Chapter 3 — On the day of divorce, I applied to quit my job

"This girl..."

"Uncle." I interrupted her. "Thank you for taking care of me for the past six years. In the future, please take care of your health."

I hung up. My hands trembled a little, not from fear, but from a reflex that had been building for six years. In the past, every time Tham Van called, no matter what it was, I would answer: "Yes mom", "I'll do it now", "Mom, don't worry." Today was the first time I proactively hung up her phone. His fingertips were still a little sweaty, leaving a very small oval mark on the screen. I clenched my fists, letting my nails dig into my palms, waiting for my heart rate to gradually stabilize. Phuong Du poked her head out from the room.

"Who called that?"

"Co Hanh's mother."

"Tell me to come over for dinner on Saturday, and say I want to sit down and talk."

"What do you answer?"

"I hung up."

Phuong Du immediately gave a thumbs up.

"Very good, you have courage."

On Thursday, the design company I applied for responded on the recruitment application, scheduling me for an interview the following Monday. Also that day, Phuong Du's college friend sent a text message again. Internally, Co Thi is spreading word that the new Assistant General Director position has been posted, and it is said that a replacement has also been chosen.

"Tran Nhuoc, Planning department."

I paused a bit. Tran Nhuoc, twenty-six years old, was recruited from last year's student recruitment round. Beautiful appearance. Professional capacity is only at a normal level. But he knows how to please others. At the company's year-end party last year, when raising a glass to Co Hanh, she called out "General Manager Co", her eyes shining like two headlights. I sat right next to it. Phuong Du cautiously asked me:

"How do you feel?"

"Didn't see anything."

"Really?"

"If he wants to use anyone as an assistant, he can use it, it has nothing to do with me anymore."

Those are sincere words. What makes me uncomfortable has never been Tran Nhuoc. But for the past six years, Co Hanh has never officially introduced to anyone that I am his wife. I will always just be...

"Assistant Lam."

Of course, my colleagues all knew about it. But no one ever mentioned it to my face. Just like my wife's identity... It's something that cannot be revealed to the light. For six years. I collaborated with him to perform the longest pantomime. Outsiders think we are just superiors and subordinates. Then we really only play the roles of superior and subordinate. Until the divorce. No one has ever seen even a single intimate gesture between us. If that's the case... Then it's gone. I go for an interview. The design company is located in the creative district on the west side of the city. A small three-story building. In front of the gate are planted two osmanthus trees. Compared to Co Thi's glass skyscraper. This place is like a completely different world. The interviewer is one of the company's partners. Over forty years old. Wear a loose linen shirt. How to speak frankly and decisively.

"Previously you worked as Assistant General Director at Co Thi?"

"Why quit your job?"

"I want to move to a different direction of development. The previous job was too monotonous."

General Manager Chu glanced at my resume.

"Six years as assistant to the General Director, in charge of administration, public relations, customer connection, and also project coordination for half a year..."

"That's it, miss called monotony?

I don't answer that question. He continued flipping through the papers in his hand.

"In your opinion, what does the position of Operations Director need to do?"

I spent fifteen minutes presenting all my thoughts. From how to build the content matrix. Stratification of customer groups. Coming to the pace of implementing brand cooperation campaigns. These are all things I observed and learned during my six years at Co Thi. Although in name only an assistant. But all of Co Hanh's business decisions... I witnessed them at a close distance. After listening to my presentation, General Manager Chu put his resume on the table.

"Come to work next Monday."

"Three month probation."

"After officially signing the contract, the company will grant you stock options."

"That fast?"

"I've looked at your resume three times already. Last week I wanted to make an appointment with you to discuss, but you didn't respond to the message."

That's when I remembered. Last week... I was still busy with my divorce.

"Okay, see you next Monday."

Leaving the creative area, the outdoor sunlight is extremely bright. Phuong Du is right. The rain has stopped. The sky is also clear. I took the car home. Not Phuong Du's house. It's the house I just rented. The new contract was signed yesterday. A one-bedroom apartment in an old apartment complex south of the city. The monthly rent is two thousand three hundred yuan. There is a small balcony. Enough for the tiger tongue pot to dry in the sun every day. Just put down my bag. The phone rang. Some strange machines. I picked up the phone.

"Hello, may I ask if you are Ms. Lam Chieu?"

"I am manager Truong, senior customer department of Cam Thanh Bank. I'm calling to confirm the term deposit in your name has just matured..."

"What is the term deposit?"

"It is a deposit of three million yuan, three-year term, opened in 2019. Last month, this deposit expired and the system automatically renewed it, so we want to confirm whether you will continue to maintain it..."

I was stunned.

"Did you call the wrong one? I don't have three million yuan."

On the other end of the line, turn over the file.

"I'm Lam Chieu, ID number 320..."

"Is that right?"

It's mine.

"This money was sent in March 2019, the authorized sender was Mr. Co Hanh."

March 2019. It was the second year after we got married.

"I didn't know about this."

"Ah... so perhaps Mr. Co did the procedure on my behalf. Do you want to go to the counter to confirm?"

"I'll come over tomorrow."

I sat in the empty living room. Quietly looked at the newly painted white wall for a long time. Three million yuan. Co Hanh used my name to send three million yuan. Which I was completely unaware of. After all... What does that mean? The monthly salary he pays me is only twenty-five thousand yuan. For the past six years. All my own savings combined were just over four hundred thousand yuan. Yet behind me. He quietly deposited another three million yuan in my name? If that money is for me. Why was it never said? If not for me. Why use my name? I kept thinking. Still can't find the solution. But there's one thing. I'm very sure. No matter what these three million yuan means. The divorce agreement is clearly stated.

"Assets in someone's name belong to that person."

Co Hanh signed it. The money is in my name. Dill is mine. Date the next day. I went to the bank to confirm. Three million yuan. It is indeed in my account. Plus more than three hundred thousand in interest. A total of three million, three hundred and thirty-four thousand yuan. I stood in front of the bank. The sunlight shines hotly on the back of your neck. My head was buzzing like there were hundreds of cicadas chirping. During the past six years... What does he see me as? The phone rang. It's Phuong Du.

"Let's go eat hot pot tonight? I've booked a table."

"Your voice is so strange."

"Is something wrong?"

"Let's meet and talk later."