Chapter 1 — Leaving England For West Africa

One day before the promotion interview at headquarters, my boyfriend voluntarily applied to send me to Africa to work. I was so angry that I asked him why he did that. He calmly replied: "Chau Nhiem used my computer that day and accidentally applied for you. It was just a joke." "Isn't there a second confirmation step? It's okay for you to refuse." Chau Nhiem is a new intern recruited to Lam Tham's project team this year. She is small, lovely, and revolves around Lam Tham every day. He knew full well that if I did not respond within twelve hours, the application would be automatically confirmed. I will have to spend three years in Africa. It turned out that in his eyes, my career and life plans were just something that could be made fun of. I didn't say anything and directly confirmed the decision to deploy to Africa. Then, when he saw my passport, Lam Tham suddenly panicked. "Isn't there a second confirmation step? You won't refuse?" One day before the promotion interview at headquarters, my boyfriend voluntarily applied to send me to Africa to work. I was so angry that I asked him why he did that. He calmly replied: "Chau Nhiem used my computer that day and accidentally applied for you. It was just a joke." "Isn't there a second confirmation step? It's okay for you to refuse." Chau Nhiem is a new intern recruited to Lam Tham's project team this year. She is small, lovely, and revolves around Lam Tham every day. He knew full well that if I did not respond within twelve hours, the application would be automatically confirmed. I will have to spend three years in Africa. It turned out that in his eyes, my career and life plans were just something that could be made fun of. I didn't say anything and directly confirmed the decision to deploy to Africa. Then, when he saw my passport, Lam Tham suddenly panicked. "Isn't there a second step of confirmation? You won't refuse?" 1When I received the decision to transfer to Africa, my whole body felt cold. Yesterday, the application I asked Lam Tham to help me submit was an application for the marketing department of the headquarters. But now, I received an email with the content: "Permanent residence in West Africa for a period of three years." The HR person texted me: "Co Tuyet Dao, did you submit it by mistake? You can still refuse within twelve hours." Lam Tham and I have been in love for six years, planning to get engaged at the end of this year. Everyone in the company knows I cannot proactively apply to go to Africa at this time. My hands trembled. When I called Lam Tham, my fingernails dug deep into my palm. "What is this? I received an email to transfer to Africa." From the other end of the line, Lam Tham's indifferent laughter rang out. "Ah, I forgot to tell you. Chau Nhiem came to my office that day and saw me helping you with the paperwork. She said the scene of migrating animals in Africa is very majestic and shocking, so she joked a bit and applied to help me go to the West branch. Phi." "She's just an intern, she doesn't understand anything yet, just joking with me." "Isn't there a second confirmation step? You can just refuse to go." He spoke softly as if he had just ordered a wrong food. "Do you think this is not important?" His voice carried an impatient tone: "You're thinking too much again." "Is it necessary to make it so serious? It's fine to fix it." "If Lucy hadn't reminded you, this decision would have been effective force." "Chau Nhiem illegally accessed data in the computer system and violated personal privacy. You can report her." Lam Tham's voice immediately cooled. "Co Tuyet Dao, you are becoming more and more unreasonable now." "It was just a joke that I wanted too."

denounce Chau Nhiem? When will you give up your hostile attitude towards her?” He paused for a moment, his voice becoming harder: “How many times have I told you? She just graduated and doesn't know anyone in the company. You're the instructor, what's wrong with paying a little more attention to her?" "What's so bad about her joking around a little bit? If you want to report, then report me too!” He hung up the phone. I sat at my desk, a little panicked. Seven years have passed. From the university club to joining the same company, from interns of the same age to partners in projects. Everyone said we were a match made in heaven. But now, he is in the marketing department, and I am about to go to West Africa. Between us is the Sahara desert and a Chau Nhiem. To cancel, just click. mouse once. But I stared at the screen, not moving at all. My colleague knocked on the partition: "Co Tuyet Dao, someone is looking for you at the reception desk." Chau Nhiem was wearing a white dress, holding two cups of coffee in her hand. Seeing me, she strode over. "Ms. Tuyet Dao." She gave me a cup of coffee. "I just talked to Mr. Tham on the phone. He was in a bad mood and wanted to invite everyone to go camping. Do you think it's appropriate for me to go with you?" Her voice carried a provocative tone, her eyes filled with pride. It's been three months. Ever since she was assigned to our department as an intern, she's always been like that. On the outside, she pretended to be straightforward, but she provoked me everywhere. I took the cup of coffee but didn't drink it, and asked in return: "How do you feel?" Chau Nhiem twisted her two fingers together: "I don't know, I'm afraid you'll misunderstand. Mr. Tham said recently she had an opinion with him. I think maybe we should avoid causing misunderstandings..." "Then don't go." She was stunned. "Didn't you come to ask for my opinion?" I put the coffee cup on the reception desk. "My opinion is don't go." Chau Nhiem's expression changed. Before she could say anything, the elevator door opened. Lam Tham walked out. Seeing us, he immediately frowned. "Chau Nhiem, I told you to wait downstairs, why did you come up here?" Come ask Tuyet Dao for advice, see if I can go camping with everyone..." Chau Nhiem bowed her head, her voice full of self-pity: "I'm afraid she won't be happy." Lam Tham patted Chau Nhiem's shoulder. "Are you stupid? Ask her what to do? I tell you to go, so you go." Chau Nhiem raised her head to look at him, her eyes lit up, then hesitantly looked back at me. Lam Tham turned to me, his voice extremely impatient. "Look at how Chau Nhiem cares about your feelings. What about you? I can't stand even a joke." I pointed at Chau Nhiem. "Does she care about your feelings? Don't you know how many things she's caused in the past three months? "In front of me, I brought you breakfast, wrote notes, and posted vague words on my personal page. Who is she performing for?” “I'm your girlfriend! She stole her lover right in front of me!" "Every day you open your mouth and call me this or that sister, don't you feel nauseous?" "On the surface, you call me sister, but behind your back you hope you will disappear so she can cling to you, right?" Chau Nhiem's face turned white. Lam Tham stared at me, her face gloomy. "Have I said enough? Since when did you become so bitter?” “Why are your thoughts so dirty? It's just a normal colleague relationship, do you have to take it seriously?" "Chau Nhiem is generous and doesn't compare with me. I'm sorry to her, this is the end." I was so angry that I burst out laughing. "Are you crazy? Tell me to apologize to this green tea girl? Impossible!" Lam Tham's face immediately darkened. "Co Tuyet Dao, I advise you not to challenge my limits!" I laughed.

Limit? My head is already this green and he still talks about the limit? Well, before I was his limit. Now you've changed into someone else. "Then let's break up." Lam Tham coldly snorted. "If we split, then we'll split. When that happens, don't come back and beg me to reunite." After saying that, Lam Tham pulled Chau Nhiem away. I heard him say to her: "Don't worry about her. We're going camping with everyone." Back at the desk, the system page was still open. The countdown timer for cancellation has only one hour left. I started looking for documents about the West Africa project, things to pay attention to when permanently residing abroad and business reports in the southern Sahara desert region. Time passes minute by minute. Exactly twelve o'clock. The countdown timer returns to zero. The deadline for withdrawing the application has ended. "The transfer decision has been confirmed. West Africa project team, permanent residence for three years. Please come to the branch to accept the assignment within one month."Although going to Africa will be very strenuous, the salary when working abroad will double. After returning home, my position will also be promoted two levels. There doesn't seem to be anything bad. Previously, because I wanted to fit in with Lam Tham, I chose a more conservative career path. Now I regret it. I turned off the computer, Luong Mong Dinh's message immediately appeared. "Sister Tuyet Dao! I saw my brother-in-law and Chau Nhiem at the Blues bar! Oh my god, the two of them are about to stick together." She also sent me a video. The image is very blurry, but one can still see Lam Tham being teased by everyone around him. Chau Nhiem sat next to him, looking at him with a look of admiration. "Mr. Lam, choose truth or dare? If you choose challenge, you must hug the girl sitting closest to you for one minute." Amid the loud laughter, Lam Tham directly hugged Chau Nhiem. Cheers and whistles erupted. My heart ached for a moment, then quickly calmed down. I answered Luong Mong Dinh: "It's okay." Then I started tidying up my desk. Two weeks later, Lam Tham's secretary brought an invitation card. "Tonight Director Lam is holding a party to celebrate the completion of the project in Van Dinh. Please definitely attend." "No." The secretary was surprised: "Why? You are also a key member of this project..." "I have an appointment." The secretary smiled. "You can take a friend with you. Director Lam specifically instructed, hoping you will be present." Several colleagues looked over. I received the invitation. In the evening, arriving at Van Dinh, Chau Nhiem stood in front of the banquet room door, wearing a well-fitting suit, greeting the guests. Seeing me, she immediately patted my shoulder. "Sister Tuyet Dao, you're here. Today is the day I officially signed the contract. I was afraid it wouldn't be exciting enough, so I asked Mr. Tham to move his celebration party to today and hold it together." I nodded. "Congratulations." "Thank you." She smiled even brighter. "Hurry and sit down. The main table has reserved a seat for you." I found a spot next to me and sat down. Lam Tham came over. "Co Tuyet Dao, come to the main table. What's the point of hiding here?" "It's very good here." Lam Tham took a deep breath. "You let me block your contact for two weeks, are you still angry?" "Have you ever attended a celebration party and you didn't sit at the same table as me? Just because of that small transfer, is it necessary?" Several nearby tables all looked over. A familiar colleague spoke up to reconcile: "Co Tuyet Dao, come over here and sit. Everyone still has a seat for you." I was invited to the main table. Next to Lam Tham there is an empty seat. Chau Nhiem very naturally walked over and sat down next to Lam Tham. "Is Ms. Tuyet Dao here too?"