Chapter 8 — Language is Wings

To Uyen Tinh took a deep breath.

"Okay. Then I'll change the question." She turned to Trinh Hao Nam.

“General Trinh, the Dong Thinh project reward is divided according to project team members, right?”

"Lam Dao is a later participant, only in charge of the translation part. Previously, it was not on the original list. So when the reward is distributed, she should not receive all of it."

This blow... is quite deep. Don't attack CV anymore—you know you can't win. Switch to hitting benefits. Trinh Hao Nam hesitated.

"This... What Uyen Tinh said makes sense. Lam Dao really joined later—"

“It was my appointment.”

That voice rang out from the door. Everyone turned their heads simultaneously. Co Than Chau. He was wearing a long dark blue coat, carrying a bag of documents, his expression still cold as before.

“General Gu!” Trinh Hao Nam didn't expect him to appear, "Why did you come here?"

"Bring the contract over. Convenient." He walked in, put the bag of documents on the table, "Heard people were in a meeting. The door wasn't closed."

His eyes glanced at To Uyen Tinh.

"The core negotiation of this project was completed by Lam Dao. At the first meeting, it was she who saved the entire situation in the last five minutes. At the meeting with the UAE customer, it was also she who used Arabic to help me regain eight million in profit. As for how you divide the reward, it is an internal matter, but I advise you to clarify—who is the decision maker in this project."

To Uyen Tinh's face was sometimes red, sometimes white.

“Boss, I'm not—”

“There's more.” Co Than Chau looked at Trinh Hao Nam, "There is a clause in this contract—all of Dong Thinh's future back-to-back translation work, I appoint Lam Dao to be in charge. If she is no longer in Trung Hoa, this contract will automatically lapse."

The entire meeting room seemed to freeze. Trinh Hao Nam opened the contract and flipped a few pages. His hands were clearly shaking.

“General Gu, what do you mean—”

"My meaning is very clear. This contract is worth one hundred and twenty million a year. The person in charge of the translation is Lam Dao. If there is a change, the contract will be void."

One hundred and twenty million. All eyes in the room turned to me. To Uyen Tinh has almost no blood left. Trinh Hao Nam put down the contract and looked at me.

“Yes, Mr. Trinh?”

“From today, you are no longer a basic employee.”

“So what am I?”

He paused for a beat.

"Deputy head of the translation department. As for salary... we will discuss it privately."

To Uyen Tinh jumped up.

"President Trinh! She's only been here for three years! I've been here for seven years!"

Trinh Hao Nam did not look at her.

“Uyen Tinh, sit down.”

She stood there, her lips white. Co Than Chau turned around and left. As he passed me, he quietly said something. In French.

“You deserve a better position.”

I paused for a moment. He walked out of the meeting room. After the meeting, the translation room exploded. Everyone is talking about me.

“Does she really know eight languages?”

"Eighty thousand salary but working for three years? Is there something wrong with your mind?"

"Don't you see that contract? Just her name! One hundred and twenty million!"

"To Uyen Tinh's face just now... was truly worth seeing."

I returned to the table and quietly rearranged my things. Phone vibrates. Message from Co Than Chau.

“The French sentence just now, do you understand?”

“So what do you think?”

“I'm considering it.”

“No rush.”

I put down the phone. Tieu Manh rushed forward like the wind.

"Lam Dao!!! You're promoted to deputy chief!!! DEPUTY CHIEF!!! Tonight I invite you to eat hot pot!!!”

"Calm. This position... is not easy to sit in."

“Because To Uyen Tinh will not leave it alone.”

That's right. At three o'clock in the afternoon, she invited me to the coffee shop downstairs.

“Lin Dao, let's talk.”

I sat down.

“You hid for three years, one day it was revealed. Do you think life will be easy from now on?”

“Are you threatening me?”

“I'm reminding you.” She stirred the coffee, speaking slowly, "Do you think being a deputy manager is enough? Relationships, customers, internal resources—it's all in my hands. A newbie like you can't keep it up."

“What do you want?”

“Very simple. The position of deputy head of the department, she gave it to me. She continued to work as a back-to-back interpreter, receiving project bonuses. I manage the department, you take care of operations. Everyone has a part.”

“What if I don't agree?”

Her smile turned cold.

“Then I'll tell you, in this company... ability isn't everything.”

She got up and left. I drank all the coffee. She's right—ability isn't the only thing that determines everything. But what's wrong is... she thinks she's the only one who has "other things". On Monday, a big incident happened in Trung Hoa. The company received a new project—a fashion brand in Lyon that wanted to enter the Chinese market, needed full translation and localization from French to Chinese. The project is not too big, but very important for expanding the company's brand. The problem is—the French team just lost someone. One quit her job, the other went on maternity leave. The group… is empty. Tran Vu Phi walked back and forth in the office, clearly worried. Trinh Hao Nam asked directly:

“Lam Dao, how good is your French?”

I looked up and calmly answered:

“It can be used.”

“What is ‘usable’? Can you do a French translation at the brand level?”

“Okay, this project is left to you.”

To Uyen Tinh sat next to her, not saying a word.