CHAPTER 307: CHAPTER 307; JUST ONE GAME....

The room was neat, though two cups of half-finished tea still rested on the sitting table, forgotten.

Minghao and Zhihao were not asleep; instead, they sat cross-legged on the bed, their postures stiff, and alert. The moment they saw her, both kids straightened, their eyes mirroring the same unspoken question.

"Mom," Zhihao whispered, his voice carrying a maturity beyond his years, "is everything... all right?"

Minghao’s gaze was sharper, though edged with uneasiness. "We heard a lot earlier. Dad... he sounded like he used to. When he was angry. When you..." Her words faltered nervously, throat tightening with memories she wished she could forget.

Tang Fei crossed the room, her presence softening the tense air. She sat between them, reaching for their hands, squeezing one in each palm. The warmth of their touch grounded her, even as she felt the storm of their worry.

"My little ones," she began, her tone low and steady, "you don’t have to be afraid. Daddy was not angry at me. We had a... heated moment, yes. But it passed."

Minghao frowned, clearly unconvinced. "But you cried, didn’t you? We know how you sound when you cry, Mom. We have heard it before..."

Her heart twisted at her honesty. She gently smoothed her hair to the back, her lips curving into a weary but reassuring smile. "Sometimes, even when Mommy cries, it doesn’t mean I am in danger. Tonight was one of those times enacting a drana. Do you understand? Daddy may look frightening sometimes, but he doesn’t mean harm."

Zhihao’s shoulders relaxed slightly, though his grip on her hand remained tight. "I don’t want to see you hurt again," he whispered fiercely.

Tang Fei leaned forward and kissed the crown of his head, then Minghao’s. "I know. And I promise you, we are good. That’s why I came to tell you myself. I couldn’t sleep knowing you were still awake, still worrying about me."

Her words sank into them, quieting the unrest in their eyes bit by bit. Minghao finally leaned against her shoulder, her voice soft. "It’s hard to believe, sometimes. But... I will try."

Tang Fei wrapped her arms around both of them, holding them close. "I can’t lie to you, just relax...."

They stayed that way for a while, a small island of warmth in the vast hush of the mansion. At last, she coaxed them back under their blankets, tucking them in with the same care she had shown their other siblings.

As their breathing slowed into sleep, Tang Fei lingered at their bedside, brushing her fingers lightly over their foreheads before rising, but suddenly, her hand got caught by Zhihao.

"Mother.. I can’t seem to sleep...." Let’s go and play just one game in the home theater room."

Tang Fei smiled faintly at Zhihao’s request, her hand brushing through his hair. She glanced at Minghao, already drifting into the steady rhythm of sleep, and at Qing Qing, who had climbed into Minghao’s bed earlier, curled up like a little kitten with her cheek pressed against the pillow.

She bent down, pressing soft kisses on both girls’ foreheads. "Sleep well, my darlings," she whispered, tucking the blankets more snugly around them.

Only then did she straighten and nod at Zhihao, who was still gripping her hand tightly. "All right. Just one game. But then, you must try to sleep."

His eyes lit up with a quiet excitement, though he kept his voice hushed so as not to disturb his sisters, who were already sound asleep. "I promise."

Together, they slipped out of the room, the heavy wooden door closing with a muted click behind them. The hallway was dim, only the soft glow of wall lamps casting golden patches of light against the polished floors. Their footsteps echoed lightly as they walked.

Not far down the corridor, they came across Qin Xinyu and Twilight. The two were emerging from the staircase, engaged in some low conversation that ceased the moment they noticed Tang Fei and Zhihao.

"Still awake? Is there a problem?" Qin Xinyu inquired, one brow lifting slightly as her gaze softened at the sight of the boy holding his mother’s hand. They had the sweetest and most envied relationship.

"Couldn’t sleep," Zhihao admitted without hesitation, though his voice carried the faintest defiance, as if daring anyone to deny him this moment.

Twilight’s lips curved in a knowing smile, "And where might you two be sneaking off to at this hour? Can we join you?"

"To the home theater," Tang Fei replied simply. Her tone was warm and endearing, "We will do just one game and then get back to bed."

Qin Xinyu and Twilight exchanged a glance before nodding. Without further words, the four of them walked together toward the private elevator at the end of the hallway.

The polished metal doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing the spacious lift that gleamed with mirrored walls and velvet-lined seats along the sides. Zhihao pressed the glowing button for the 7th floor with quiet eagerness, his small hand dwarfed by the panel.

The elevator hummed to life, carrying them upward. Inside, silence settled for a moment, but it was not heavy. Tang Fei rested her palm on Zhihao’s shoulder, feeling the boy’s barely contained anticipation.

At last, the doors opened with a muted ding, and the 7th floor stretched out before them.

The corridor here was wide and dimly lit, leading to a grand pair of double doors carved with intricate designs. Beyond those doors lay the mansion’s vast home theater room, a space larger than most halls, its velvet curtains drawn back to reveal rows of reclining seats, a massive screen dominating the wall, and shelves filled with consoles and game controllers neatly arranged.

Zhihao’s eyes widened, his earlier restlessness replaced with a spark of boyish joy.

Tang Fei squeezed his hand, seeing how excited he was, "Just one game," she reminded gently, though a soft smile touched her lips.

"Just one," he echoed with a grin, already pulling her forward.