Transmigration; A Mother's Redemption and a perfect Wife.-Chapter 449; Honeymoon phase 5 (c)

Vel’tharis maera cin, sister’kai," she whispered, too softly for Minghao to hear. May the stars bless you, sister of my heart.

Minghao finished her last problem with a triumphant flourish. "Done! All twenty problems completed!" She held up her notebook like a trophy.

"Let me check them," Qing Qing offered, sliding off her bed to join Minghao on hers.

They went through the problems together, Qing Qing pointing out where Minghao had made small errors and explaining how to correct them. Minghao erased and fixed them carefully, asking questions when she didn’t understand.

By the time they finished, it was well past their usual bedtime. Minghao’s phone buzzed, a message from Tang Fei responding to the face mask photo with heart emojis and a reminder to get enough sleep.

"Momma says goodnight," Minghao reported, showing Qing Qing the screen. "She’s happy we’re having fun together."

They both changed into their pajamas, Minghao in her favorite set with cartoon stars, Qing Qing in the simple cotton ones that Nanny Yun had helped her pick. They took turns brushing their teeth in the ensuite bathroom, and Minghao showed Qing Qing where she kept extra toiletries in case she needed anything. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

When they were finally ready for bed, Minghao turned off the main lights, leaving only their bedside lamps glowing softly.

"Goodnight, Qing Qing," Minghao said, snuggling under her covers.

"Goodnight, Minghao," Qing Qing replied, settling into her own bed.

For a few moments, there was silence. Then:

"Qing Qing?"

"Yes?"

"I’m really glad you’re here accompanying me while my sister is in the military.... You’re older, but I feel we relate even more naturally."

Qing Qing’s throat tightened with emotion. "I’m glad I’m here too. I never had... this. Someone to talk to. To share a room with. To just... be with."

"Well, now you do. Forever, if you want."

"Forever," Qing Qing repeated softly, testing the word. In Veltharian, the concept of forever was tied to royal bloodlines, to dynasties and legacies. But here, in this warm room with this extraordinary girl, forever meant something different. Something better.

Another few minutes of comfortable silence passed.

"Qing Qing?"

"Mm?"

"Can you say goodnight in Veltharian?"

"Therin’shara vel’nai," Qing Qing murmured. "It means... may peaceful dreams guard your night."

"That’s beautiful," Minghao whispered sleepily. "Therin’shara vel’nai..."

Her pronunciation was terrible, but Qing Qing smiled in the darkness.

"Therin’shara vel’nai, sister’kai," she whispered back.

Within minutes, Minghao’s breathing had evened out into the steady rhythm of sleep. Qing Qing lay awake a bit longer, listening to the sound of another person breathing in the same room, no longer feeling alone in the darkness.

Through the bedroom door, she could see a sliver of light from the common sitting area where they’d left a lamp on. Their suite was like a small apartment, the sitting area with its comfortable sofas and television, the compact kitchen where they could make snacks, and the three bedrooms. Minghao’s, which they now shared, and the other two that belonged to Zhihao and the other girl, but now, they would belong to Qing Qing.

Tang Fei had arranged everything to make Qing Qing feel welcome, to give her privacy when she needed it but also the option to be close to Minghao. And Qing Qing had chosen close. Had chosen to share this room, these moments, this new life.

She pulled her covers up to her chin and closed her eyes.

Tomorrow, she would review debate materials. Tomorrow, she would practice speaking. Tomorrow, she would take another small step toward becoming just another student.

But tonight, she was simply a girl in a safe, warm room, with a friend sleeping nearby.

And that was enough.

—————

Down the hall in his own suite, Qin Xinyu sat at his desk, finishing the last of his history reading. His homework was complete, his debate notes organized, his schedule for tomorrow already planned. Everything in order, everything under control.

He glanced at the photo on his desk, a small frame containing a picture of him and his mother from last year. They were smiling, standing in front of his previous school grounds, wearing worn-out clothes. Things really changed faster than they expected.

His phone buzzed. A message from Minghao in their debate group chat:

Minghao: Finished my homework!!! All 20 problems done!!!

Minghao: Qing Qing helped with the hard ones but I did most myself!

Minghao: Good night Xinyu! See you tomorrow! Let’s work hard for the debate!

He smiled and typed back:

Qin Xinyu: Good job. Rest well. Tomorrow we practice presentations.

Qin Xinyu: Good night, Minghao. Good night, Qing Qing.

After a moment, a new message appeared:

Qing Qing: Good night, Xinyu. Thank you for... for including me. Vel’tharis cin.

He didn’t know what the Veltharian phrase meant, but he understood the sentiment.

Qin Xinyu: You’re part of the team now. Sleep well.

He set his phone aside and stood, stretching. In the next room, he could hear his mother moving about, preparing for bed. Their suite was comfortable, with a sitting area, a kitchen, and two bedrooms. Everything they needed, and more than they’d ever hoped for.

As he changed into his pajamas and turned off the lights, Qin Xinyu felt something he hadn’t felt in a long time: contentment. Not just survival, not just getting by, but genuine satisfaction with where he was and what he was building.

He had a place here. Purpose. People who valued him.

And a debate to win.

He climbed into bed, and within minutes, he too was asleep, his mind already unconsciously organizing arguments and preparing strategies for the competition ahead.

— — — — —

The Huo mansion settled into peaceful quiet as the night deepened. In their separate suites, children from different worlds rested, Minghao and Qing Qing sharing a room like sisters, Qin Xinyu and his mother each in their own spaces but close enough to feel each other’s presence.

Outside, the garden lights cast gentle shadows across the perfectly manicured grounds. Inside, in the security office, the night guards monitored their screens, ensuring the safety of the household. And somewhere far away, Tang Fei received a notification on her phone, a photo of two smiling girls in face masks, with a message from her daughter: