The afternoon sun had already begun lowering slowly by the time the Fu household finally settled into a calmer rhythm again.

Most of the wedding preparations were nearly complete. Red lanterns hung across the courtyard entrance, fresh cloth had been tied neatly along the wooden beams, and even the usually plain walls looked warmer beneath the decorations prepared for the evening celebration.

Voices drifted through the courtyard constantly.

Madame Fu and Bai Ming were still inside checking the wedding dress carefully while Grandmother Fu kept giving unnecessary opinions every few moments. Fu Tong had been dragged away once again by Han Fuji to help arrange the remaining tables, though from the loud complaints echoing outside, it sounded more like arguing than helping.

Meanwhile, I remained seated beneath the covered side of the courtyard while checking several lists related to the farm.

But my attention was not fully on the papers.

Because from time to time, my eyes kept drifting toward Han Fuji.

And apparently, Fu Sheng noticed.

"You are still thinking about it," he said quietly beside me.

I did not bother denying it.

"Yes."

Fu Sheng looked toward Han Fuji as well.

At that moment, Han Fuji stood near the courtyard entrance directing two workers while speaking dramatically with his hands as though he were some important official overseeing a royal banquet.

Nothing about him looked suspicious.

Which somehow made him even more suspicious.

Fu Sheng noticed the slight frown on my face and finally let out a quiet breath.

"I said I would ask him."

I looked at him immediately.

"And?"

"And I will."

His tone remained calm and steady as always.

Then after a brief pause, he stood up slowly from the chair.

"I should do it now before the house becomes too crowded tonight."

I watched him quietly for a second before finally nodding.

"Good."

Fu Sheng glanced down at me briefly.

"You really do not know how to stop worrying."

I folded my arms calmly.

"And you do not worry enough."

That earned the faintest twitch at the corner of his lips before he finally turned and walked away.

I watched him approach Han Fuji from a distance.

At first, Han Fuji looked completely relaxed while speaking to the workers, but the moment Fu Sheng stopped beside him and said something quietly, his expression shifted slightly.

Not enough for others to notice.

But enough for me.

Han Fuji quickly dismissed the workers before throwing an arm around Fu Sheng’s shoulder dramatically and leading him farther away from the courtyard.

Farther from listening ears.

My eyes narrowed immediately.

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

—

The two men eventually stopped near the far side of the house beside the storage area where the sounds from the courtyard became distant.

Han Fuji finally removed his arm from Fu Sheng’s shoulder before looking at him curiously.

"You suddenly look serious," he said. "That usually means trouble."

Fu Sheng leaned lightly against the wooden pillar nearby.

"I just want to ask you something."

Han Fuji blinked once.

"That sounds even more dangerous."

Fu Sheng ignored the joke completely.

"Where did you get the money for all this?"

The moment those words left his mouth—

Han Fuji’s smile paused slightly.

Only briefly.

But Fu Sheng noticed it immediately.

Han Fuji quickly looked away with an exaggerated sigh.

"You dragged me all the way here just to ask that?"

"Yes."

Fu Sheng’s gaze remained calm and steady.

Han Fuji scratched lightly at his chin before laughing softly.

"What? You think I robbed someone?"

Fu Sheng remained unmoving.

"I think your spending does not match what you usually show."

Han Fuji’s laughter weakened slightly after hearing that.

For a brief moment, silence settled between them.

Then Han Fuji finally sighed again.

"...Su Long asked you to question me, did she not?"

Fu Sheng did not answer.

Which was already answer enough.

Han Fuji instantly groaned.

"That woman’s instincts are terrifying."

Fu Sheng crossed his arms calmly.

"She is worried the money came from something illegal."

Han Fuji looked personally offended.

"Illegal?"

He pressed a hand dramatically against his chest.

"Brother Fu Sheng, do I look like a criminal to you?"

Fu Sheng looked at him silently.

Han Fuji immediately clicked his tongue.

"You hesitated too long."

Fu Sheng finally spoke again.

"So?"

Han Fuji’s playful expression slowly faded after a moment.

Then unexpectedly, he leaned back lightly against the wall and folded his arms.

"A few days ago," he said quietly, "I saved someone here in the barren lands."

Fu Sheng’s brows furrowed slightly.

Han Fuji continued calmly.

"He was attacked while passing through one of the outer roads near Tiger Alley. Most people ignored him because they thought getting involved would bring trouble."

A faint smile appeared on Han Fuji’s lips.

"But I was bored that day."

Fu Sheng stared at him silently.

Han Fuji shrugged lightly.

"What? It is the truth."

Then his expression became slightly more serious again.

"The man turned out to be far wealthier than I expected. Not someone ordinary."

Fu Sheng remained quiet while listening.

Han Fuji lowered his gaze briefly before continuing.

"Afterward, he insisted on repaying me. At first, I refused because I thought it would become troublesome."

Then he suddenly laughed softly.

"But later... when Bai Ming agreed to marry me, I remembered him."

Fu Sheng finally understood slightly.

"So he helped you."

Han Fuji nodded once.

"Yes."

His gaze shifted toward the decorated courtyard in the distance.

"The wedding clothes, decorations, the rented items... most of it came from him."

Fu Sheng studied him carefully.

"And that is all?"

Han Fuji looked directly at him this time.

"Yes."

The answer came calmly.

"There is nothing illegal behind it."

The afternoon breeze moved quietly between them.

Then Han Fuji suddenly frowned slightly.

"...Although honestly, the man still frightens me a little."

Fu Sheng’s eyes narrowed faintly.

"Why?"

Han Fuji scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Because rich people who appear suddenly in the barren lands are usually never simple."

That made Fu Sheng fall silent briefly.

Han Fuji quickly waved a hand.

"But he never harmed me," he added immediately. "And he kept his promise properly."

Then after a pause, he muttered quietly—

"Otherwise, there is no way I could afford all this."

.....

Su long went inside her room, she had barely closed the door behind her when the familiar voice finally echoed in her mind again.

It had been too quiet all day.

Too suspiciously quiet.

"So you have finally decided to show up," she said calmly as she walked toward the window and sat down.

The system replied almost immediately.

[This system has been monitoring host’s progress.]

Su Long leaned back slightly in her chair, her fingers lightly resting on the wooden armrest.

"Monitoring what exactly?"

[Mission progress and environmental changes.]

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"That sounds like an excuse."

The system paused for a moment.

Then continued in its usual mechanical tone.

[Ding.]

[Host has successfully influenced multiple engagement outcomes within the Fu household.]

[System evaluation: Positive impact detected.]

Su Long did not respond immediately.

Instead, she tilted her head slightly.

"And the reward?"

There was a short silence.

Then the system answered.

[Reward distribution has been prepared.]

A faint glow appeared in front of her, and a small translucent box slowly formed in the air before her.

Su Long’s gaze sharpened slightly.

"That is not what I asked."

The system hesitated.

[Host is advised to receive standard reward first.]

Su Long gave a quiet hum.

"I am listening."

The box opened.

But instead of coins or simple resources, something different appeared.

A small glass vial floated inside, filled with a faint golden liquid that shimmered softly under invisible light.

Su Long’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"What is that?"

[Soil Elixir.]

The system answered quickly this time.

[It enhances soil fertility, accelerates crop growth, and improves yield quality beyond standard barren land conditions.]

Su Long blinked once.

"Explain properly."

The system complied.

[When applied to farmland, the soil quality will improve by approximately seventy percent compared to average barren land conditions.]

[Crop resistance increases. Growth cycle shortens. Harvest output becomes significantly higher.]

Su Long stared at the vial for a long moment.

Then slowly—

"This is more useful than money."

The system did not deny it.

[Correct.]

Her gaze lingered on the floating vial.

"And this is the reward for the engagement progress?"

[Partially.]

That made her pause slightly.

"Partially?"

Another brief silence followed.

Then the system continued.

[Additional reward is still pending.]

Su Long leaned forward slightly now.

"What is it?"

The system hesitated for the first time.

Then finally responded.

[Host is advised to confirm completion of current external engagement mission before full reward disclosure.]

Su Long clicked her tongue softly.

"Always hiding things."

The system ignored that comment.

Instead—

Another small light appeared beside the elixir box.

A second reward notification.

Su Long’s attention shifted immediately.

[Bonus Reward Unlocked.]

Her brows lifted slightly.

"So there is a bonus."

The system responded calmly.

[Bonus is granted due to host’s exceptional influence on household stability.]

A second box opened.

Inside—

A small seed pouch appeared.

Su Long’s gaze sharpened.

"Seeds?"

[Improved crop seed variants.]

The system explained.

[These seeds grow faster, are more resistant to drought, and produce higher yield quality than standard barren land crops.]

Su Long reached out slightly in instinct, even though nothing was physically there.

Then she asked quietly.

"And this is better than the normal reward?"

[Yes.]

A brief pause followed.

Then Su Long’s voice turned slightly more serious.

"Why give this much?"

The system answered without emotion.

[Because host is entering a more unstable phase of storyline progression.]

Su Long’s eyes narrowed slightly at that.

"Unstable phase?"

But the system did not elaborate further.

Instead, it changed tone again.

[Host should focus on immediate external event: Bai Ming’s wedding celebration.]

Su Long leaned back slowly in her chair.

"So you are avoiding my question."

[This system is optimizing survival probability.]

She let out a faint breath through her nose.

"Convenient wording."

The system stayed silent.

For a moment, the room returned to quietness.

Su Long looked at the floating elixir and seeds carefully again.

Then finally she spoke.

"I will take it."

The items slowly solidified into her hands.

She closed her fingers slightly around them.

Then her eyes darkened faintly.

"Whatever is coming tonight..."

Her voice lowered slightly.

"Let it come."