Chapter 11 — On the day of divorce, I applied to quit my job

I don't open the door.

"Lin Chieu, I know you're inside."

His voice came through the door, a little deeper than in my memory. I stood behind the door, my hand on the lock but not moving.

"I didn't come to argue. I also didn't come for money. That's my mother's decision, I told her to stop."

I didn't speak up.

"It's okay if you don't open the door. I'll just say two sentences."

The hallway was quiet for a few seconds, the sensor light turned off. Maybe he moved a little so the light came on again.

"First sentence, sorry. It's been six years, I know I owe you a lot."

"Second sentence..."

He stopped. The light outside the door turned off again. This time he did not move, in the darkness there was only the sound of his breathing coming through the door.

"Second sentence, I'm not begging you to come back. But I need you to know, only now do I understand how important you are to me. This is not a show for you, but something I have to say to myself."

Then there were footsteps. One step at a time. The sensor lights in the hallway light up one after another with each step he takes, then turn off one after another. I leaned my back against the door, behind me was the cold steel of the anti-theft door. My hands don't shake. My heart doesn't soften either. But the corners of my eyes did heat up for a moment. It wasn't because the words he just said were so touching. But the apology I've been waiting for for six years has finally arrived. I'm just sorry... It's too late. So late that I no longer need it. The next morning when I woke up, the first thing I did was turn on my phone. There are no messages from Co Hanh. After saying those two sentences, he really left, without any further words, without asking, without holding back, and without texting: "Did you hear that?" This was one of the very few times I felt he truly respected me. I woke up, washed my face, changed clothes and went to work as usual. Arriving at the company, I just opened my mailbox and saw a new email. The sender is very strange - Do Minh Vien, the subject line says: "Invitation to cooperate with Chieu Bach Brand Consulting Department." I frowned slightly. My company has only been established for a week, it has never been promoted outside, even Phuong Du does not know about it. So where did this Do Minh Vien come from? I open the email.

"Dear Ms. Lam Chieu. I am Du Minh Vien, East China Regional Director of Tinh Than Cultural Media Group. Recently, through a friend in the industry, I learned that you have just established the Chieu Bach Brand Consulting Department, and am very impressed with your professional capacity in the field of brand operations. Currently our company is preparing to implement a large project on incubation of the creative cultural industry, including an overall operating plan for twelve brands. affiliated brand, with a total budget of two million four hundred thousand yuan. Hope to have the opportunity to meet to discuss details about possible cooperation."

Two million four hundred thousand yuan. Twelve affiliated brands. Tinh Than Cultural Media Group is not a small company, the East China region alone is a market with a turnover of more than one hundred million yuan per year. I looked up information about Do Minh Vien. On LinkedIn there is a very complete profile: East China Regional Director of Tinh Than Cultural Media Group, Fifteen years of experience in the industry, having held senior management positions at two listed companies. At first glance, it's very believable. But there is still a thorn in my heart. My company has just registered and has never promoted. How did he finally know me? Who is that friend in the industry he mentioned? Was Luc Dich introduced? Another possibility upsets me even more. I sent Luc Dich a WeChat message:

"Do you know someone from Tinh Than Cultural Group? A person named Do Minh Vien."

Luc Dich answered very quickly:

"Not familiar. What's going on?"

"Nothing, someone wants to discuss cooperation with me, so ask for a referral."

"Do you need me to help you ask?"

"No need, I'll investigate myself."

I started looking to see if Do Minh Vien ever had any connection with Co Hanh or Tham Van. On the official website of Co Thi Real Estate, there is a photo taken at the industry party last year. In the guest list, there was clearly the name Do Minh Vien, East China Regional Director of Tinh Than Cultural Media Group. In the photo, Do Minh Vien is sitting third on Co Hanh's left. My heart sank slightly. Is this just a coincidence? A person who once sat at the same table as Co Hanh, just one week after my company was founded, came to me exactly, and brought with him a contract worth two million four hundred thousand yuan. Two possibilities. He actually knew me through relationships in the industry, completely unrelated to Co Hanh. Co Hanh silently stood behind and pushed with one hand. If it's the second possibility... What does he want to do? Using a big contract to lure me back into his business network? Another form of control?