Chapter 13 — The Dignity of a Signature

“More than two hundred employees…”

“It's half thanks to my design that I have food to eat.”

“From the moment you changed my name to Hua Tu Tu…”

“…you should have thought about today.”

I hung up. The bowl of noodles in front of me has already cooled down. I ordered a new bowl. At two o'clock in the afternoon, Truong Ky's exclusive interview was sent to my email. The title is:

“In four years of secret marriage, she drew thirty-seven prize-winning plans for her husband, but she never signed them once.”

The content is not long. About three thousand words. The tone is extremely calm. Not intentionally sad. Don't accuse anyone on my behalf. Simply presenting each truth before the reader's eyes. File history. Timestamp. Review by Phuong Tri Vien. Photo of Tham Hao's speech in the company group. All are attached at the end of the article. Chuong Ky does not add salt and fish sauce. But the truth alone... It's shocking enough. After reading it, I replied to the email:

“Can post.”

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the article officially aired. Four hours, the number of reads exceeded five hundred thousand. At five o'clock, the entire design forum and social network were sharing that article. The comment battlefield is even more intense than last night's livestream.

“After reading it, I got goosebumps.”

“Four years of free design work for my husband, in the end I didn't even have a name.”

“Shen Hao is truly disgusting.”

"Does Hua Tu Tu know about this? If she knows, she is an accomplice."

"I really love Lam Ha. Does this type of husband not divorce and still keep Tet?"

At six o'clock in the evening, the official account of Tham Thi Designer posted a statement. The company takes the recent controversial incident extremely seriously and has established an internal investigation team to verify it. Before reaching the final conclusion, I hope everyone stays rational, does not spread rumors, and does not spread false information. The comments below are almost entirely sarcastic:

"Don't spread rumors? If the Timestamp is fully posted, is it still called a rumor?"

“The investigation team went to investigate their own boss?”

“Doesn't the conscience of the entire Tam Thi design department feel pain?”

“Unfollowed, no cooperation forever.”

Seven o'clock in the evening. I received my first private message from a customer. That's the brand director of a hotel chain. Last year Thi Tham did a project for them. He texted:

"Miss Lam Ha, last year's hotel lobby renovation project, at that time the person who directly communicated was Tham Hao..."

“…but the design plan was actually made by you, right?”

I replied: The other party replied almost immediately:

“I know.”

“That plan is too excellent, unlike Tham Hao's level.”

“Miss Lam, next year we have a new project at the hotel.”

“If you go independent…”

“…do you want to accept it?”

I looked at that message for a long time. Then answer in two words: At eight o'clock in the evening, Lieu Than called.

“I read Truong Ky's article.”

he said.

“Writing is very restrained.”

“But heavy enough.”

“Right now, there will definitely be a lot of people looking for you to cooperate.”

“But don't be in a hurry.”

“I want to introduce you to someone.”

“She is preparing to establish an independent designer alliance, targeting the high-end segment, and is currently recruiting founding members.”

“You must have heard the name.”

“Five years ago, among the group of designers returning from abroad, she was as famous as you.”

Of course I know. Five years ago, at the Shenzhen design exhibition, my booth was next to hers. She works on architectural lighting design. The style is completely different from mine. But that day we stood in front of each other's work and talked all afternoon. Later I returned to Tham Hao's company. And she went to another city to develop independently. From then on gradually lost contact.

“She knows about me?”

“The whole world knows it.”

Lieu Than burst out laughing.

“Last night after watching the livestream, she immediately texted me to find a way to contact her.”

“Send me WeChat.”

After hanging up the phone, I made friends with Le Kha. Her profile picture is a beam of light shining on a concrete wall. So simple it's cold.

“Le Kha, I'm Lam Ha.”

She replied extremely quickly:

“I've been waiting for you for a long time.”

“See you tomorrow?”

Putting down the phone, I sat by the hotel window looking out at the city. It was completely dark. The car lights down the road stretched into a glowing river. That moment when I answered “Yes”… My heart beat a beat faster. Not because of worry. It's because of excitement. It's been four years. A designer has not been able to sign his own work for four years... Finally, he can use the name "Lam Ha" to accept projects. The phone vibrated again. This is Phuong Khiet's message:

“Sister Ha, when I got off work today, I heard some people in the design department secretly discussing…”

“Looks like someone wants to quit.”

I replied:

“Tieu Tran.”

“There is also Chu Due in the modeling team.”

“The two of them have been calling everywhere all day today.”

I looked at that message. No reply. But I remembered those two names. The next morning at ten o'clock, I arranged to meet Le Kha at a coffee shop. Compared to five years ago, she is a little thinner. Hair is also cut short. She wore a gray cotton linen jacket, looking very neat and crisp. As soon as she sat down, she pushed the menu aside and got straight to the point.