Chapter 11 — People Whose Achievements Are Stolen

I put the phone down on the table. The glass of filtered water has been cold for a long time. He wanted me to prove myself. Not to complain. We don't have to wait for him to come out and calm it all down. It's about taking out something heavy enough... To silence all doubters. That's right. A national-level core researcher... If we can't handle even a bunch of worms in our institute... How can we stand on the highest laboratory table? I opened my laptop. In the cloud, all of my six years of original data, laboratory notes, thesis drafts, and analysis reports are neatly stacked item by item. This is mine. No matter whose name they change on paper... Every number, every data curve, every conclusion here... All grew from my own hands. I started to organize. No need to arrange evidence. It's about arranging the results. A complete research report. Qualified to directly submit to the core team of Thu Quang Plan. It only took me three seconds to come up with the title. It was the title of the topic that was changed to the author Ha Uyen Thanh. This topic is originally mine. Its name… It must also be mine. I typed on the computer until two in the morning. Ly Phong hasn't returned yet. I don't care. Half past three. Main content frame completed. Data packages and analysis charts are simultaneously uploaded to an independent cloud space. I emailed the Thu Quang Planning office staff. The content is only one line.

"The results report has been completed. Please forward it to academician Co."

Then I closed my laptop and went to the bathroom to wash my face. The person in the mirror has a pale gray face. The corner of the lips has a canker sore. But the eyes... They were surprisingly bright. Outside the door, there was the sound of a key turning in the lock. Ly Phong is back. He opened the door and walked in, his legs were a bit wobbly, and he smelled strongly of alcohol. He didn't turn on the living room light, just walked along the wall toward the bedroom. As I passed by, I saw the light in the bathroom, so I tilted my head to look in.

“Still not sleeping?”

He nodded and then turned around and went into the bedroom. I heard the sound of the belt buckle being removed and thrown on the nightstand. Next was the sound of the bed mattress sinking softly. Two minutes later. Snore. I turned off the bathroom light, went out to the living room and lay down on the sofa. White ceiling. Same color as the laboratory ceiling. I don't know when I fell asleep. The alarm rang at seven o'clock in the morning. I sat up and saw something else on the tea table. It's not a note from Ly Phong. It's a pre-printed set of documents. On the cover are written four words:

“Divorce agreement.”

Below is small text:

“We request Tham Niem's side to sign and confirm.”

I opened the first page. In terms of property division: The house belongs to Ly Phong. The car belongs to Ly Phong. Whoever keeps the deposit in their name. Don't mention the topic. No mention of thesis. No mention of data. No mention of reputation. It's like the things he took away never existed. Like in this marriage, what was killed was only love... Not my entire career. Ly Phong walked out of the bedroom door. Her hair is still wet, she probably just finished washing her face.

“See?”

“I see.”

“This is the best way.”

He leaned against the door frame, holding a towel in his hand to dry his hair.

“I know that too.”

“Right now it's about my data has been filed for investigation by the institute.”

“Director Tien's intention is to follow the official process.”

“If it is finally confirmed to be true…”

He stopped for a moment.

“It's not just a matter of sanctions.”

“But it can also affect your reputation in the industry.”

He placed the towel on his shoulder, his tone very calm.

“Divorce is the best way to cut losses for me.”

“Please leave the hospital quietly.”

"I will help you suppress the matter of falsifying data and not include it in the file."

“I'll move to another place and start again.”

“With my ability, finding a normal research institute is not difficult.”

Every word he said made perfect sense. It's so reasonable that it feels like it's been practiced before.

“What if I don't sign?”

“So the data investigation will continue.”

He paused for a moment then looked at me.

“Nien Niem, I don't want to threaten you.”

“But you should understand.”

“Now I don't have any cards left in my hand.”

“There is no laboratory.”

“There is no topic.”

“There is no name of the leading author.”

“There isn't even a complete device history to prove your data is real.”

“The only thing I can do…”

“It was before things got big and left with dignity.”