Night had already settled when the sound of carriage wheels approached the gate, and I stood at the entrance with the others as we waited.

The red ribbons tied across the gate moved gently in the night breeze, and the lanterns hanging along the entrance cast a warm and steady glow over the courtyard.

The carriage came to a stop.

For a brief moment, no one moved, as if everyone was waiting for the same signal.

Then the door of the carriage opened.

Fu Tong stepped down first, followed closely by Fu Teng.

Behind them, Zhao Yin and Zhao Yue remained seated inside.

Fu Tong immediately reached forward and helped Zhao Yue down from the carriage, and although his movements were careful, there was a slight stiffness in the way he acted. Fu Teng, on the other hand, remained calm as he extended his hand to Zhao Yin and guided her down with steady ease.

Once both women stepped onto the ground, the atmosphere in the courtyard shifted.

They had arrived.

Master Fu stepped forward and spoke first.

"Welcome," he said, his voice steady and firm.

Madame Fu stood beside him with a composed expression, while Fu Fei, Fu Li, Bai Ming, and the children remained nearby, watching quietly.

I stayed where I was.

At that moment, I felt a presence beside me.

Fu Sheng had stepped to my side.

He did not speak, but his presence was clear.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed movement again.

An Li and An Nuan had also stepped forward, standing quietly as they observed everything.

Fu Tong straightened his posture slightly.

Then his gaze shifted.

And stopped.

On An Nuan.

For a brief moment, he froze, and the surprise in his eyes was clear.

But it lasted only a second.

He quickly looked away and turned his attention back to Zhao Yue, helping her steady her steps as if nothing had happened.

Fu Teng remained composed, and his expression did not change.

Once Zhao Yin and Zhao Yue stood properly, Master Fu spoke again.

"You have traveled at night," he said. "Come inside."

Madame Fu gave a small nod.

"Fu Fei, Fu Li," she said, "take them to their rooms."

"Yes, Mother," Fu Fei replied at once.

Fu Li stepped forward as well and gestured for the sisters to follow.

"Come," she said.

Zhao Yin and Zhao Yue followed them quietly, their steps careful and measured as they walked into the house.

As they disappeared inside, the tension in the courtyard eased slightly.

Fu Tong let out a breath, then another, as if releasing the pressure he had been holding.

"As expected... that was not easy," he said, rubbing the back of his head.

Fu Teng did not respond, but his shoulders relaxed slightly.

Then An Li stepped forward and spoke.

Her tone was light, but her words were clear.

"I hope you both understand something," she said.

Everyone turned to look at her.

"You are not married yet," she continued, "so you should not do anything inappropriate."

For a brief moment, silence filled the space.

Then laughter broke out.

Fu Li was the first to laugh, and the others followed soon after.

Fu Tong’s face showed immediate embarrassment.

"I was not planning anything," he said quickly.

An Li gave a faint smile.

"That is good," she replied.

Fu Tong scratched his head and let out an awkward laugh.

Fu Teng, however, did not laugh, and his expression remained neutral.

Then Fu Sheng spoke.

He looked directly at An Li.

"Why did An Yu not come?" he asked.

His tone was calm, but his question was direct.

An Li met his gaze without hesitation.

"He had something to take care of," she said, "so he could not attend."

Her answer was simple and brief.

I watched her for a moment.

Then I shifted my gaze toward An Nuan.

She had not spoken since they arrived.

At one point, her eyes had moved toward Fu Tong.

Then she had looked away again.

Everything continued to move forward as it should.

But not everything—

Was settled.

The courtyard had just begun to settle after the earlier arrival, and the tension that had filled the space slowly eased as the house finally felt prepared.

Madame Fu looked around at everyone and then spoke in a calm voice that carried clearly across the courtyard.

"Dinner is ready," she said. "Everyone should come and eat."

Fu Tong let out a breath of relief as soon as he heard her words.

"Finally," he said, as if he had been waiting for that moment.

The children were the first to move, heading toward the table with quick steps. Fu Li and Fu Fei followed behind them, while Master Fu remained seated, waiting for everyone to gather properly.

I was about to step forward and join them—

When the sound reached us.

The sharp rhythm of hooves broke through the quiet night, and it was clear that there was more than one horse approaching.

Everyone stopped at once.

The sound grew louder with each passing moment.

Then a carriage appeared at the gate.

This time, no one spoke.

The gate opened, and the carriage rolled into the courtyard before coming to a steady stop.

When the door opened slowly, Han Fuji stepped out.

He looked the same as always, with a calm and careless air, as if nothing in the world could disturb him.

But behind him, inside the carriage, there were boxes.

Many boxes.

They were red and neatly arranged.

It was a bride price.

The meaning was clear to everyone present.

For a moment, no one moved.

The surprise on their faces was obvious.

Fu Li blinked as she stared at the carriage.

Fu Fei stood still beside her.

"He really came," Fu Li whispered.

Fu Fei lowered her voice as she replied.

"He meant what he said."

Bai Ming did not move.

Her expression remained unchanged, but her gaze became sharper.

She understood.

They all understood.

Han Fuji stepped forward as if nothing about the situation was unusual.

"I am not late," he said, his tone light and almost casual.

Master Fu looked at him steadily.

"You came prepared," he said.

Han Fuji gave a small smile.

"I do not make empty promises," he replied.

Fu Tong looked between them, still trying to understand what was happening.

Fu Teng remained silent, watching without speaking.

Fu Sheng stepped closer to me, and his voice lowered so that only I could hear.

"He is serious," he said quietly.

I did not turn to look at him.

"I can see that," I replied.

Han Fuji’s gaze shifted across the courtyard.

Then it settled on Bai Ming.

"For the bride price," he said.

His words were direct, and there was no hesitation in his voice.

The courtyard fell silent again.

This silence felt heavier than before.

The courtyard became quiet as Han Fuji stepped closer.

His gaze remained fixed on Bai Ming.

"I came prepared," he said. "I am ready to marry you."

His voice was steady and calm.

He gestured toward the carriage behind him.

"Everything there is for you," he added.

Bai Ming looked at the red boxes for a moment.

Then she looked back at him.

Her expression became firm.

"Where did you get all this money?" she asked.

Her tone was sharp and filled with suspicion.

Han Fuji did not hesitate.

"That is not something you need to worry about," he replied.

He stepped closer.

"What matters is this," he continued. "Are you willing?"

The courtyard grew still.

"If you agree," he added, "we will be married by tomorrow evening."

His voice remained even.

"It will be done properly," he said. "A wedding that no one will question."

He paused briefly before speaking again.

"I will not let Fu Fong or Li Manman shame you in any way."

That was enough.

Bai Ming stepped forward at once.

"Stop," she said.

Her voice was clear and firm.

"I am not someone you need to save," she continued. "And I will not marry anyone out of pity or sympathy."

Her eyes locked onto his.

"You made that decision on your own," she added. "You did not ask me."

No one spoke.

Han Fuji remained silent.

Bai Ming continued without hesitation.

"I refuse," she said.

Her words were firm and direct.

"I will not be pushed into marriage because of a situation," she said. "And I will not accept something that was decided without me."

Her breathing stayed steady, but her anger was clear.

"I am not weak," she said. "I do not need anyone to stand in front of me and make choices for me."

The courtyard remained silent.

No one moved.

Han Fuji looked at her.

For a moment, he said nothing.

The air between them grew heavy.

There was no misunderstanding.

She had made her answer clear but he wants going to give up.

Bai Ming turns around and goes inside and Han Fuji follows her right in.

"A lot of drama really occurrs in this family.. ahahahaha." An Li bursts into laughter.