Chapter 4 — My House is Not a Living House

Three days later, I received an unexpected call. It's Vu Dong.

"Sister-in-law..."

Her voice sounded quite weak. Maybe because the due date is near.

"What is up?"

"Sister-in-law... are you still angry with me?"

I don't answer.

"I know what happened last time made you feel sorry for yourself."

"But I really have no other choice."

"You probably know Phuong Cam Than's story. He never cared about family matters. I'm alone..."

I interrupted.

"My husband doesn't care about me."

"You can argue with him."

"Might make a fuss."

"It's also possible to get a divorce."

"But you don't have the right to come in again and again and take over my life."

The other end of the line fell silent. After a while she spoke softly.

"Sister-in-law... I didn't take over..."

I calmly replied.

"I live in your house."

"Use your things."

"Let your mother order me to serve you."

"Because of you, I lost a child."

"So what do you call those things?"

She was completely silent. From the other end of the line, I heard my mother-in-law's voice echo.

"Vu Dong, who are you calling?"

Vu Dong's voice immediately lowered.

"Sister-in-law... I really didn't mean it."

"This time I promise I won't bother you anymore."

"You go home."

"Lately, my brother comes home very upset every day, and even breaks things..."

"That's his problem."

"It's none of your business."

Having finished speaking, I hung up the phone. Put the phone down. I suddenly realized... My hands are very steady. No more shaking. The heart is also not beating erratically. I don't even feel sorry for myself. There was only one extremely clear thought left in my mind. Those people... Will never change. In their eyes... My concession was obvious. My limits... Have never been considered limits. The only person who can change... is only myself. That evening, I reopened the conversation with Hoa Truc company's partner.

"Is it convenient to meet this weekend to discuss?"

Message just sent. The other party immediately responded.

"Three o'clock on Saturday afternoon."

"Hoa Truc headquarters."

"I invite you to have a cup of coffee."

On the weekend, I went to Hoa Truc's headquarters. The office is located in the creative industrial park west of the city, renovated from an old factory area. As soon as I arrived, the receptionist took me to the reception room on the third floor. The person who arranged to meet me was Trinh Hac Nien. He is over forty years old and is a famous figure in the design world. Ten years working in Beijing, three years ago returned to his hometown to open Hoa Truc company. He flipped through my portfolio of work. No beating around the bush.

"Lam Niem So, how long have you been working at the design institute now?"

"How much is your annual income?"

"Including salary, bonuses and project commissions, it's about three hundred and fifty thousand yuan."

He nodded slightly.

"I have an invitation."

"The basic salary per year is four hundred and twenty thousand yuan."

"Profits from the project will be divided separately."

"Position is the key design partner."

"After a full year, we will continue to discuss shares."

I looked at him, still not speaking. He held the phone and placed it in front of me.

"I once saw your 'One Room' account."

On the screen are the works I posted.

"Your sense of space is very good."

"The commercial viability is also very good."

"You shouldn't always just make drawings for other people."

I replied softly:

"I still have an unfinished project in hand..."

"Lang Dinh?"

I was momentarily stunned. He smiled.

"The investor is my friend."

"He once told me that your institute has a very notable designer."

"I'll do a little research."

"It turned out to be you."

"So today's meeting... wasn't a coincidence."

"That's right."

He leaned back in his chair.

"Niem So, I'm telling the truth."

"The investor of the Lang Dinh project wants to cooperate with an independent designer."

"They don't want to follow the design institute's process."

"If you agree to join Hoa Truc..."

"This project can move here."

I immediately calculated in my head. The Lang Dinh project's design fee alone was at least four million yuan. If I apply Hoa Truc's profit sharing mechanism... The money I receive will far exceed my yearly income at the design institute.

"I need a few more days to think."

"Of course."

Trinh Hac Nien stood up and proactively extended his hand.

"No need to rush."

"But don't leave it too long."

I shook his hand. When I stepped out of the Hoa Truc building, the afternoon sun was much brighter than when I arrived. Standing in front of the crosswalk waiting for the red light, my phone vibrated again. It's a message from Tran Trac Vien.

"Where are you anyway? My mom said you haven't responded to her messages all week."

I just glanced at it. Then lock the screen. Calmly walk to the other side of the street.