Exiled!? Ha! I have An Infinite Space-Chapter 40 -

By the time the sun climbed a little higher, the cabin no longer looked like a place abandoned by time.

Fu Tong and Fu Fei worked together without complaining. One swept, the other wiped, moving the screen aside and clearing dust from every corner. Cobwebs were torn down, the floor was swept clean, and even the air felt lighter. When they were done, their side of the cabin looked simple but neat, livable at last.

A long wooden screen stood in the middle, dividing the cabin into two sides.

Not long after, Uncle Fu and his family entered through the other door. The moment Grandma Fu stepped inside, her face twisted in displeasure.

"What kind of place is this?" she complained loudly. "Dust everywhere. Bai Ming, hurry up and clean. Are you blind?"

Bai Ming’s face darkened. She glanced around, then said sharply, "Why should I do everything alone? Fu Jia can help too."

Before anyone could respond, Fu Jia let out a soft cry and clutched her arm. "Ah—my shoulder hurts again," she said weakly, quickly moving behind her brother. "I can’t do heavy work."

Her brother immediately frowned and raised his voice. "Didn’t you hear? My sister is delicate. Do you want her injury to get worse? You do it."

Bai Ming clenched her hands, anger flashing in her eyes, but she swallowed it.

At that moment, Fu Tong and Fu Fei walked over to us on the clean side.

"Sister-in-law," Fu Fei said, her voice bright, "our side is done. It’s clean now."

Fu Tong nodded. "You can come see. It’s much better."

I smiled and nodded, a small sense of pride warming my chest. "Good work."

That single exchange was enough.

Bai Ming overheard it all.

Her eyes flicked toward the clean side of the cabin, then back to the dust and mess around her. Jealousy rose fast and sharp in her chest. Without thinking, she turned and pointed at Fu Li.

Her husband siblings did all the work so she wouldn’t stress herself but here she was, being pushed around like she was a servant.

"You," she said coldly. "Sweep the floor."

Fu Li stared at her. "Why me?"

"Because I said so," Bai Ming snapped. "Or do you think you’re still some young miss?"

Fu Li scoffed. "I’m not your servant."

No one stepped in to help her.

Uncle Fu spoke first, his tone impatient. "Just do it. Stop causing trouble."

Grandma Fu nodded in agreement. "Sweep properly. Don’t be lazy."

Fu Li stood there, stunned.

For the first time, they didn’t help or defend her.

Her face flushed with anger and humiliation, but in the end, she bent down and picked up the broom. The sound of bristles scraping against the dusty floor filled the space, rough and uneven.

Bai Ming turned away, her lips tight, satisfied for now.

Not long after, footsteps sounded outside the cabin.

One of the head guard’s men stopped at the entrance and spoke loudly so everyone could hear.

"In ten minutes," he announced, "each family may send two people to the market if they wish to buy supplies. Only two. Those who want to go should be ready."

With that, he turned and left.

The moment his footsteps faded, my lips curved into a smile.

I stood up at once and walked toward Fu Sheng. "Looks like luck is finally on our side," I said lightly.

He looked at me, then picked up one of the basket bags without a word. "Stay close," he said simply. "The market will be crowded."

I tilted my head, amused. "So you’re coming with me?"

"Of course," he replied, as if it was obvious. "You shouldn’t go alone."

I smiled wider. "Good. I was hoping you’d say that."

He glanced at me briefly, then looked away again, his ears just a little red.

While we were getting ready, movement on the other side of the screen went unnoticed by most.

Bai Ming was still sweeping, her back bent, her movements rough and annoyed. Dust clung to her sleeves, and her face was tight with frustration.

That was when a young maid quietly slipped into the cabin.

She was dressed neatly and moved carefully, as if afraid of being seen. She went straight to Bai Ming and lowered her voice.

"Young Madam," she whispered politely, "these are from your fifth aunt."

She placed two small bundles into Bai Ming’s hands.

Bai Ming froze.

Then her eyes lit up.

"From my aunt?" she asked softly.

The maid nodded. "She heard you arrived in Wu Village. She asked me to bring these first and said more will come once you visit her."

Bai Ming’s grip tightened around the bundles. A slow, pleased smile spread across her face, pushing away all the earlier anger and dust.

"Good," she murmured. "Very good."

After Bai Ming finished sweeping, she straightened up and brushed the dust from her sleeves, her mood clearly lighter than before.

That was when Li Manman approached.

She moved carefully, looking around first to make sure no one was paying attention, then stepped closer to Bai Ming. Her voice was low, almost cautious.

"Sister Bai," she began softly, "can we talk?"

Bai Ming didn’t even turn around at first. She gave a short, cold laugh. "Talk?" she said. "Since when do I talk to lowly maids?"

Li Manman stiffened, but she forced herself to smile. "I know my place," she replied. "But what I want to say concerns Su Long."

That name made Bai Ming pause.

She turned slowly, her eyes sharp. "What about her?"

Li Manman lowered her voice even more. "You don’t like her. I don’t like her either. She’s the reason everything is a mess now. The family is split, the wagon is gone, and everyone looks at her like she’s some kind of savior."

Bai Ming scoffed. "And what makes you think I need your help?"

Li Manman clenched her hands. "Because we want the same thing," she said. "We both want her gone."

For a moment, Bai Ming studied her in silence, clearly amused.

"You?" Bai Ming said slowly. "You think you’re useful enough to stand beside me?"

Li Manman swallowed her pride. "I may be a maid, but I’ve watched her closely. I know her habits. I know how people around her react. And... I have an idea."

That finally caught Bai Ming’s interest.

She crossed her arms. "Speak. But choose your words carefully."

Li Manman leaned in a little closer, her voice dropping until it was barely more than a breath.

"If Su Long suddenly disappears," she said slowly, "the head guards won’t think too deeply about it. People run away during exile all the time."

Bai Ming’s fingers tightened slightly, but she didn’t interrupt.

Li Manman continued, choosing her words carefully. "If she vanishes from sight, they’ll assume she fled on her own. And if she doesn’t come back... the punishment won’t fall on us."

Bai Ming finally looked at her, eyes sharp. "Explain."

Li Manman swallowed, then pushed on. "If she’s taken, kidnapped, dragged off, whatever happens the guards won’t know who did it. They’ll only see that she’s missing. And when that happens, they’ll blame her family."

A slow pause followed.

"The Fu family on her side," Li Manman added quietly. "They’ll be questioned. Watched. Maybe even punished for failing to control her."

Bai Ming’s lips curved slightly.

"And us?" she asked.

Li Manman met her gaze. "Your side of the family is already split. You won’t be affected."

The silence stretched between them.

Bai Ming didn’t speak right away. She tapped her fingers once against the broom handle, her thoughts clearly moving fast.

"You’re saying," she said at last, "that even if something happens to her, the trouble won’t reach us."

Li Manman nodded. "Exactly. And Wu Village is crowded. Outsiders come and go. If she disappears here, no one will know where to start looking."

Bai Ming let out a quiet laugh, low and cold. "You’re smarter than I thought, evil too."

"I’m not smart," Li Manman said softly. "I’m desperate."

Bai Ming studied her for a long moment, then finally spoke. "This kind of plan isn’t something you rush."

"I know," Li Manman replied quickly. "That’s why I came to you."

Bai Ming’s smile deepened, sharp and calculating. "Good. Then listen carefully. If you want to stand on my side, you do exactly as I say."

Li Manman lowered her head. "I will."

Bai Ming turned away, her gaze drifting toward the other side of the cabin, toward the screen separating them from Su Long.

"Disappearances," she murmured. "In a place like this... they’re very easy to explain."

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

"And very hard to trace."

While these two witches were busy planning my downfall, i just stood from a corner with a wide smile on my face, "kidnap me? ha! even my crazy and obsessive fans didn’t have a chance in the modern world, were technology was in existance.. Trust me, two can play this game."