Chapter 23 — Hockey Stars Can't Overcome My Figure

Worthy Title

Three months after the final, Team White Tiger Bang Giang held a press conference to announce plans to prepare for the new season, a press conference with a completely different atmosphere than what happened in this main hall just a few months ago. There is no more tension, no more secrets waiting to explode, just an atmosphere of openness and confidence.

Pho Dinh Khang stepped on stage and began by reviewing the past season's achievements, before moving on to a part that he had carefully prepared for many weeks.

"Before announcing the new season plans," he said, "The White Tiger Bang Giang team would like to officially announce an important appointment. During the past four years, our team has benefited from excellent tactical analysis contributions, even though the person who made them was never widely known. Today, we want to correct that."

He signaled, and Yen Thao stepped onto the stage, wearing a neat suit, standing confidently, completely different from the image of the girl who had been standing in the backstage of the stage many months ago.

"I would like to introduce," Pho Dinh Khang continued, "Ms. Dai Yen Thao, who will officially take on the position of Head of the Professional Strategy Department of Team Bach Ho Bang Giang, in charge of all analysis of opponents, building competition tactics, and advising on competition psychology for the entire team."

Applause rang out from the reporters and sponsor representatives present, who now fully knew the true story behind the woman who had been vaguely and suspiciously mentioned in articles a few months ago.

Yen Thao stepped in front of the microphone, looking out across the hall, where her father sat in the front row with proud eyes, where Mai Bao Tram was wiping emotional tears, where Vu Trong Nam nodded encouragingly, and where Chan Phong stood in a corner, his eyes gentle and steadfast as always.

"I want to thank Team White Tiger Bang Giang," she said, her voice clear, without any trembling from the days of hiding in the dark. "But I also want to say one thing, not only for myself, but for everyone who is silently contributing somewhere, without a name, without a lens pointing at them. A person's value should not depend on whether they are seen or not. But when they are seen, when their efforts are called by the right name, it makes a huge difference, not only for them, but for a whole group that learns to appreciate silent values."

The whole lobby listened silently, many reporters carefully recorded every word, realizing that this was not simply an acceptance speech, but a declaration of values that Yen Thao had paid a heavy price to find.

Before leaving the stage, Pho Dinh Khang called Yen Thao back and gave her a new employee card, printed with her full name and title — a small detail but with great symbolic meaning after four years of her working without any official documents documenting her true role.

"I also want to announce," he added, "that we have decided to establish a small scholarship fund for young people studying sports data science, named 'Dai Yen Thao Fund', in recognition of her silent but persistent contributions to the development of professional hockey in Bang Giang."

Yen Thao was stunned by that unexpected announcement, her emotions were so overwhelming that it took her a few seconds to respond. "I... I don't know what else to say other than thank you," she said, her voice choked up. "I hope this scholarship fund will help many other young people not have to spend four years hiding in the dark like I did, but be recognized for their true value right from the first steps in their career."

Dai Trong Nghiep, standing in the crowd, could not hide the tears of pride rolling down the weathered face of a man who had witnessed many ups and downs during nearly twenty years of leading the team. He recalls every step his daughter has gone through — from the ten-year-old girl running down the ice rink hallway wearing her mother's old skates, to the woman standing on stage today, recognized by the whole group for her true value.

After the press conference, when everyone gradually dispersed, Do Anh Thu came to meet Yen Thao, holding a newly released magazine in her hand, the cover was a picture of Yen Thao at that day's press conference, with the headline: "The woman behind the halo — and the journey to reclaim her own name."

"I think you deserve to have your story told properly," Do Anh Thu said, handing her the magazine. "Consider it a small compensation for my mistake before."

Yen Thao received the magazine and smiled. "Thank you. But I think the most important thing is not how my story is told, but that from now on, other people in similar situations will not have to wait as long as me to be recognized for their true value."

Mai Bao Tram, standing nearby, interjected into the conversation with a mischievous smile. "Yen Thao, did you know, I bet with Vu Trong Nam three months ago that you and Chan Phong will officially get together before the new season starts. Looks like I'm about to win the bet."

"What are you doing?" Yen Thao laughed, shook her head, but did not deny it, her cheeks were slightly pink.

"I'm just telling the truth," Bao Tram shrugged and smiled complacently. "After everything you've been through, you deserve a truly happy ending, not the kind of happiness staged for the cameras, but real, silent and lasting happiness, just like the way you've always lived for the past four years."

Yen Thao hugged her best friend, touched by the constant companionship that Bao Tram had given her during the most difficult days. "Thank you, sister, for always being there for me, no matter how bad things get."

That evening, Yen Thao and Chan Phong walked along the banks of the Bang Giang River, where they had stopped one evening many months ago, when everything was still chaotic and uncertain.

"Do you remember the first time we stood here?" Chan Phong asked, leaning on the bridge railing, looking down at the river sparkling with city lights.

"Remember," she replied, standing next to him. "At that time, I still couldn't believe that things would end this way."

"Do you regret anything?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Yen Thao thought for a moment before answering. "Maybe I regret that it took me four years to learn the lesson I should have known from the beginning — that true love does not require one to shrink oneself to fit the role someone else has created for one. But I do not regret the journey that brought me here, to this moment, standing next to you."

Chan Phong turned to look at her, the city lights reflected in his eyes. "Then maybe it's time, sis."

Yen Thao smiled, understanding what he meant, feeling her heart pounding with relief, without any remaining hesitation. "Perhaps," she replied softly, "it's time."

Chan Phong grabbed her hand, his fingers naturally intertwined with hers, as if it was something they had done hundreds of times before, even though this was the first time. "Yen Thao, I want to ask you something, not a hasty question, but a question I have thought about very carefully over the past few months. Do you want to officially start something with me? Not to fill the void left by someone, but for you, for your true self that I have cherished from the very beginning."

Yen Thao looked at him, the shimmering city lights reflected in her eyes, and in that moment, all doubts, all old wounds, seemed to completely disappear, giving way to a feeling of certainty that she had never felt during the four years with Bao Duy.

"Yes," she replied, without hesitation. "I want, Chan Phong. I want to start this with you, with the real me, not some other miniature version."

He smiled, pulled her close, and in the soft light of Bang Giang city at night, they stood there, two people who had gone through storms together to find each other, now ready to enter a new chapter, built on the strongest foundation that any relationship needs: sincerity, respect, and a love that does not require anyone to hide in the dark, not even for a day, an hour, or another moment during the long road ahead. The two are now ready to move on together, hand in hand, with nothing to hide or be afraid of anymore.