Chapter 9 — Language is Wings

But her fingernails scratched a long mark on the armrest of the chair. It took me a week to complete the entire translation for that French brand. Brand name, slogan, product description, market strategy content... I made two versions of it all—one closely translated, one localized. After viewing the French brand director, he personally called Trinh Hao Nam.

"Is your translator French? This language feels so natural."

On the phone, Trinh Hao Nam laughed so much that he couldn't close his mouth. After hanging up, he immediately looked for me.

"Lin Dao, the French side is very satisfied. They decided to add an additional project—translating the entire product manual, worth three hundred thousand."

“I will approve your bonus this month separately.”

“Thank you, Mr. Trinh.”

After he left, To Uyen Tinh posted a message in the group.

"Remind everyone, the project allocation of the interpretation room needs to follow the process. Do not bypass the team leader to accept work directly."

No one answered. After work, I met Tran Vu Phi in the elevator. There are only two people. He looked at me.

“Lin Dao, do you really know eight languages?”

“Do you know how rare people like you are in this industry?”

“Then why do you—forget it.” He pressed the button for the first floor.

"Let me tell you something first. To Uyen Tinh is very dissatisfied with you, she has mentioned it to me several times."

"I know."

"You should be careful. She... has some connections in the company."

When he said the word "relationship", his eyes deviated slightly. I understand what he is referring to.

“General Tran, what happened between you and To Uyen Tinh—”

“What?” His tone immediately changed.

"Nothing."

The elevator opens. He walked out, walked a few steps and then turned back.

"Lam Dao, between me and To Uyen Tinh, we don't have the kind of relationship you think. She became team leader because she's been around for a long time and understands things. That's all."

He left. I looked after, remembering Tieu Manh's words about the hotel being completed seventeen times. The human heart... is truly the most unpredictable thing. A week later, the Dong Thinh project entered phase two. Co Than Chau asked me to come to Dong Thinh twice a week to handle contract details and multilingual exchanges with Middle Eastern partners. Every time I come, his assistant picks me up. His name is Phuong Vien—the one wearing gold-rimmed glasses that day. He treated me very politely. Polite to the point of being a bit too polite.

“Miss Lam, this is the workplace that Mr. Co prepared for you.”

It's a private office, the window faces south, and the light is very nice.

“This room is too big, I'm just here to translate.”

"Mr. Gu said, we must give you the best."

I don't say anything more. Every meeting, Co Than Chau called me in. Sometimes it's a video meeting with a Middle Eastern guest, requiring Arabic. Sometimes I have to call a Japanese supplier and need Japanese. One time, the Korean side suddenly changed the terms and sent emails in Korean. Dong Thinh does not have a Korean translator.

“Lam Dao, do you know Korean?” Phuong Vien asked.

He was silent for a second.

“After all, what don't you know?”

“I don't know how to cook.”

Phuong Vien paused and then burst out laughing. That Korean email, I finished translating it in ten minutes. Co Than Chau finished reading the translation and said one sentence.

“Lam Dao, I'm asking you for the third time.”

“Go to Dong Thinh.”

“Eighty thousand a year. Deputy director of international business department. Reporting directly to I."

Eighty thousand. Currently, including bonuses, I'm only about fifteen thousand.

“No need to answer right away. But you should understand—Zhonghe cannot keep you.”

After he finished speaking, he bent down to look at the documents again. I sat in that south-facing room, sunlight covering the table. Outside the window is the skyline of the whole city. I suddenly remembered my small rented room—the winter window still let in air. That afternoon, when I returned to Trung Hoa, I felt something was wrong with the atmosphere. Everyone's eyes look at me... differently. Tieu Manh pulled me back.

“Something happened.”

“What?”

“To Uyen Tinh reported you to Trinh Hao Nam.”

“Report me what?”

“She said that when working with Dong Thinh, she revealed Trung Hoa's internal pricing strategy.”

I stopped.

“This is slander.”

“I know. But she said there was 'proof'.”

“What evidence?”

“She said there was a file on your computer—a screenshot of the chat between you and Co Than Chau's assistant, Phuong Vien. The content mentions Trung Hoa's internal pricing strategy."

“My device doesn't have that.”

“I know. But she said yes. I even showed it to Trinh Hao Nam. Tomorrow morning you have to go to your room to explain.”

My hand tightened.

“That chat—”

“It's fake.” Tieu Manh lowered his voice, “I secretly looked. The time recorded was last Wednesday afternoon, two o'clock. But at that time you were in the internal meeting room, the whole room saw it."

“So what did she do—”

“Picture. But she missed one point—the top right corner has a battery icon. That interface is for an iPhone, and you're using a domestic phone. No match.”