CHAPTER 305: CHAPTER 305; THEY ARE SAFE

Her feigned slumber was perfect, but even through it, Huo Ting Cheng could sense the subtle triumph in her, a silent, undeniable victory that came not from words, but from how she made him relinquish control to care for her fully.

The room remained bathed in soft light, the air thick with unspoken promises and quiet surrender, a fragile equilibrium between two wills bound by fear, love, and the sharp edges of intimacy.

Huo Ting Cheng sat motionless on the edge of the bed, his gaze never leaving Tang Fei’s serene, sleep-like face.

The soft lamplight painted shadows across her cheeks, highlighting the delicate rise and fall of her chest beneath the covers.

He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, his broad shoulders finally easing just a fraction.

But the tension in his jaw betrayed him. Even here, in this silence, he couldn’t shake the gnawing unease in his chest, the memory of her cries, her trembling, her sudden collapse into fragility.

Whether feigned or real, it had pierced through his armor and left him shaken.

Slowly, he reached forward, brushing the back of his hand along her cheek. Her skin was warm, softer now against his touch. She didn’t stir, her lashes fluttering faintly as though caught in a dream.

He bent down, his lips brushing her temple again and again, lingering there for a heartbeat longer than necessary. "Rest, Fei’er..." he whispered, the words a vow that only the walls could hear.

Rising to his feet, he carried the basin back into the bathroom, emptied it quietly, and returned with the same calculated grace he carried everywhere. Yet the man who re-entered the room was not the predator his children feared, he was something quieter, stripped raw, weighed down by emotions he could not name.

He slipped out of his jacket, draping it neatly over the armrest of a chair before loosening his sleeves’ buttons. The silence pressed heavier in the absence of her cries, a silence so deep it almost hurt.

Crossing back to the bed, he eased himself down beside her once more, his arm sliding carefully under her shoulders until her head rested against him. Her body remained pliant, limp in its pretend slumber, but he could feel the subtle tension at her fingertips, the faintest curl as though even in ’sleep,’ she tested how far he would go for her.

And he went all the way.

His hand resumed its slow, grounding motion at the small end of her back, a steady circle against the cotton of her pajamas.

His eyes softened, though his mind remained restless, every thought orbiting her, every instinct chained to her fragility.

"You know," he murmured under his breath, words barely audible, "you break me more easily than anyone ever could."

The confession slipped from him like smoke, dissipating into the room. He pressed his lips against the crown of her head once again, holding her closer, his chin resting lightly atop her hair.

In the dim quietness of their bedroom, Huo Ting Cheng allowed himself to have the rarest indulgence, simply watching her breathe.

Time seemed suspended. The weight of their twisted intimacy, the push and pull of control, the blurred line between truth and performance, all of it simmered beneath the stillness. Yet in this fragile cocoon, there was no fight, no storm. Only he and she, predator and prey, tangled together in a silence that bound tighter than chains.

Was this what they called toxic? Was this what they called love? Now, Tang Fei was getting a grip of how things happened, for a man who loves you, you only need a few tears.

— — — — —

Zhihao and Minghao were worried and couldn’t sleep at all, but they accompanied Qing Qing to sleep. She was sleepy and hadn’t had much for the past several weeks...

Feihao and Tinghao have also taken a shower but couldn’t sleep, they were worried too... Twilight and Qin Xinyu were in one of the bedrooms quiet and worried too.

— — — — —

Back at the Xu Mansion, the night had grown still, but the silence did nothing to ease the unease gnawing at Mr. Xu and Mrs. Xu.

"They should have called by now..." Mrs. Xu whispered, her hands fidgeting against the silk of her night robe.

Mr. Xu’s expression was stern, though beneath it was the same worry etched into his wife’s eyes.

He reached for the phone on the side table, hesitating for a breath before dialing the Huo residence telephone number.

The line rang once... Twice.... And each chime stretched unbearably, carrying the weight of unspoken fears.

Finally, the call clicked through. A steady, polite voice answered, "You are calling the Huo Mansion."

"Huo Qi?" Mr. Xu exhaled, relief threading through his tone. "It’s us. We... we wanted to ask if Tang Fei and the children arrived safely. It’s late, and no one has called."

There was a pause, then Huo Qi’s reassuring calm voice flowed through the receiver. "Yes, Master Xu Mrs Xu. They arrived earlier this evening. It was a long day, and everyone was rather exhausted. Madam and the young masters have already retired for the night."

Mrs. Xu’s shoulders sagged, her tight grip on her husband’s arm loosening. "Oh, that’s good."

Huo Qi’s voice softened further, carrying the composed steadiness of a man long in service. "You needn’t have to worry. They are safe, and resting well."

Mr. Xu exchanged a glance with his wife, finally allowing his tense jaw to relax. "Thank you, Huo Qi. We will visit soon."

"All right, Mr Xu, Mrs Xu..." came the reply, warm and dutiful.

As the line disconnected, Mrs. Xu pressed a hand to her chest, whispering, "Safe. That’s all that matters."

Mr. Xu only nodded, but in the quiet of the room, the weight that had pressed on both their hearts finally began to ease.

They retired to bed waiting to hear from Xu Xie....

— — — — —

After an hour in bed, Huo Ting Cheng finally succumbed to sleep, his tall frame stretched across the mattress, breath heavy with exhaustion. His features, usually sharp and commanding, were softened by weariness.