Chapter 11 — I Hide Eight Languages For Three Years

Ramirez slowly picked up the pen and turned it around twice. Then he spoke.

"I'm seventy-three years old. Have negotiated with people from forty-two countries."

“But this is the first time… someone left me speechless in less than five minutes.”

He put down his pen.

“Expansion plan of two hundred and forty million… approved.”

The news transmitted domestically... it was two o'clock in the morning. Tham Vien sat in the office, staying up all night. When he received my phone call, he was silent for five seconds. Then just say one sentence.

“Luc Vy, the company owes you... I will pay.”

The day I returned home. The company sent a private car to the airport to pick you up. Tran Lam, Luu Phong, Tieu Vu... and Tien Quoc An were all waiting in the lobby. Tien Quoc An gently pushed his glasses and looked at me.

“Ramirez asked me to pass it on to you.” I took out an envelope and gave it to him. "Fernando's father passed away last year. Before he passed away, he left a letter for the teacher. Fernando has been looking for him all this time, and now he asked me to bring it back."

Tien Quoc An received it. His finger stopped on the edge of the envelope for a long time. He did not open. Just gently put it in your chest pocket. Gently pat one.

"Let's go. Back to the company."

First day back. Tham Vien held a company-wide meeting. More than two hundred people filled the hall. Just like that party night. But this time, no one looked at me with skeptical eyes anymore. There's only one thing left. Tham Vien stepped onto the stage without beating around the bush.

"There are two announcements. First, the Alvarez project has officially expanded to a scale of two hundred and forty million in three years, the contract was signed last week."

Applause rang out.

"Second, this project went from being rejected to signing a contract... the greatest credit belongs to two people, Tien Quoc An and Luc Vy."

He looked down.

"Master Tien, that night at the party, stood up and helped us have a second chance. As for Luc Vy, her five-minute speech in country H... directly convinced the CEO there."

"I said, anyone who knows Spanish will get a 59% raise. I have kept this promise. But I want to add one more thing."

He turned on the screen. A text appears.

“From today, the company launches a ‘language talent incentive program.’ Any employee who passes the company's language proficiency test, depending on language and level, will receive an allowance from 10% to 60%.”

"In addition, all contributions in the project will be divided according to the actual amount of work. Clearly stated in the contract."

"Whoever dares to take credit for someone else's work... if discovered, the contract will be terminated immediately."

His eyes scanned the entire hall. No one dared to speak up. After the meeting, Hua Lam stopped me in the hallway. I thought she would continue to cause trouble.

“That anonymous email… I sent it.”

I said nothing.

“You knew from before, right?”

Hua Lam pursed her lips.

"Then why didn't you investigate me? Didn't you report it to boss Tham?"

“Because what you said… wasn't completely wrong.” I looked at her, my voice calm, "I really owe Truong Vu an apology. Without your words, I wouldn't have gone looking for him, wouldn't have written an explanation, and he wouldn't have been exonerated either."

Hua Lam paused.

“So… you still have to thank me?”

“You could say so.”

She opened her mouth, then stopped. Turn around and leave. This time… there was no more frustrating leaving. Five years later. I stood in an office building looking out Shanghai wharf. The lights of the Huangpu River sparkle like a galaxy pouring down onto the water. On the table is a nameplate: Co-founder and Operations Director of Far Than International Far Than International is the company Tham Vien and I founded three years ago. Separated from the international division, specializing in multilingual trade consulting and international project management. The first year's revenue was thirty million. The third year one hundred and twenty million. This year... is expected to exceed two hundred million. Seventy-eight personnel. Twelve languages. Tien Quoc An is a senior advisor, comes to the company two days a week, and spends the rest of the time writing his memoirs. Book title: "The Interpreter's Bridge".