"Already transferred to the psychiatric facility," Ting Fei confirmed. "They have a secured unit specifically for patients with violent trauma responses. The doctors there assured me he’ll receive appropriate treatment rather than simply being restrained and medicated into compliance."

Lu Yuze’s expression remained neutral, though inside he felt a complex mix of anger at what the boy had done to his daughter and recognition that the child himself was a victim of circumstances beyond his control. "Ensure the facility has all the resources they need to treat him properly. His actions came from trauma, not malice."

"Already arranged, sir," Ting Fei said. "The Madam was very clear about that point."

There was a brief pause as they watched another group of children being guided toward waiting vehicles, staff members speaking to them in gentle tones and ensuring each child had their few belongings with them.

Then Ah Ling spoke up, his voice carrying a note of concern. "Master, what about the Orchid Charity Society event that Madam was invited to? Is she still planning to attend? She did give her word that she would be there."

Lu Yuze frowned slightly, having temporarily forgotten about that particular obligation in the chaos of the morning’s events. The Orchid Charity Society was exactly the kind of high-society gathering where Shuyin’s presence would be noted and her absence would be remarked upon. It was important for establishing her position in the social circles that had once dismissed her, for showing that she now commanded the respect and status that should have been hers all along.

But it was also a multi-hour affair, and after last night and this morning, Shuyin was exhausted in ways that went beyond simple physical tiredness.

"I don’t know if she would manage a full attendance," Lu Yuze said thoughtfully, considering the options. "But going there for thirty minutes or so could work. Long enough to make an appearance, to show that she honors her commitments, without requiring her to endure hours of social performance when she’s already drained."

He paused, then added firmly, "Let her rest first. She needs sleep more than she needs to impress society women right now. The event doesn’t start until this afternoon, correct?"

"Yes, sir," Ah Ling confirmed. "It begins at two o’clock and typically runs until five or six in the evening. If the Madam rested for several hours and then attended just the opening portion, she could make her appearance without overtaxing herself."

"That’s what we’ll do then," Lu Yuze decided. "Let her sleep until noon at least. Then we can assess how she’s feeling and decide whether she’s up for even a brief appearance. If she’s too exhausted, we’ll send regrets and reschedule. Her health takes priority over social obligations."

"Understood," Ah Ling said, though his expression suggested he hoped Shuyin would feel well enough to attend. The Orchid Charity Society was notoriously exclusive, and being invited at all was a significant mark of social acceptance. Missing it entirely might close doors that had only just begun to open.

But Lu Yuze knew that Shuyin’s wellbeing was more important than any social gathering. She’d been through too much in too short a time, the passionate intensity of finally consummating their marriage, the physical toll that had taken on her body, the emotional trauma of watching Yuyan be attacked, the difficult decisions about the children’s futures. She needed rest and recovery more than she needed to smile and make small talk with wealthy women whose approval ultimately didn’t matter.

"How much longer until all the children are relocated?" Lu Yuze asked, changing the subject back to the immediate concern.

"Another thirty minutes, perhaps one hour or so," Ting Fei estimated. "The hostel transfers are going smoothly, but coordinating with the police for the family reunification cases is taking longer. We want to ensure each child is properly documented and their information is accurately recorded so there are no mistakes in matching them with their families."

"Good. Keep me updated on any issues," Lu Yuze said. He glanced back toward the east wing, where his wife and children were resting. "I’ll be checking on my family. Call me if anything urgent arises."

"Of course, Master," both Ting Fei and Ah Ling said together, bowing again as he turned to leave.

As Lu Yuze walked back toward the east wing, he reflected on how dramatically his life had changed in just the past twelve hours. Last night, he and Shuyin had finally bridged the careful distance they’d maintained and become truly married in every sense. This morning, they’d faced a crisis together and made difficult decisions as partners. And now they were building something real, not just a marriage of convenience, but a genuine family with children who needed them and a future that held actual promise of happiness.

The scratches on his neck were minor marks that would fade in a few days. But the connection they represented, the intimacy and trust and vulnerability they symbolized, those would last far longer. He’d finally allowed himself to move forward from twelve years of grief, to open his heart to someone new, and the world hadn’t ended. Instead, it had expanded in ways he hadn’t thought possible.

When he quietly opened the door to their bedroom, he found exactly what he’d hoped to see, Shuyin asleep in the center of the bed with Yuyan on one side and Chen Xiao on the other, all three of them breathing peacefully. The television was still on, casting a soft glow across the room, and the scene was so perfectly domestic and peaceful that Lu Yuze felt something warm settle in his chest.

Lu Yuze lingered at the bedroom doorway for a moment longer than necessary, his hand still resting on the door handle. The room before him was quiet and soft, untouched by the chaos that had defined the rest of the morning, almost fragile in its stillness. The faint rise and fall of three sets of breathing, Shuyin’s deeper and steadier, Yuyan’s light and peaceful, Chen Xiao’s small and trusting, was the only sound that existed, grounding him in a reality he’d once thought he would never have again.

He walked over to the bed, each step measured and deliberate, as if afraid the moment might shatter if he moved too quickly or carelessly. The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting gentle patterns across the sleeping forms, and something in his chest pulled tight at the sight.

Carefully, he bent down beside the bed. His hand hovered for a second, uncertain, before settling gently against the edge of the mattress to steady himself. Then, with a tenderness that didn’t belong to the man the world knew, the ruthless businessman, the calculating strategist, the dangerous power player, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against Shuyin’s forehead.

Warm. Real. Alive.

His gaze didn’t leave her after that, didn’t leave any of them. He took in Yuyan’s silver hair spread across the pillow, still slightly disheveled from the morning’s trauma. Chen Xiao’s small hand fisted in Shuyin’s shirt even in sleep, seeking the security he’d been denied for so long. Shuyin herself, her face relaxed in rest, the marks on her neck visible reminders of the night they’d finally become truly married in every sense.

Something shifted in his chest, something quiet but powerful enough to make his throat tighten with emotion he’d thought himself incapable of feeling anymore. This wasn’t just a temporary refuge or a passing illusion created by circumstances. This wasn’t the hollow existence he’d maintained for twelve years after his first wife’s death.

This was real. This was his.

Not possession in the way he owned businesses or assets. Not control in the way he manipulated markets and people. But something far more dangerous, far more consuming, far more profound.

Attachment.

His fingers brushed lightly against Shuyin’s hair, the movement slow and almost hesitant, as if memorizing the silken feel of it, cataloging the reality of her existence beside him. The strands caught the light, and he marveled at how something so simple could feel so significant.

"This is my family now," he murmured under his breath, the words barely audible even in the quiet room, yet carrying the weight of an unbreakable vow. Not a casual statement. Not a hopeful wish. An absolute declaration of truth.

And he meant it with every fiber of his being.