Chapter 315: Chapter 315; Yes Mama
Nanny Wei guided her to a small seat by the counter. "Sit down, Fei’er. Watch, rest, let us do the work. You’ve been through so much lately... let someone else take care of the meals for a change."
Tang Fei sighed, a light laugh escaping her lips. "Alright, alright... I suppose even I can take a break sometimes."
As she settled into the chair, the servants moved with quiet efficiency around her, chopping, frying, and arranging the morning feast. Nanny Wei handed her a steaming cup of tea, and Tang Fei cradled it in her hands, letting the warmth seep into her fingers and through her.
She allowed herself to relax, leaning back as the aroma of fresh food and the soft murmur of activity filled the kitchen. Outside, the mansion awaited the day, but inside this small cocoon, Tang Fei could simply breathe.
The kitchen was alive now, humming with care and service, and Tang Fei finally allowed herself the luxury of letting go, only for a little while.
Tang Fei sipped her tea slowly, glancing toward Twilight as the sunlight filtered softly through the kitchen window. "Twilight... do you think you could... go back to school with Xinyu?" she asked, curiosity threading her tone.
Twilight’s eyes flicked toward the question, the corner of her mouth twitching in a faint, almost imperceptible smile. "School?" she echoed, her voice calm, steady. "I don’t have such plans!"
Tang Fei nodded, cheeks warming slightly. "Why... I mean, Xinyu is going to school, right? It could be nice for him to have someone his own age around... or at least, he could have a companion."
Twilight set her cup down, her fingers brushing the rim with meticulous precision. "Mama," she said carefully, voice firm but soft, "I have been raised in a very different life. From the moment I could walk, I trained in that camp. Everything I know... everything I am... is tied to being prepared, being vigilant."
Tang Fei’s brow furrowed slightly, sensing the seriousness beneath Twilight’s calm exterior.
Twilight continued, her gaze steady on Tang Fei. "I don’t belong in a school like other kids. I am used to my life here, to staying close, to protecting those who need it. I’m... I want to be your bodyguard. That is where I am most needed, and where I belong."
Tang Fei’s hand paused mid-sip, the steam of her tea curling up into the morning light. She lowered the cup slowly, her heart caught between pride and ache. "Twilight..." she murmured, her voice soft, motherly, threaded with worry. "You are still so young and you can weave your own path. You should be thinking of lessons, of friends, of laughter. Not blades and shadows you know..."
Twilight’s lips pressed into a thin line, her dark eyes calm yet unyielding. "Mama, my laughter was shaped in training yards, my lessons came from steel and silence. That is who I am. If I tried to sit at a school desk, pretending to be like them... I’d be lying to myself. And worse, I’d be leaving you unguarded, you are my priority and that’s all.."
Tang Fei reached across the counter, her fingers brushing against Twilight’s hand. "You have already given too much of yourself, my girl. More than anyone your age should have to. But....." she exhaled, a faint, knowing smile tugging at her lips, "....I can see there’s no changing your mind." She loudly sighed, but since she didn’t want that life, she wasn’t going to force her.
Twilight’s gaze softened, just barely. She placed her smaller hand over Tang Fei’s, a silent reassurance, almost reverent. "Mama, I am happy like this. My place is by your side. That’s where I choose to be. Always..."
For a long moment, Tang Fei simply watched her, this girl who carried both shadows and light in her heart. She felt both guilt and gratitude swell inside her chest.
From across the kitchen, Nanny Wei, who had been arranging the herbs, glanced toward them, her expression pinched with quiet disapproval. "Going to school is good too..."
Twilight inclined her head respectfully toward Nanny Wei, but her hand never left Tang Fei’s.
Tang Fei let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You have always been stubborn and there’s nothing I can do about it!" she teased lightly, though her heart ached with the weight of Twilight’s choice.
"Mama," Twilight said again, her tone gentler this time, her eyes steady, "don’t worry. Protecting you is not a burden to me... It’s my purpose. And as long as you let me, I’ll never leave your side."
Tang Fei squeezed her hand tightly, emotions flooding her chest, love, protectiveness, and the quiet fear of what such devotion could cost in the future.
The kitchen hummed around them with the clatter of dishes and the aroma of breakfast, but in that little corner of the world, Tang Fei and Twilight were wrapped in a moment only they shared, a vow, that was so silent yet unbreakable.
Tang Fei placed her teacup down with a soft clink and turned to Twilight. "Go wash up, ah. It’s still early, but the day will be long; you should be fresh and ready."
Twilight nodded obediently, her dark eyes softening just a little. "Yes, Mama." She slipped away toward her room, leaving Tang Fei in the quiet hum of the kitchen.
With a light stretch, Tang Fei rose, smoothing her robe. She bid Nanny Wei and the servants to continue their work before heading back upstairs. The grand staircase curved upward, the early morning light spilling through the tall windows, painting the walls with soft golden hues.
By the time she reached the master bedroom, the hush of the house pressed close again. She pushed open the door quietly, expecting to find Huo Ting Cheng still asleep. But the bed was empty, the sheets tossed aside but the curtains were withdrawn already...
Her brow furrowed. "Ting Cheng...?" she whispered, her gaze sweeping the room.
Suddenly a sound caught her ear, soft splashes, rhythmic, from behind the bathroom door. Steam curled from beneath the frame, filling the air with heat and moisture.