Chapter 2 — Your Own Face

Pho Nghien Tu put down the glass of water.

"Nam So, there are some things I originally intended to tell you later."

"When is it? Wait until I get trampled in the mud before playing the role of a caring husband?"

His eyebrows frowned slightly.

"No one can trample you in the mud."

I stood up.

"But today Tong Hoai An did it."

"So he paid the price."

I laughed.

"Pay the price? You mean Thanh Lam Capital withdraws capital?"

Pho Nghien Tu did not deny it. I looked straight at him.

"What relationship do you have with Thanh Lam Investment Fund?"

At that moment, the doorbell rang. Pho Nghien Tu still sat still. I walked over to open the door. Outside the door was a young man wearing a suit, holding a file bag in his hand.

"Hello, Ms. Khuong. I'm Te Vien. General Director Pho told me to bring the documents."

I received the file bag.

"What documents?"

Qi Yuan glanced at Pho Nghien Tu. He calmly said:

"Give it to her."

I opened the file bag. Inside is a copy of my resignation decision. Along with a copy of the internal meeting minutes of Van Hoa Group. On the last page there is a line of text.

"Moving Khuong Nam So's position to create conditions for Khuong Van Van to take over the new brand."

I raised my head to look at him. Pho Nghien Tu slowly said:

"Now, you can decide for yourself whether to come back or not."

"Come back to continue being a buffalo and a horse for them?"

"Go back so they can personally invite you back."

At that moment, my phone rang. It's Tong Hoai An calling. I pressed listen.

"Nam So, what happened today was just a misunderstanding."

"General Manager Tong, I have signed the resignation letter."

"That document can be canceled. Come to the company tomorrow, we will meet and talk."

"What are you talking about?"

He was silent for a few seconds then replied:

"About my position, and the new brand. The Board of Directors has agreed that..."

"Van Hoa cannot be without you."

I slowly raised my eyes to look at Pho Nghien Tu. Pho Nghien Tu was still sitting on the sofa, his expression calm. As if everything was within his expectations. I said to the other end of the line:

"I will consider it."

"Nam So, from Thanh Lam Investment Fund..."

"General Manager Tong."

I interrupted him.

"When you fired me, no one gave me time to consider."

Having finished speaking, I hung up the phone. Pho Nghien Tu looked at me.

"I'll go with you tomorrow."

"No need."

"If you go alone, they will continue to spy on you."

"I stood firm in Van Hoa for seven years, not thanks to you."

He nodded slightly.

"I know."

"No, I don't know."

I picked up the meeting minutes.

"If you really understood, you wouldn't have kept it from me for so long."

Pho Nghien Tu slightly lowered his eyes. Qi Vien was still standing outside the door, unable to advance, nor retreat. I spoke up:

"Assistant Qi, please go back first."

Qi Vien looked at Pho Nghien Tu. He calmly said:

"Just listen to her."

The door closed. There are only two of us left in the house. I looked straight at him.

"Pho Nghien Tu... who are you?"

He raised his head.

"You'll know tomorrow."

"I want to know now."

He stood up and slowly walked in front of me.

"Nam So, my mood is unstable tonight."

I threw the document on the table.

"The person who was fired was me. The person who was kept in the dark about everything was also me. What right do you have to judge whether my mood is stable or not?"

He closed his eyes once airy. At that moment, my phone rang again. This time it's my device. Khuong Van Van. As soon as she clicked to listen, her laughter rang out.

"Sister, I heard you left Van Hoa?"

I didn't reply. Khuong Van Van smiled even more happily.

"Don't be sad. It's good for women to rest when they reach this age. Doesn't your brother-in-law still have a stable job? He should be able to take care of you."

Pho Nghien Tu's face immediately turned cold. I turned on the speakerphone. Khuong Van Van continued.

"Oh right, dad told me to remember to come home for dinner tomorrow night. He said that since I'm unemployed, I shouldn't act like a strong woman anymore."

I curled my lips.

"Are you that impatient to see me become a laughing stock?"

"After all, we are all family, we only care about you."

"See you tomorrow night then."

I hung up. Pho Nghien Tu asked in a low voice:

"The Khuong family is also involved in this matter?"

"Khuong Van Van wants to steal my project."

"She couldn't steal it."

"She took it away a long time ago."

I looked at him.

"Pho Nghien Tu, tomorrow I will go to Van Hoa by myself. Tomorrow night I will also go to Khuong's house by myself. If you still want to hide it, then continue to hide it."

His voice was very quiet.

"I won't let you be alone."

I smiled faintly.

"But for the past eight years... you've left me alone."

He didn't say another word. That night, I slept in the guest room. At seven o'clock the next morning, Tong Hoai An called again.

"Nam So, have you been to the company yet?"

"Why should I come?"

"The board of directors is all waiting for you."

"It only took seven minutes for you to fire me last night."

"If you want to invite me back today, at least someone must come pick you up."

The other end of the line was silent. I added:

"General Manager Tong, sincerity cannot just be expressed verbally."

Half an hour later. Van Hoa Group's car stopped in front of my house. The people who came were the head of human resources and Lam Thu. As soon as she saw me, Lam Thu's eyes turned red.

"Miss Nam So..."

The head of the human resources department lowered his attitude to an unprecedented level.

"Director Khuong, what happened yesterday happened too quickly. General Manager Tong told me to personally come and pick you up at the company."

I calmly looked at her.

"I'm no longer Director Khuong."

She immediately corrected her words.

"As long as you agree to come back, the appointment decision will be restored today."

At that moment, Pho Nghien Tu walked out of the bedroom. He has finished changing his clothes. I frowned.

"What are you doing?"

"See you downstairs."

"No need."

He gave me a jacket.

"Early in the morning there was a strong wind."

Lam Thu looked at him, stunned. Perhaps she didn't expect that my husband, whom everyone always thought was normal to the point of being unremarkable... had an aura that made others dare not speak casually.