Chapter 7 — The Beggar Husband Turns Out to Be a Dragon

The wedding was held quickly within three weeks, in accordance with Tuyet Nhi's wishes of not prolonging unnecessary arguments in the family. The venue was a small banquet hall owned by Chan Hung Group, not as lavish as the lavish weddings that the city's elite are accustomed to holding, but formal enough to not embarrass the Giang family.

Right from the days of preparation, the news that the young lady of the Giang family married a former wandering beggar spread throughout the business world and even on social networks. People discuss, ridicule, and even have provocative online articles with headlines like "Proud lady destroys her future for a moment of softness" or "Reverse fairy tale marriage: from beggar to concubine, or a cheap media trick?"

Ms. Lam Bich Van read those articles, her face turned pale with anger, but she could no longer stop it because Giang Chan Hung officially voiced her agreement. She had to change her cold attitude, only participating in rituals where she was required to be present, and avoiding the rest as much as possible.

On the morning of the wedding day, Tuyet Nhi sat in front of the makeup mirror, looking at her own reflection in a pure white wedding dress, filled with an indescribable feeling of both nervousness and happiness. She knew that out there, many people were waiting to see how much she would regret it, but in her heart, there was not the slightest hesitation.

"Miss is so beautiful." The makeup artist blurted out a compliment, but immediately bowed her head again, her voice quiet. "It's just a pity..."

"It's just a pity that you married the wrong person, right?" Tuyet Nhi smiled, reading the makeup artist's unfinished thoughts. "It's okay, I'm used to words like that."

Outside the banquet hall, Bach Tranh stood waiting in a tailored black suit. His tall appearance and aura radiating from him made many guests stunned, completely unable to believe that this was the "beggar" they had heard rumors about for the past few weeks. Although he did not come from a prestigious background according to documents, his demeanor, the way he stood straight, his eyes calmly looking straight at the probing eyes around him, exuded a majesty that was hard to describe in words, as if he was born accustomed to being scrutinized by hundreds of pairs of eyes.

"Don't you feel embarrassed standing here, so many people are laughing behind your back?" A guest, a business friend of Giang Chan Hung, couldn't help but ask directly, his tone was more probing than concerned.

"I don't care what others think about my past." Bach Tranh replied, his voice calm but full of weight. "The only thing I care about is whether the woman I'm marrying is happy or not."

That answer made the other guest silent, not daring to ask more, his eyes looking at Bach Tranh were a bit more cautious than before.

The ceremony began, Tuyet Nhi walked out to the sound of melodious music, arm in arm with her father, Giang Chan Hung, who led her through the red carpet aisle. His eyes looking at his daughter were filled with both pride and sadness, a complex mixture of fatherly love.

"Are you sure about this decision?" He asked softly, when the two were still a few steps away from the podium.

"I'm sure, dad." Tuyet Nhi replied, her eyes looking straight at Bach Tranh who was waiting at the end of the aisle, a bright smile on her lips. "I've never been more sure about anything."

When father and son approached the podium, Giang Chan Hung placed his daughter's hand in Bach Tranh's hand. The two men's eyes met for a brief but meaningful moment, like a wordless message about the responsibility and promise that had been given.

"I leave Tuyet Nhi to you." He spoke, his voice low but full of weight. "Remember your promise."

"I won't forget." Bach Tranh replied, his eyes determined.

The ceremony went smoothly, although the atmosphere was a bit more awkward than normal weddings because of the intentional absence of some relatives from the Giang family who did not accept this marriage, and Mrs. Bich Van's cold eyes throughout the ceremony. But Tuyet Nhi did not let those things affect her happiness. When giving the wedding ring, her hand trembled not from fear but from emotion, and Bach Tranh, when he put the ring on her finger, his eyes shone with a gentleness that no one had ever seen him express before.

"I'm sorry I couldn't give you the grand wedding you deserved." He whispered, just loud enough for her to hear.

"I don't need a big wedding." Tuyet Nhi replied, smiling brightly. "I just need you."

At the reception afterwards, although many guests remained reserved, some even deliberately let out sarcastic and insinuating words when congratulating, Tuyet Nhi and Bach Tranh still kept smiles on their faces throughout the party, hand in hand, as if no detractors could touch the happiness they had.

Bao Son, although initially planning to boycott and not attend, finally appeared, standing in the far corner of the banquet hall, observing Bach Tranh for a long time. He still hasn't completely accepted this brother-in-law, but somehow, Bach Tranh's calm response to all the sarcasm during the ceremony made him silently admit that this is not an ordinary person like he thought.

In the middle of the party, an older guest, Giang Chan Hung's close friend from when he started his business, approached Bach Tranh to talk to him. His eyes were still a bit judgmental but less harsh than the other guests. "Mr. Bach Tranh, I heard that you don't have a fixed career, so what do you plan to do to take care of Tuyet Nhi in the future?"

"I'm taking on some small consulting jobs, and I'm also educating myself more about business administration." Bach Tranh replied, his voice calm and unfazed by that somewhat straightforward question. "I understand, my background makes many people skeptical, but I believe, time will prove everything."

The guest looked at him for a moment, nodding. "Your answer surprised me a bit. Most people who rely only on beauty or luck to marry a rich wife will often avoid this question, or answer with empty flowery words. You frankly admitted your difficulties, which is a precious thing."

"Thank you for your fair comment." Bach Tranh bowed his head, his voice sincere.

That short conversation, although it did not completely change the skeptical eyes of the other guests at the party, was enough to instill in the hearts of a few people present that day a certain respect for the new son-in-law of the Giang family, a silent respect that was much more genuine than the empty congratulations they often exchanged at high-class parties.

At the end of the party, when most of the guests had left, Giang Chan Hung came to the young couple, holding an envelope in his hand. "This is the gift I want to give you two, not money, but a small house in a quiet area nearby, so you two can have your own space to start a new life."

"Dad, you don't have to..." Tuyet Nhi was about to refuse, but Giang Chan Hung stopped her.

"Just accept it, this is my heart." He said, looking at Bach Tranh. "Remember to take good care of my daughter."

"I will remember, and thank you." Bach Tranh bowed his head, his voice sincere.

That night, when the couple returned to their new house, Tuyet Nhi stood in the middle of the small but cozy living room, looking around with happy eyes. "We're actually married." She said, her voice still a bit surprised.

"Yes, we are married." Bach Tranh replied, walking behind her, wrapping his arms around her from behind, his chin resting lightly on her shoulder. "Thank you, for not giving up even though the whole world seemed to be against this decision."

"I don't regret it." Tuyet Nhi turned around and looked straight into his eyes. "No matter what happens tomorrow, I will never regret choosing you."

Bach Tranh tightened his arms, a complex feeling of happiness and anxiety arose in his heart. He knew that this marriage, although it brought him the greatest happiness during his six years of wandering, also made him more vulnerable than ever, because now, he not only had to protect himself, but also the woman he had just vowed to be with forever.

Outside, it was late at night, the moonlight shining through the window of the small house, gently as if blessing the newlywed couple. But that same night, in a remote place hidden in the mist that no one from the human world had ever set foot on, in Long Uyen, a news was silently spreading among the dragon clan's aristocracy: someone had just seen a familiar sign of spiritual energy appearing in this city, a sign that for the past six years, Diep Thua Uy had been constantly searching for.