The voice that cut through the noise did not come from the crowd. It came from behind them.

"Is that what you think?"

The tone was calm, yet firm enough to silence the laughter that still lingered in the air.

The crowd shifted immediately as heads turned, and a path slowly opened when someone stepped forward.

Han Fuji.

Behind him stood a carriage loaded with several bags of seeds, the rough fabric tied securely, showing that he had just returned from work. Dust clung lightly to the wheels, yet no one paid attention to that.

All attention was on him.

There was a faint smile on his face, but it was not warm. There was something sharp beneath it, something that made the air feel heavier.

He walked forward at an unhurried pace and stopped directly in front of Fu Fong, placing himself between him and Bai Ming without looking back.

His back faced her, steady and deliberate.

"Is that truly what you believe?" he asked again.

Fu Fong’s expression darkened at once.

"You again," he said, his tone filled with irritation. "This does not concern you."

Han Fuji’s smile remained unchanged.

"Then why does it sound so foolish?" he replied calmly.

A ripple passed through the crowd.

Fu Fong stepped forward, his gaze turning sharp.

"You think you can interfere?" he asked. "This is between me and my former wife."

Han Fuji tilted his head slightly.

"Former," he repeated. "Then you no longer have the right to speak for her future."

The air grew tense.

Fu Fong’s jaw tightened.

"Do not act like you know anything," he said. "A woman like her has no value left. No man would take her."

Han Fuji looked at him quietly for a moment, then smiled slightly.

"You seem very confident," he said.

Fu Fong scoffed.

"I am stating facts."

"Then let us test those facts," Han Fuji replied.

The crowd stirred again.

Fu Fong narrowed his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Han Fuji’s voice remained steady.

"You claim she cannot remarry," he said. "Then let us see if that is true."

Silence followed.

Then Fu Fong let out a short laugh.

"...Fine," he said. "Since you want to interfere so badly, let us make it clear."

His gaze turned sharp.

"If she cannot get married within two days, then she will come to my inn and work as a server."

The crowd reacted immediately, and whispers spread quickly.

"That is too short..."

"How can that happen..."

"This is clearly impossible..."

Han Fuji did not react. He simply looked at Fu Fong.

"Is that all?" he asked.

The question made Fu Fong’s expression tighten slightly.

Before he could respond, Li Manman stepped forward.

Her gaze settled on Han Fuji, calm but filled with calculation.

"That is too light," she said.

The crowd quieted again.

Her lips curved into a faint smile.

"If she fails," she continued, "then she should face a real consequence."

Her voice remained soft, yet every word was clear.

"She will strip and stand before everyone in Unit 50," she said, "so that everyone can see what kind of woman she truly is."

Shock spread instantly.

The crowd reacted at once.

"That is too much..."

"This has gone too far..."

"How can she say such a thing..."

Fu Li stepped forward, anger rising in her voice.

"You have gone mad!" she snapped.

Fu Fei’s expression turned cold.

"That is not acceptable," she said firmly.

Behind Han Fuji, Bai Ming stood still. Her body had gone slightly rigid, but she did not speak.

Fu Fong glanced at Li Manman, then smiled.

"That is better," he said.

The pressure in the air deepened as all eyes turned toward Han Fuji.

Fu Fong let out a sharp laugh, clearly pleased with how things had turned. He lifted his hand and pointed directly at Han Fuji, then at Bai Ming, raising his voice so that everyone could hear.

"Did you all hear that?" he shouted. "Two days!"

His eyes gleamed with confidence.

"If she cannot get married in two days, then she will strip in front of everyone here!"

The crowd reacted immediately. Some gasped, while others whispered more eagerly as the tension turned into excitement.

"Two days... that is impossible..."

"She is finished..."

"There is no way she can escape this..."

Fu Fong stepped back slightly, as if already claiming victory.

Han Fuji did not move. He simply looked at him, and then, without raising his voice, he spoke.

"If you are so confident," he said, "then you should also be prepared to lose."

The words cut cleanly through the noise.

Fu Fong’s smile faltered slightly.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Han Fuji stepped forward slightly and spoke clearly so that everyone could hear.

"If Bai Ming gets married within two days," he said, "then Li Manman will take her place."

The crowd froze.

Li Manman’s smile disappeared instantly. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Han Fuji continued, his tone steady.

"She will be the one to strip in front of everyone in Unit 50."

A wave of shock spread through the crowd.

"She suggested it first..."

"She cannot back out now..."

All eyes turned to Li Manman. Her expression stiffened, but she did not speak.

Han Fuji’s gaze shifted to Fu Fong.

"And you," he added.

Fu Fong frowned.

"What about me?"

Han Fuji’s lips curved slightly.

"If you lose," he said, "you will spend two nights at Guenshan Brothel."

The crowd stirred again.

"Guenshan..."

"That place..."

Han Fuji’s voice remained calm.

"In room sixteen," he finished.

Silence fell for a brief moment.

Then the crowd erupted into whispers.

"Room sixteen?"

"Is he serious..."

"That room..."

"I heard the women there are..."

"They only serve the heaviest clients..."

"No, not the clients... the women themselves..."

"They are very large... very heavy..."

Laughter broke out in scattered parts of the crowd.

Fu Fong’s face changed instantly.

"You—!" he snapped.

Li Manman’s expression darkened as she exchanged a quick look with him, and for the first time since this began, the confidence in their eyes was no longer as steady.