Chapter 8 — I Don't Wait For Them Anymore

His expression was very complicated. There was surprise, shock, and even a bit of unspeakable awkwardness.

“This contract... you negotiated from start to finish?”

"Four months. Twelve meetings. I made the plan, I made the quote, I maintained the customer relationship. You showed up once in the middle, and I almost offended you and made them leave."

The corner of the eldest brother's mouth twitched. Of course he remembers that time. At the banquet table, he chatted with Phuong Hoanh Vien about his "industry vision" for half an hour, boss Phuong sat listening without changing expression. At the end of the party, boss Phuong called me privately and said: "If your brother does that again, this case is over." It took me two weeks to salvage that relationship.

“Why didn't you tell me?” Elder asked.

“Tell me what? Tell me my company is about to collapse? Tell me my biggest customer was brought in by you?” I looked straight at him, "Are you done? Will you thank me?"

The eldest brother was silent.

"I won't. I'll think that you're showing off your power, you'll think that you're proving that you're better than me, you'll think that it's your honor that makes my brother step on my brother's heels."

His hands clenched tightly. But he did not object. Because what I said is true.

“So I didn't say anything. I just kept my head down and did it.” I put down my coffee cup, “Just like the past twenty-eight years, I did all the things that needed to be done, then pretended like those things didn't exist.”

“Tran Bai…”

“Yesterday at the rest stop,” I interrupted him, “Two cars, seven people, no one noticed you were missing.”

The eldest brother's mask finally cracked.

"At that time... it was too rushed..."

"It's not that we're in a hurry. It's that no one really cares."

My voice is very calm. There was no condemning tone, no trembling resentment. Simply reporting the truth.

"I called thirty-six calls, no one picked up. My mother finally texted back seven words - Find your own way home. No apology, no explanation."

The eldest brother bowed his head.

"If I had stood stupidly at that rest stop yesterday, waiting for everyone to clear the traffic jam and then turn around to pick me up. It would have taken at least three hours. Phuong Hoanh Vien flew to Beijing this afternoon, I couldn't meet him, the contract couldn't be signed. My company will go bankrupt in three months."

I finished the last half of my cup of coffee.

"Now tell me, do you need this contract or not?"

The eldest brother looked at me. His throat slid up and down.

“… Need.”

“Okay.” I stood up, “Take it.”

I pushed the chair in. Step away from the table.

“Tran Bai.” He called me from behind.

I stopped walking.

“… Thank you.”

Those two words coming out of his mouth were more difficult than anything. I could hear it, his throat was tight. I don't look back.

“Nothing.”

Then I left. 【Chapter 11】 Leaving the cafe, I went back to the hotel to pack my things. I will return this afternoon. Don't go with them anymore. I booked a high-speed train ticket, departing at 2:40 pm from Tiandao Lake Station to Shanghai. While packing, there was a knock on the door. I opened the door. It's my mother. She stood in front of the door, holding a thermos lunch box. Behind are dad and Tran Dao. Mom's expression was so familiar to me - the attitude of "I worked so hard to get here I already respect you very much."

“Have you had breakfast yet? Mom brought you some porridge." She handed the thermos box to me.

I don't accept it.

“I'm not hungry.”

My mother's hand stopped in midair.

“Tran Bai, what is your attitude?” Her voice immediately rose, "I've come all the way to bring you food. Who are you making that face for?"

I leaned my back against the door frame, looking at her.

“Mom, why did you come here?”

“What is the star and the moon? Mom came to visit me..."