Chapter 1 — Hua Tri Ha's Return

I waited for my husband to give me the profit share he had promised for the past 7 years at the company's annual party, and was also preparing to tell him that I was finally pregnant. But he didn't appear, instead there was a call from the hospital: "Miss Hua, your husband had a car accident." When I rushed there, he was protecting the newly arrived female assistant. She cried: "If it wasn't for me, boss Ha wouldn't have happened." I later learned that the bonus, which was originally in my name, had already been given to her by him. He said: "The company is yours, you can give the money to whoever you want." * This year's gratitude party, I sat at home waiting for Ha Canh Xuyen's text message. He once promised that tonight he would stand in front of all employees and personally hand over the year-end profit sharing to me. Don't you know, I also have a gift for you. After five years of marriage, the doctor once said it was very difficult for me to get pregnant. But this morning, I received the pregnancy ultrasound coupon. The phone suddenly rang.
"May I ask, is it Ms. Hua? Your husband had a traffic accident, please go to Nhan An hospital immediately."
When I rushed to the hospital, Ha Canh Xuyen's arm was wrapped in gauze. A girl in a white dress nestled close to him, crying so much that her shoulders were shaking.
“Mr. Canh Xuyen, I'm sorry.”
“If it wasn't for taking you home, I wouldn't have driven while under the influence of alcohol and chased after those people.”
I recognized her. Lam Duong. Assistant director that Ha Canh Xuyen just recruited to the company three months ago. She once lost contracts, mixed up customer lists, and even wrote guest names backwards at press conferences. But she receives the highest assistant salary in the company. Ha Canh Xuyen raised his hand to wipe her tears.
“Don't cry, don't blame me.”
I stepped forward, swung my hand and slapped Lam Duong. She covered her face, tears falling faster.
“Sister Hua, I didn't mean it.”
I stared at Ha Canh Xuyen.
“Fire her.”
Ha Canh Xuyen's face darkened.
“Hua Tri Ha, don't cause trouble at the hospital.”
“I said, fire her.”
"You and her are completely innocent, what exactly are you doubting?"
I held the ultrasound form tightly in my hand and did not take it out. Just quietly looked at him. Ha Canh Xuyen struggled with me for a long time, finally rubbing his forehead.
“Okay, tomorrow I will ask the staff to complete the procedures.”
I believed. A few days later, I went to the company three times. Lam Duong never appeared. Everyone said she quit her job. Until I discovered another phone hidden in Ha Canh Xuyen's car. The contact person pinned at the top is named “Baby Duong”. She sent two messages:
“Thank you Mr. Canh Xuyen for giving me a profit share of 6.18% this year.”
“But if Ms. Hua knew, would she be unhappy?”
Ha Canh Xuyen replied:
"She's just stayed at home these past few years and hasn't been able to help the company at all."
“This money should never have been given to her anymore.”
I sat in the car, my fingers squeezing the ultrasound form. It's been seven years. It's time to go home. … When Ha Canh Xuyen returned home, he held a bouquet of champagne roses in his arms. He put down his jacket and hugged me from behind.
“Why don't you come to the appreciation party today?”
I didn't turn back.
“Where is that 6.18% profit?”
His hand paused for a moment. Very quickly, he laughed.
“It turns out I was taking this matter to heart.”
“
This year's expenses are high, that bonus has been canceled.”
"If you're short on money, just tell me directly, why bother asking about the company's books?"
I turned around.
“Canceled?”
“Or did you give it to Lam Duong?”
The smile on Ha Canh Xuyen's face faded.
“Hua Tri Ha, are you investigating me again?”
I put the phone on the table. On the screen is a video from the gratitude party. Ha Canh Xuyen stood on stage and handed over a sign saying "Special year-end award" to Lam Duong. Lam Duong hugged the flowers, bowed his head and smiled shyly. There was a round of applause under the stands. Ha Canh Xuyen glanced at the phone, her tone was cold:
“You rummaged through my things?”
I looked at him.
“That's what you promised me.”
He loosened his tie.
“It's just a reward, do you really have to make such a fuss?”
“It's not a reward.”
“Then what is it?”
My throat is choked. Seven years ago, Ha Canh Xuyen's studio had only three people. I ran with him to meet customers, drank alcohol for him, stayed up all night working on projects for him, and my cracked and bleeding hands didn't stop in the winter. At that time, he earned his first money, buying me a rose for 19 yuan. He said, from now on, 6.18% of the company's profits will belong to me. Because June 18, is the day I left the Hua family for you. He said, what he owed me that day, he would spend his whole life paying. Now, the company's profits reach hundreds of millions of yuan. That profit sharing is no longer a cheap few thousand yuan. And it no longer belongs to me. Ha Canh Xuyen picked up his phone.
"Okay, I'll just tell you to transfer the account back to me and that's it."
I watched him dial the number. The phone connected, Lam Duong's cry rang out:
"Mr. Canh Xuyen, I'm sorry, the money I just paid for my father's hospital fees is gone."
Ha Canh Xuyen frowned. I stared at him. He paused for two seconds, then spoke:
“It's okay, it was originally for you.”
“If it's not enough, just tell me.”
I stood up suddenly.
“Ha Canh Xuyen!”
He disconnected the phone.
“Can you be less petty?”
“It was money that saved her father's life.”
“But it's my money!”
He slammed the phone on the table.
“Hua Tri Ha, are you short of some money?”
“You eat from me, stay at my house, spend my money, do you still want to fight over money with a sick person?”
I looked at him.
“I scramble?”
Ha Canh Xuyen pointed straight at me:
“The company was created by you.”
“Money is for you to earn.”
“Whoever you want to give to, that person will receive.”
I suddenly fell silent. This statement is clearer than any argument. It turns out that all my sacrifices over the years have been completely erased from my books. Ha Canh Xuyen saw that I didn't say anything, his tone softened a bit.
“Okay, stop making trouble.”
“Next year I'll make it up to you twice as much.”
He reached out to hug me. I stepped back. His face became unsightly.
“Hua Tri Ha, I'm already in the water, what else do you want?”
I said: "Fire Lam Duong, ask for your money back." He let out a mocking laugh.
“You really disappoint me.”
He turned around and opened the safe. The house's red book, stock documents, bank card, and a wad of cash were thrown straight in front of me. The corner of a folder hit the back of my hand. Very painful. Ha Canh Xuyen said: "Don't you want money?"
“Is this place enough?”
“Hua Tri Ha, I k
I didn't expect you to become such a person."
Having said that, he slammed the door and left. I grabbed the table and sat down. Stomach gives each cramping pain. I wanted to call you, but the phone jumped to the second half of the video earlier. Lam Duong was surrounded by a group of people. She was wearing a white dress and holding a bouquet of champagne roses. My best friend from college, Duong Nha, was holding her arm, smiling and flattering more than anyone.
“Boss Ha should have given this award to Duong Duong a long time ago.”