Chapter 22 — The Brilliant Wife and the Mute CEO

One month after the tumultuous shareholders' meeting, Úc Bách Chu officially returned to the General Director's office on the top floor of the Úc Thịnh tower, for the first time after more than a year and a half since his accident. He still needs a walking stick to support his unsteady steps, and his voice is sometimes a bit hoarse when speaking continuously for a long time, but all of that does not diminish his inherent sharp and decisive temperament.

"Good morning," he spoke to the team of assistants waiting at the office door, his voice was clear and warm, making some of them, who had been with him since before the accident, unable to hold back their tears.

The first briefing after his official return went smoothly, with dedicated support from Mr. Dang during the transition period, along with the old staff who are still loyal and dedicated. Bách Chu quickly reviewed all the wrong decisions that Gia Bân had made during his interim period, gradually restoring the correct policies that he had previously built, and adding many new reforms that he had been silently thinking about during his long time sitting in a wheelchair, observing everything from a completely different perspective.

"The time I couldn't speak or walk was the time I learned the most about listening and understanding others." He shared in a short interview with the press after officially returning to his executive position. "I hope that Úc Thịnh's upcoming reforms will reflect those valuable lessons."

Along with work, Bách Chu's physical recovery process continues to be maintained regularly under the guidance of Dr. Khiem, who has now been publicly invited to become the family's permanent medical advisor, no longer having to hide it like before. Every morning before going to work, and every evening after work, Xuân Lam persistently accompanies him in every exercise, from basic stretching movements to more complex pronunciation exercises.

"You took five more steps today than last week," Xuân Lam shouted with joy during a practice session, her eyes lighting up when she saw Bách Chu walking on his own, albeit a bit unsteadily, from the beginning of the practice room to the end without using a cane.

"It's all thanks to having a strict coach like you," Bách Chu replied, his voice had now become humorous, much lighter than his previous coldness, a change that made even Dr. Khiem burst into laughter.

There are days when progress is slow, Bách Chu still cannot avoid moments of discouragement, but now, instead of sinking into despair like before, he always has Xuân Lam by his side to encourage him, sometimes with warm words, sometimes with the humorous "threats" that have become her trademark.

"If you don't continue practicing, I'll carry you and run five laps around the mansion's yard to wake you up." She threatened, her hands on her hips, causing Bách Chu to laugh and obediently continue his unfinished homework.

Three months later, during a routine check-up, doctor Khiem announced the good news: Bách Chu's mobility had recovered to more than eighty percent compared to before the accident. He could walk normally without any assistive devices, with only a slight limp when moving quickly or going up stairs. His voice has also almost completely recovered, with only a slight hoarseness when he has to speak continuously for a long time, a small vestige remaining as a reminder of what he has been through.

"This is an amazing recovery that far exceeds all initial medical predictions." Doctor Khiem commented, unable to hide his pride as a physician. "I believe that it was the optimistic spirit and persistent companionship of my wife that created a miracle that surpassed the limits of conventional medicine."

Bách Chu looked at Xuân Lam, his eyes filled with deep gratitude. "She is the biggest miracle in my life."

One of the first things Bách Chu did after officially returning to management was to personally sign a decision to fully support the education costs for Diep, a working girl who was bullied by Gia Bân in the early days of Xuân Lam's return to the mansion, to help her take an office training course to have the opportunity to develop a better career instead of just stopping at housekeeping.

"Ms. Lam told me that a kind corporation must start by treating the smallest people in it kindly," Bách Chu said when announcing this decision to Vệ Đình Long. "I think it's time for Úc Thịnh to change the management culture, not only taking care of profits but also taking care of people." Hearing that, Vệ Đình Long nodded slightly. He couldn't help but feel emotional at the great change in the thinking of the master he had served since childhood. He thought to himself, perhaps it was the time of extreme suffering when he had to live silently and motionlessly, being treated like a useless person by his own relatives, that taught Bách Chu a profound lesson about the value of empathy that not all leaders have.

That weekend, Đàm Văn Kiên was invited by his sister to the city for the first time on the occasion of summer vacation. The young man was overwhelmed by the massive scale of the Úc mansion, and wherever he went, he secretly took photos to show off to his friends in the countryside.

"Lam, my brother-in-law is now a really big boss, even in the newspaper." Kien marveled, scrolling through his phone to review articles about Bách Chu. "But does he treat you well? Does he bully you?"

"Bullying you?" Xuân Lam laughed loudly and glanced at Bách Chu sitting next to him. "If you let anyone bully you, not even your husband has a chance."

Hearing that, Bách Chu just smiled helplessly and shook his head, thinking to himself, perhaps this is the simplest happiness that he has never dared to dream of during his previous years of being immersed in the darkness of loneliness, a real family, where carefree laughter can resonate naturally between walls that once contained only coldness and calculation.

At work, under Bách Chu's return to management, Úc Thịnh Group quickly regained stable growth momentum, even surpassing the pre-accident period thanks to the new reforms he applied. The group's stock price increased again in the market, international partners who had previously expressed concern now expressed absolute confidence in the new leadership.

Mrs. Tuệ Phương, witnessing her grandson's complete revival, both physically, mentally and professionally, could not hide her immense happiness every time she mentioned this to her peers.

"I told you, that girl is a gift from God to my Bách Chu." She showed it off to her old friends at a nursing club meeting, her voice full of pride. "Without him, my nephew would probably still be sitting quietly in the corner of the room right now, let alone standing firm and speaking clearly like he does now."

That night, after a busy day of work, Bách Chu returned to the mansion and saw Xuân Lam waiting for him in the small living room, holding a cup of hot tea prepared as usual every night.

"How is the company today?" She asked, handing him the cup of tea.

"Very good," he replied, sitting down next to her, his voice light and comfortable. "But no matter how good the company is, I still like the moment I return home and see you waiting like this."

Xuân Lam smiled, leaned her head on his shoulder, and the two sat quietly together in the warm light of the living room, enjoying the rare moments of peace after a long and turbulent journey that they had gone through together.

"Do you think, if my grandmother hadn't come to my hometown that day, both of our lives would have been much different?" Xuân Lam asked softly, her voice thoughtful.

"Maybe I'm still sitting quietly in the dark, waiting for the day the side branch finishes plundering everything," Bách Chu replied, gently squeezing her hand. "As for you, you're probably still out at the market, holding a meat knife every morning, unaware of my existence."

"That doesn't sound too bad, at least it saves you the headache of having to deal with complicated plots like this," Xuân Lam joked, making both of them laugh.

"But I'm glad it turned out the way it did," he said, his voice serious again. "Because otherwise, I wouldn't have you."