The lively noise from the wedding celebration still echoed faintly through the courtyard by the time Fu Teng finally returned to his room.

The moment he pushed the door open, he immediately noticed something strange.

Several drawers had already been opened.

Clothes were folded neatly across the bed while a wooden box sat near the table filled with hairpins, books, and other belongings.

Zhao Yue stood beside the cabinet quietly packing the last few items into a cloth bundle.

Fu Teng paused at the doorway.

Then slowly, his brows lifted.

"Well," he said lazily while crossing his arms, "that was faster than I expected."

Zhao Yue did not even turn around.

Fu Teng walked further inside, the corner of his lips curving with obvious mockery.

"I thought you would last at least a few more days before running away."

Still no response.

That only encouraged him more.

"So?" he continued casually. "Finally tired of being a daughter-in-law already?"

He leaned lightly against the table.

"I truly overestimated your patience."

Zhao Yue silently folded another robe before placing it carefully into the box.

Fu Teng clicked his tongue dramatically.

"What happened?" he asked. "Did living with me become too unbearable?"

This time, Zhao Yue finally stopped moving.

The room became quiet for a brief moment.

Then slowly—

She turned around.

Her expression looked completely calm.

Too calm.

Fu Teng suddenly had a bad feeling.

Zhao Yue walked directly toward him without saying a word.

One step.

Then another.

Until she finally stopped right in front of him.

Fu Teng blinked slightly.

"...What?"

Zhao Yue stared directly into his eyes.

Then finally spoke.

"You really enjoy talking nonsense, don’t you?"

Fu Teng’s expression twitched faintly.

Zhao Yue continued coldly,

"You mocked me for entering this relationship."

"And now you are mocking me for packing my things."

Her gaze sharpened slightly.

"Tell me honestly," she asked, "is your mouth naturally this irritating, or do you practice every morning?"

Fu Teng froze.

For several seconds, he genuinely looked stunned.

Because this was the first time Zhao Yue had spoken to him so directly.

And harshly.

Zhao Yue, however, clearly was not finished yet.

"I listened to your nonsense this morning and it was annoying," she continued. "But unfortunately, my patience also has limits."

Fu Teng finally recovered slightly.

"...You have quite the temper."

Zhao Yue gave a cold laugh.

"And you have quite the talent for acting like an idiot."

Fu Teng immediately straightened.

"Excuse me?"

But Zhao Yue ignored him completely.

Instead, she walked past him toward the bed and tied the final knot around the cloth bundle.

Then calmly—

"I am not leaving the Fu household."

Fu Teng paused.

Zhao Yue lifted the bundle into her arms before finally looking at him again.

"I am only moving into another room."

Silence.

Fu Teng stared at her blankly.

Then slowly—

"...Another room?"

"Yes."

Her answer came immediately.

"Because I refuse to continue sharing a room with someone as annoying as you."

Fu Teng almost laughed from disbelief.

"You are moving rooms because I annoy you?"

Zhao Yue looked at him expressionlessly.

"No," she corrected calmly. "I am moving because living with you lowers my life expectancy."

Fu Teng choked slightly.

For the first time in a long while, someone had managed to leave him speechless repeatedly within the same conversation.

Zhao Yue walked toward the door carrying her things.

But before leaving, she suddenly paused beside him.

Then without even looking at him properly, she said,

"And one more thing."

Fu Teng frowned slightly.

Zhao Yue’s lips curved faintly.

"You thought I would cry and run away because of your attitude."

Her eyes finally shifted toward him briefly.

"Unfortunately for you, I am not that weak."

Then she opened the door.

"And unlike certain people," she added coldly, "I actually know how to behave like an adult."

The door closed behind her immediately afterward.

Leaving Fu Teng standing alone inside the room in complete silence.

For several long seconds, he simply stood there without moving.

Then finally—

He let out a disbelieving laugh.

"...What kind of woman did they force onto me?"

....

Fu Sheng’s faint smile remained on his lips as he held my hand and led me back toward the house.

The lively noise from the courtyard slowly faded behind us while lantern light stretched across the wooden pathways beneath the night sky.

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him while walking beside him.

"Why are you acting mysterious?"

Fu Sheng glanced at me calmly.

"If I tell you now, then it will no longer be a surprise."

"That sounds like something suspicious people say before causing trouble."

That earned another faint twitch at the corner of his lips.

"You think too much."

"I think exactly enough."

Fu Sheng said nothing after that.

He simply continued leading me deeper into the house until we finally reached our room.

The moment the door opened, I stepped inside quietly.

Then paused slightly.

A fresh set of clothes had already been placed neatly on the bed beforehand.

My brows lifted immediately.

The outfit was lighter than the formal hanfu I currently wore. The fabric looked softer and easier to move in, while the pale red color still matched the festive atmosphere outside.

I slowly turned toward him.

"You prepared this too?"

Fu Sheng entered the room behind me before calmly closing the door.

"Yes."

His gaze lingered on me quietly beneath the warm lantern light.

"Change into it," he said. "I am taking you somewhere."

I folded my arms slowly.

"Somewhere?"

"Mm."

I tried to keep my expression calm and unaffected despite the growing curiosity in my chest.

"Oh."

Fu Sheng stared at me silently for a moment.

Then—

"Your acting is very poor."

I immediately looked offended.

"I am not acting."

"You are."

His voice remained calm.

"But you are trying hard."

I clicked my tongue softly before finally walking toward the bed.

"Fine. Wait outside."

Fu Sheng’s brows lifted slightly.

"This is my room too."

I turned toward him expressionlessly.

"And yet you are still leaving."

For once, Fu Sheng actually looked amused.

Then without arguing further, he turned and walked outside obediently.

The moment the door closed behind him, I finally looked down at the clothes again.

Then quietly—

A small smile appeared on my lips.

—

Not long after, we finally left the Fu household together.

The night outside had grown cooler, but the streets remained surprisingly lively.

At first, I thought Fu Sheng was simply taking me for a walk.

But the farther we went, the brighter the surroundings became.

Then suddenly— 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The noise of music and laughter reached my ears.

I looked up slightly.

And immediately froze.

The market square outside Unit 50 had completely transformed.

Countless lanterns hung overhead, casting warm golden light across the busy streets while colorful ribbons stretched between wooden stalls. Music drifted through the night air together with the smell of roasted meat, sweet cakes, and wine.

The entire place looked festive and alive.

People crowded every corner of the square laughing, shopping, and talking excitedly while children ran around carrying glowing lanterns in their hands.

For a brief moment—

I simply stared.

Then slowly, I turned toward Fu Sheng.

"There is a festival tonight?"

Fu Sheng nodded once.

"It only happens once every year."

I looked around again carefully.

No wonder the streets had been unusually crowded earlier.

Several performers stood near the center of the square entertaining the crowd while merchants loudly called people toward their stalls.

The entire atmosphere felt warm and lively beneath the sea of lights.

For once—

The barren lands no longer looked poor or lifeless.

I did not even realize I had slowed down until Fu Sheng suddenly stopped beside me.

Then before I could react—

He bent slightly and lifted me directly into his arms.

I froze instantly.

"Fu Sheng!"

Several nearby women immediately burst into laughter after seeing us.

Even a few old men nearby looked amused.

Meanwhile, Fu Sheng remained completely calm.

"The crowd is too dense," he said simply.

I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously.

"You just wanted an excuse."

"I did not."

"You did."

But despite my complaints, I still wrapped one arm loosely around his neck to steady myself while he carried me through the crowded square.

The lantern light reflected softly against his dark robes while the sounds of the festival surrounded us from every direction.

At some point, the noisy streets slowly began fading behind us.

The crowd became smaller.

The music quieter.

Until eventually a calm riverside appeared ahead beneath the moonlight.

Several boats floated quietly across the dark water while lanterns reflected beautifully against the river’s surface like scattered stars.

The cool breeze carried the faint smell of water and flowers through the air.

Fu Sheng finally lowered me back onto the ground.

Then without saying much, he walked toward one of the older boatmen waiting near the dock.

After speaking quietly with him and paying some coins, he returned toward me again.

"The boat is ready."

I looked toward the river.

The soft lantern lights dancing across the water somehow made the entire scene feel unreal.

Then slowly, I looked back at him.

"This was your surprise?"

Fu Sheng remained quiet for a moment.

Then finally—

"This is only the beginning."

Before I could ask what he meant, he gently took my hand again and led me toward the small wooden boat waiting quietly by the riverside.

Together we stepped inside.