The courtyard slowly returned to its earlier rhythm after the wedding dress was brought out, but the atmosphere remained lighter than before. Bai Ming still stood holding the red fabric carefully, as though she was afraid it might disappear if she let go too quickly, while Han Fuji hovered nearby with an obvious satisfaction he made no effort to hide.

I watched them quietly for a moment.

Seeing Bai Ming smile like that made something in my chest loosen slightly. Even Han Fuji, despite all his noisy behavior, looked genuinely happy in a way I had not seen from him before.

It was... peaceful.

But just as I was about to turn my attention back to the papers on the table, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

My gaze shifted slightly toward Han Fuji again.

Then toward Fu Sheng.

Without thinking too much, I leaned closer and gently tugged at Fu Sheng’s sleeve.

He turned to me immediately.

"What is it?" he asked softly.

I hesitated for only a second before lowering my voice.

"Have you ever wondered something?"

Fu Sheng studied my expression for a moment before replying.

"About what?"

I glanced briefly toward Han Fuji, who was now proudly telling Fu Tong something about "taste" and "class," as though he had personally designed the entire wedding arrangement.

Then I looked back at Fu Sheng.

"Han Fuji," I said quietly. "How exactly did he get the money to pay for all of this?"

Fu Sheng blinked slightly.

I narrowed my eyes.

"It is not cheap," I continued. "The dress, the decorations, the preparations... even the rented items for tonight. It all costs a lot."

My fingers tightened slightly around his sleeve.

"Does it not feel strange to you?"

Fu Sheng followed my gaze toward Han Fuji for a moment.

Then he looked back at me.

"You think something is wrong?" he asked calmly.

"I am not saying something is wrong," I replied, lowering my voice further. "I am saying it is unusual."

Fu Sheng did not respond immediately. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

His expression became slightly more thoughtful as he glanced again at Han Fuji, who was now laughing loudly at something Fu Tong said.

After a brief silence, Fu Sheng spoke.

"He did mention before that he had savings," he said slowly.

I frowned slightly.

"Savings from what? He barely takes anything seriously.. When did he come to the barren lands.. if he had such money he should have gotten himself a house already."

Fu Sheng’s lips twitched faintly at that.

"That part is true."

I looked at him more seriously.

"So you also find it strange."

Fu Sheng paused for a moment longer before answering honestly.

"A little."

That single word made me feel slightly more alert.

I leaned back slightly in my seat, still watching Han Fuji carefully.

"He is too relaxed about it," I muttered. "As though money is not something he worries about at all."

Fu Sheng’s gaze followed mine again.

But this time, his expression turned a bit more serious.

"Han Fuji has always been difficult to read," he said quietly. "He acts foolish most of the time, but he is not careless when it comes to important matters."

I looked at him.

"So you think there is a reason?"

Fu Sheng did not answer immediately.

Instead, he said something more measured.

"If there is, he has not chosen to share it yet."

That made me fall quiet for a moment.

Because that was the truth I did not like hearing.

Not because it was alarming.

But because it meant there was something hidden.

I glanced back at Han Fuji again.

He was still laughing, still arguing with Fu Tong, still acting like nothing in the world could trouble him.

But now—

It did not feel as simple as before.

I sighed softly and leaned slightly closer to Fu Sheng again.

"People like him are the most troublesome," I murmured.

Fu Sheng gave a quiet, almost amused breath.

"Then do not think too deeply about it," he said calmly. "At least not today."

I looked at him.

"Why today?"

Fu Sheng’s gaze softened slightly as he glanced toward the direction of the evening preparations.

"Because today is meant to be peaceful," he said quietly.

Then after a brief pause, he added in a lower voice—

"And I still have something to show you tonight."

My suspicion immediately returned.

I narrowed my eyes again.

"You are bringing that up again."

Fu Sheng did not deny it.

Instead, he only gave a small, patient smile.

"Yes," he said. "I am."

I continued watching Han Fuji quietly for a moment before finally turning back toward Fu Sheng again.

"Later," I said softly, lowering my voice so the others would not hear, "try asking him where he got the money from."

Fu Sheng looked at me calmly.

"You are still thinking about it?"

"Yes."

I did not even try to deny it.

I leaned slightly closer toward Fu Sheng again.

"I do not care if he saved money secretly or earned it honestly," I said quietly. "But I need to know it was not obtained through something illegal."

Fu Sheng’s brows lifted faintly.

"You are worried?"

I looked at him directly.

"We are already dealing with Tiger Alley," I replied calmly. "The last thing this family needs is another hidden problem appearing from nowhere."

Fu Sheng remained quiet for a moment after hearing that.

Then slowly, he nodded.

"I understand."

His answer immediately eased some of the tension in my chest.

Fu Sheng glanced toward Han Fuji briefly before speaking again.

"I will ask him privately later."

"You promise?"

"Yes."

His tone remained calm and steady, the kind that rarely made empty assurances.

Only then did I finally relax slightly against the chair.

Fu Sheng noticed it immediately.

"You think too much sometimes," he murmured quietly.

I scoffed softly.

"And you think too little."

That almost made him smile again.

Almost.

For a brief moment, the atmosphere between us softened quietly beneath the warm morning light.

Then suddenly—

"Why are the two of you whispering like thieves over there?"

Fu Tong’s loud voice instantly broke the calm.

I looked up immediately.

Fu Tong stood several steps away with his arms crossed suspiciously while Han Fuji looked between us curiously.

"You have both been speaking secretly since morning," Fu Tong continued. "Should we be worried?"

I immediately leaned back calmly.

"No."

Fu Tong narrowed his eyes.

"That answer sounds untrustworthy."

Han Fuji suddenly gasped dramatically.

"You are not secretly planning something for my wedding, are you?"

I stared at him.

Fu Sheng also looked at him silently.

Han Fuji became even more suspicious under our silence.

"You are," he accused immediately. "I knew it."

Fu Tong looked horrified.

"Please do not tell me you prepared some embarrassing performance."

I almost rolled my eyes.

"Your imagination is exhausting."

Han Fuji ignored me completely and turned toward Fu Sheng instead.

"Brother Fu Sheng," he said seriously, "if she plans to make me cry publicly tonight, you must warn me beforehand so I can prepare myself emotionally."

Fu Sheng finally let out a quiet breath of amusement beside me.

"You are overthinking."

Han Fuji looked unconvinced.

"That usually means yes."

Inside the a small inn, the atmosphere turned tense the moment the news spread.

Li Manman had just finished arranging several bolts of cloth when she overheard two women outside talking excitedly about the Fu family’s wedding celebration that evening.

"The entire courtyard is already being decorated," one woman said. "I heard Han Fuji personally prepared everything for Bai Ming."

The other woman immediately laughed.

"That Bai Ming is truly fortunate. Who would have thought she would remarry so quickly?"

The moment those words reached her ears—

Li Manman froze completely.

Then suddenly—

"What did you just say?"

Her sharp voice startled even the women outside.

They looked inside awkwardly before repeating themselves carefully.

"The Fu family is holding a wedding tonight. Han Fuji is marrying Bai Ming."

Li Manman’s face instantly darkened.

"There is no way."

Her voice rose immediately in disbelief.

"There is absolutely no way she is getting married tonight."

Beside her, Fu Fong’s expression had also changed slightly, though she remained calmer on the surface.

Li Manman quickly turned toward him.

"What about the bet?" she demanded angrily.

Her chest rose heavily with irritation.

"That woman promised in front of everyone that if she failed to marry within two days, she would publicly apologize to us."

The more she thought about it, the more furious she became.

"And not only apologize," she continued bitterly, "she said she would strip off her outer robe and kneel in front of everyone while admitting she lost."

That had been the condition.

The entire market had witnessed it.

At the time, neither Li Manman nor Fu Fong believed Bai Ming could possibly find someone willing to marry her that quickly.

Especially not after everything people whispered about her.

But now—

Everything had suddenly changed overnight.

Fu Fong narrowed his eyes slightly as he thought quietly.

Then after a moment, he spoke calmly.

"Relax first."

Li Manman immediately looked at him.

"How am I supposed to relax?" she snapped. "If she marries tonight, then we lose completely."