help her pay if you want. But that no longer has anything to do with me." I picked up my bag and walked to the door. "To Niem." He called me from behind. I didn't turn around. "You lost." His voice was very light. "This game, you lost completely." I pushed the door and walked into the hallway. Sunlight shines in from the window at the end of the hallway, illuminating the floor brightly. Lose? Are not. This is not a game of chess. This is my life. From today onwards, it is finally back in my hands. The day the divorce papers came out, I took Dai Bao to the amusement park. The sun was very beautiful, the boy sat on a wooden horse and waved at me, smiling revealing his two missing front teeth. I stood outside the fence, the phone rang. Truong Loi. "Miss To, the visual plan for phase one of the 'Northern Lights' project has passed the final round of customer appraisal. Tri Vien brand center is very satisfied." "Okay, general director Truong. When will the request documents for phase two be sent?" "It's already in the process. In addition... I have something to tell you." "Go ahead." "In the second half of the year, Tri Vien has a plan to upgrade the new global brand strategy. Related to rebuild the visual systems of twelve overseas markets. The scale is very large, with a budget of ten million." "I have recommended Niem Bach factory to the group. They are very interested. I want to meet you next week to talk." My hand holding the phone tightened slightly. "Okay. Set the time and let me know." "No problem. Ms. To... to be honest, the story of your return to the industry has spread around the world. There are several brand managers looking for me to ask for your contact information." "Tell them to contact Dao Vi." "Okay. Then see you next week." Hang up the phone. Dai Bao ran down from the merry-go-round and rushed in front of me. "Mom, let's play one more time!" "Okay." I squatted down and adjusted the collar of my child's coat. "Mom, when is dad coming?" "Dad... from now on will come to visit me every weekend." "Why isn't dad at home anymore?" "Because dad moved to a new house." "Oh." Child

tilt your head and think a bit. “So I have two homes?” “Yes. I have two homes.” I didn't ask any more. A three and a half year old child's concept of "home" is still very vague. But what I can feel is... mom smiles more than before. That's enough. When she got home, Dao Vi was already waiting in the living room. "I signed a few new customers, let me see." She pushed the tablet forward. "The third brand upgrade of Thuy Trach real estate... they specifically wanted Niem Bach. Quoted a price of one million six, I think it can be negotiated to one million eight." "There is also an entire branding project of an emerging technology company. The scale is not large, but the founder is very thoughtful, the level of coordination is high. Six hundred thousand." "Plus the second phase fee of the 'Northern Lights' project in Tri Vien..." She calculated. a little. "This quarter, the factory's contract amount has already exceeded five million." Five million. Three years before I resigned, Chu Han's annual salary was three hundred thousand. One quarter of mine is equal to seventeen years of his. “One more thing.” Dao Vi opened her phone to show me. "There is a personal media account in the design industry that wants to interview you. The topic is 'Niem Bach disappeared for three years and returned'. Do you accept?"I thought for a moment.