CHAPTER 255: CHAPTER 255; LITTLE WHITE PRINCESS

The way one kiss from him could burn her from the inside out.

She touched her cheeks, feeling the heat that had nothing to do with the water. No one had warned her about this side of marriage and overflowing love.

It was raw and unrelenting. The sense of being claimed and undone, over and over again.

After a while, she stepped out of the shower and switched it off, her skin pink and fragrant from the soap.

She picked up a towel from the rack, wrapped it around herself, and wiped the fog from the mirror, catching her reflection. There was something different in her eyes; they were softer but also bolder.

Her sister actually resembled her, and it meant they had the same mother, but who could it be? She was scared of devolving into that secret and probably it could be the Mu family that she hated. She didn’t want to get herself entangled with those vultures.

Her gaze dropped to the faint red marks blooming across her collarbone, a silent confession of the moment they shared in the sauna.

Outside the bathroom, she heard soft movements, here and there, drawers opening and closing, the subtle clink of a cup against a table. He was waiting for her and still couldn’t father her feelings and thoughts.

She giggled and continued checking herself in the mirror.

— — — — — — —

"Do you think mommy would be done sooner than usual?" Feihao was done freshening up and even changed her clothes. Her brother was done, too, and assisted her in drying her long hair.

"Yeah, it’s just taking a shower, but it’s still early; we haven’t even had our lunch." Tinghao was full from eating the fruits, but still, he had to eat something before going out.

"Lunch? I didn’t even recall that! Let’s get done and go downstairs." These two share their bedroom as in two bedrooms conjoined and fully self-contained.

"Okay...." He went on drying her hair and seeing if some dirt was left in it.

Feihao, looking at her brother through the mirror wondered if sometimes he wonders like her, "Brother, do you like your current life?"

Tinghao pauses slightly while brushing through her hair, "Hmm... it’s different you know. It’s warmer and safer, too. We finally have our own family. Sometimes I feel like I’m still dreaming, you know!"

"If we hadn’t felt that sudden danger from our brother, do you think we could have really reunited?"

Feihao smiles faintly, her voice soft as usual, addressing her brother, "Yeah, that’s what we call fate; it’s strange but has its own ways of going about... I still feel like I’m dreaming, and one day, I would wake up to realize I have been dreaming about all these. I keep waking up thinking I’m back in that cold Little street with no food and roof on top of us."

Tinghao gently tugs a tangle loose, "But now we have real beds, a roof under our heads, food, and a family that loves us; we even have such good siblings. We are thriving if I may say, not all kids are accepted back to their families."

Feihao softly smiled, "Yeah, I like it more here." She turns slightly to face him, "Do you think they will always be like this? I don’t want to fight for anything. I just want their unconditional love."

Tinghao, with seriousness now, looked into her eyes, "They are our blood-related family. We are a family, sister. That’s what they said. And... I believe them. Don’t you? Mommy is always good to us, and it’s the same with Daddy."

Feihao looked at him for a long moment, the hint of doubt still lingering in her eyes but soon it dissipated, but still shadowed by memories she couldn’t quite let go of. But she nodded slowly. "Yeah... I believe them too. It’s just, sometimes I get scared. What if we lose all this after getting too comfortable?"

Tinghao set the towel aside, brushing her hair behind her shoulder gently. "Then we hold on tighter and we don’t let go. We work harder to keep what we have now. It’s different this time, Feihao. We’re not alone anymore."

Feihao leaned her head against his shoulder briefly, seeking comfort the way she used to when they were little, huddled behind crates in alleyways, sharing one piece of stale bread. But now the air smelled of lavender shampoo and sunlight, not garbage and dust.

"I just hope they won’t change,* she murmured. "Even though people do change. They always do you know, with time."

"But maybe not everyone," Tinghao replied, understanding her predicament and insecurity. "Maybe some people are meant to stay."

"That’s true...." She loudly sighed gazing at the mirror. She truly belonged to this family.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, "Tinghao, Feihao, food is ready; you can go down once you are done." It was a guard stationed on that corridor was notifying them.

"All right, thank you....."

Feihao stood up, smoothing her clothes and glancing at her reflection. "Do I look okay? Is this one decent and beautiful?"

" Yeah, you look beautiful as always," Fenghao said with a grin, taking her hand.

Together, they walked out of their conjoined bedroom, their steps soft but certain and happy.

— — — — — —

Steam curled from the half-open bathroom door, filling the air with the scent of jasmine soap and warm water.

Inside, Minghao stood beneath the showerhead, water cascading down her back in delicate rivulets.

Her eyes were closed, and a soft, off-tune melody floated from her lips, an old children’s song her mother used to sing when locked up.

🎵"Little white princess, open your eyes and see the world but my hands are tied up, I can’t move..." 🎵

She swayed gently to the rhythm, her voice pure and carefree, a contrast to the otherwise quiet room.

The song had no real meaning as she didn’t understand anything or why her mother liked singing it off-tone, but it lingered in her memory just like the kindergarten lullaby.

Lathering her hair, she hummed through the next verse, letting the flowery petals that had clung to her earlier swirl down the drain.

The warmth of the water was comforting, like a soft embrace, washing away the remnants of a dusty morning spent outside in the garden.

After her shower, Minghao stepped out, wrapping herself in a fluffy pink kid’s towel full of princess images.

She moved to the mirror, wiping away the steam with a swipe of her palm. Her cheeks were rosy from the heat, her dark hair dripping wet, sticking to her shoulders.

As young as three years old, she was already independent and could do most things by herself, and now, she could take a warm shower without any trouble.

She opened the sink drawer and reached for a comb, working gently through the tangles.

The silly song was still on her lips, but now she whispered it, almost absentmindedly.

🎵 "Sleep now, stars will guide your dreams, till the sun begins to gleam and you will finally be free..." 🎵

Her walk-in closet was simple but elegant. She chose a fresh, flowery dress, soft cotton with delicate pink and green prints, cinched at the waist with a decent amount of covering her body.

It fluttered slightly as she moved, making her look like she had stepped out of a spring painting. She has always been beautiful but another different kind of beauty.

She dabbed a touch of perfume on her wrists, then twirled once in front of the mirror, giving herself a satisfied little nod just like the little princess she had always been.

From the sitting area, Zhihao’s voice called out casually, "Aren’t you done yet? What’s taking you so long?

"I’m almost done, brother! Be patient." Minghao replied, pulling her damp hair into a loose braid, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Minghao gave one last little twirl in front of the mirror, her flowery dress flaring out like a spinning daisy.

She giggled at her own reflection, then skipped out of the bathroom barefoot, still humming the tune under her breath.

Zhihao was waiting in the sitting area, leaning against the wall with his hands shoved into the pockets of his khaki pants already impatient. What if his mother got down first and didn’t find them?

His loafers looked a bit big, and his combed-back hair was already starting to fall forward, his eyes slightly squinted.