Chapter 3 — Language is Wings

His eyes stopped on me.

“Lam Dao, you come with me tomorrow.”

I raised my head.

“Me? I only know English.”

"You're in charge of taking notes and making tea, leaving the technical part to me."

Trinh Hao Nam glanced at me.

“Don't worry, Mr. Trinh, her being an assistant is enough.”

Just like that, I was dragged to attend the negotiation with Dong Thinh. With the status of... a jobber. The next afternoon at two o'clock, we arrived at Dong Thinh headquarters. Forty-eight-story office building, black marble lobby, four-person reception desk, uniform black uniforms. To Uyen Tinh wore a brand new designer outfit, ten-centimeter high heels, and her aura was at its fullest. As for me, I still wear the company-issued shirt and carry a cloth bag on my shoulder. The receptionist glanced at us.

“May I ask, is it from Trung Hoa?”

“Yes, I am the translation team leader To Uyen Tinh, this is my assistant, Lam Dao.”

I do not correct. The receptionist called to confirm, then said:

“Please wait a moment, Mr. Co is still in a meeting.”

We sat in the reception area for fifteen minutes. During those fifteen minutes, To Uyen Tinh reapplied her lipstick twice and adjusted her hair three times.

"Lin Dao, come in later, sit next to me and take notes. Don't talk nonsense, don't speak up, understand?"

"Also, when calling President Co, you have to use 'sir', don't keep your eyes wandering around. What people at that level hate the most is unprofessionalism."

The elevator door opens. Co Than Chau's assistant stepped out, a man in his thirties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

"Miss To? President Co, please come up."

We got into the elevator and went straight to the forty-sixth floor. The moment the meeting room door opened, I saw Co Than Chau. Thirty-two years old. About one meter eighty-five. Gray vest, no tie, top two buttons of shirt half open. Cold face. It's not like it's intentionally posed, but it's cold from the bone. He was looking at documents, not looking up. Just one word. To Uyen Tinh sat down. I sat next to him, opened my laptop, and prepared to take notes. Besides Co Than Chau, there were two people—the director of legal affairs and a very young-looking girl. In front of the girl was a translator. Five seconds of silence. Then Co Than Chau suddenly raised his head and opened his mouth. He speaks German.

“The last plan you sent, there were three places where the tariff data still used the 2021 standard. Now it is 2024. What does this mean?”

The pace is fast, the words are sharp as knives. To Uyen Tinh was stunned for two seconds. She understood. But clearly did not expect the opponent to open like that.

“Boss Gu, that plan is the original—”

She answered in Chinese. Co Than Chau interrupted. Still German.

"I asked in German, please answer in German. I don't want to go through an intermediary interpreter, wasting time."

To Uyen Tinh's face immediately turned red. She switched to German.

“That version is the first version, we will update the data—”

"Update? Has anyone on your side researched the new tax policy of the Middle East market for imports from the EU in 2024? Article three and seven changes directly affect fifteen percent of your quote margin. Do you know?"

To Uyen Tinh opened her mouth. She doesn't know. Because in the English background document, this policy change was mentioned. When I made the summary, I intentionally marked it separately. But obviously, To Uyen Tinh did not read my work carefully.

“This… I need to go back and confirm—”

Co Than Chau placed pen down.

“Didn't you prepare before coming?”

At that moment, the atmosphere in the meeting room seemed to be stretched to the limit. Like a string… Just add a very light force—

"You used the wrong German honorific three times. The first time I didn't say it, the second time I didn't say it, the third time... do you know what it means in a business environment to repeatedly use the wrong honorific?"

To Uyen Tinh's face turned from red to pale.

"It means you don't respect me, your qualifications are not enough. Which one is it?"

The meeting room was silent for five seconds. The legal affairs director next to Co Than Chau shook his head slightly. That idea is too clear. This negotiation… is about to break down. To Uyen Tinh's hands trembled.

“Boss, I'm so sorry—”

Co Than Chau closed the document.

“If Trung Hoa only has that level, I will consider changing partners.”

He started to stand up. My hand stopped on the keyboard. There are two voices in my head. A voice: it has nothing to do with you, you are just the person making tea and pouring water. The other voice: this is Trung Hoa's biggest contract of the year. If it loses, it will definitely cut staff at the end of the year. The first person to be cut off... is a bottom level translator like you. Co Than Chau re-buttoned his vest. To Uyen Tinh was almost about to burst into tears. I opened my mouth. In German.

“Boss, please give us five more minutes.”

The entire meeting room turned to look at me. To Uyen Tinh opened her eyes wide. Co Than Chau stopped moving. He looked at me.

“Who are you?”

“I am Lam Dao, Trung Hoa translation office, basic position.”

“Basic position?”

"Yes. Like... doing chores, making tea and pouring water."

He didn't smile.