Transmigration; A Mother's Redemption and a perfect Wife.-Chapter 472; Honeymoon Phase 6

They finished dressing in comfortable synchronization, Minghao coaching Qing Qing through each piece of the uniform, the tie that needed to be knotted just so, the blazer that had to sit properly on the shoulders, the regulation shoes that needed to be polished to a shine. By the time they were both ready, Qing Qing looked every inch the proper academy student, though her hands still twisted nervously in front of her.

"Backpacks," Minghao announced, shouldering her own small bag that was somehow perfectly organized despite its owner’s age. She watched as Qing Qing picked up her new backpack, testing the weight. "Too heavy?"

"No, it’s fine. Just... full of new textbooks. And notebooks. And supplies." Qing Qing took a deep breath. "This is really happening."

"Yes!" Minghao grabbed her hand, her enthusiasm infectious. "And it’s going to be amazing! Come on, we need to get to breakfast before Xinyu eats all the good pastries. He always takes the chocolate ones if you’re not fast enough."

They rushed out of the bedroom, Minghao leading the way with Qing Qing in tow, their footsteps echoing through the hallway as they descended the grand staircase. The early morning light filtered through the tall windows, casting everything in soft gold, and the house was already awake, servants moving quietly through their duties, the distant sound of kitchen activity, the comforting smell of fresh coffee and baking bread.

They burst into the dining room with typical morning chaos, Minghao still chattering about something, Qing Qing trying to smooth down her uniform self-consciously, to find Qin Xinyu already seated at the table, halfway through his breakfast. Beside him, Twilight sat with a cup of coffee, dressed impeccably in dark pants and a fitted jacket that managed to look both professional and subtly tactical.

"Good morning," Twilight greeted, her eyes immediately assessing Qing Qing’s appearance and nervous demeanor with the precision of someone trained to notice everything. "First day. How are we feeling?"

"Terrified," Qing Qing admitted, sliding into her seat with visible tension in her shoulders.

"That’s normal," Qin Xinyu said around a bite of toast, then swallowed properly before continuing. "I was terrified my first day too. But you’ll do fine. The teachers are nice, most of the students are decent, and you’ve already prepared more than anyone else in your year level."

"And you have us," Minghao added, claiming the chair beside Qing Qing and immediately reaching for the chocolate croissants before Qin Xinyu could take them all. "We’re like your built-in support system. Very exclusive. People would kill for this kind of backing."

"Please don’t phrase it that way," Twilight said mildly, though there was amusement in her eyes. "It sounds vaguely threatening."

"It’s supposed to be reassuring!"

"It’s both," Qin Xinyu observed. "Which is very on-brand for this family."

Breakfast proceeded with the comfortable chaos that had become their routine, Minghao narrating her plans for the day with dramatic flair, Qin Xinyu offering more practical advice about navigating the school, Twilight interjecting with occasional logistical reminders. Through it all, Qing Qing slowly relaxed, the familiar dynamics of the family that had chosen her wrapping around her like armor against her anxiety.

"Remember," Qin Xinyu said as they finished eating, "you’re in the seventh year level with the other twelve-year-olds, so we won’t have classes together. But we’ll see each other at breaks, and definitely at debate practice after school."

"I’m in the primary section," Minghao added, "but I’ll find you at lunch. The cafeteria is neutral territory where all age groups mix. Usually there’s drama, but that’s what makes it interesting."

"Fascinating definition of interesting," Twilight murmured, standing and gathering her things. "All right, everyone. Backpacks, last bathroom check, and let’s move. I want to get there early enough for Qing Qing to get properly oriented before the rush."

They filed out to the front entrance where the morning air was crisp and cool, the sun still climbing its way fully above the horizon. But instead of one of the familiar family sedans, a vehicle that immediately made all three children stop and stare sat waiting in the circular drive. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

A Rolls-Royce Phantom. Matte black, sleek and imposing, the kind of car that exuded wealth and power even sitting still. It looked like something royalty would arrive in, or possibly a movie villain. The morning light seemed to absorb into its dark surface rather than reflect off it.

"Twilight," Minghao said slowly, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and mischief, "are you on a conquest to taste every single car in Daddy’s collection while he’s away?"

Twilight’s grin was unrepentant as she unlocked the vehicle with a soft chirp. "Your mother gave me permission to use whatever vehicles I deemed appropriate. This one seemed suitable for Qing Qing’s first day, dignified, impressive, sends the right message."

"The message being ’don’t mess with us, we have obscene amounts of money’?" Qin Xinyu asked, though he was already moving toward the car with barely contained excitement.

"The message being ’this student is valued and protected,’" Twilight corrected, though her tone suggested Qin Xinyu’s interpretation wasn’t entirely wrong. "Now get in before I change my mind and make you walk."

They climbed into the luxurious interior, soft leather seats that probably cost more than most people’s annual salaries, ambient lighting that adjusted to the time of day, enough legroom to stretch out comfortably even in the back seats. Qing Qing sat between Minghao and Qin Xinyu, her nervousness temporarily forgotten in the face of such opulence.

Through the rear window, they could see another vehicle pulling into position behind them, one of the family’s security SUVs, dark-tinted windows and subtle modifications that suggested it was far more than just a regular car. The security team that followed them everywhere, invisible until needed.

"Everyone buckled?" Twilight asked from the driver’s seat, adjusting the mirrors with practiced efficiency.

A chorus of affirmatives, and then they were moving, the Phantom gliding down the drive with such smoothness it felt like floating. The engine was nearly silent, a whisper of restrained power that seemed fitting for a vehicle of this caliber.

The drive to the academy was smooth and uneventful, Twilight navigating traffic with the same confidence she’d shown in the Pagani, though this vehicle demanded a different kind of attention. People stared as they passed, other cars giving them a wide berth, the Rolls-Royce commanding respect simply by existing.

"You know," Minghao mused from the backseat, "when Momma and Daddy get back and Daddy finds out you’ve been systematically driving through his entire collection, he’s going to have words."

"Let him," Twilight replied airily. "I have diplomatic immunity via Auntie Tang. It’s ironclad."

"Is that actually how it works?" Qin Xinyu asked.

"In this family? Absolutely."

They pulled up to the academy’s entrance, and the arrival of the Rolls-Royce created an immediate stir. Students streaming toward the building slowed, stopped, stared. Parents dropping off their children craned their necks to see who was inside. Even some teachers paused in their morning routines to observe.

"Deep breath," Twilight said to Qing Qing as she put the car in park. "You’ve got this."

Qing Qing nodded, her hands clenched in her lap, but there was determination in her expression now alongside the nervousness.

They exited the vehicle in a choreographed sequence, Twilight first, opening the rear door with practiced grace, then Minghao bounding out with her usual energy, followed by Qin Xinyu moving with more measured dignity, and finally Qing Qing, stepping out into her new life with visible trepidation.

"Come on," Minghao said, immediately taking Qing Qing’s hand in a gesture that was both protective and encouraging. "I’ll show you where the main office is first, then we’ll find your homeroom."

Twilight walked with them through the entrance, her presence drawing even more attention than the car. She moved like someone completely comfortable with being watched, her posture relaxed but alert, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings in that way that had become second nature.

At the main office, they were greeted by the registrar, a kindly middle-aged woman who immediately put Qing Qing at ease with warm efficiency. Papers were signed, schedules were distributed, locker assignments were provided. Through it all, Minghao maintained her hold on Qing Qing’s hand, a tiny anchor in the overwhelming newness.

"Your homeroom is 7-B, down this hallway, third door on the right,"