Chapter 9 — I Hide Eight Languages For Three Years

"Regarding 'causing damage to the company', I would like to clarify. In Mr. Tien's report, there is a comparison table."

I opened my laptop and projected it onto the screen.

“In three years, I intervened in seventeen projects in the name of ‘intuition’ or ‘luck.’ In those seventeen projects, thanks to early warnings or adjustments to plans, the amount of money the company avoided—”

I pointed to the number.

“Forty-eight million.”

The meeting room was silent.

"On the contrary, the projects I did not intervene in and resulted in actual damages were three, totaling about twelve million. The largest of which is the J water project, eight million - I have accepted responsibility for this, and the disciplinary decision against Truong Vu has also been cancelled."

I closed the phone.

“If you add up, in the past three years, without the company knowing it, I have helped the company earn or reduce losses by thirty-six million.”

“I don't say this to take credit, but to respond to the accusation of 'causing more than hundreds of millions of damages'.”

I looked straight at Hua Lam.

"What you said yesterday — 'do you think you're glorious' — you're right. I'm not glorious. But I'm not a sinner either."

Hua Lam moved her lips, unable to say anything. Tham Vien looked around the room.

“Who has any questions?”

No one spoke up. He stood up.

"I'll say one last sentence. Whether Luc Vy's behavior was a violation or not, the legal department has assessed - no. She has never signed any agreement requiring the declaration of all skills. This is a flaw in the system, not her fault."

"Of course, the loophole will be fixed. From next month, the skills survey form will change to 'list all language abilities', no longer limited by position applied for."

"As for Luc Vy's appointment and salary increase, keep it the same."

He looked at Lao Phuong.

"If the union still has opinions, just follow the official process. I will continue."

Old Phuong shook his head: "No more." The meeting ended. Hua Lam went last. As she passed me, she stopped for a second. I thought she was going to say something. But she just looked at me, nodded slightly, and then left. That nod... was neither friendly nor malicious. Just silence after accepting defeat. In the second month, Alvarez's side proactively proposed to expand cooperation. During the video meeting, Fernando spoke a paragraph, which I translated for the entire leadership.

"Based on the cooperation experience over the past two months, we have presented an upgrade plan to headquarters. The original three-year, one hundred million cooperation framework will be adjusted to three years, two hundred and forty million. The increase includes distribution systems in three South American countries."

Tham Vien's hand tightened on the pen. Two hundred and forty million. More than twice the original. At the end of the meeting, he called me into his office privately.

"Fernando told me something in private. He said, the direct reason why headquarters agreed to upgrade cooperation... was not the price, nor the product. It was you."

I stopped.

"He literally said: 'Your company has someone who can communicate in Spanish at a native level. That makes us believe that you are really serious about the country H market.'"

Tham Vien put down his pen.

"Luc Vy, how much you are worth... maybe you don't even know."

I was silent.

“But I know.” He said, "So I inform you of something: the Alvarez side has sent an invitation. They want you to go to the H headquarters." next month, attend a two-week strategy conference.”

“Fernando hopes that you will participate as a company representative, directly discussing with their leadership team.”

My heart skipped a beat slightly.

“Conversation… entirely in Spanish?”

“Completely in Spanish.”

I didn't hesitate at all. Three years ago, I would have avoided it. And now… I don't hide anymore. Before flying to country H, Tien Quoc An asked me to talk. At the coffee shop under the company building. He ordered an Americano, I chose latte.

“Do you know why I left the embassy that year?”

I shook my head.

“Same reason as you.” He took off his glasses and wiped them gently, "Working as a translator at the embassy, it looks flashy. But actually... it's just a talking machine. Documents pass through my hands, secrets pass through my eyes, but I have no right to decide. The credit belongs to the diplomat, the error... belongs to the interpreter."

“Eight years, I couldn't stand it. You should rest. Go back to study finance, take the exam again from the beginning, get an accounting certificate, and come here to work as an accountant."

I asked: "Do you regret it?"

"Have." He said very frankly, "Especially when I see projects that fail because of language, I feel as hurt as you do. But I chose to stay silent.”

“That evening the teacher stood up again.”

“Because boss Tham used the wrong word.” He smiled lightly, "Language makers have a habit... hearing incorrect grammar is more annoying than stepping on a nail. Can't stand it.”

I also laughed.

“Going through country H, you will encounter many challenges. Fernando is easy to work with. But his boss, CEO Ramirez… is very difficult.”

“How difficult is it?”

“He doesn't trust Chinese businesses. In the past ten years, I sued three times and won all three. This time he cooperated, partly because of Fernando's persuasion. The other half… was because I called Fernando, using some old connections.”

I put down the coffee cup.