Chapter 8 — Husband Takes Little Tam to Party, Big Screen Shows My 31 Million Yuan Project

Everyone is looking for the owner of that name. Tan Van Tinh stood in place, her hand holding the glass of wine suspended in mid-air, the smile frozen on her face as if someone had pressed the pause button. Chu Yen's face changed. From bewilderment, to confusion, to disbelief, then he suddenly turned his head to look at me. I stood up. It wasn't because I had planned it in advance, but because Vuong Khang Vu's eyes found me, I don't know who told him that I was sitting at this table.

"Miss Nguyen." Vuong Khang Vu smiled and raised his hand to signal, "Please come on stage."

Dozens of eyes in the hall simultaneously focused on me. I'm in a gray dress I bought three years ago, no makeup, no manicure. I got out of my seat and passed by Chu's mother. Her mouth was open as if something was blocking it. When I passed the main desk, I saw Chu Yen's face. White. His lips moved slightly. I don't stop. Step on stage. Vuong Khang Vu shook my hand: "Ms. Nguyen's technical plan has received the highest evaluation from the appraisal board of Due Hang Technology Group. The transfer value of the first phase of the project is 31 million yuan, this is the most important strategic cooperation project of our group this year." A commotion immediately rang out below.

"31 million yuan?"

"It's just the first stage? So how much should it be in total?"

"Who is this person? General Manager Chu's wife?"

I held the microphone and looked down. I saw the wide-eyed, open-mouthed face of Director Tien's wife. I saw Chu's mother clutching the armrest of the chair, her body halfway up. I saw the wine glass in Tan Van Tinh's hand shaking slightly. The corners of my lips curled up.

"Thank you everyone. It took me two years to complete this plan. Every night I wait for my family to rest before sitting in the kitchen to continue working."

Below was complete silence. Half an hour after stepping off the stage felt like an out of control dream. People constantly came up to talk to me, shake my hand and give me business cards. Some people recognized me as "General Manager Chu's wife", there were also people who didn't know me at all, but they all looked at me with eyes as if they were re-evaluating from the beginning. I talked to them, nodded, smiled, and maintained a polite attitude. From beginning to end, Chu Yen never walked towards me. He sat at the main table, the glass of wine in front of him had been filled twice and then emptied again, and his face was still pale. Chu's mother is the more interesting person. She stood up from her seat three times, but each time she got halfway and turned back, seemingly not knowing where she should stand. Finally, she pulled Director Tien's wife who was passing by and asked in a low voice: "What thirty-one million on stage just said... is that really my daughter-in-law?" The expression on director Tien's wife's face is more remarkable than any answer. When the party was about to end, someone walked up from the side. It's Tan Van Tinh. She walked in front of me, a smile on her lips again, but it was no longer as leisurely as before, but instead had the awkwardness of someone whose rhythm had just been completely broken.

"Ms. Nguyen." She held the glass of wine, "Congratulations."

"Previously, I always thought that the project with Due Hang Technology Group was driven by the company push... turned out to be technical cooperation under her personal name."

"That's right."

"That's admirable." She smiled faintly, "It's truly admirable. Being able to write such a plan at home is really very good."

Her tone was nothing to refute, but I still realized that when she said the words "at home", the corner of her lips twitched slightly.

"You just continue to receive guests, I won't bother you anymore."

She turned around and left. After taking three steps, she took out her phone. I know who she's looking for. But now it no longer matters. At half past ten in the evening, the party ended. All the way home, Chu's mother didn't say a word to me. After getting in the car, the three people sat in the car, the atmosphere was as thick as an iceberg. The first person to speak was Chu Yen.

"Since when..." His voice was hoarse. "You... why... thirty-one million?"

I looked out the window.

"Let's go home and talk."

The car drove twenty minutes to arrive home. Chu Hue was waiting in the living room. As soon as he saw the look on our faces as we walked in, he knew something was going on.

"What's going on?"

No one answered. Chu Yen threw the car keys down on the tea table.

"Nguyen To."

I stood at the mysterious entrance to change shoes.

"Look at me."

I turned around. He stood in the middle of the living room, his tie was loosened, his hair a bit messy.

"The technical cooperation contract is worth thirty-one million yuan. The person signing is me. Did you hide it from the whole family for so long?"

"I wrote that plan for two years. But in this house, I was considered invisible for seven years."

Chu Hue sat up straight on the sofa. Chu's mother finally found her voice again.

"So why don't you tell the whole family? Something as big as thirty-one million yuan, I..."

"What do you say?" I looked at her.

"Just say it, no one will stop you..."

"Mom." I interrupted her. "Last month you said you wanted to get a certificate, what did mom say?"

Chu's mother's mouth opened slightly, but she couldn't say a word.

"Two years ago you said you wanted to go out and find a part-time job, what did I say?" I turned to look at Chu Hue.

Chu Hue's face immediately turned red.

"Her brain is rusty, no one wants to accept her when she goes out. Isn't that what you said?"

"I'm just talking..."

"Convenient."

I nodded.

"Everyone in the family just goes along with their mouths. Conveniently told me to pay living expenses. Conveniently asked me to look after the children. Simply say I don't know what to do. He casually said that I had a good fate because I had someone to take care of me."

The entire living room was silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Chu Yen spoke loudly.

"Let's not talk about the past anymore. I asked you, what kind of contract did you sign for this amount of money? How will the family be divided?

I looked at him. This man, whose face I had looked at for seven years. It wasn't until this moment that I really saw clearly.

"Division?"

"Is there something wrong with your mind? I'm from the Chu family! The money I earn..."

I spoke up. He fell silent.

"This money, the contract was signed in my personal name. It has nothing to do with you. It has nothing to do with this family."

Chu's mother slapped the tea table hard.

"What do you mean! Married into our family for so many years..."

Chu Yen raised his hand to stop her.