Maybe that was the point.
Maybe she fought in the darkness so that they could live in the light.
The thought settled over her like a familiar weight, both burden and purpose intertwined.
They passed through the comrcial district, where shops were just beginning to open their doors, shopkeepers sweeping sidewalks and arranging displays. Office workers hurried along with coffee cups in hand, headed to their nine-to-five jobs. Normal people living normal lives.
Tang Fei envied them sotis, that simplicity, that predictability. But she’d chosen her path long ago, in another life, and there was no going back now, it’s sothing that will always follow her.
"Auntie," Qin Xinyu said suddenly, leaning forward slightly. "Thank you. Really. For everything. For letting stay with you, for getting into a good school, and now for supporting this modeling thing..." His voice wavered slightly with emotion. "I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you."
Tang Fei’s chest tightened slightly. She caught his eye in the rearview mirror. "Xinyu, listen to . You don’t owe anything. You’re family now. This is what family does, we support each other, we protect each other, we help each other chase our dreams." She paused, her voice softening. "Just promise you’ll work hard, stay safe, and never forget who you are or where you ca from. That’s all the repaynt I need."
"I promise, Auntie." His voice was thick with unshed tears.
Twilight reached back and squeezed her brother’s hand, a silent show of solidarity and affection even though she was an awkward person in socializing, but this was her blood brother, the only relative she had.
Minghao, ever practical, pulled a tissue from her bag and handed it to Qin Xinyu. "Here. Don’t cry before school, people will think sothing’s wrong with you."
Despite the emotional mont, everyone laughed. Leave it to Minghao to worry about appearances and practicality.
Twenty minutes later, Tang Fei pulled up to the prestigious academy where both children attended school. The campus was impressive, sprawling grounds with modern buildings, perfectly manicured lawns, and an atmosphere of refined education that only money could buy.
Other luxury vehicles lined the drop-off area, parents and chauffeurs delivering their precious cargo for another day of learning. Students in crisp uniforms moved in groups toward the main building, chatting and laughing, their faces bright with youth and possibility.
Tang Fei put the SUV in park and turned to face the back seat. "Alright, you two. Have a good day. Study hard, be safe, and don’t cause any trouble."
"We won’t, Mommy." Minghao unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned forward to kiss her mother’s cheek. "Will you pick us up later?"
Tang Fei hesitated for just a fraction of a second. "I’m not sure what my schedule will be like today. If I can’t make it, there’s a chauffeur who always handles your safety. Okay?"
Minghao’s eyes searched her mother’s face, looking for sothing, reassurance, truth, she wasn’t quite sure what. But she nodded. "Okay, Mommy."
"Bye, Auntie! Thank you for the ride!" Qin Xinyu called out cheerfully as he grabbed his bag and opened the door.
"Bye, sweetheart. Make proud."
The two children exited the vehicle, slinging their backpacks over their shoulders. Minghao paused to wave at her mother through the window, and Tang Fei waved back, her heart clenching with a fierce, protective love.
She watched them walk through the school gates together, Qin Xinyu saying sothing that made Minghao smile, a rare and precious sight. They disappeared into the crowd of students, and Tang Fei finally allowed herself to exhale.
"They’re good kids," Twilight observed quietly beside her. Yes, her momma beca a mother to such good kids.
"They are," Tang Fei agreed, putting the car back in drive and pulling away from the school. "I just hope I can keep them that way, good, innocent, safe from all the ugliness in the world."
"You’re doing your best, momma," Twilight said. "That’s all anyone can ask."
Tang Fei didn’t respond. Sotis, your best still didn’t feel like enough. She drove onto the highway.
— — — — —
Huo Ting Cheng was finally waking up. It wasn’t too early, nor was it particularly late. But he was alone in bed, and the side where his partner should have been was now cold to the touch.
He sighed heavily, sitting up and running his fingers through his disheveled hair. Exhaustion still clung to him, and a dull headache throbbed at his temples, remnants of last night’s chaos and too little sleep.
Suddenly a knock echoed from the door.
"Co in..." His voice was rough, gravelly from sleep.
Huo Qi walked into the bedroom carrying a tablet. "Good morning, Master. Your schedule for today...."
"I’m tired," Huo Ting Cheng cut him off imdiately, his tone leaving no room for argunt. He hadn’t even showered yet. What was the point of discussing schedules?
He rubbed his eyes and glanced around the empty room. "Where is she?"
Huo Qi tried to suppress a smile. "Hehe... She drove out of the mansion earlier, took the kids to school, and then probably headed to the audition halls." He paused, then added reassuringly, "Guards are following her. She’s being watched and protected."
"Ooohhh..." Huo Ting Cheng let out a long breath, sothing between amusent and exasperation crossing his features.
After last night, he didn’t think his wife could surprise him any more than she already had. But apparently, she could. Of course, she’d woken up early and vanished; she was avoiding his questions. Smart woman she was.
"Okay... Let clean up. I’ll see you downstairs. You can leave." He dismissed Huo Qi with a wave of his hand, then swung his legs out of bed and headed toward the bathroom. He needed to get himself together before dealing with anything else.
"Understood." Huo Qi left, closing the door quietly behind him.
Huo Ting Cheng took his ti in the shower, letting the hot water work out so of the tension in his muscles. Fifteen minutes later, he erged feeling marginally more human. He dressed in a black suit with a black silk shirt and loafers, formal, but not rigidly so. Slightly laid-back, the way he preferred when he wasn’t attending official functions.
After fastening his watch, spraying so good perfu, and pocketing his phone, he made his way downstairs to the dining room.
What he found there made him pause in the doorway.
Huo Qi, Huo Zhen, and Secretary Li were expected. But also present were Xie Yuxuan, Li Junfeng, Zo Zho Yu, and Mo Tianyu. It was quite the gathering for an early morning, and in his ho, no less.
"I thought you had flown back to City X?" Huo Ting Cheng said, crossing to Xie Yuxuan and Li Junfeng and tapping them both lightly on the shoulder in greeting before taking his own seat.
Nanny Yun appeared almost imdiately with coffee and his breakfast, congee, fried dough sticks, stead buns, and a selection of preserved vegetables.
"Probably tomorrow, or the day after," Xie Yuxuan replied casually, working his way through his own al. "We’re not done with so business yet. And we haven’t even had ti to hang out properly. We can’t just leave like that."
"Ooh... What business are you handling, exactly?" Huo Ting Cheng asked, genuinely curious. All of them were businessn, but each operated in different sectors.. He wasn’t sure what had brought them all together.
"We’ve been in talks with the Pri Minister about so relics we want to place in our museum," Li Junfeng explained politely, though his tone carried a hint of weariness. "The building is completed and already attracting tourists, but getting governnt approval for historical artifacts is... complicated."
"I can handle that for you," Huo Ting Cheng said imdiately, taking a sip of his coffee. "Huo Qi, take care of it. You know I can expedite these things. Don’t waste your ti hustling with bureaucrats."
Both Xie Yuxuan and Li Junfeng nodded gratefully, relief evident on their faces.
Huo Ting Cheng turned his attention to the newspapers and tablets spread across the table. His eyes scanned the headlines, and his expression darkened.
The top stories were all about the deaths of prominent figures, governnt ministers, and high-ranking officials. Not only were the deaths brutal and shocking, but detailed accounts of their cris had been posted online for the entire world to see. Corruption, embezzlent, human trafficking, abuse of power, it was all laid bare.
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