Chapter 3 — When I Was Forced to Quit My Job at the Age of 40, I Became the President of a Hundred Billion Company

Tien Dat Pham's face immediately darkened. I didn't even look at him. Quietly followed Ms. Vuong out. In the hallway, Ms. Vuong lowered her voice.

“President To, the matter of your resignation has just been reported to Chairman Zhou.”

"I heard that when he heard the news, he was so angry that he threw the teacup in his hand."

Twenty-eighth floor. Office of the President. Chairman Zhou Kien Quoc is standing in front of the ground-level glass door. He was sixty-five years old. Half-white hair. But the figure is still quite strong. On the floor were scattered pieces of broken porcelain. Tea spilled streaks on the expensive carpet. Hearing the noise, he turned around and looked at me.

“Where is the resignation letter?”

I took out the backup copy from my pocket. I have prepared two copies. Then give it to him. Chu Kien Quoc received it. Scroll through once. Then right in front of me... He used both hands. The A4 paper was immediately torn in half. White pieces of paper fell at his feet. His voice was hoarse but powerful.

“In the entire company, she is the only one who understands Thanh Le's entire core formula.”

“Seventy percent of the valuation when the company listed was bet on this product.”

“You can't go.”

I stood still. Didn't move at all.

“What about Tien Dat Pham?”

Chu Kien Quoc was silent for three seconds.

“I will handle his matter.”

“How to handle it?”

I looked straight at him.

“Today he can force me to reduce my salary by thirty percent.”

“Tomorrow he can also change the blood of the entire research room.”

“Chairman Chu.”

“I have devoted twelve years to Hoa Thuy.”

“Even if there is no merit, there is still hardship.”

“But the words I heard in the meeting room today…”

“Every sentence and every word makes me feel like the past twelve years have been nothing more than a joke.”

Chu Kien Quoc's fingers gripping the back of the chair tightened slightly. He looked at me for a long time. Finally, just say one thing:

“You just give me the conditions.”

“I only have one very simple condition—”

I haven't finished speaking yet. The office door was pushed open again. Tien Dat Pham stood outside the door. His face was extremely unsightly.

“President... President Zhou.”

“I'm handling the personnel adjustment.”

"To Vy's resignation process has been started..."

“Who approved?”

Chu Kien Quoc's voice suddenly raised.

“Who gave permission?”

“Did you approve it?”

“Has the board approved it yet?”

“Have you reported to me yet?”

Tien Dat Pham choked. Can't say a word.

“A deputy general in charge of operations dares to interfere with the research line?”

Chu Kien Quoc looked at him coldly.

“I asked you.”

“Do you know that the FDA audit team is coming next week?”

“Do you know that the clinical data of the third generation Thanh Le is still not locked?”

“Do you know if To Vy quits her job, how much the company's valuation will evaporate?”

Tien Dat Pham gritted his teeth.

“But the recipe is still on the company's server…”

“Do you understand the formula?”

Chu Kien Quoc interrupted.

“You can't even read the molecular structure of early Thanh Le.”

“In the server there is only data.”

“Not human.”

Tien Dat Pham's face was sometimes red and sometimes white. He looked at me. Those eyes were filled with hatred and unwillingness. I know well. This isn't over yet. Zhou Kien Quoc got what he wanted. Temporarily keep me here. Tien Dat Pham also swallow this anger. But it's only temporary. And I stood between those two men. Understanding a truth more clearly than ever. In this room... No one really cares about To Vy. What Chu Kien Quoc cares about is the company's successful listing. What Tien Dat Pham cares about is power in his hands. Just a chess piece. But if that piece is important enough. It will have the right to choose the conditions to continue staying on the board. When I walked out of President Chu's office, the clock showed six o'clock in the evening. I was alone in the elevator. The phone kept vibrating. It's a message from Tieu Tran.

"Sister To!!! I heard that President Chu tore up your resignation letter?? Is that true???"

“Are you okay?”

“When Tien Dat Pham walked out of Chairman Chu's office, his face turned pale and he even banged on the door!”

"How about we go out to eat tonight? I'll invite you to drink a few drinks to relieve your sadness!"

I looked at the screen. Then just answer with one word: On the way home. In my head, Chu Kien Quoc's last words kept echoing.

“You just give me the conditions.”

“To Vy, give me a week.”

“In one week, I will give you a satisfactory answer.”

“The salary reduction will be canceled, your position will remain the same.”

“As for Tien Dat Pham, I will manage him.”

He wanted to use a week to resolve the conflict between me and Tien Dat Pham. To be more precise... It's a balance between my value and the number of shares that the Tien family holds in the company. Tien Duc Minh owns 18% of Hoa Thuy's shares, being the second largest shareholder. The fact that Tien Dat Pham was brought into the company was actually the first step for the Tien family to step into executive power. Zhou Kien Quoc did not dare to really touch Qian Dat Pham. He just wanted to keep me first. This kind of delaying strategy... I'm all too familiar with it. Lasts a week. Then a month. Wait until the listing is complete. My value will change from "irreplaceable" to "it's okay to have it, it's okay not to have it". At that time, if Tien Dat Pham continues to attack... Chu Kien Quoc is afraid that he won't even bother to blink. Come home. My mother is cooking rice in the kitchen. Boy lying on the tea table doing homework.

“Mom is home!”

The boy raised his head and smiled brightly at me.

"Mom is home. Is your homework done yet?"

“Only two more pages left!”

I changed my shoes and went into the kitchen to help my mother bring food.

“Why are you home so late today?”

Mom asked while stirring the food in the pan.

"Your face doesn't look very good. Is there something wrong with work?"

“It's nothing, Mom.”

“A bit busy with the project recently.”

Mom looked at me for a moment. In the end, I didn't ask any more. This year she is sixty-three years old. Blood sugar is always unstable. I don't want her to worry anymore. After meal. After putting my son to sleep. I sat alone on the balcony. Go back to the message from the headhunter who contacted me three months ago.

“Dr. To, Thien Hop Pharmaceutical's invitation is still valid.”

“If you change your mind, please contact me at any time.”

Sending time: Ninety days ago. At that time, I politely refused. And now... My finger stopped on the screen. Hesitate for more than ten seconds. But in the end, I still didn't press send. Not because of hesitation. But because I need to think carefully. I can leave. But Absolutely cannot leave while being forced to the limit by others. Right at that moment. The phone vibrated again. Beijing number.

“Excuse me, is this Dr. To Vy?”

“I am Secretary Ngo, of the National Program Office for Key New Drug Research and Development.”

“We have a project we want to discuss with you.”

“I wonder if it's convenient for you to talk now?”