Fu Sheng did not remember how he returned.

The path from Unit 40 to the Fu residence felt longer than usual, yet he did not notice the distance. His steps remained steady, but his thoughts were unsettled and difficult to control.

Everything he had seen stayed in his mind.

Her face.

Her voice.

The children calling her mother.

By the time he reached the gate of the Fu mansion, night had already fallen completely.

Lanterns were lit across the courtyard, casting a warm and steady glow over the space. The family had gathered outside and were preparing for dinner, but the atmosphere was not calm.

There was tension in the air.

The moment Fu Sheng stepped inside, Fu Li noticed him first.

"Brother," she called out as she quickly ran toward him.

Fu Fei followed closely behind her, her expression filled with worry, while Fu Tong hurried after them.

"Where have you been?" Fu Li asked as she stopped in front of him, her voice carrying both relief and frustration. "We have been looking for you everywhere."

Fu Tong nodded as he spoke.

"You left without saying anything, and we searched around the market but could not find you at all."

Fu Fei stood in front of him with her brows slightly drawn.

"We were worried about you," she said gently.

Fu Sheng looked at them for a moment before responding.

"I had something to take care of," he said.

His tone remained calm and steady.

Fu Li frowned slightly, clearly not satisfied with his answer, but before she could speak again, Madame Fu stepped forward.

"You are back," she said, her voice carrying quiet relief.

Master Fu, who stood beside her, let out a breath as his shoulders relaxed.

"It is good that you returned safely," he said.

The tension in the courtyard eased slightly, but not completely.

At that moment, the gate opened again.

Su Long walked in first, followed by Han Fuji and Fu Teng.

All three of them carried traces of frustration on their faces, as if their search had not gone well.

However, the moment they saw Fu Sheng standing there, their expressions changed.

Relief appeared immediately.

Su Long slowed her steps as her eyes moved over him, checking him carefully as if to confirm that he was truly unharmed.

Han Fuji let out a quiet breath.

"You are here," he said.

Fu Teng remained silent, but the tightness in his posture eased.

For a brief moment, no one spoke.

Then Su Long’s expression changed.

The relief in her eyes faded and was replaced by something firm and controlled.

She walked toward Fu Sheng at a steady pace, her gaze fixed on him.

"You left without saying anything," she said.

Her voice was calm, but it was not soft.

"We searched for you across the market."

She stopped in front of him and continued.

"And now you are saying you had something to take care of."

Her eyes remained on his, steady and direct.

No one interrupted.

Even Fu Li, who had been ready to speak earlier, remained quiet.

Su Long did not raise her voice, but her words carried weight and made the silence around them feel heavier.

Fu Sheng met her gaze and paused briefly before replying.

"I lost track of time," he said.

His answer was simple and direct.

Su Long did not look away immediately.

She held his gaze for a moment longer before speaking again.

"If something like this happens again, you should inform someone before leaving," she said.

Her tone remained even, but her meaning was clear.

Fu Sheng did not argue.

"I understand," he replied.

Only then did the tension ease.

Su Long exhaled quietly and turned away.

"Dinner is ready," Madame Fu said as she stepped forward to ease the moment.

"We should eat first."

One by one, they began to move inside.

The courtyard slowly returned to its usual rhythm, and the earlier tension faded from view.

Fu Sheng walked in with them, his expression unchanged.

No one noticed the quiet distance in his gaze.

No one knew that what he had seen that day had already begun to change something inside him.

Han Fuji walked toward the dining table with an easy and relaxed stride, as if nothing unusual had happened that day.

The lantern light flickered softly across the courtyard, and the family had already begun settling into their seats.

At that moment, the door from inside opened.

Bai Ming stepped out.

She had likely been inside helping with the meal, and her sleeves were still slightly rolled. When her eyes landed on Fu Sheng, she paused briefly.

Then she let out a quiet sigh.

There was no anger in it.

Only something restrained.

She did not speak.

She simply walked forward, heading toward the table to join the others.

But before she could pass, Han Fuji stepped in front of her.

He moved casually and blocked her path without hesitation, as if it had been done without much thought.

There was a faint smile on his face.

It was not serious.

It was not careful.

It carried a teasing edge.

He lowered his head slightly as he looked at her.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" he asked.

His tone was light, almost playful.

Bai Ming stopped.

Her steps came to a complete halt.

For a brief moment, she did not respond.

Then she lifted her head and looked at him.

Her expression had already changed.

The calm from before had disappeared.

In its place was anger.

Clear and unhidden.

"You still have the nerve to stand in front of me?" she said.

Her voice was low, but it carried weight.

Han Fuji’s smile did not fade.

"If I do not stand here, how will I talk to you?" he replied.

That was enough.

Before anyone could react, Bai Ming raised her hand and struck him.

The sound was sharp and clear, echoing through the courtyard.

Han Fuji’s head turned slightly from the force, and the smile on his face disappeared at once.

Silence fell.

No one moved or even spoke.

Even Fu Li and Fu Tong froze where they stood.

Bai Ming’s hand remained slightly raised for a moment before she lowered it slowly.

Her breathing remained steady, but her eyes did not.

"You had no right," she said.

Her voice trembled slightly, not from weakness, but from restraint.

"You had no right to say those things."

Her gaze remained fixed on him.

"To make decisions for me in front of everyone."

The courtyard stayed quiet.

Han Fuji did not respond immediately.

He stood there and looked at her, the mark of her hand still faintly visible on his face.

For once, he did not smile.

And for once, no one found the situation amusing.

The courtyard remained completely silent, as if even the air had stilled.

The sound of that slap still seemed to linger.

Fu Li’s eyes widened, and Fu Tong stood frozen, his mouth slightly open in shock. Even Madame Fu and Master Fu were caught off guard, their expressions filled with confusion.

Su Long stepped forward.

Her brows were slightly drawn as her gaze moved between Bai Ming and Han Fuji.

"What happened?" she asked.

Her voice was calm, but it carried authority.

Fu Fei reacted quickly.

"We will explain later," she said, stepping slightly in front as if to hold the situation in place.

Fu Li nodded at once.

"Yes, we will tell you everything," she added.

Su Long did not press further immediately, but her eyes remained on them, clearly waiting.

Bai Ming did not look at her.

Her attention remained fixed on Han Fuji.

The anger in her expression had not faded.

Instead, it had settled.

"You tell me," she said, her voice no longer trembling, but sharp and clear. "How exactly am I supposed to get married in two days?"

She took a step closer.

"Two days," she repeated.

Her words carried disbelief.

"You made that decision in front of everyone as if it meant nothing."

Her gaze did not waver.

"Do you think this is something to joke about?"

The courtyard remained quiet as her words fell.

Everyone was listening now.

Waiting.

Han Fuji looked at her.

For once, his expression was not careless.

He did not smile.

He did not avoid her gaze.

Instead, he answered...with a very very calm expression on his face.

"You will not fail," he said.

His voice was steady.

Simple.

Bai Ming’s brows drew together immediately.

"That is not the point," she replied.

But Han Fuji continued.

"You will get married," he said.

There was no hesitation in his tone.

No uncertainty.

That alone was enough to make everyone pause.

Fu Li blinked.

"...What does that mean?" she asked.

Fu Tong looked between them, clearly confused.

Fu Fei remained silent, but her attention had sharpened.

Su Long’s gaze shifted slightly.

Han Fuji did not look away from Bai Ming.

"If there is no one," he said, "then I will do it."