"Nuannuan's condition has stabilized. She can be discharged to recuperate at home."
The military doctor's voice held a trace of relief as it rang out in the hospital room. Su Mingfeng and Lin Wanyi sat beside Nuannuan's bed, and joy spread across both their faces at the news.
After several days of treatment and care, Nuannuan was still weak, but her high fever had completely subsided, and she was much more alert. A little color had returned to her small face.
"Wonderful! My little Nuannuan can finally come home!" Lin Wanyi clasped Nuannuan's little hand excitedly, her eyes growing moist.
Su Mingfeng gently patted Nuannuan's head as well. He knew that, in the end, the hospital could never be as comfortable as home.
"Thank you, Doctor," Su Mingfeng said to the military doctor. "I'll personally arrange Nuannuan's follow-up care."
"You're too kind, Chief. We're only doing our duty." The military doctor saluted.
Su Zhenbang, Su Mingguo, Su Mingzhe, and Su Mingyuan were also in the room. They looked at Nuannuan with relieved smiles on their faces. Her recovery was the happiest thing that had happened to the Su Family lately.
"Nuannuan, do you want to go home?" Su Zhenbang's voice was very gentle.
Nuannuan nodded, her eyes shining with anticipation. Although she did not dislike the hospital, she looked forward even more to returning to a real home.
"Then let's go home right now!" Lin Wanyi said with a smile. She could hardly wait to take Nuannuan back to the Su Family Compound.
The guards quickly packed Nuannuan's belongings. Su Mingfeng carefully picked her up and wrapped her snugly in a thick blanket.
"Where's Big Kitty?" Nuannuan tugged at Su Mingfeng's collar with her little hand and asked softly.
Su Mingfeng smiled. He knew what mattered most to Nuannuan.
"Big Kitty is waiting outside," Su Mingfeng said quietly. "He'll come home with us."
A flash of delighted surprise crossed Nuannuan's eyes. She knew Big Kitty would not leave her.
The group left the room and went downstairs, outside the hospital building. The enormous snow leopard was still lying quietly in the snow. When he saw Su Mingfeng come out carrying Nuannuan, he immediately rose, a low rumble sounding in his throat. His gaze never left Nuannuan.
"Big Kitty!" Nuannuan stretched out her little hand and waved at the snow leopard.
The snow leopard swished his tail excitedly, his enormous head swaying slightly. He wanted to approach, but hesitated because of the crowd around them.
"Let him follow," Su Zhenbang ordered in a deep voice. "Send a vehicle to take him back to the compound."
The guards immediately got to work. A reinforced truck was brought over, and with Su Mingfeng soothing him, the snow leopard obediently jumped into it.
Holding Nuannuan, Su Mingfeng got into the jeep. The convoy slowly pulled away from the Military Region General Hospital, heading toward the capital's famous Su Family Compound.
Located in the capital's western outskirts, the Su Family Compound was a historic courtyard residence. Its red walls and gray roof tiles were simple and elegant. Several old locust trees grew in the courtyard, with red lanterns hanging from their branches. Two imposing stone lions stood at the compound's entrance.
The jeep slowly entered the compound. Nuannuan looked through the window at everything before her. It was so big and beautiful here. It felt like home.
The vehicle stopped in front of a detached two-story house. Its walls were light gray, and white curtains hung in the windows. Several potted green plants stood by the door, still full of life despite the winter.
"Nuannuan, this is your home now," Lin Wanyi said gently, holding her in her arms.
Su Mingfeng carried Nuannuan out of the vehicle, and the group entered the house.
The living room was spacious. The furniture was all old-fashioned, but it had been wiped spotlessly clean. Several ink paintings hung on the walls, and the bookshelves were filled with books.
"Your room is upstairs, Nuannuan." Lin Wanyi held Nuannuan's little hand, her voice full of anticipation. "Your mother decorated it herself back then. It's been kept for you all this time."
Nuannuan followed Lin Wanyi up the stairs, one step at a time. She was full of curiosity. Mommy's room?
When they reached the second floor, Lin Wanyi pushed open a door.
Creak-
With a faint sound, the door slowly swung open.
Nuannuan's eyes flew wide.
It was a little room filled with pink and white. A small wooden bed stood inside, covered with pink sheets, with a hand-sewn rag doll hanging at its head.
The wardrobe was white, carved with lovely patterns. A few fairy-tale books sat on the little desk. Pink floral curtains hung at the window, and a pot of wintersweet in full bloom stood on the windowsill. The whole room was filled with warmth and childlike charm.
Most striking of all was a painting hanging on the wall. It was an oil painting of a little girl in a white dress, sitting on the grass, surrounded by small animals. The girl wore a sweet smile, and her eyes looked very much like Nuannuan's.
"Your mother painted this." Lin Wanyi's voice caught slightly. "She always hoped you would come back and live in this room."
Nuannuan gently stroked the rag doll beside the bed with her little hand. She could feel her mother's presence in every object in this room. It was gentle and loving, filled with a mother's love.
"This is... my room?" Nuannuan's voice was very soft, with a slight tremble.
Lin Wanyi nodded, tears welling up again. She pulled Nuannuan tightly into her arms.
"Yes, Nuannuan. This is your room. The room your mother prepared for you," Lin Wanyi said through her tears. "Your mother has always loved you. We all love you."
Tears welled up in Nuannuan's eyes too. She buried her head in Lin Wanyi's arms, feeling this long-delayed warmth and love. She knew she had finally come home. Back to that home filled with love and warmth.
Su Zhenbang, Su Mingfeng, Su Mingguo, Su Mingzhe, and Su Mingyuan stood in the doorway, watching Nuannuan and Lin Wanyi embrace. Relieved smiles appeared on all their faces. Nuannuan's return had brought life back to the Su Family Compound after five years of silence.
"Now Nuannuan is finally home," Su Mingguo said quietly. "It's time those who hurt her paid the price, too."