Han Fuji’s words settled into the courtyard without disturbance.

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

For a moment, no one understood what he meant.

The silence stretched.

Fu Li blinked first, her expression slowly shifting from confusion to disbelief.

"...Do what?" she asked.

Fu Tong frowned, looking between the two of them.

"What are you saying?" he added.

Fu Fei did not speak, but her eyes remained fixed on Han Fuji, her attention sharp and unmoving.

Su Long’s gaze deepened slightly, as if she had already begun to understand, but she did not interrupt.

Bai Ming stood still.

Her anger had not disappeared, but now something else had been added to it.

Confusion.

"...What do you mean?" she asked.

Her voice was steady, but it carried tension.

Han Fuji did not hesitate.

"If there is no one willing to marry you," he said, "then I will marry you."

The words were clear.

Direct.

There was no trace of hesitation in his tone.

The courtyard fell into complete silence again.

Fu Li’s eyes widened.

"You... what?" she said.

Fu Tong looked completely stunned.

"You cannot be serious," he added.

Even Master Fu frowned slightly, while Madame Fu looked at Han Fuji with quiet surprise.

Fu Teng, who had remained silent all along, finally lifted his head and looked at him properly.

Only Su Long remained calm.

She did not speak, but her gaze shifted from Han Fuji to Bai Ming, observing carefully.

Bai Ming stared at him.

For a moment, she did not react.

Then she spoke.

"...Why?" she asked.

The question was simple.

But it carried everything.

Han Fuji looked at her as if the answer was obvious.

"You heard what they said today," he replied. "If you lose, the consequences will not be small."

His tone remained calm.

"I am not interested in watching you lose."

Bai Ming’s brows drew together.

"That is not an answer," she said.

Han Fuji tilted his head slightly.

"I do not want you to lose," he repeated. "So I am offering a solution."

His words were steady.

Almost casual.

"As for marriage, it is not something I cannot do."

Fu Li stared at him.

"You are talking as if you are offering to lend something," she said. "This is marriage."

Fu Tong nodded quickly.

"You cannot just say it like that," he added.

Han Fuji glanced at them briefly before returning his gaze to Bai Ming.

"I am not forcing you," he said. "I am simply saying that if no one else steps forward, I will."

Bai Ming looked at him for a long moment.

Her expression did not soften.

"...You do not even know what you are saying," she said.

Han Fuji’s lips curved slightly.

"I know exactly what I am saying," he replied.

"You are doing this because of a bet," she continued. "Because of something you said in front of others."

He did not deny it.

"Yes," he said.

The honesty of that answer made the silence heavier.

Bai Ming let out a quiet breath.

Then she shook her head slightly.

"...You are unbelievable," she said.

Without waiting for a response, she turned and began to walk away.

"Bai Ming," Madame Fu called out, her voice gentle. "Dinner is ready."

But Bai Ming did not stop.

"I am not hungry," she said.

Her voice was steady, but distant.

She entered the house without looking back.

The courtyard remained quiet for a moment after she left.

Fu Li turned to Han Fuji immediately.

"What exactly are you thinking?" she asked.

Fu Tong added quickly, "You just said you will marry her as if it is nothing."

Han Fuji did not answer them.

Instead, he looked toward the direction Bai Ming had gone.

Then—

A slow smile returned to his face.

He turned to Madame Fu.

"Aunt," he said, "please prepare her meal as well."

Madame Fu looked at him.

"You are going to take it to her?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Yes."

There was no hesitation.

Madame Fu studied him for a brief moment, then nodded.

"Alright," she said.

Fu Fei stepped forward and took a portion of food, placing it carefully into a tray.

Then she handed it to Han Fuji.

"Give it to her," she said.

Her voice was calm, but there was meaning behind it.

Han Fuji took the tray.

Without another word, he turned and walked toward the house.

His steps were not hurried.

But they were steady.

Behind him, the courtyard slowly returned to movement, though the earlier calm had not fully returned.

Inside—

Bai Ming had already gone to her room.

She closed the door behind her and stood still for a moment.

She exhaled slowly and walked further in, placing her hands on the table as if grounding herself.

"...Marry," she muttered under her breath.

The word felt unfamiliar.

Unreal.

A knock sounded on the door.

She did not respond immediately.

Then—

"Are you going to keep standing there, or will you open the door?"

His voice came from outside.

Bai Ming closed her eyes briefly.

Then she walked over and opened the door.

Han Fuji stood there, holding the tray.

"I brought food," he said.

She looked at him.

Then at the tray.

"I said I am not hungry," she replied.

Han Fuji did not move.

"I heard you," he said. "That does not mean you should not eat."

Bai Ming frowned slightly.

"You are very persistent," she said.

He gave a small shrug.

"I am rarely wrong," he replied.

She looked at him for a moment longer.

Then she turned and walked back into the room.

She did not tell him to enter.

But she did not close the door either.

Han Fuji stepped inside.

He placed the tray on the table and looked at her.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then he said,

"I meant what I said."

Bai Ming did not turn to look at him.

"That is your problem," she replied.

He did not react to the sharpness in her tone.

Instead, he continued calmly,

"You do not have to decide now."

She remained silent.

"I gave you two days," he added. "I will not take it back."

Bai Ming let out a quiet breath.

"...You really do not understand," she said.

Han Fuji watched her.

"Then explain," he replied.

She turned slightly, her expression still firm.

"This is not something you can treat lightly," she said. "Marriage is not a tool for winning a bet."

Han Fuji did not argue.

"I know," he said.

His answer was simple.

Bai Ming paused.

For the first time, her expression shifted slightly.

But she did not respond immediately.

Han Fuji did not push further.

He stepped back slightly.

"Eat first," he said. "You can be angry later."

There was no mockery in his tone.

He turned and walked toward the door.

But before leaving, he paused briefly.

"You will not lose," he said.

Then he stepped out and closed the door behind him.

The room fell quiet again.

Bai Ming stood there for a long moment.

Then her gaze slowly shifted to the food on the table.

She did not move immediately.

But she did not push it away either.