CHAPTER 276: CHAPTER 276; LOOK AT HER

Tang Fei smiled back at her, she bent over and straightened Feihao’s collar with slow fingers. "Yeah. We will come over again, just as much as you want."

Huo Ting Cheng joined them, carrying their coats. He didn’t say anything, just handed Feihao hers, then gently draped Tang Fei’s over her shoulders while the guards gave others their coats.

From behind, Grandma Yuan called out in a raspy voice, "You children take care now. And remember, don’t wait too long to visit again. Time is greedy!"

Tang Fei turned and bowed slightly with respect. She really understood her; time was something else. Before you know it, all is gone and lost. "We will be back before it can steal too much."

Grandpa Liu raised a thermos. "Next time, Feihao, bring your own chess clock. We will do speed rounds."

Feihao laughed and nodded at him. It was really awesome spending time with them. "Only if you promise not to let me win."

He winked at him proudly. "No promises, commander."

With that, they filed out, quiet feet on polished tile, gentle goodbyes trailing behind them. Outside, the air was cool and crisp. The city lights blinked awake in the dusk.

Tang Fei looked back one last time at the doorway before it closed.

For a place filled with the forgotten oldies, the wardroom had given them something unforgettable.

Family wasn’t just who raised you.

Sometimes, it was who met you at the table... looked you in the eye...

...and stayed, even when the game ended.

After bidding the old grandpas and grandmas a warm goodbye, with promises to visit again soon, Tang Fei and the others made their way down to the children’s ward.

The hallway was painted in cheerful colors, with cartoon animals frolicking along the walls. But the real brightness came when the group walked in, Feihao skipping ahead with her ever-present energy, Zhihao, Tinghao, and Minghao quietly carrying another box of fruits and small toys.

They could see the kids’ faces light up, even though this was the first time they were meeting each other. Kids were naturally attracted to toys, even though they were sick, they could still afford a smile.

Feihao knelt by a girl with a bald head and bright eyes. "Hey there, I’m Feihao. You want to pick something from the box?"

The girl nodded eagerly and reached for a small, plush turtle. Feihao handed it over with a grin. "That one’s a good pick. Turtles live forever, you know."

Zhihao moved from bed to bed, handing out books and small puzzles. He didn’t say much, but the way he smiled quietly and helped a boy arrange his toy car track said everything.

Minghao, Tinghao, Qin Xinyu, and Twilight helped arrange storybooks on a low table, then began reading to a cluster of children gathered around.

Minghao made silly voices for each character while Twilight drew the scenes in the air with her hands. The room slowly began to buzz with giggles and laughter.

Xu Xie found herself chatting with a teenage girl near the window who had a sketchpad on her lap. The girl looked skeptical at first, but warmed up when Xu Xie praised her drawings and offered to bring her some properly colored pencils next time.

Meanwhile, Tang Fei moved among the beds like a calm center of gravity. She adjusted pillows, fixed bedsheets, and checked in with the nurses. A few kids reached out to her wordlessly. She didn’t hesitate to sit beside them and hold their hands.

Feihao eventually plopped down beside a little boy who was too shy to speak. She didn’t pressure him. She just sat beside him, gently pushing a toy truck back and forth. After a while, he joined in.

There was a moment, just before they left, when all the kids gathered near the foot of the beds for a group photo. Feihao crouched in the middle, arms around two of the children. Zhihao stood slightly off to the side but smiled.

Tang Fei clicked the shutter.

In that frame: laughter, healing, and the rare kind of brightness that comes not from perfect lives, but from shared moments.

One little boy leapt off his bed and wrapped his arms around Feihao’s waist, nearly knocking her over.

Tang Fei laughed, watching her daughter glow like sunlight. "Careful! She’s not a superhero, you know. You might get hurt."

"Yes, I am Mother!" Feihao declared proudly, striking a dramatic pose. "I defeated Grandpa Liu in chess today. Twice!" She was really proud of herself today.

"Poor Grandpa Liu," Xu Xie muttered with mock sympathy.

The nurses helped distribute the fruit baskets while Twilight, Qin Xinyu, Tinghao, and Xu Xie began handing out small wind-up toys, bouncy balls, and picture books. The air was soon filled with the squeals of joy, paper rustling, and the sharp click-click-click of wind-up frogs racing across the floor.

Zhihao found a quiet corner and sat cross-legged with two shy children, showing them how to fold paper cranes. His hands were precise, almost meditative.

"You are good at this," one of the girls whispered.

Zhihao gave a rare, small smile. "I used to fold them when I was sick. It helped me forget for a while."

Across the room, Feihao was dragging Minghao and Qingqing into a chaotic game of pillow tag.

"No mercy!" she declared, lightly whacking Minghao with a cushion.

She shrieked in mock horror and hid behind Qingqing, "Protect me!"

Qingqing hesitated for a moment... then giggled, genuinely, and picked up a pillow to return fire.

Tang Fei watched, her heart swelling. Qingqing was smiling and playing. Just being a child again.

"Look at her," she said softly, standing beside Huo Ting Cheng. "She’s slowly coming back to life."

"Mnnnh..." Since she was amongst the kids, of course, she would stabilize. Huo Ting Cheng was always distant and a man of few words.

As the laughter from the children’s ward softened into sleepy murmurs and the last toy frogs spun to a halt, Tang Fei began gently rounding up the group. The children were winding down, a few already dozing with toys clutched in their hands, soft smiles on their faces.