Chapter 12 — Not married yet, asked me to have children, I turned around and married the CEO

After hanging up the phone, I decided to go back to the company because I left too quickly and had not yet completed the resignation procedures. I changed into a simple outfit, deliberately choosing a discreet style so as not to attract attention, then drove myself to the company. Everything in the company is still the same, so familiar that it makes me feel like I never left. When my colleagues saw me, they were all a bit surprised, their eyes mixed with curiosity.

"Eh, Hua Niem? After taking so long, you finally came back?"

A close colleague pulled me aside and lowered his voice as if sharing a secret.

"Did you know? Chu Hao was fired!"

"I heard that I even offended someone so much that the whole industry blocked my way!"

"You really deserve it! Who told you to treat me like that before!"

I just smiled, didn't respond, but in my heart I clearly understood the reason behind everything. I went straight to the human resources department, preparing to submit my resignation letter, but before I could enter, I encountered someone I didn't want to meet. Lam Phi Phi. She is the company's receptionist, and is also the one who openly pursues Chu Hao, and has always looked at me disapprovingly. At this moment, her eyes looked at me full of resentment and jealousy, like I had just stolen something that belonged to her.

“Hua Niem, do you still dare to come back?”

She spoke, her voice not loud but loud enough for everyone around to hear clearly, intentionally making me the center of attention.

“What a cruel woman!”

“What wrong did Chu Hao do that you had to push him to such a dead end?”

“It's just a breakup, do you need to find an old man with money to ruin his career?”

Those words immediately caused whispers to ring out around me, everyone's eyes looking at me began to become complicated, skeptical, curious, even judgmental. But I just stood there, calmly looking at Lam Phi Phi, no more waves in my heart. If it was the old me... I would have been so angry that I couldn't speak. But now, I am no longer the Hua Niem of before.

“Lin Phi Phi.”

I called her name, my tone so calm that even I felt strange, as if all the emotions that had been stirred up before had completely subsided.

“First, I broke up with Chu Hao because he had problems with his dignity, all of which he brought on himself.”

“Second, the fact that he was blocked by the whole industry is because he offended someone who should not have offended, and has nothing to do with me.”

"Third, it's my right to choose a man. It's not your turn to stand here and judge."

Every sentence and every word is clear and coherent, without raising your voice but with enough pressure to make the other person choke. Lam Phi Phi was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting me to react so calmly, but soon his anger flared up even more intensely.

"You're lying! You're clearly holding a grudge in your heart that's why you did that!"

"You're just jealous because I'm younger than you, prettier than you, Chu Hao looks at me more!"

“A woman like you, even if she clings to a rich man, she will soon be dumped!”

“Really funny.”

I looked at her, my eyes cold as if I was watching a meaningless drama.

“Since you defended Chu Hao like that, why don't you just follow him?”

I paused for a moment, then slightly raised my eyebrows, as if just right remember something.

“Ah, I forgot.”

“Now that he has nothing left in his hands, of course she is no longer interested either.”

"The person you like, from beginning to end, is not him, but his seemingly bright future."

Lam Phi Phi was heartbroken by what I said, her face turned red, she was so embarrassed and angry that she couldn't speak.

“You slander!”

I didn't bother to argue any further, directly placed my resignation letter on the desk of the human resources manager, turned around and left, as if all those words just happened were just a passing breeze.

“Hua Niem, stop!”

Lam Phi Phi refused to give up and quickly chased after me, reaching out to grab me. I leaned to the side to avoid it. She lost her grip, her high heel slipped, her whole body staggered and fell straight to the ground, letting out a painful cry of struggle. All around immediately resounded suppressed laughter, both amused and contemptuous. I didn't turn back, just walked out of the company, stepping decisively as if I was officially cutting off with my past. This place, from today onwards... just like Chu Hao, completely disappeared from my life. As soon as I sat in the car, my phone vibrated softly. It's a message from Luc Canh Tham. Short, concise, just his style.

“This weekend, come home for dinner.”

“Meet grandma.”

My heart immediately sank. Finally... it's still here. Introducing the family. Compared to dealing with Lam Phi Phi, this is a hundred times scarier to me. In the days that followed, my mood was always half-anxious and half-stressed. Just thinking about having to face Luc Canh Tham's family made my heart start beating fast. That's not a normal family. It was a family that stood at the top. There are definitely so many rules that it makes people suffocate. If I said just one wrong word or made one wrong move, it would likely make him lose face in front of his family. The etiquette teacher seemed to see through my insecurities and especially reinforced my training on table etiquette and how to communicate on formal occasions.

“Madam, you don't need to be so nervous.”

"You just need to remember, now you are Mrs. Luc, the female head of that family."

“Confidence and composure… are your best weapons.”

I nodded, trying to remember every word, but still couldn't feel completely at peace. In addition to ritual preparation, there is another important thing. The first time you come home, you absolutely cannot come empty-handed. I need to prepare gifts for the elders of the Luc family, especially my grandmother, who called me with a loving tone the other day.