There was another knock on the gate.

Fu Li stood up and walked over to open it.

The moment she saw who was outside, her expression changed, and the calm on her face disappeared.

She did not say anything before closing the gate again and turning back.

When she returned, everyone was already watching her.

"...It is Grandfather and Grandmother," she said.

The moment the words left her mouth, everyone’s expression changed, and the atmosphere became tense.

Fu Teng frowned as he looked toward the gate.

"Do not let them in," he said without hesitation.

Fu Fei looked confused as she followed his gaze.

"Why are they here?" she asked.

Fu Tong let out a short breath, his expression turning displeased.

"If Grandmother is here, then she came to cause trouble again," he said.

Fu Li frowned as well, her unease clear.

"They have never come before, so why now?" she said.

She turned to Fu Sheng.

"What should I do? Should I open the gate or send them away?" she asked.

Fu Sheng did not answer immediately.

Instead, he looked at me.

But I was not looking at him.

My attention was on Master Fu.

They were his parents, so the decision belonged to him.

Master Fu remained silent for a moment, his expression clearly unhappy.

Madame Fu reached out and gently held his hand, offering quiet support.

He glanced at her hand briefly before speaking.

"Open the gate," he said.

His voice was calm.

Fu Li nodded and turned back toward the entrance.

This time, she opened the gate without hesitation.

Grandfather Fu entered first, and when he saw everyone gathered, he smiled slightly.

Then he looked behind him.

Grandmother Fu had not entered yet.

He paused before turning back.

Then he went outside and pulled her in.

She looked reluctant as she stepped forward, her head lowered as if she did not want to face anyone.

Even so, he still brought her inside.

No one spoke, everyone just watched.

Grandmother Fu had never treated Master Fu well, as she always supported Fu Tian’s family and chose to stay with them.

She had stood by them even when she was wrong.

Recently, they had been living with Fu Fong and Li Manman, but Li Manman had not treated them well, and things had clearly become difficult.

Now they had no other choice.

So they came here.

To Master Fu.

I watched quietly.

They did not come because they cared.

They came because they had nowhere else to go.

Madame Fu was the first to speak.

"Fu Tong, go and bring two extra chairs for them," she said.

Her tone was calm, but firm.

Fu Tong did not move immediately, and his reluctance showed clearly in his expression as he glanced toward Grandmother Fu before looking away.

In the end, he still stood up and went to get the chairs without saying anything.

Fu Teng remained seated, his gaze lowered and his expression quiet.

Hanfuji sat beside Bai Ming.

He leaned slightly closer and whispered something to her in a low voice.

Bai Ming had already gone still the moment Grandmother Fu stepped into the courtyard, and her expression turned cold.

After all the insults the old woman had directed at her in the past, the resentment in her heart had not faded.

Hanfuji noticed the change in her expression, the tension in her face, and the stiffness in her posture.

Then—

Bai Ming felt something.

A hand.

It was warm.

It moved beneath the table and gently wrapped around hers.

She paused.

Slowly, she lowered her gaze.

Her eyes fell on the hand holding hers.

It was Hanfuji.

Bai Ming did not pull away.

The tightness in her expression eased slightly, and her fingers relaxed just a little.

Hanfuji did not say anything.

After the chairs were brought, Grandfather Fu helped Grandmother Fu sit down.

She did not look at anyone.

Her head remained slightly lowered.

Grandfather Fu sat beside her.

For a brief moment, no one spoke.

The air felt tight.

Then Master Fu spoke.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

His voice was calm, but there was no warmth in it.

Grandfather Fu shifted slightly in his seat.

Grandmother Fu did not respond.

The silence stretched.

It was clear this would not be a simple conversation.

Madame Fu glanced at the children.

They had already finished eating, but they were still seated, watching everything with quiet curiosity.

She frowned slightly.

This was not something they should hear.

"Fu Fei," she said softly.

Fu Fei understood at once.

She stood up and walked over to the children.

"Come," she said gently. "Let us go inside."

The children did not question her.

They followed her obediently.

Fu Fei led them back into the house, closing the distance between them and the courtyard.

The moment they left—

The atmosphere changed.

What remained was no longer light.

Only the adults were left at the table now.

And whatever was about to be said—

Would not be held back.

Grandfather Fu let out a quiet breath before he began to speak.

"It has not been easy for us staying with Fu Tian," he said.

His voice was steady, but there was a trace of weariness in it.

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"Things have changed."

He glanced at Grandmother Fu briefly.

"Li Manman... she is not the same anymore," he said.

His brows drew slightly.

"She has become difficult. Her temper has worsened, and her behavior has turned harsh."

Madame Fu’s expression darkened slightly.

Grandfather Fu continued.

"She does not even show respect to your mother anymore," he said, looking toward Master Fu.

At that, he turned to look at Grandmother Fu.

She lowered her head further, her expression shifting as she began to act pitiful.

Her shoulders sank slightly, as though she had suffered greatly.

Grandfather Fu went on.

"Every day, she makes us work in the yard," he said. "From morning until evening, there is always something to do."

His voice grew heavier.

"We are old, yet she does not consider that."

Grandmother Fu finally spoke, her voice low and strained.

"She makes me sweep, wash, and carry things," she said. "Even when I am tired, she does not let me rest."

She looked down as she spoke, as if wronged.

"There is always more work," she added. "No matter how much I do, it is never enough."

The courtyard grew quiet.

No one interrupted.

They listened.

But the expressions around the table did not soften easily.

Just then, Bai Ming’s voice wa heard. "You make it sound like it is the worst thing on earth but isn’t that what you sbd your son’s family made me go through!?"