Transmigration; A Mother's Redemption and a perfect Wife.-Chapter 447; Honeymoon phase 5 (a)

"Someone has to be," Qin Xinyu replied with a small smile.

As they filed out of the study room, Qing Qing lingered for a moment, looking back at the table where they’d worked. At the scattered papers that represented her first real collaboration with peers her own age. Her first step toward being just another student.

"Vel’shara cin thoral," she whispered to the empty room. Thank you, fates.

Then she hurried to catch up with Minghao, who was already chattering excitedly about what they should have for dinner, blissfully unaware that for Qing Qing, every normal moment was still a small miracle.

The dining room of the Huo mansion was grand yet intimate when the family wasn’t at full capacity. With Tang Fei and Huo Ting away on their business trip, and the three siblings still at their military training camp, the long mahogany table felt almost too spacious for just the two girls and Qin Xinyu.

Nanny Yun had coordinated with the kitchen staff to prepare a comforting meal, nothing too elaborate, but wholesome and nourishing. The aroma of steamed fish, stir-fried vegetables, and fragrant rice filled the air as they entered.

"Go wash your hands, all of you," Nanny Yun instructed gently but firmly, shooing them toward the adjacent washroom.

The three of them lined up at the sink like obedient ducklings. Minghao went first, scrubbing her hands thoroughly while humming a tune. Qing Qing followed, her movements precise and careful, royal training evident even in something as simple as washing hands. Qin Xinyu went last, efficiently cleaning up before drying his hands on the pristine towel.

When they returned to the dining room, the table had been set with several dishes arranged family-style in the center. It wasn’t the formal, multi-course affair that happened when Master Huo and Lady Tang were present, but rather a cozy, casual meal.

Minghao immediately claimed her usual seat, and Qing Qing hesitated only briefly before settling beside her. Qin Xinyu took a seat across from them, while Nanny Yun busied herself making sure everything was properly arranged before sitting at the end of the table.

"Eat well," Nanny Yun said warmly. "Growing children need proper nutrition, especially with all this studying and debate preparation."

Minghao didn’t need to be told twice. She immediately reached for the serving spoon, scooping rice into her bowl with practiced ease. "Qing Qing, try the fish! Nanny Yun made it with ginger and scallions. It’s really good!"

Qing Qing accepted a small portion, her movements still carrying that careful, measured quality of someone who’d been taught elaborate dining etiquette. In the palace, every meal had been a performance, with proper posture, correct utensil usage, and appropriate portion sizes. Here, things were more relaxed, but old habits died hard.

She brought a small piece of fish to her mouth, chewed carefully, and her eyes widened slightly. "It’s... delicious," she said softly in Mandarin, then switched to English. "Very different from palace food. This tastes... warmer. More alive."

Qing Qing was becoming more open and embracing her new life.

"Palace food?" Nanny Yun’s eyebrows rose slightly, but before she could ask for more, Minghao jumped in.

"Qing Qing went to a really fancy boarding school before!" Minghao explained quickly, the cover story rolling off her tongue with surprising ease. "Like, super traditional and formal. Everything was really strict, right?"

Qing Qing nodded, grateful for the rescue. "Yes. Very... structured. We ate the same things every week. Everything was planned."

"Well, here you can eat whatever you like," Nanny Yun said kindly, though her eyes held a hint of curiosity. "No need to be so formal. You’re family now."

Family. The word settled over Qing Qing like a warm blanket. She’d had family once, a father who barely looked at her, a mother who died when she was too young to remember, siblings who competed for power and saw her as irrelevant and a stumbling block. This was different. This felt... real.

Qin Xinyu quietly served himself, observing the interaction with his characteristic thoughtfulness. He added some vegetables to his bowl, then noticed Qing Qing struggling slightly with her chopsticks, her grip was technically perfect, but there was a tremor in her hands, a residual effect of trauma that sometimes made fine motor control difficult.

Without drawing attention to it, he simply said, "The soup is good too. Want me to get you some?"

"Yes, please," Qing Qing replied gratefully, accepting the distraction.

As they ate, conversation flowed naturally. Minghao chattered about school, about a funny incident in her literature class where one of the boys had accidentally called the teacher "Mom" and the entire class had erupted in laughter. Qin Xinyu shared that he’d received high marks on his today history essay, and Nanny Yun beamed with motherly pride.

"And what about you, Qing Qing?" Nanny Yun asked gently. "Are you excited about starting school?"

Qing Qing paused, her chopsticks hovering over her rice bowl. Excited? Terrified? Both?

"Yes," she finally answered, her voice soft but honest. "I’m... nervous but I’m also excited. I’ve never been to a regular school before."

"You’ll do wonderfully," Nanny Yun assured her. "And you’ll have Minghao and Xinyu to help you adjust. That’s what friends are for."

Friends. Another word that felt foreign yet precious.

Minghao reached over and squeezed Qing Qing’s hand under the table. "You’re going to love it! Well, except for the cafeteria food. That’s still questionable."

"Young Miss!" Nanny Yun scolded lightly, though her eyes were amused.

The rest of the meal passed in comfortable warmth. When they finished, Qin Xinyu and Minghao automatically began gathering plates to help clear the table, but Nanny Yun waved them away.

"You all have homework to finish. Go on, get ready for bed soon. There’s school tomorrow."

"But Ma...." Qin Xinyu started to protest.

"No buts. The kitchen staff and I will handle this. You’ve been working hard all evening. Go rest."

Reluctantly, they obeyed. As they left the dining room, Minghao grabbed Qing Qing’s hand, pulling her along.