The hall remained quiet after the Zhao sisters left.

For a brief moment, no one spoke. The weight of the earlier discussion still lingered in the air, but no one continued it. Madame Fu adjusted her sleeve slowly, while Master Fu remained seated, his expression thoughtful and steady.

I did not speak again. There was no need to repeat what had already been decided.

Footsteps approached.

Fu Teng entered first, followed by Fu Tong. Both of them had just returned from seeing Zhao Yin and Zhao Yue off. Fu Tong looked around immediately, sensing that something had changed.

"What was that about?" he asked.

Fu Teng remained silent, but his gaze moved toward Master Fu.

Master Fu looked at both of them before speaking.

"There is something you need to know," he said calmly.

His voice carried quiet authority.

"Those two girls, Zhao Yin and Zhao Yue, have been chosen."

Fu Tong frowned.

"Chosen?" he repeated.

"For you," Master Fu said.

The words were direct.

"For marriage."

Silence followed.

Fu Tong’s eyes widened.

"...What?" he said.

Fu Teng did not speak, but his expression shifted slightly. It was not shock, but understanding beginning to form.

Master Fu continued,

"The situation does not allow delay. This is for your protection."

Fu Tong looked confused.

"For our protection?" he asked.

Madame Fu spoke gently,

"You will understand soon."

Fu Teng lowered his gaze briefly before asking,

"When was this decided?"

"Today," Master Fu replied.

Fu Tong let out a breath.

"This is too sudden," he said.

The room fell quiet again.

I looked at Master Fu, Madame Fu, and Fu Sheng before speaking.

"There is no need to delay," I said.

My tone remained calm.

"We will go to their home tomorrow."

Madame Fu looked at me.

"To do what?" she asked, though she already understood.

"To ask for their hands in marriage," I replied.

My words were clear.

Master Fu nodded slowly.

"That is the proper way," he said. "If this is to be done, it must be done correctly."

Madame Fu exhaled softly.

"We cannot be careless with such matters," she added. "Their mother must agree."

I inclined my head slightly.

"She will," I said.

My voice carried certainty.

Fu Sheng, who had remained quiet, finally spoke.

"We should go early," he said. "Before others begin moving about."

His tone was steady.

"If this is to be settled, it should be done without delay."

I glanced at him briefly and nodded.

"That is what I intend."

Master Fu looked between us.

"Then it is decided," he said.

Madame Fu added,

"We will prepare properly in the morning. We cannot go empty-handed."

"That will be arranged," I replied.

The plan was simple and direct.

There was no need for further discussion.

Only action remained.

Just then, Fu Teng and Fu Tong stepped fully into the room.

Fu Tong looked around again.

"What did we miss?" he asked.

Fu Teng remained silent, but his attention was fixed on us.

Master Fu looked at them.

"You both should sit," he said.

His voice was calm, but firm.

The atmosphere shifted immediately.

Fu Tong frowned slightly, but stepped forward. Fu Teng followed without question. They both stood before us.

Master Fu did not delay.

"There is something you need to know," he said.

His gaze rested on them.

"We will be visiting the Zhao family tomorrow."

Fu Tong blinked.

"For what?" he asked.

Master Fu answered plainly.

"To ask for their daughters’ hands in marriage."

Silence fell again.

Fu Tong’s expression froze.

"...Marriage?" he repeated.

Fu Teng did not react immediately, but his eyes lowered slightly, as if he had already understood.

The weight of the words settled over them.

Fu Tong was the first to respond.

"No," he said immediately. "This is too sudden."

His voice carried clear resistance.

"You cannot decide something like this and expect us to accept it," he added.

Fu Teng spoke more calmly.

"This is not a small matter," he said. "Marriage cannot be arranged overnight."

The room grew tense again.

Madame Fu looked at them with concern, while Master Fu remained silent.

I did not interrupt.

I allowed them to speak.

Fu Tong continued,

"We just met them today," he said. "How are we supposed to agree to this so quickly?"

His frustration was clear.

Fu Teng added,

"At the very least, we should have time to think."

His words were reasonable.

But there was no time.

Before I could respond, a chair shifted.

Fu Sheng stood.

The movement drew everyone’s attention.

He walked forward slowly, then sat beside me.

His expression remained calm, but there was weight in his gaze.

He looked at Fu Teng and Fu Tong before speaking.

"In one day," he said, "people will come."

His voice was steady.

"To take men for war."

The words landed heavily.

Fu Tong’s expression froze.

Fu Teng’s gaze sharpened.

Fu Sheng continued,

"If your names are listed, you will be taken."

Silence filled the room.

"There will be no discussion," he added. "No delay."

His tone did not rise, but it did not soften.

"If you are not engaged, there will be no reason to keep you back."

Fu Tong’s hands tightened slightly.

"Are you serious?" he asked.

Fu Sheng looked at him.

"Yes."

There was no hesitation.

Fu Teng lowered his gaze briefly, thinking.

"If we are engaged," he said slowly, "they will not take us?"

"They will reconsider," Fu Sheng replied. "At the very least, it gives us a chance."

That was enough.

The reality of the situation settled in.

Fu Tong let out a breath, his earlier resistance weakening.

"So this is not just about marriage," he said.

"It is about survival," Fu Sheng replied.

Silence followed.

Heavy and unavoidable.

Fu Teng spoke again, quieter this time.

"And the Zhao sisters?" he asked.

Fu Sheng glanced briefly at me before answering,

"They are suitable," he said. "And this is the fastest way."

Fu Tong ran a hand through his hair.

"This is..." he began, then stopped.

He had no words.

Because there was no easy way out.

I finally spoke.

"You wanted time," I said.

My gaze moved between them.

"We do not have it."

I paused briefly before finishing,

"This is the only path left."

The room fell silent once more.

This time, it was not from shock.

It was from understanding.

Master Fu was the first to speak after the silence settled.

"If that is the case," he said, looking between us, "then we should go and meet Madam Zhao tomorrow."

His tone was firm, as though the matter had already been decided in his mind.

Madame Fu nodded in agreement.

"Yes," she added. "We must speak to her properly. This concerns her daughters, so we cannot be careless."

She paused briefly before continuing,

"We should go early in the morning. It is more respectful that way."

I inclined my head slightly.

"That will be arranged," I said.

Then I continued,

"I will prepare the dowry."

The words drew their attention.

"You do not need to worry about it," I added calmly. "Leave it to me."

Madame Fu looked at me for a moment, then nodded.

"If you say so, then we will trust your arrangement," she said.

Master Fu gave a slight nod as well.

"Very well," he said. "Then everything will be settled tomorrow."

The matter was clear.

There was no need for further discussion.

But not everyone was at ease.

Fu Tong remained seated, his expression unsettled. He looked from one person to another, as though trying to find something he could still hold on to.

Then, without saying anything, he stood.

His movement was abrupt.

"I need some air," he muttered.

No one stopped him.

He turned and walked away, his steps slightly heavier than before as he headed toward the stairs. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

A moment later, Fu Teng also stood.

His movement was quieter.

More controlled.

He did not look at anyone directly.

"I will go ahead," he said.

His voice remained calm, but distant.

Then he turned and left as well, following the same path upstairs.

The room fell quiet again.

Madame Fu sighed softly.

"They are still young," she said. "It is not easy for them to accept this."

Master Fu did not respond immediately.

His gaze remained steady.

"They will understand," he said at last.

I did not speak.

My gaze rested briefly on the direction they had gone.

Then I looked away.

Because whether they accepted it or not—

Tomorrow would still come.

Anyone could think I was doing this all for the reward but that was just a bonus to everything. If I didn’t get them both married then I wonder what would happen to them.

And as for fu Teng.. I wonder what he’s going to do about his affection for the same sex.... Marrying a woman could even help. Who knows if he was just confused at some point of his life.

Either way.. I had to get them married at all cost.