Feng Jin Chen woke up in the middle of the night.
Feng Yin Wan, who had been keeping vigil by his bedside, was startled awake by his movements.
"Chen Chen?"
Blinking groggily, she met the little one's concerned gaze.
In the next moment, those two small, chubby hands gently cupped her face.
"Mother, why did you fall asleep here?"
Earlier that day, while she was at the table, he had been serving his mother food when suddenly his vision went black, and he lost consciousness.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in this scene.
Mother's face felt so cold; she must have been waiting here for a long time...
The thought brought a surge of guilt and self-reproach to his eyes.
Feng Yin Wan was too focused on checking his condition to notice.
"Chen Chen, how are you feeling now? Is there anything uncomfortable anywhere on your body?"
Although the poison had been suppressed by Luo Qing Yi, this time was different. She truly feared there might be any lingering complications.
Feng Jin Chen looked up at her and nodded earnestly.
"Mother, I am indeed feeling a bit unwell."
Feng Yin Wan's body trembled at his words, her nerves instantly tightening.
"Where?"
Seeing his small hand point towards his heart, Feng Yin Wan's heart leaped into her throat in an instant.
Unexpectedly, the little one pursed his lips, his expression suddenly turning sorrowful.
"Mother's face is cold, and Chen Chen's heart aches."
He said this while clutching his chest and putting on an exaggerated pained expression.
Feng Yin Wan was stunned. After a moment of bewilderment, she chuckled.
"You rascal, daring to tease your mother!"
Her laughter was a release of immense relief.
Feng Jin Chen secretly observed her, and combining that with her earlier tense expression, the question that had been bothering him spilled out.
"Mother, what exactly happened to me?"
Similar situations had occurred more than once.
He didn't know what was wrong with his body, and neither his mother nor his maternal grand-uncle had ever mentioned it.
Knowing he likely wouldn't get an answer, he still wanted to ask.
As expected, Feng Yin Wan paused slightly at his words. The smile that had finally appeared on her face immediately sank again.
She silently pulled the blanket up for Feng Jin Chen and then gently stroked his head.
"What else could it be? How many times have I told you, no more taking medicine from the alchemy room without permission! But you never listen."
"Did you also take a particularly bitter pill today?"
She tapped his forehead with her fingertip and feigned sternness.
"See? This is the consequence!"
If she said this, Feng Jin Chen would indeed feel a bit guilty.
The bitter taste in his mouth seemed to spread again. He hid his face behind the quilt, only his round eyes peeking out, blinking with a half-believing expression.
"Really?"
He felt something was off...
Feng Yin Wan looked at her son's slightly shrewd eyes and managed to keep her smile in check.
"Of course."
She would certainly not say that the pill was placed there intentionally by her.
It wasn't poisonous, but she had added something special during its refinement. Taking one would make one bitter for the entire day.
Glancing at her son's slightly drooping face, Feng Yin Wan tucked him in and gave him a warning.
"Alright, since you're not feeling bad anymore, go to sleep quickly. Even in your dreams, remember what Mother said, or I'll punish you by making you recite the entire medicinal catalog fifty times."
Feng Jin Chen was successfully terrified by the latter half of her sentence.
Fifty times the entire medicinal catalog!
Oh heavens, what a blow to his young heart!
Dare not to retort, he closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
Seeing this, Feng Yin Wan's lips curved. She extinguished the long candle on the table and then turned to leave the room.
A cool breeze brushed past her back, and in a glance, she saw Song Qing An.
Feng Yin Wan paused slightly, but her steps did not falter.
"Why aren't you resting yet?"
Song Qing An had stayed in the sect many times before. Feng Yin Wan remembered his strict military-like schedule.
As she approached him, a chill emanated from him, and he seemed to have been standing there for quite some time.
"Chen Chen is awake?"
His first words were about Feng Jin Chen's condition.
Feng Yin Wan nodded, not surprised.
"He woke up a while ago, and I put him back to sleep."
"The poison has been suppressed, so he's fine now."
After all, he was her child, and Song Qing An had watched him grow up to some extent. Naturally, he was concerned upon hearing the news.
"That's good."
After a moment of hesitation, Song Qing An's lips pursed and then relaxed.
"Wan'er, if Chen Chen needs it, my internal energy is always available to help."
He wanted to do something to assist.
But after much thought, he was not skilled in detoxification, nor was he knowledgeable about alchemy. Internal energy was the only thing he could offer.
However, regardless of the method, as long as he could be of help, it would be good.
Feng Yin Wan had always seen his affection for Feng Jin Chen, and touched by his words, she readily agreed.
"En."
Just one word, yet it was like the faint light of dawn, stirring ripples in Song Qing An's eyes.
This time, she didn't consider refusing, nor did she say "thank you."
Did this mean...
In her heart, he had become someone she could rely on?