CHAPTER 385: CHAPTER 385; GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL

In the security wing, Huo Wu sat on his bed, staring at the wall, beginning his confinement.

In the private medical facility across the city, Lin Yue and Mei Fang were being treated, their conditions slowly stabilizing.

At the training center, six teenagers were being settled into their new lives, given food and clean clothes and the promise of a future.

At the orphanage, traumatized children were being comforted by caring staff, beginning the long journey toward healing.

And in a demolished building on the outskirts of the city, cleanup crews worked to erase all evidence of what had happened there, they had to completely destroy the place.

The night was over.

But its consequences were just beginning.

And tomorrow, when everyone woke up, there would be questions.

So many questions.

But for now, for these last few hours before dawn fully broke, there was peace.

Temporary. Fragile. Built on foundations of lies and blood.

But peace nonetheless.

And in the Huo mansion, as the first rays of sunlight touched the windows, everyone rested.

Preparing for whatever came next.

— — — — —

Tang Fei’s eyes fluttered open, her body still heavy with exhaustion. She knew the moment he realized she was awake, the interrogation would begin, a million questions she wasn’t ready to answer. Not yet. Perhaps not ever.

She couldn’t afford to linger in bed.

Moving carefully to avoid making any sound, she slipped from beneath the silk sheets. The cool morning air kissed her skin as she reached for the sleeping robe draped over the nearby chair. Her muscles protested with each movement, reminders of yesterday’s chaos still written across her body in the language of aches and bruises hidden beneath fabric.

She didn’t even glance at the clock as she tiptoed toward the bedroom door. Time felt irrelevant when you were running from uncomfortable truths.

The door closed with a whisper-soft click behind her. Tang Fei paused, listening, her heart hammering against her ribs. When no footsteps followed, she descended the stairs with practiced grace, her bare feet silent against the polished wood.

On the first floor, she made her way to Huo Minghao’s bedroom. The sound of running water echoed from within, her daughter was already up, the steady rhythm of the shower was a familiar morning symphony. Tang Fei smiled softly. At least some things remained constant in this unpredictable life she’d built.

Rather than disturb Minghao, she turned toward the adjacent door. What appeared to be a single large bedroom was actually cleverly divided into several smaller spaces, each offering privacy while maintaining connection.

Qing Qing was already awake, sitting upright on her bed with the morning light casting gentle shadows across her bandaged face. Despite everything, her eyes sparkled with warmth.

"Good morning, beautiful lady!" The girl’s face carried a cheerfulness that made Tang Fei’s chest tighten with affection and guilt in equal measure.

"Good morning, Auntie," Qing Qing responded, her tone respectful yet tinged with something else, perhaps relief, or gratitude for simply being alive to see another day.

Tang Fei studied her carefully as she approached. The plastic surgery had been necessary, subtle alterations to change the features that had once made her identifiable. Her unique hair color, once her most striking feature, had been transformed into something ordinary, unremarkable. The bandages covered the recent work, and though she looked tired, there was an underlying resilience that Tang Fei admired.

"How are you feeling? Are you doing alright?" Tang Fei asked softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. Her hand reached out instinctively, adjusting the blanket around the girl’s shoulders.

"I’m better, Auntie. Much better." Qing Qing paused, her eyes searching Tang Fei’s face. "And you? I... I’m sorry I didn’t see you yesterday."

The unspoken words hung between them, Qing Qing knew something had happened but couldn’t tell what it was from the way Huo Minghao had narrated.

"I’m well," Tang Fei assured her, managing a genuine smile. She gently ran her fingers through Qing Qing’s altered hair, the unfamiliar color still strange to her touch. "Once you’ve fully recovered, you’ll start attending school. Just like any normal child would. You’ll go to the same school as Huo Minghao, she’ll look after you."

The promise of normalcy felt both like a gift and a lie. Could any of them truly claim normal lives now?

"Thank you, Auntie." Qing Qing’s voice cracked slightly with emotion. "Thank you for everything."

Tang Fei’s heart clenched. This child had been through hell, and yet here she was, expressing gratitude for the bare minimum of safety and care.

"No need for thanks, sweetheart." She cupped the girl’s unbandaged cheek tenderly. "This is your home now. You’re safe here, I promise you that. No one will dare attack you within these walls. I need to take Minghao to school this morning and then go to work, but I’ll be back this evening. Make sure you eat properly, alright? Let Nanny Wei know if you need anything at all. She’ll take good care of you."

She pressed a gentle kiss to Qing Qing’s forehead, then both cheeks, each gesture a wordless vow of protection.

"I will, Auntie. Have a beautiful day at work." The girl’s Mandarin carried the soft edges of someone still learning, each word carefully formed.

"You as well, my dear."

After several more kisses, perhaps too many, but Tang Fei couldn’t help herself, she reluctantly left the room. The weight of responsibility settled heavier on her shoulders with each step.

When she entered Huo Minghao’s room, her daughter was already dressed in her school uniform, adjusting her collar in the mirror. The girl’s reflection caught sight of Tang Fei, and surprise flickered across her young face.

"Mommy? You’re up this early?" Minghao turned around, genuine shock evident in her expression. Her mother was many things, but an early riser had never been one of them.

"Hehe... I wanted to take you to school today." Tang Fei crossed the room, pulling her daughter into a warm embrace before kissing both her cheeks in greeting.