Chapter 4 — Leaving England For West Africa

"I know for sure you will cancel. You have been my partner for seven years, can you leave me?" "Before coming to the marketing department, you must apologize to Chau Nhiem. If not, you will go through the job acceptance procedures yourself. I will not take you to greet your direct superior!" We agreed a long time ago. He will introduce me to a few leaders he knows in the marketing department, which will help me create goodwill. Even though I could have done it just by relying on myself, if he had paved the way, everything would have gone much easier. Unfortunately, I don't go to the marketing department anymore. I'm about to go to Africa. I officially handed over the work to the department and began preparing the necessary things to go to Africa. Lam Tham no longer contacted me, but from the gossip of his colleagues, I knew that the relationship between him and Chau Nhiem was almost public. Someone saw Chau Nhiem getting down from Lam Tham's car. Chau Nhiem achieved S level in the evaluation to become an official employee. Previously, the company had almost never rated an intern at S level. In history, almost no intern had ever achieved it. I moved out of the apartment I shared with Lam Tham and temporarily stayed at a close friend's house. "Have you really thought it through?" Luong Mong Dinh helped me pack my luggage and asked: "Africa is not like Shanghai. The conditions there are very harsh, epidemics are common, and going at one time is three years." "You have thought carefully." "If I stay here, I will have to face Lam Tham and Chau Nhiem every day. I don't want to waste the next three years." next to him." "Do you know what hurts me the most?" I zipped up the suitcase, raised my head to look at her. "It wasn't Lam Tham's betrayal, nor Chau Nhiem's tricks. But when this happened, my first reaction was fear of losing him, fear of changing the status quo, fear of having to face the unknown alone." "I also know that I was not a timid, hesitant person before. All these years, because I wanted him I'm happy, you've given up too much." I smiled. "If you can accept even being sent to Africa, then nothing in this world can make you afraid anymore." A week before departure, I went to the hospital for a comprehensive health check and vaccination. Yellow fever, cholera, malaria... The long list of vaccines made my scalp numb. The company's international business department organized a simple send-off party for me. Lam Tham did not attend. I heard he took a leave of absence that day. Chau Nhiem came again. "Co Tuyet Dao, I wish you a smooth work in Africa." I raised my glass of wine. "Thank you. I also wish you all the best, try to learn from Director Lam." Chau Nhiem's expression stiffened for a moment. After the farewell party ended, I met Lam Tham in front of the elevator door. It seemed like he intentionally came to wait for me. The dark circles under my eyes appeared very clearly. "Let's talk." "Everything that needs to be said has already been said." I pressed the elevator button. "Co Tuyet Dao, don't go." Lam Tham suddenly grabbed my wrist. "You were wrong, I admit I was wrong. I shouldn't tolerate Chau Nhiem, I shouldn't disrespect your career plan. Can we start again?" I looked at him, the man I had loved for seven years. At this moment, his eyes were filled with blood and pleading. For a moment, I almost softened. But I remember the feeling of my heart racing when the transfer notification email appeared. Remembering his gentle expression when he said it was just a joke. “It's too late, Lam Tham.” I gently withdrew my hand. “The elevator is here.” “If you really go to Africa, we will

completely over!” Lam Tham shouted from behind me. I stepped into the elevator, turned around to face him. “We ended a long time ago. From the moment you allowed others to casually make fun of our relationship." The flight to Lusaka took off at dawn. I leaned against the plane window, watching the bright lights of Shanghai gradually shrink into vague spots of light, finally completely covered by clouds. My phone was full of unread messages. My parents' worries, my friends' concerns, and my colleagues' goodbyes. I replied to each message, and finally opened the message. finally sent by Lam Tham. “I would rather go to Africa than stay by your side. Have you ever loved me?" I looked at that sentence for a long time, then answered word by word: "I used to love you more than I loved myself. But from now on, you must start loving yourself. the.