Chapter 1 — Your Own Face

The day I was fired, I texted my husband a message. He only answered with two words:

"I know."

Three minutes later, the board of directors of Van Hoa Group received a call.

"Sorry, Thanh Lam Investment Fund decided to withdraw its investment of 480 million yuan."

The entire board of directors was immediately shaken. The general manager who had just fired me quickly came to find me personally and begged me to return to the company. However, my younger half-sister laughed at me right in front of everyone.

"Once you leave the company, it's nothing."

Until the meeting room door was pushed open. My husband slowly walked in and calmly spoke:

"She doesn't need you guys to give her face."

"Because I am her face."

"Sorry, Thanh Lam Investment Fund decided to withdraw its investment of 480 million yuan."

The call ended. The entire meeting room fell silent. Tong Hoai An tightened his grip on the phone, his knuckles turning white. He stiffened in his chair as if someone was pinning him down.

"General Manager Tong, who's calling?"

The CFO was the first to speak up. Tong Hoai An did not answer. His eyes stopped on the resignation letter he had just signed, and his throat moved slightly twice. Three minutes ago, he personally removed my name from the list of directors of Van Hoa Group. The glass door closed behind me. I held a cardboard box and stood in front of the elevator. Inside there is only a cup, two planning documents and a metal nameplate engraved with the words: Khuong Nam So - Brand Director. The head of the human resources department hurriedly followed.

"Director Khuong, the compensation will be transferred to the account within three days."

I smiled.

"Don't call me Director Khuong anymore."

She smiled wryly.

"Miss Nam So... I just followed the procedure."

"I know."

The elevator door opens. I walked in. The phone vibrated slightly. Message I sent to the person pinned at the top of my contacts:

"I'm fired."

Below appear two more words.

"I know."

I stared at those two words. After eight years of marriage, Pho Nghien Tu's reaction to me losing my job was even more concise than when food was delivered to the wrong address. The elevator stops on the first floor. Security guard Mr. Trieu saw the cardboard box in my hand and moved his lips.

"Director Khuong..."

I smiled faintly.

"You don't need to register guests today. I won't come back here again."

He silently bowed his head. I held the cardboard box and walked out of the building. As soon as I got in the car, my phone vibrated again. A newsletter is pushed forward.

"Van Hoa Group's 480 million yuan capital call suddenly encountered problems, Thanh Lam Investment Fund suddenly withdrew capital."

I stopped. 480 million yuan. Thanh Lam Investment Fund. Those three names placed next to each other seemed like someone was deliberately exposing the humiliation I had just endured to the world. The driver asked:

"Where are you going?"

I read the home address. The car was strangely quiet. I opened the news. The content is not much, just saying that Thanh Lam Investment Fund has withdrawn capital, but the reason has not been announced. The comments section blew up.

"Could it be that something happened within Van Hoa?"

"I heard the leadership just changed."

"Thanh Lam Capital rarely changes its mind at the last minute. This time there is definitely a reason."

I turned off the phone. Pho Nghien Tu probably hasn't returned yet. He works as an investment consultant, and his working hours are very free. On one's own So much so that sometimes I don't know if he's really busy, or just doesn't want me to know what he's busy with. Come home. The room was dark, no lights were on. I put the cardboard box down next to the door and sat on the sofa. The phone vibrates again. It's Lam Thu, my colleague.

"Miss Nam So, are you okay?"

I don't answer. A while later, she sent another message.

"I heard something. It seems you were fired not because of restructuring, but because someone said you were getting in the way of the new branding plan."

The next second, that message was revoked. A new news quickly appeared.

"I probably heard wrong, don't think too much."

I looked at the notification "Message has been recalled", my finger paused on the screen. Who's in the way? During the past half year, the new brand line has always been in charge of me. If I leave... Then there's only one person who can take over. Khuong Van Van. The younger half-sister that my father brought home after remarrying. Also the future daughter-in-law candidate most favored by the chairwoman of Van Hoa Group. The sound of a key turning in the lock rang out. Pho Nghien Tu pushed the door and walked in. He wore a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and in his hand was carrying an old briefcase. Looks like a normal husband.

"Are you back?"

"I know."

I answered him with the exact two words he once answered me. His movements stopped. His eyes glanced at the cardboard box placed in the mysterious entrance and then quickly moved away.

"Have you eaten yet?"

"Not hungry."

"I cook noodles."

"No need."

He looked at me. I smiled softly.

"Don't you already know?"

Pho Nghien Tu did not respond. He put down his bag and went straight to the kitchen. The sound of running water rang out. His phone placed on the tea table suddenly lit up. The caller's name is saved in Chinese. I don't touch the phone. The bell rang for a while then turned off. Right after that, a message appeared.

"General Director Deputy, Van Hoa has called for the sixth time. Tong Hoai An requested to meet in person. A copy of Ms. Khuong's resignation decision has also been obtained. Do we need to bring it over immediately?"

I quietly stared at the screen. Deputy General Director. Copy of Ms. Khuong's decision to resign. The sound of water in the kitchen just stopped. I put the phone back to its original position. Pho Nghien Tu carried a glass of water and walked out.

"Why don't you turn on the lights?"

"Save money."

He conveniently turned on the light.

"My family is not short of money."

I raised my head to look at him.

"Pho Nghien Tu, is our family short of money... do you know better than me?"

He was silent for two seconds.

"What do you want to ask?"

"Who is Assistant Qi?"

His eyes shifted to the phone.

"I saw it."

"It's my assistant."

"Aren't you just an investment consultant?"

"An ordinary advisor, do you need an assistant to refuse to meet Tong Hoai An?"