Chapter 15 — Husband Takes Little Tam to Party, Big Screen Shows My 31 Million Yuan Project

"Quickly take a look! Right on Due Hang's official public account, it clearly states 'cooperating technical expert, Ms. Nguyen To', and also quotes the technical council's assessment of your plan. The way they use the word... the whole industry is sharing it everywhere!"

I opened it to see. Title: "Due Hang Technology Group reached a strategic cooperation agreement worth tens of millions of yuan with young technical experts" Inside was my name, not Chu Yen's name, nor the name Le Hang Construction Materials Group. I continued scrolling down. At the end of the article there is a paragraph.

"This technical plan was independently completed by Ms. Nguyen To within two years. Ms. Nguyen To graduated with a master's degree from a domestic industrial university and is currently an independent technical consultant."

I leaned back in the chair and took a deep breath. Independent technical consultant. Not “General Manager Chu's wife”. Not “that full-time housewife”. It's Nguyen To. It's me. The phone vibrated again. A text message came from a phone number I hadn't heard from for a long time. It's Professor Phuong, my university instructor.

"Nguyen To, I've read Due Hang's article. You did very well. I want to talk to you about your next plan. Is it convenient for you to come back to school for a while this week?"

I stared at that message for a long time. Then reply.

"Okay. I'll come on Thursday afternoon."

Thursday afternoon, I returned to my old school. Professor Phuong's office is still the same as before, books cover the walls, dissertations are piled on the table, and the betel pot on the windowsill is greener than before.

“Sit down.” Professor Phuong poured me a cup of tea and observed me a few times, "I'm getting thinner."

“I've been staying at home for the past few years, and I've hardly gone out.”

“I know.” He sat back in his chair, gently pushed his glasses, "When I graduated that year, my teacher told me not to leave the industry so early."

I did not respond.

"Okay, let's not talk about the past. Let's talk about the main thing, I saw Due Hang's plan, it was written very firmly. The technical roadmap is clear, the commercial logic is also solid. Surely your current technical foundation doesn't only have this one direction?"

“I still have two topics I'm writing about.”

"Good." Professor Phuong leaned back in his chair, "I will introduce you to a database of appraisal experts, a list of internal technical experts in the industry. Once included, each year you will have the opportunity to participate in project appraisal, and you can also expand your relationships."

“Thank you, Teacher Phuong.”

"Besides." He searched in the drawer, took out a business card and gave it to me, "This person's name is Co Minh Thanh, a partner of Due Trach Investment Fund. Last week he contacted me, asking if I knew you."

I received the business card and looked at it.

“Due Trach Investment Fund?”

"They specialize in investing in technology. The field that my plan is related to is also the direction they have always been looking for."

“What did he find you for?”

"Want to talk about the possibility of cooperation. Not necessarily investment, it could also be technology incubation or joint research and development." Professor Phuong smiled, "What you have created has already been seen by others, Nguyen To. In the future, more and more people will come to you."

I put the business card in my pocket.

“Teacher Phuong, I have something to ask.”

“You say it.”

“If... I turn now back to work, is it too late? Thirty-four years old, stopped for seven years.”

Professor Phuong looked at me, without the slightest hesitation in his eyes.

“I spent two years sitting in the kitchen writing a plan worth 31 million yuan. What do you think?”

I laughed.

“I understand.”

When I left school, it was after five o'clock in the afternoon. Walking to the school gate, I suddenly stopped. In front of the gate there was a person standing. He was wearing a shirt, no tie, and looked like he had been waiting for a while.

“How did you know I was here?”

“I guess.” He said, "Before, you always said you wanted to go back to school and take a look."

I didn't move.

“Nguyen To.” He took a step forward, “I want to talk to you nicely.”

“Between us there is only divorce to talk about.”

“Can you hear me finish?”

I looked at him. His eye circles are dark blue from lack of sleep. Her hair is no longer neatly combed like usual.

“Two minutes.”

He opened his mouth, his voice lower than I expected.

“I admit I was wrong. About Tan Van Tinh, you shouldn't do that. And before... leaving you at home for seven years, you really neglected me."

I stood still, saying nothing.

“But I don't want a divorce.”

He looked at me.

“Because... you are my wife.”

I laughed.

“Chu Yen, do you see? Until now he still thinks that way. The reason I don't want a divorce is because 'you are my wife'. Not because you love me, nor because you respect me, but because you think I'm something that belongs to you."

“I didn't think like that!”

“Then think about how you have treated me in the past seven years. Are there days when you proactively ask if I'm happy or sad today? Have you ever stood up to protect me from what your mother said? Have you ever mentioned me to others with a little pride?

He was silent.

“No. Never before.”