Chapter 19 — On the day of divorce, I applied to quit my job

The perfume brand that Phong Hoa Fund invests in is called Vu Xuyen. The founding team consists of three young people, starting a business with a high-end handmade incense line. I looked through the profile. Product quality is very good. But branding is almost zero. Not even a decent brand identity yet. After meeting the team and discussing for about an hour, I quoted the price and signed the contract. The signing unit is Phong Hoa Fund. In other words... The paying party is Co Hanh's company. I was hesitant about this. But in the end, I still think it through. Commercial cooperation is not related to personal feelings. He pays. I provide professional services. Each side gets what they need. If I refuse to accept the project just because the other person is my ex-husband... It's like I'm still being influenced by him. One month after Chieu Bach took over Vu Xuyen, the brand's online revenue tripled. After looking at the data, Co Hanh sent me a WeChat message.

"Exceeded expectations."

I only answer in two words.

"Of course."

Then he sent another rather long paragraph.

"Lin Chieu, lately I've been thinking about one thing. All the work you did by my side in the past, I never officially acknowledged it as your merit. The plans you wrote, the decisions you supported, the crises you handled... everyone thought they were all my achievements."

I looked at that message. Don't reply right away. He continued sending.

"That's not fair. Even though I can't make up for it now, I still want you to know, every time I see your current plan and results, I understand very clearly... you don't have these abilities because you used to work beside me. But you had them from the beginning."

I put down the phone. Look out the window. The sky is very blue. The leaves on the osmanthus tree moved gently in the wind. Five minutes later. I just answered him one question.

"If you had said these words six years ago, it might still have made sense. Now it's no longer necessary. But still thank you."

He only replied with one word. So that's the end. Late December. It's time for the year-end review. Chieu Bach was established nine months ago. The team grew from one person to eighteen people. Annual revenue reached twelve million yuan. Net profit four million three hundred thousand yuan. That number is not worth much to large businesses. But for a nine-month-old startup studio... It has far exceeded everyone's expectations. Including myself. At the year-end summary party, Phuong Du drank too much. She put her arm around my shoulder and said:

"Lin Chieu, do you know? What I admire most about you is not how much money you earned. It's that after stepping out of that evil place, you never wasted a single day. Not a single day."

I patted her back.

"You too."

"It's not the same. If I were to get divorced, I would definitely lie down for three months before thinking about it again."

"Okay okay, you're drunk."

After taking her home. I walk alone on the winter street. The streetlight casts a long shadow under my feet. Cold air. But clear. The phone vibrated once. It's a message from Luc Dich.

"Are you home yet? It's cold outside, remember to stay warm."

I smiled. Then answer.

"Almost here."

In the past nine months, Luc Dich and I have eaten six or seven meals together. Go see three exhibitions together. Also went to a suburban craft workshop once. No one confessed. No one said it clearly. But the chemistry between the two is growing more and more. He doesn't push me. I'm not in a hurry either. Just take it slow. Come home. I sat down on the sofa. The pot of snake tongue on the windowsill is more than twenty centimeters higher than the day I took it away from Co Thi. The new leaves are lush green. I gently stroked the leaf's face with my hand.

"You really have a good life."

I told it. It didn't answer. But it's still growing. Me too.