Chapter 3 — Leave Application Approved Within 10 Minutes

The phone made a ding sound. It's a notification message from the bank. Your account ending in xxxx has just received 40,000.00 yuan at 15:23. I raised the phone screen towards the crying heroine on the TV and shook it a few times.

“See?”

“Stop crying.”

“Things that can be solved with money are not problems.”

After speaking, I turned off the TV, stood up and went into the bedroom. Open the wardrobe. I need to choose a set of battle clothes. Can't be too arbitrary. But it can't be too formal. Finally, I chose a neatly tailored black silk shirt, paired with smoky gray trousers. But enough temperament. Just as I was standing in front of the mirror buttoning my cuffs, the phone rang again. This time, a name appeared on the screen that was so familiar that it couldn't be more familiar. Truong Dao. I let the phone ring for thirty seconds. At the last moment before the call was automatically disconnected, I leisurely picked up the phone.

“Little... Tran Nhien!”

Truong Dao's voice transmitted through the phone waves, carrying a fake enthusiasm that he tried to exude. The word "Tieu" was only half said before he swallowed it back.

“It's me, Truong Dao.”

“Is there something wrong?”

My voice was so calm that I couldn't hear any emotions.

“Oh my god, you finally answered the phone.”

He let out a long sigh as if he had just finished running eight hundred meters.

"You see, the company is really in big trouble. Director Chu has probably told you about this, right?"

“Did you receive the money too?”

“Got it.”

"So... when can you come to the company? Everyone is waiting for you!"

That tone was like welcoming an important customer. Completely different from Truong Dao the day I quit my job. You treated me like air.

“I'm preparing.”

"Okay okay! That's good!"

He said the three words "okay" in succession.

"Then hurry up. I will tell the driver to come to the gate of the residential area to pick you up, the license plate is..."

“No need.”

I interrupted.

“I drove there myself.”

“Also, Director Truong.”

I deliberately emphasized the words Director Truong.

“Before coming to the company, I need to see the electronic copy of the consulting contract.”

“Terms must be clear.”

“Benefits and responsibilities must be transparent.”

“Especially the scope of work.”

The other end of the line immediately went silent. I can almost imagine his current expression. Want to get angry. But I don't dare.

“Tran Nhien ah…”

He changed his voice, trying to close the distance.

"We've been working in the same company for so many years, do we have to be so strange?"

“The situation is very urgent right now, firefighting is the most important thing!”

"Just wait for you to come to the company and calculate any contract. Human resources will do it for you right away, ensuring there are no problems."

“Director Truong.”

I walked to the window and looked at the busy traffic on the street.

“I am no longer your employee now.”

“There is a commercial partnership between us.”

“If it is cooperation, then there must be a spirit of contract.”

“Everything must be clear in black and white.”

“That will benefit both sides.”

“What if I can't fix the system.”

“Or during the repair process, damage occurs a second time.”

“Who will bear that responsibility?”

“If the contract does not clearly state, who will pay for it later?”

Truong Dao was blocked by me again. He comes from a business background. Only good at drinking table culture and social relationships. How to think about dividing technical responsibilities like this?

“That…”

“Please forward my request to Director Zhou.”

“Contract sent to email.”

"I'll check it out, confirm there's no problem, then I'll leave."

After speaking, I hung up immediately. Don't give him any chance to bargain. I picked up the car keys on the table, tossed them up, and caught them again. Fifteen minutes later. A new email appears in the mailbox. Chairman Chu. Attachment: 《Emergency Technical Support Consulting Agreement》 I opened the PDF file. Read every sentence and every word. Hourly fee. Working time. Disclaimer... All are clearly and transparently stated. Not a single word wrong with my request. I laughed. Put on your coat. Open the door and step out. It's time to go to work. Only thing... This time they paid me to come back to work. I drove into the private parking lot under the company building. Previously, this parking space was only granted to management levels from director and above. Stepping out of the car, I looked up at the office building where I had worked for three years. The outside glass reflects the sunlight, radiating a familiar cold light. I went into the lobby on the first floor. As soon as the girl at the front desk saw me, she paused for a moment, then immediately smiled professionally.

"Hello, Ms. Tran. Director Chu told you that if you come, go straight to the large meeting room on the eighteenth floor."

It seems everyone has received the notification. I nodded and walked towards the elevator. The elevator door opens. Inside were several employees of other companies. I walked in, pressed button number 18. The eighteenth floor had arrived. As soon as the elevator door opened, a familiar but stressful atmosphere immediately came. The whole office area was silent. Dozens of heads simultaneously turned towards me. All kinds of eyes intertwine into an invisible net, covering me. I didn't glance at anyone, just walked straight towards the large meeting room. Vuong Wei is standing in front of the tea making area. In his hand he held an empty cup. Stiff posture. As soon as he saw me, he immediately forced a smile.

“Sister... Ms. Nhien, are you back?”

He walked quickly. The voice was so loud that the whole floor heard it. I stopped. Take a look at him. Say nothing. That look made him feel guilty. The smile on his face immediately stiffened.

“That... everyone misses you very much.”

He dryly added another sentence. I slightly curled my lips as a response. Then go straight past him.