Chapter 3 — Leaving You, I Shine

I hung up. The hand is shaking, not from fear, but from a conditioned reflex over the past six years. In the past, whenever Tham Van called, no matter what, I would say "Yes mom", "I'll do it right now", "Mom, don't worry". Today was the first time I hung up on her. My sweaty palm left a faint oval mark on the screen. I took a deep breath. Hands clenched, nails digging into palms to slow heart rate. Phuong Du poked her head out from the room: "Who's calling?"

“Mother Co Hanh.”

“Say what?”

“Tell me to come over on Saturday to eat and talk.”

“What do you say?”

“I hung up.”

Phuong Du gave a thumbs up: "Very cool." On Thursday, the design company on the recruitment app responded, scheduling an interview for the following Monday. On the same day, Phuong Du's friend reported the news: Co Thi's internal rumors were spreading, the position of Assistant General Director had been posted, it seemed that someone had already been targeted.
\deer?"

“Tran Nhuoc, Planning Department.”

I froze for a moment. Tran Nhuoc, 26 years old, joined the company through recruitment last year. She is beautiful, has normal abilities but knows how to please people. At the end of last year at the company party, she came to drink Co Hanh's wine and called "Mr. Co" with her eyes shining like two headlights. At that time, I was sitting right next to him. Phuong Du cautiously asked me: "How do you feel?"

“I don't feel anything.”

“Really?”

"Really. He can use whoever he wants as an assistant, it has nothing to do with me."

I speak the truth. What makes me uncomfortable is not Tran Nhuoc, but the fact that for six years, Co Hanh has never officially introduced me as his wife. At the company, I am forever just "Assistant Lam". Colleagues of course knew, but no one said it to their faces. It's like my identity as a wife cannot be revealed. For six years, I accompanied him to perform the longest pantomime - people thought we were superiors and subordinates, but we were really just superiors and subordinates. Until the divorce, no one saw us having any intimate actions. So now, when it's gone, it's gone. Clean, decisive.

—

Monday, interview. The design company is located in the creative industrial park west of the city, a small three-story building, with two cinnamon trees planted in front of the door. Compared to Co Thi's skyscraper glass wall, this place is like another world. The interviewer is a partner of the company, surnamed Chau, over 40 years old, wearing a loose linen shirt, talking straight to the point.

“Previously you worked as Assistant General Director at Co Thi?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you quit your job?”

“I want to change direction, my previous job's content was too monotonous.”

Boss Chau glanced at my CV: "Six years as Assistant General Director, managing from administration, PR, customer relations, and also half a year of project coordination... How can this be called monotony?" I didn't reply. He flipped the paper in his hand: "What do you understand about this Director of Operations position?" I spent 15 minutes presenting my thoughts. Regarding the content system, user segmentation, co-branding pace... these are all things I observed and learned during my six years at Co Thi - although I was nominally an assistant, I participated in all of Co Hanh's commercial decisions at close range. After listening, boss Chau threw his CV on the table: "I'll accept the job next Monday, 3 months probation, after probation, I will give preferential shares to you." Miss."

“That fast?”

“I have read this CV of yours 3 times. Last week I wanted to call to talk but you did not respond to the message.”

I remember, last week I was busy with a divorce.

“Yes, see you next Monday.”

Out of the creative area, the sunshine is very beautiful. Phuong Du is right, after the rain the sky is really bright again. I called a car to go home - not Phuong Du's house, but the house I rented myself. The contract was just signed yesterday, a one-bedroom apartment in an old apartment complex in the south of the city, priced at 2,300 yuan a month. Balcony facing South, pot