Chapter 4 — The entire department's salary is 39,000 yuan, just me 5,800 yuan

Those three words were like three thunderbolts across the sky, exploding in Vuong Le's head. She looked at me. The face she had seen for three years, so familiar that it was almost forgotten, now brought with it a strange feeling that she had never seen before. That's not a provocation. Not bragging either. It's the calmness after everything is over.

“No way!”

Vuong Le blurted out. The voice was sharp to the point of distortion.

“A project assistant like me, without any management experience, what company would pay me 25,000 yuan?”

“Chu Nhien, don't let people fool you!”

She tried to use her own experience to deny the truth that she could not accept.

“Now there are many scam companies out there!”

"Draw me a big cake, lure me into jumping ship, and when I get tricked, I'll cry!"

My expression didn't change at all. I just raised my chin slightly, looking at her face that was starting to distort with excitement.

“Ms. Vuong.”

"The new company has completed my background check."

A light word. But it carries more weight than any argument. Background check. Those four words immediately dispelled all remaining luck and doubt in Vuong Le's heart. That means the offer is real. That means I'm not lying. It means that the other party is a regular company with a strict and professional recruitment process. Vuong Le's lips moved slightly. But couldn't utter a single word. She felt like the air in the office had been drained away. Chest so tight it's hard to breathe. At the same time. Outside the office door. Trieu Vu stood frozen in place like a statue that had just been struck by lightning. His mind was blank. Only one sentence remained in my ears repeating:

“Monthly salary 25,000 yuan.”

He is the division's sales champion. Every day, I risk my life to meet the target. Compete. Every month, I carry a ton of heavy KPIs on my back. Yet the base salary is only 18,000 yuan. The rest must rely on new commissions to be pulled up. An assistant that he usually orders around like a maid. Someone he didn't even bother to look directly at once. Silently without sound. Yet you receive a salary of 25,000 yuan? Is this world crazy? He almost walked with his hands and feet. Stiffly return to the common working area. Ly Vy is sitting and applying lipstick. Seeing his dazed appearance, she couldn't help but roll her eyes.

“Did Ms. Vuong scold you?”

Trieu Vu did not answer. He walked to his desk and plopped down. The chair made a shrill squeaking sound. Several colleagues around immediately looked over.

“Mr. Vu, what's going on?”

Trieu Vu took a deep breath. It was as if an earth-shattering secret was about to be revealed. He lowered his voice.

“Chu Nhien…”

He hesitated a bit. It seems like I haven't been able to digest this shock yet.

“She... she found a new job.”

“Monthly salary... 25,000 yuan!”

A colleague who was drinking water immediately sprayed it directly onto the computer screen. Ly Vy's hand holding the lipstick also stopped in mid-air. She rolled her eyes and looked at Trieu Vu.

“What did you say?”

“25,000 yuan?”

“Is that Yuan or underworld money?”

“You heard wrong, right?”

“I heard it with my own ears!”

Trieu Vu's voice was still shaking.

“Right in my office King!”

“Chu Nhien said it herself!”

The whole department immediately fell into a strange quiet atmosphere. Everyone stopped the work at hand. No one said anything. Everyone's face showed surprise and confusion, just like Vuong Le's. Does Chu Nhien receive a salary of 5,800 yuan? Is Chu Nhien always quietly in the corner of the room? That salary is even higher than most people in the department. How is this possible? Right at that moment. The department head's office door opened. I walked out. The gait is still the same as usual. Not fast. Not slow. But today, under everyone's gaze, the distance of just over ten meters from the office door to my desk is like a bright red carpet with bright lights. All eyes were glued to me like headlights. There is surprise in that. There is doubt. There is jealousy. I completely ignored those eyes. Return to your seat. Sit down. Turn on the computer. Then, right in front of everyone. I create a new Word document. The document title is:

“Work Handover List.”

I began to calmly list each item of work I had been responsible for over the past three years. From changing water to water plants. Go to the compilation of meeting minutes. From handling the reports that Ly Vy pushed. Coming to data support for Trieu Vu's sales contracts. One line after another. The only thing left in the whole office is the sound of my typing on the keyboard. Carrying an unquestionable rhythm. Also in the department head's office. Vuong Le slumped into the chair. Look at the fragile resignation letter on the table. But it feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. She knows. The real trouble has arrived.