Chapter 21 — Back Before The Wedding Day

On the first Monday of the week, as soon as Khanh Linh entered the company, she felt a different atmosphere, heavier than usual. A few colleagues looked at her with questioning eyes, whispered and then quickly quieted down when they saw her approaching.

"What's up?" she asked Bao Ngoc as soon as she sat down at her desk.

Bao Ngoc showed her his phone and opened a post that had just appeared on a fashion industry forum with a large number of followers, with a sensational title: "Bao Tin's young creative director is suspected of plagiarizing design ideas and manipulating project financial data." The article cited "unnamed internal sources" accusing Khanh Linh of taking advantage of her position to appropriate the ideas of other team members, and also falsifying some budget reports for personal gain.

Khanh Linh's heart turned cold. This was exactly the tactic used in her past life to destroy her reputation before the official embezzlement accusation — pre-emptively attacking her reputation, making public opinion more willing to believe any subsequent accusations.

"This is blatant slander," Bao Ngoc said, his voice indignant on behalf of his friend. "Who would do this to you?"

"I think I know who is behind this," Khanh Linh replied, her voice strangely calm even though her heart was churning with anger. She immediately called lawyer Kien and read him the entire content of the article.

"This is a classic but effective tactic to defame your reputation," Mr. Kien commented, his voice serious. "They are trying to discredit you in public, so that if any official accusations are made in the future, public opinion will easily believe it. You need to calm down, not overreact on social networks, let me prepare a written request to remove the post and make corrections, and collect evidence to show that this is intentional slander."

"I understand," Khanh Linh replied, taking a deep breath to stay calm.

At noon, the situation became even more complicated when some partners providing fabrics for the next collection project started calling, showing hesitation, wanting to postpone the contract to "further consider the situation". Khanh Linh understands that this is a direct consequence of the widespread smear campaign.

"We can't just sit still and endure the battle," she told Lam Quoc Bao during the lunch break, her voice filled with determination. "I think it's time to make public part of the evidence we have, at least to protect personal reputation before things go too far."

"I agree, but it needs to be done in the right way, through the right channel," Lam Quoc Bao replied, his eyes thoughtful. "If made public via social networks, it may be considered an emotional and unprofessional reaction. I think we should let lawyer Kien compile an official statement with clear legal grounds and send it to the inspection agency and a few reputable press channels at the same time."

In the afternoon, Khanh Linh received a call from Thu Ha, her friend's voice was full of worry. "Linh, I just read that article. Are you okay? Can I help you?"

"I'm fine, thank you for asking," Khanh Linh replied, feeling warmed by her friend's sincere concern. "Actually, I need some help. Can you write an objective analysis of this situation in your magazine? No need to defend me one-sidedly, just question the motives behind these anonymous accusations, and about the time the article appeared — right after rumors of a financial investigation at Bao Tin."

"I will do it right away," Thu Ha replied, her voice decisive. "The press has a responsibility to ask questions when there are signs of such abnormalities."

Late in the afternoon, when Khanh Linh was packing her things to prepare to leave, Dang Khoa suddenly appeared in front of her office door, his face haggard, his eyes dark circles as if he hadn't had enough sleep for many nights.

"Can we talk?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

The two of them went out to the familiar balcony area. "I have read the entire draft contract," Dang Khoa said, without beating around the bush, "I have been quietly studying it for the past few days since your message. I... I can't believe my mother could do such things."

"I'm sorry for making you know the truth this way," Khanh Linh said, her voice sincere. "But I believe, you deserve to know."

"The article slandering you today," Dang Khoa continued, his eyes filled with pain, "I know for sure it was directed by my mother. I heard a phone call from you last night." He paused, took a deep breath as if trying to muster the courage to say the next thing. "I will testify, if necessary. I cannot continue to stay silent, pretending to know nothing while you and Bao Ngoc have to suffer the consequences of my mother's wrongdoings."

Khanh Linh looked at him, unable to hide her surprise at this brave decision. "Do you understand that this could seriously affect the relationship between you and your mother?"

"I understand," Dang Khoa replied, his voice choked but his eyes became more determined than the usual weakness before. "But I can't continue living in this lie anymore. Perhaps, this is the first time in my life that I truly dare to stand up for what is right, instead of just obeying to keep peace in the family." He gripped the balcony handrail tightly, his knuckles turning white from squeezing too hard, as if trying to convey all his immature determination into each word.

"Thank you," Khanh Linh said, truly touched by this change. "I will let lawyer Kien know. You can contact him directly when you are ready."

Dang Khoa nodded, then looked at her for a long moment, his eyes carrying a complex sadness that was difficult to name. "I know, we'll probably never be anything more than that," he said, his voice trailing off, "but I hope, at the very least, we can still be respectful colleagues after all of this."

"I hope so too," Khanh Linh replied, smiling gently, feeling a sense of relief creep into his heart when he saw that Dang Khoa had finally found the courage to stand on the right side, even at the cost of his relationship with the mother he had always respected and feared for so many years.

Late that night, when Khanh Linh was sitting alone in her room, trying to draft an official announcement with lawyer Kien, she received a text message from another strange phone number: "Do you think you can win this game of chess? Retreat while you still can, Ms. Linh." She looked at the message, her hands shaking slightly but her eyes remained steadfast and unwavering.

"No," she whispered, deleting the message after taking a screenshot and sending it to lawyer Kien, "this time, I will not back down, not even one step."

She immediately called Lam Quoc Bao and recounted the conversation with Dang Khoa. He was silent for a moment before speaking, his voice a bit complicated. "It was an unexpected but positive development. If Dang Khoa is really willing to testify against his mother, this will be a very strong blow to Kim Chi's entire defense plan."

"I was equally surprised," Khanh Linh admitted. "I never thought he would be brave enough to do this."

"Perhaps, it was your sincerity and steadfastness that inspired him," Lam Quoc Bao said, his voice deep. "Not everyone has the courage to face the truth when it concerns their own loved ones."

The two continued to discuss further about the next steps to prepare, how to coordinate with lawyer Kien to take advantage of potential testimony from Dang Khoa in the most effective way, while continuing to consolidate other evidence previously collected.

Before hanging up, Lam Quoc Bao added, his voice softening. "No matter how complicated things were, you did very well. Not many people can both maintain their stance and at the same time inspire those who once stood on the opposing side like Bao Ngoc and now Dang Khoa."

"I'm just trying to do what I believe is right," Khanh Linh replied, her voice gentle but filled with gratitude for his encouragement. "With you by my side, everything seems a lot less burdensome."

That night, before going to bed, she opened her notebook and wrote an important note: "The smear campaign has begun - a sign that Mrs. Kim Chi is fiercely counterattacking. Dang Khoa chose to stand on the side of truth and was ready to testify. We need to mentally prepare for the next counterattack, which may even target our family." She underlined the last line twice, as a reminder not to be negligent for even a moment.