Chapter 1 — Language is Wings

“Fluent in Eight Languages, I Pretended to Be a Ordinary Translator for Three Years”

I am fluent in eight languages: English, German, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Russian. But during three years working at Trung Hoa International Trading Company, my CV only had one line written: English, eight majors. The reason is very simple. My father is a diplomat, my mother is a cabin interpreter. Since childhood, I have followed them through seven countries, and my language skills are almost ingrained in my blood. But five years ago, they died in a car accident. I don't want to rely on those things to stand out, and I don't want others to dig up my past and look at me with pitying eyes. I just want to live peacefully. Work as a lowly translator, receive a living wage, rent a small room, and raise a cat. That's all. Until the day of the year-end party. That day, all staff were present. Owner Trinh Hao Nam stood on stage, wearing a neat suit and a smug look on his face. He spoke for ten minutes straight in Chinese, full of polite words like thanks, prospects, and growing together. Then suddenly, he switched to German.

“Next year, everyone here who knows German will each get a seventy percent raise.”

More than two hundred people below, most of them not understanding anything, still clapped loudly. But I heard it clearly. Sitting next to me is To Uyen Tinh, senior translator, head of the company's German team. After hearing that sentence, her eyes lit up. She turned to look at me.

“Lam Dao, do you understand?”

I shook my head.

“No. I don't know German.”

To Uyen Tinh burst out laughing. I'm so used to that smile, it's high and noble, as if standing at the top and looking down.

"That's fair. She only knows English, her annual salary is eighty thousand, so pitiful."

I said nothing. Seventy percent salary increase. The German group has six people, plus Trinh Hao Nam, for a total of only seven people. Doesn't concern me. At least, they all think so. I told myself, this has nothing to do with me. The year-end party ended, I packed my things and prepared to leave. The phone vibrated once. It's a message from Tieu Manh, my only friend.

"Dao Dao!!! Your boss's German sentence just now was definitely understood, right??? That's seventy percent!!! Why don't you raise your hand!"

Tieu Manh works in the administrative department. Last year I accidentally discovered that I knew French, because I saw me reading the original novel in the tea room. I told her to keep it a secret. She endures until suffering.

“Don't be noisy, I don't want it to be revealed.”

"What's wrong with you! That's seventy percent! Your yearly salary is eighty thousand, the increase is thirteen thousand six! Your torn rented room isn't even warm enough!"

I put my phone away. Going to the elevator door, Trinh Hao Nam was also waiting. Next to him is Deputy General Director Tran Vu Phi, the two are talking in German.

"This is a great trick. There are only a few people in the German group in the whole company who can understand it. It seems like they only give raises to the core team. Others think I'm drawing a cake."

Trinh Hao Nam laughed.

"Drawing cakes must also be done with a level of skill. Drawing in German is the only way to show international vision."

Tran Vu Phi laughed along.

"A lowly translator like Lam Dao is only worth eighty thousand in his whole life."

The elevator arrives. I Standing behind them, expressionless, walked in. They continued to talk in German.

"Dong Thinh Group's project next week, who should we send to negotiate?"

"To Uyen Tinh, go, she's the best at German."

"General Director Co of Dong Thinh is said to be very difficult to deal with. Last time he cooperated with Tin Dat, he scolded their interpreter to the point that he had to leave the meeting room."

“It's okay, Uyen Tinh can handle it.”

The elevator goes down to the first floor. I walked out first. Behind him, Trinh Hao Nam called out in Chinese:

“Lam Dao, send me the revised English contract from last week tomorrow.”

“Yes, Mr. Trinh.”

I don't turn around. The next day, I placed the revised version on Trinh Hao Nam's desk. In an English contract of thirty thousand words, I corrected a total of forty-seven errors based on the original translation. The original is by To Uyen Tinh. But my name will not be on the edited version. Simply write: “Editing: Translation room.” To Uyen Tinh never knew that her translation had been edited by me. She always thinks her level is very high. Returning to work, Tieu Manh walked over holding his coffee.

“Lam Dao, have you heard the news?”

"Dong Thinh project next week, To Uyen Tinh will go to negotiate."

“I know.”

“Do you know who Dong Thinh General Director Co is?”

I raised my head. Tieu Manh lowered his voice:

"Co Than Chau, thirty-two years old, general director of Dong Thinh Group, last year ranked ninety-eighth on the domestic Forbes list. It is said that he is fluent in five languages, has an extremely unpleasant temper. Last time, he also replaced Tin Dat's entire translation team."

“What does it have to do with me?”

"Don't you think To Uyen Tinh can't afford it?"

“It's not my business if I can't afford it.”

Tieu Manh sighed.

“You really are… too patient.”

After she left, I opened the computer and pulled out the document that needed to be translated today. Is a supplier's price quote in Spanish.