Chapter 4 — My Nameless Occupation

I will think it over for three more days.

Very well.

After hanging up, I noticed three unread messages on my phone. The first was from Tran Loi: Sister To, the two projects in the technical department have officially clashed in scheduling. Our partners sent an official letter of complaint today, and Manager Ha is absolutely furious. The second was from Sister Lu: Ever since you left, the financial department’s bookkeeping has been a disaster. All the monthly reports are behind schedule, and old man Vuong is so anxious his blood pressure has spiked. The third message came from an unknown number.

To Van, this is Chu Han. I heard you have been going around claiming the company cannot function without you? Let me offer you a word of advice: you signed a non-compete agreement.

I stared at that message for a long time. A non-compete agreement. I dug up the contract from those years ago and located the clause. The restriction period was one year, the scope covered the same industry and position, and the penalty for breach was equal to the total salary of my final twelve months. However, tucked beneath that clause was a tiny line of fine print: The company must pay the non-compete compensation to the employee within thirty days of their resignation; failure to pay on time renders the agreement automatically void. At Hang Vien, I had spent twelve years working in legal support. I had seen more contracts than this man had eaten meals in his life. I typed a reply.

Dear Manager Chu. First, I have not spread any rumors. Second, for the non-compete agreement to be legally binding, your company must pay the compensation on time. Third, my position is that of an administrative specialist; I suggest you double-check whether the scope of your non-compete agreement even covers administrative roles.

Once sent, I blocked his number immediately. To Niem walked out of her room.

Mom, is someone bullying you?

No.

Then why did you have such a terrifying look on your face while you were typing just now?

I turned to look at her.

Have you finished your homework?

Yes, I have.

Then go to bed early.

She walked back toward her room and closed the door, only for it to crack open again two seconds later.

Mom.

Yes?

You looked really cool when you were typing just now.

The door clicked shut. I looked at the wood, a faint smile touching my lips. Three days later, I made a trip to the Hang Vien Group. Not to return to work, but because the finance department claimed I needed to come in and sign a confirmation form before they could process my severance pay. I arrived at ten in the morning. When the receptionist saw me, her expression turned incredibly strange.

Sister To, you are here.

Yes, just need to sign a name and I will be off.

I sat at the reception desk to wait for Lam Vi to come down. When the elevator doors slid open, it was not Lam Vi who stepped out. It was Chu Han. He was in his forties, dressed in an impeccably pressed suit, his hair groomed with meticulous care. He had jumped ship from a competitor just last month; word was his annual salary exceeded a million yuan. He froze when he saw me.

To Van?

Manager Chu.

What are you doing here?

Signing the paperwork for my severance compensation.

He stepped forward, coming to a halt directly in front of me.

I have looked over the tasks you were previously responsible for.

I see.

Honestly, I do not deny that you did a lot of work. But those were not tasks that should have been handled by an administrative specialist, you know?

I know.

You worked here for twelve years, and no one ever addressed this issue—that was a management failure. But I am here to clean up the mess. Firing you was not a personal attack.

I looked at him calmly.

Manager Chu, I understand.

It is good that you understand.

He nodded, turning to leave. I called out to him.

Manager Chu.

What is it?

Have you finished cleaning up yet?

He stopped in his tracks.

What?

The work of those eight departments—have you managed to delegate it? Have the departments taken over their new duties smoothly? Has the schedule conflict for the projects been resolved? Are this month’s financial reports out? What about the documentation for the board meeting next week?