Bai Ming did not wait for another word to be spoken, as she turned immediately and walked straight into the house with firm and quick steps, and she did not look back even once.

Han Fuji followed her without hesitation and reached the corridor just as she entered her room.

The door closed at once.

Then it locked.

The sharp sound echoed through the quiet space.

Han Fuji stopped in front of the door and stood there for a moment without moving, as if thinking.

Then he raised his hand and knocked.

"Bai Ming," he called.

There was no response from inside.

He knocked again, slightly harder this time.

"Open the door," he said. "We are not finished talking."

Silence answered him.

Inside the room, Bai Ming leaned back against the door and closed her eyes briefly, her expression tight and controlled.

"I said I am not interested," she replied.

Her voice was clear and steady through the door.

Han Fuji frowned slightly.

"You are refusing without hearing everything," he said.

"I heard enough," she answered without hesitation.

He knocked again, this time more firmly than before.

"Then listen to the rest," he said.

"I do not need to," she replied.

Her tone remained unchanged.

Han Fuji slowly lowered his hand and stood there in silence for a moment, as if considering what to do next.

Then a voice called out.

"Han Fuji."

He turned.

Madame Fu stood a short distance away, watching him calmly.

He stepped away from the door and walked toward her.

"She will not open," he said.

Madame Fu gave a small nod.

"She will not," she replied. "Not like this."

Han Fuji remained silent.

Madame Fu looked at him carefully before she continued speaking.

"Someone like Bai Ming is not simple," she said. "She has already been hurt once."

Her voice stayed steady.

"She chose the wrong man before, and she paid the price for it," she added. "That kind of experience does not disappear easily."

Han Fuji’s expression shifted slightly as he listened.

Madame Fu continued.

"She is not looking for someone to save her," she said. "She is looking for something real."

Her gaze rested on him.

"She wants sincerity," she added. "She wants peace."

Han Fuji did not speak.

"And what you are offering her now," Madame Fu said, "does not feel like that."

He looked at her.

"I am serious," he said.

"I can see that," she replied. "But that is not the problem."

She stepped closer to him.

"You approached her with a decision already made," she said. "You stood in front of her and told her you would marry her to solve her situation."

Her tone remained calm, but firm.

"No woman would accept that," she continued. "Especially not someone like her."

Han Fuji did not respond.

Madame Fu turned her gaze toward the closed door for a moment.

"If you truly want her," she said, "then do not stand in front of her as someone trying to help her out of pity."

She looked back at him.

"Stand in front of her as someone who truly wants her."

Her words settled between them, clear and direct.

Han Fuji lowered his gaze slightly, then turned his head and looked back at the door.

It remained closed and silent.

After a moment, he spoke in a quieter voice.

"I understand."

Madame Fu nodded once.

"Then do it properly," she said.

She turned and walked away without another word.

Han Fuji remained where he stood.

This time, he did not raise his hand.

He did not knock again.

Han Fuji remained standing in front of the closed door, his gaze fixed on it as silence settled around him. For a brief moment, he did not move or speak, as if he was gathering his thoughts.

Then he stepped closer.

This time, he did not raise his hand to knock. Instead, he stood there quietly and spoke.

"Bai Ming," he said.

His voice was lower now, calm and steady, without the earlier force or urgency.

"I was wrong."

Inside the room, Bai Ming did not respond, but she did not move away from the door either.

Han Fuji took a slow breath before continuing.

"I came here with everything prepared," he said, "but I did not stop to think about how you would feel."

His voice remained even, but there was a clear sincerity in it now.

"I stood in front of you and told you that I would marry you, as if that decision had already been made for both of us," he continued. "I spoke as if I was solving a problem instead of speaking to you as a person."

He paused briefly.

"That was not right."

Without anyone noticing at first, the corridor slowly filled as the others gathered nearby. Fu Fei and Fu Li stood quietly to the side, while Fu Tong and Fu Teng remained a short distance behind. Fu Sheng and I did not leave either, and even An Li stood nearby with An Nuan. No one spoke, and no one interrupted.

Han Fuji continued.

"I am not here because I pity you," he said. "And I am not here because I feel responsible for anything."

His eyes remained on the closed door.

"I came because I want you," he said.

The words were simple, but they carried weight.

"I admire the way you speak," he continued. "I admire the way you stand your ground, even when no one stands with you."

His voice grew steadier.

"You are not weak," he said. "You never were."

Inside the room, Bai Ming remained leaning against the door, but her hand tightened slightly.

"I do not want to stand in front of you as someone trying to save you," he said. "I want to stand beside you."

He paused again, as if choosing his next words carefully.

"If you say no again, I will accept it," he continued. "I will not force you, and I will not place you in a situation where you feel trapped."

The corridor remained completely still.

"But if there is even a small chance," he added, "then give me the opportunity to do this properly."

His voice softened.

"Not because of what happened today," he said. "Not because of any situation."

He lowered his gaze slightly.

"Only because it is you."

Silence followed his words, stretching longer this time.

Behind him, Fu Fei slowly leaned closer to Fu Li and spoke in a quiet whisper.

"This sounds like a real proposal now," she said.

Fu Li covered her mouth slightly as she tried to hide her reaction.

"I did not expect him to speak like this," she replied softly.

Fu Tong glanced in their direction, clearly hearing them, but chose not to say anything.

Even Fu Teng’s expression softened slightly, though he remained silent.

An Li stood a little apart from the others, her arms loosely folded as she watched the closed door with calm interest.

Then she spoke, her tone light but clear.

"It seems," she said, "this might become three weddings instead of two."

Fu Fei and Fu Li exchanged a quick glance, both holding back their smiles as a quiet sense of teasing passed between them.

Still, no one stepped forward.

No one interrupted.

Because inside that room, Bai Ming had yet to respond.

And outside, everyone remained where they were—

Waiting for her response.

Silence settled in the corridor after his words, and no one spoke as they waited.

Inside the room, Bai Ming stood by the door for a moment, then slowly straightened as if she had made a decision. She reached for the lock without hesitation.

Outside, Han Fuji remained where he stood, his gaze fixed on the door, and he did not move.

The lock turned.

The door opened.

Bai Ming stepped out.

Her expression was calm and composed, without anger or softness, and she stood directly in front of him as she met his gaze without avoiding it.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Bai Ming broke the silence. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"If I refuse to marry you," she asked, "what will happen to the deal you made with those people on my behalf?"

Her voice was even and steady, as if she was only asking something that needed a clear answer.

Han Fuji did not hesitate.

"I will take care of it," he said. "You do not need to concern yourself with that matter."

Bai Ming continued to look at him, studying his expression carefully.

Then she spoke again.

"And if I agree," she said, "what will happen to me and my children after I marry you?"

Her tone remained calm, but her words were direct and clear.

Han Fuji answered without pause.

"I will take care of you," he said, "and I will take care of your children as well."

His voice was firm, and there was no doubt in it.

Bai Ming held his gaze for a moment longer, as if she was weighing his answer and considering every word he had said.