Chapter 4 — Reborn to Love the Perfect One

The Young Talent Honoring Ceremony, an annual event that Vệ Thịnh Group organizes to honor young employees who complete the company-sponsored leadership training program, takes place at the city's largest five-star hotel, where brilliant crystal chandeliers shine down on hundreds of guests who are partners, shareholders, and the financial media.

Ánh Vy stood next to her father in the row of honor, wearing a dark moss green evening gown, her hair tied up in a neat bun, completely different from the flamboyant and ostentatious image she had chosen in her previous life for this ceremony. She watched Bách Nam step on stage to receive the "Outstanding Young Talent" award, a bright smile on his face as he bowed his head to thank the board of directors, thank her father, and finally thank her, the older sister who has always accompanied him on the path to adulthood.

The sound of applause rang out throughout the hall. In his previous life, at this very moment, right after the applause had subsided, Bách Nam held the microphone, his voice trembling with frustration, and accused Ánh Vy in front of the entire hall of the crime of embezzling investment funds. She still clearly remembers the feeling of numbness when hundreds of eyes turned towards her, remembers the whispers, remembers her father's disappointed eyes when he could not understand what was going on.

But this time, Bách Nam just bowed his head in thanks and walked off the stage, without any accusations being uttered. Ánh Vy breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, but she understood clearly that this was not a sign that the danger had passed, but simply that the time was not yet ripe. The plot to illegally transfer shares had not yet been carried out, so Bách Nam had no reason to act first.

While everyone spread out throughout the hall to interact and chat over glasses of wine, Ánh Vy stood alone next to the large window overlooking the garden decorated with sparkling lanterns outside the hotel. She scanned the crowd, looking for a face that she knew would appear somewhere during this ceremony.

And she found him, standing in a hidden corner near the banquet table, wearing a simple black suit without any outstanding accents, holding a glass of water instead of wine like most of the other guests. Bạch Dịch Phong. That face, although younger than the last image she remembered in her memory, still had familiar, heartbreaking features: a straight nose, deep and calm eyes, and an indescribable serenity emanating from the way he stood quietly observing everything around him without engaging in any conversation.

Her heart beat a beat faster. This was the first time, since she was reborn, that she saw him with her own eyes, not through the tear-stained memories of her dying moments. She remembered, in his previous life, he had worked in the Business Strategy department for three years by the time she passed away, meaning that at this point, he must have joined the company for a while, enough to become a familiar employee but not prominent enough to catch the eye of a young lady like her, who previously only focused on Bách Nam and flashy social relationships.

She decided to step forward, not because of any intention, but simply because her heart wanted to know, wanted to confirm, wanted to look closer at the man who had given her the most sincere love she had ever received in her entire life.

"Hello, I'm Vệ Ánh Vy." She opened her mouth when she stood facing him, her voice was gentle but she couldn't hide the curiosity in her eyes.

The man was a bit startled, clearly not expecting the corporation's president's daughter to proactively start a conversation with an ordinary employee like him. He bowed politely. "Hello, my name is Bạch Dịch Phong, currently working in the Business Strategy department."

That voice, deep and calm, made Ánh Vy's chest tighten for a moment. It was exactly the same voice that called her name for the last time on the side of the road that night, except now it didn't carry any pain or despair, only the calmness and a bit of reserve of someone she had just met.

"How long has Mr. Dịch Phong worked in the Strategy Department?" She asked, trying to keep her tone as natural as if she were having a normal social conversation.

"Yes, it's been almost three years," he replied, his eyes slightly surprised by this sudden concern. "I mainly work behind the scenes, analyzing data and proposing strategies, rarely having the opportunity to directly interact with you or the president." Three years. Just as she remembered. Ánh Vy nodded, feeling both warm and bitter in her heart. For the past three years, this man has silently worked, silently observed, and perhaps, silently noticed her long before she even realized his existence.

"So you probably know quite well about the situation of the company's investment projects?" She continued asking, redirecting the conversation to an issue that she really cared about.

"Somewhat, ma'am," Dịch Phong replied, his eyes narrowed slightly for a moment, as if he was considering something. "If you need information, I can prepare a detailed report to send to you."

"Thank you. I think I will need your support in the near future." She smiled, a rare sincere smile that she had never given to anyone since she was reborn. "Especially about the trust fund for the company's core personnel."

There was a flash of light in Dịch Phong's eyes, so fast that Ánh Vy almost did not have time to notice it, but she was sure she saw it. Those were the eyes of a person who suddenly realized that the other person was not as simple as they thought.

"I'm willing to assist you whenever you need it, Miss Ánh Vy," he replied, his voice still calm but with a new certainty that wasn't there before.

The short conversation ended when someone invited Ánh Vy back to the main banquet table to welcome an important partner. She nodded goodbye to Dịch Phong, turned around and walked away, but in her heart, a strange feeling of warmth still lingered, different from the cold and loneliness that she had become accustomed to during her years living in a large villa lacking family warmth.

Standing from afar watching her leave, Bạch Dịch Phong gently tightened his hand holding the glass of water, his eyes following her until the figure disappeared behind the crowd. Something had changed in this girl compared to what he had observed silently over the past three years, a sharpness, an alertness that he had never seen before. And in the heart of the man who always kept a safe distance from all relationships, a feeling of curiosity mixed with anxiety began to arise, as if a strange wind was blowing, signaling unpredictable changes.

He left the party earlier than planned, walked out to the hotel parking lot, took out his phone and called a familiar number. On the other end of the line, the warm but authoritative voice of Bạchấn Vũ, president of Bạch Dương Group, rang out after a few rings.

"Is that you? What's the matter? Why did you call me at this hour?" He asked, his tone both serious and containing the concern of a father for his only son.

"I just want to report on the work situation at Vệ Thịnh, father," Dịch Phong replied, his eyes looking far away towards the high-rise buildings sparkling with the lights of the city. "Everything is still going smoothly. I am still learning more about their management model before proposing a strategic cooperation plan between the two corporations."

"Do you still decide to keep your identity a secret for a while longer?" Bạchấn Vũ asked, his tone somewhat questioning. "I still think, if you disclosed your identity from the beginning, cooperation would go much easier, without having to suffer like that as a lowly employee."

"I want to prove my abilities first, father. I don't want anyone to look at me just because of the name Aries on the back," Dịch Phong replied, his tone was firm. He did not tell his father about another reason, a deeper reason that he himself did not dare to admit clearly: he wanted to be close to Ánh Vy in the most natural way, without being bound by the matriarchal calculations between the two big families.

"It's up to you, I respect your decision," Bạchấn Vũ replied, then was silent for a moment before continuing, his tone suddenly becoming softer. "But if there is anything you need my support for, don't hesitate to speak up. No matter which path you choose, you will always be my son."

Hanging up, Dịch Phong stood silently in the deserted parking lot, his eyes following the street lights in the distance. He thought of Ánh Vy's unexpectedly sharp eyes tonight, of her meaningful question about the trust fund for key personnel. There was a vague premonition that told him that the girl was about to face something dangerous, and somehow, he knew he wouldn't be able to stand by and simply observe like he had for the past three years anymore.