I left the company when night had already fallen. The city lights shimmered, traffic still bustling. But inside me was a strange calmness, as if bracing for the storm ahead.
Tham Du opened the car door for me and said quietly, "I've checked. The anonymous complaint came from an IP address within the company. But the person used an unregistered device and didn't log into any employee account. I'm still tracking it."
I nodded. "Good job. Keep going. I want names—every single one of them trying to drag me down."
The car rolled through the glittering streets. I leaned my head against the window, eyes gazing into the distance. It had been a long time since I felt this alive. No longer a puppet, no longer a side character with a doomed script.
But just when I thought I could finally breathe, my phone rang.
It was nearly midnight.
A strange number. I hesitated for a few seconds, then picked up.
"Lam Hoa Tu," a deep voice spoke. It was him. Hoai Trach.
I stayed silent for a moment before replying, "Why are you calling me at this hour?"
"What game are you playing now?"
I chuckled softly. "This time, I haven't done anything. Why so quick to accuse?"
"You submitted a transfer request to the Southern Branch?" His voice turned cold.
"That's right," I replied. "I want to leave a place drowning in prejudice."
"You know that branch is hemorrhaging money. What do you think you can do?"
"I don't think," I said. "I act."
There was silence on the other end, followed by a quiet exhale.
"I'm warning you, Hoa Tu. Don't think a few tricks will change your fate."
"Thank you for the warning," I answered calmly. "But if fate is already written, then I have even more reason to break it."
I hung up before he could say anything else.
My heart pounded. I didn't know why he called. Was it curiosity? Suspicion? Or… something he couldn't admit?
I shook my head. Whatever it was, I couldn't let myself be pulled back into the old storyline.
I needed to be stronger. And to do that, I had to move first.
The next morning, I left the city, officially starting my new position at the Southern Branch.
The building was old. The staff looked bored and unmotivated. Files were stacked high, and the air felt heavy. The moment I walked in, the entire office seemed to freeze.
Some looked at me with disdain. Others whispered openly.
"Thought that rich girl only knew how to burn money. Why would she come to a sinking ship like this?"
"I heard she got humiliated by the CEO at a charity event."
I ignored them, walking straight to the front.
"Good morning," I said. "I'm your new director – Lam Hoa Tu."
No one responded. Just silence thick with challenge.
I smiled slightly. "I know what you're all thinking. But starting today, everything here will change."
A middle-aged man spoke up, smirking. "You may be from Lam Corp, but what experience do you have managing a failing branch?"
"I once doubled a division's revenue in three months," I said. "But if you want to judge my ability based on results, wait until the first monthly review."
The room fell silent.
I looked around. "I don't care what you thought of me before. But if you want to keep your jobs, then you'd better start adapting."
And with that, I turned, leaving them with one final line:
"I don't need your approval. Just your cooperation."
I knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy. But this time, I wasn't a pawn anymore. I was a player.
And I would win.