Chapter 2 — Husband Takes Little Tam to Party, Big Screen Shows My 31 Million Yuan Project

I locked that file in the automatic locker next to the library. Only I know the password. On the way home, I received a call. The screen shows the name: Dao Vy. My college roommate, is currently the design director of a real estate company.

"Nguyen To, the plan you sent me last time, I've already shown it to our general engineer."

I stopped walking.

"He said it was written very well, and asked whose plan this was. I didn't say it was yours. Don't you want anyone to know?"

Dao Vy's voice lowered.

"I'll tell you something. Last week at an industry meeting, people from your husband's company were also present. I heard that recently Due Hang Technology Group is looking for someone to be in charge of connecting a technology cooperation project, I heard the price is very high..."

"I know."

"It's my project."

The other end of the line was silent for five seconds.

"Nguyen To, are you crazy?! That's Due Hang! That's..."

"Don't say it out loud first."

"Since when did you do this? Aren't you a full-time housewife?!"

"I write at home."

The other end of the line fell silent again.

"Nguyen To."

Dao Vy's voice changed, becoming very soft and very serious.

"You listen to me. Now absolutely don't let anyone in the Chu family know about this."

"I know."

"You don't know!"

Dao Vy is impatient.

"If you revealed this before signing the contract, with your mother-in-law's personality... would you believe she would think of hundreds of ways to turn this achievement into Chu Yen's merit?"

I stood on the side of the road, the sunlight was very strong, so bright that I had to squint my eyes.

"I won't say."

Hanging up, I continued to go home. As soon as I arrived at the gate of the residential area, I met Ms. Trieu in the building next door. Ms. Trieu pulled my hand back, her face showing an eagerness to share gossip.

"I'll tell you this story, but don't be angry."

My heart suddenly tightened.

"Last night I ate with Ngan Thai and saw your husband."

"Going with a girl, wearing a yellow dress, long hair, quite young."

Ms. Trieu's eyes attentively observed the expression on my face.

"You two sitting so close together... it's hard for me to say, but you don't look like colleagues."

The corners of my lips curled slightly.

"Maybe it's just a customer."

"Does a customer rest her head on a man's shoulder?"

Ms. Trieu's voice rose significantly.

"To To, don't be too honest! I tell you..."

"Miss Trieu, I'll go home first, there's still cooking in the pot."

I passed her and went straight. Entering the building, I stood silently in the stairwell for a while. I wasn't surprised. Six months ago, I discovered a movie ticket stub in Chu Yen's vest pocket. Two seats next to each other. That day he told me he had to work overtime until eleven o'clock at night. Three months ago, he received a text message on his phone. The screen lit up, I could only see the first few words:

"Husband, I miss you..."

The back part is covered by the lock screen. At that time, I was sitting next to him folding clothes, my movements paused a bit and then continued folding. It's not that I don't care. Even if I pay attention, what else can I do? No work. No income. No social insurance. Savings have also covered all of the Chu family's debts. If I turn around, what will I get in return? A divorce lawsuit... And a self empty handed. But now... It's different. I reached out and touched the delivery slip in my pocket. I went upstairs.

"Are you back? Have you bought soy sauce yet?"

Chu's mother's voice echoed from the living room. Soy sauce. I forgot to buy it.

"The supermarket is out of stock. I'll buy it tomorrow."

"Is there any type of soy sauce that is out of stock..."

Chu's mother muttered. I changed my shoes, went into the kitchen, and started preparing lunch. The phone vibrates again. This is an email from Due Hang Technology Group. Would it be convenient for Ms. Nguyen To to come to the company to discuss directly this week? I stuffed my phone into my apron pocket. Communicate directly. If I want to go... I have to think of a reason to go out all day. Chu's mother will definitely ask to the end. Chu Yen will probably... Chu Yen won't. He doesn't even care where I go. I chop vegetables and think about how to organize my time. Outside the living room, Chu Dien was playing a game, the sound in the game was very loud. Chu's mother was on a video call with someone, her voice was bright.

"That's right, that's right, my daughter-in-law is so honest, she doesn't know any tact..."

The knife in my hand stopped. I poured the vegetables into the pan. Oil splashed, burning the back of my hand. I didn't speak up. At 2 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, I used the excuse of "going to the hospital for a checkup" and left the house. The headquarters of Due Hang Technology Group is located in the high-tech park east of the city, in a twenty-eight-story glass office building. I wore a white shirt I bought seven years ago, paired with black pants I bought on sale last year, for a total of 89 yuan. When standing under that building, I had the feeling that the people going in and out of this place were all dressed neatly and sleekly, as if they belonged to another world. The girl at the front desk was very polite.

"May I ask you...?"

"I'm Nguyen To. Today I have an appointment to meet General Director Tran of the technology cooperation department in the afternoon."

She checked the system and then smiled and gave me a guest card.

"Miss Nguyen, 17th floor, exit the elevator and turn left, second meeting room. General Director Tran is waiting for you."

In the elevator, I looked at my reflection. Thirty-four years old. The corners of the eyes have a few small wrinkles. Her hair was just tied into a simple ponytail. The elevator door opens. There are three people sitting in the meeting room. General Director Tran is in his forties and wears gold-rimmed glasses. The two people sitting next to him were younger, probably members of the technical team.

"Miss Nguyen."

General Director Tran stood up and shook my hand.

"I've admired it for a long time. Your plan has been evaluated by our Technical Council through three rounds, and the feedback has been very good."

I sat down and accepted the glass of water he brought me.

"Today, we mainly want to talk to you about a few details..."

During the next hour and a half, we discussed technical implementation plans, scope of transfer and forms of cooperation. Two of General Director Tran's colleagues asked many professional questions, which I answered in turn. There were a few questions, they looked at each other and then bent down to write down a few lines in the notebook. Finally, General Director Tran leaned back in his chair, took off his glasses, and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Miss Nguyen, to tell you the truth, before we still thought there was a whole team behind this plan."