Chapter 7 — On the day of divorce, I applied to quit my job

Tham Van pursed her lips. Change to another way of speaking.

"Three million yuan in my name..."

"Did he tell you?"

"The bank called to tell you."

"After that he mentioned something."

"That money was sent by Hanh Hanh in 2019."

"It said..."

"That's my dowry."

"When you two get married."

"He didn't buy anything for me."

"In his heart he always knew."

"Just don't say it."

"Don't say..."

"What's the use?"

"Hanh Hanh it..."

I interrupted her. Tham Van looked at me.

"I don't want to hear any more explanations about him."

"Regardless of what he thought before."

"How do you regret it now?"

"It no longer has anything to do with you."

"Divorce papers have been sealed."

"We are strangers."

The private room was silent for a few seconds. Tham Van picked up the cup of tea and took a sip. The look in my eyes has changed. From begging... To investigating.

"Chieu Chieu."

"If one day..."

"What if he personally comes to find you?"

"That's his problem."

"You really don't leave any way out?"

"The day before."

"When he signed his name."

"He didn't leave it for me either."

Tham Van did not say anything more. That meal lasted forty minutes. Most of the time. Just eat in silence. Finish the meal. She told the driver to take me home. I refuse. Call a taxi yourself. Before I got in the car. Tham Van stood in front of the restaurant door. Tell me the last sentence.

"You've changed a lot."

I closed the car door. No response. I have changed. In the past, Lam Chieu would say: "Thank you for your concern", would say: "I also have something wrong", and would always cleverly find ways to save face for the other person. And now. I won't be like that anymore. Three days after the presentation at the forum, the Marketing Director of the restaurant chain from the day before actually called me.

"Director Lam, our brand is currently in the repositioning phase and would like to invite an outside consultant. I wonder if you would be interested in discussing?"

I informed General Manager Chu in advance. He agreed very emphatically.

"You can admit it yourself. As long as you don't use the company's resources, consider it a personal part-time job."

It was my first solo project. I signed a three-month consulting contract. The consultation fee is one hundred and twenty thousand yuan. Not much. Completely mine. It's not "replace and complete Co Hanh". Not "signed by Co Hanh". It was an order received by Lam Chieu himself. Signed by Lam Chieu himself. It is also money earned by Lam Chieu himself. I told this story to Phuong Du. She was happier than me.

"In the future, you will be better off working as an independent consultant than working for a company."

"Don't rush."

"Just accumulate a few more projects first."

About that time. My life is very rhythmic. Going to work during the day. In the evening, spend an hour or two working on a consulting project. On weekends, I sometimes stop by Luc Dich's gallery to sit for a while. His monthly exhibition I went to twice. Simply because I like the quietness there. Luc Dich is a quiet person. Don't initiate conversation. But every time I come. He would come over and talk to me a few words. Then give me a glass of red wine. Phuong Du said. He means something to me. I just laughed.

"You've been thinking too much."

But I have to admit. Having a conversation with someone who didn't know Co Hanh. Don't know my past. It's a feeling very relieved. No need to explain why you quit your job. No need to explain why you divorced. Simply talking about painting. About design. About the books you have recently read. A relationship... Pure and clean. By week six. Co Hanh finally took action. Not looking for me. It's about finding my new company. Ten o'clock that morning. General Manager Chu called me into his office.

"Lin Chieu."

"There is someone looking for you at Co Thi Real Estate."

My heart sank slightly.

"What do you mean?"

"Their brand department sent an email."

"Says I watched the video of your speech at the forum."

"Want to discuss brand cooperation with our company."

"They named you in charge."

"Brand department?"

General Manager Chu reopened the email.

"The signer is..."

"Tran Nhuoc."

I laughed. Not the kind of laugh because it's funny. It's a smile like...

"So that's it."

"Lin Chieu?"

General Manager Chu looked at me.

"General Manager Chu."

"This collaborative project."

"I don't accept."

"Co Thi is a big customer."

"I used to work at Co Thi before."

"There is a conflict of interest."

"Moreover..."

I stopped for a moment.

"This email is not a decision of the brand department."

"It's General Manager Co's idea."

"He is using the company's name to find me."

General Manager Chu looked at me for a few seconds. Then quietly close the email.

"I got it."

"I will refuse."

"Thank you, General Manager Chu."

Leave the office. I stood outside in the hallway. Fingertips unconsciously rubbed the edge of the phone case. What are you thinking anyway? To the point of having to go around such great lengths?