Chapter 21 — The Mighty, All-Powerful Genie

The whole hall gradually regained order after the initial chaotic minutes, the wait staff quickly rearranged the tables and chairs, the reporters returned to their positions, and the tense atmosphere was gradually replaced by curiosity and respect for the way the couple handled the crisis right before everyone's eyes. The signing ceremony continued thirty minutes later as scheduled, and this time, there were no more interruptions. The representative of the multinational partner corporation, after witnessing firsthand how Nhã Kỳ and Bách Nguyên handled the crisis bravely and transparently, not only did not withdraw but also expressed even greater confidence in Đường Gia's leadership capacity than before.

"We are always looking for partners who are able to face crises honestly and not shy away." The representative spoke privately to Nhã Kỳ after the two sides officially signed the historic contract. "What you just showed us today is more convincing to us than any perfect financial report."

But the story doesn't end there. That same evening, the entire set of evidence documents that Bách Nguyên presented were officially transferred to the securities management agency and the economic investigation agency, accompanied by an official denunciation from Đường Gia about market manipulation, unfair competition and destroying the reputation of organized businesses.

The team of investigators, upon receiving the massive dossier that Bách Nguyên had painstakingly prepared, could not hide their surprise at its level of detail and systematicity. "I have worked in this industry for fifteen years and have rarely seen a body of evidence from the private sector that is so complete and rigorous." A senior investigator commented during the first meeting with Đường Gia representative. "We almost just need to verify again, not investigate from the beginning."

The investigation took place quickly thanks to the amount of complete, detailed and independently verified evidence that Bách Nguyên has diligently collected over the past three years. In less than two weeks, the authorities have confirmed all the allegations: Long Thịnh Group, under the direct direction of Hứa Việt Long, has repeatedly seriously violated competition laws, used shell companies to manipulate stock prices, and committed acts of invading private life for the purpose of commercial gain.

The consequences came quickly and severely. Long Thịnh's shares plummeted as soon as the investigation information was officially announced. A series of long-time business partners of this group immediately announced the end of cooperation to protect their own reputation. Long Thịnh's Board of Directors, under pressure from major shareholders who feared the damage would continue to spread, was forced to vote to dismiss Việt Long from the position of Chairman just three weeks after the event at the signing ceremony.

The media widely reported on the rapid collapse of one of the business empires once considered a model of rising from nothing. Many financial analysts have written articles dissecting the cause, pointing out that the ambition to acquire at all costs, regardless of business ethics, has ultimately become a double-edged sword that self-destructs the person holding it.

She put the cup of tea on the table, turned to look at him with eyes that were both relieved and still a little shocked. "I didn't expect it to end so quickly," Nhã Kỳ said to Bách Nguyên on a quiet evening at the villa, when they both watched the news about Việt Long being officially prosecuted for many crimes related to stock market manipulation. "He spent his whole life preparing for this war, and in just a few weeks it all fell apart."

"Because he built everything on a foundation of lies and hatred, not on integrity," Bách Nguyên replied, his eyes thoughtful. "Even though his pain was real, the way he chose to deal with it was wrong from the start. I'm not happy about the demise of a human being, but I'm glad that Đường Gia and you are safe."

Nhã Kỳ sat leaning against his shoulder, her eyes following the news running on the TV screen, a complex feeling that was hard to name arose in her heart - both relief that the biggest threat had been resolved, and also a little bit of sympathy for a person who let hatred lead his whole life to destruction. She was silent for a moment, then asked a question that she had thought about a lot since that night. "Do you think he will seek revenge again?"

"Maybe he will always hold a grudge in his heart," Bách Nguyên answered honestly. "But with what the investigation agency has confirmed, he will no longer have the resources or credibility to continue to pose any serious threat to Đường Gia in the near future. You have ensured that, by gathering enough evidence that no one can deny or change the outcome."

Within Đường Gia, the atmosphere also changed clearly. Board members who once doubted Nhã Kỳ's abilities now expressed their absolute respect, not only for the way she handled the crisis, but also for the spirit of solidarity that she and her husband demonstrated to the public, an image that the group's own communications department could not have created better if it was intentional.

A few weeks later, Đường Gia Group held an official press conference to announce the results of the investigation and affirm the group's stability after the recent incident. Nhã Kỳ stood on the podium, no longer looking tense like the previous tumultuous signing ceremony, but instead had a calmer, more mature confidence.

She looked around the press conference room crowded with reporters, took a deep breath before continuing. "The recent event was a big lesson for me," she spoke before a series of reporters. "It showed me that a strong corporation not only needs a sound business strategy, but also needs honesty, transparency, and most importantly, needs trustworthy companions by its side, even if they are not always in front of the camera."

She glanced towards the guest row, where Bách Nguyên was sitting. Their eyes met in a warm moment that many observant reporters were able to record. The next morning, that photo appeared on the front page of many financial newspapers, accompanied by headlines praising "the power couple who together overcame the biggest storm of their career". Nhã Kỳ read those news lines with a strange feeling of both embarrassment and warmth, completely different from the discomfort she always felt before when the press mentioned her "husband".

After the press conference, when returning to the villa, Nhã Kỳ and Bách Nguyên sat together on the porch as had been their habit for many years, but this time, the atmosphere between the two had a completely different tone - light, warm, without any awkwardness or distance like the first days of their arranged marriage.

"Thank you," Nhã Kỳ said, turning to look at him under the porch light. "Not only for helping me overcome this crisis, but because over the past five years, no matter how badly I treated you, you have never once left me."

"I promised the boss that I would be there to protect you," Bách Nguyên replied, his eyes gently looking at her. "But the truth is, I don't stay just because of that promise anymore. I stay because I want to stay, because I fell in love with you, I can't pinpoint exactly when."

Nhã Kỳ looked at him, her heart pounding at that sincere confession, but she also knew that this was just the beginning of a much more important conversation that they both needed to have, when the five-year deadline of the arranged marriage was now officially very close, and the question of whether they would continue to be together or not was still hanging in the air, with no official answer from either side.

She wanted to say something right then, wanted to respond to his confession with the same sincerity, but the words stuck in her throat, as if a lifetime of suppressing her emotions had built up a barrier that she couldn't overcome in just one moment. She just quietly held his hand tighter, letting her hand speak for the words she didn't have the courage to say, and Bách Nguyên, understanding the meaning of that gesture, just smiled, patiently waiting like he had always been patient throughout the long journey.