Exiled!? Ha! I have An Infinite Space-Chapter 57 -

I was still in Fu Sheng’s arms when the door suddenly swung open and the rest of the family entered.

Fu Tong and Fu Teng helped Master Fu inside carefully, supporting him on both sides, while Madame Fu walked in with her two daughters beside her. The boys followed close behind. The room, which had felt quiet and private only moments ago, quickly filled with warmth and movement.

As soon as they stepped in, Fu Sheng slowly loosened his hold on me and shifted slightly away.

I smiled faintly.

My husband was still a little shy when it came to showing affection in front of his family.

Madame Fu was the first to walk up to me. Without hesitation, she reached for my hands and held them tightly.

"Su Long," she said, her voice already trembling with emotion, "you do not know what you have done for this family. I knew from the day you married my son that you would bring blessings into our home. If not for you... Fu Li... sh-she..."

Her voice broke before she could finish.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she lowered her head slightly as she tried to steady herself.

I smiled gently and patted her hands.

"Mother," I said softly, "whatever I did, I did because it is my duty as her sister-in-law. Nothing more. You do not have to thank me like this. Everything will be fine."

She looked at me for a long moment before slowly nodding, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand.

Behind her, Fu Tong cleared his throat dramatically.

"Well," he said, crossing his arms, "who would have thought our sister-in-law was so brave? We nearly misjudged her."

Fu Teng chuckled. "Maybe we should start listening to her more often."

I narrowed my eyes at them slightly. "Are you two finally admitting I am amazing?"

The room burst into soft laughter.

Even Master Fu’s lips curved faintly.

Fu Fei stepped forward then and lightly pushed the two small boys toward the bed.

"Go on," she said gently. "Go see your mother."

My heart paused slightly.

I slowly opened my arms, expecting hesitation, expecting them to look toward Fu Sheng first for approval.

But to my surprise, they did not.

They did not glance at their father.

Instead, Fu Jin and Fu Jun walked straight toward me on their own.

My eyes widened slightly.

Fu Jin reached me first, and I carefully picked him up despite the dull ache in my body. Fu Sheng stepped closer at the same time and lifted Fu Jun into his arms.

The two boys looked at me with bright, innocent eyes.

Then, in small, sweet voices, they said together,

"I hope Stepmother lives longer and never gets hurt."

For a moment, I could not speak.

Something warm and unexpected rose in my chest.

I tightened my hold on Fu Jin slightly, smiling at them both.

"...I plan to live very long," I replied softly. "So you two better behave and grow up properly."

The family laughed again, but this time, the laughter felt lighter.

And as I looked around at all of them standing together in that small cabin, I realized something quietly.

Perhaps...

I truly belonged here now.

Everyone was still laughing softly when the mood suddenly shifted.

Fu Li stepped forward.

The smile on her face was gone.

Before anyone could react, she walked straight to where her parents were standing and knelt down in front of them.

The room fell silent.

Her knees touched the floor with a dull sound, and she lowered her head deeply.

"Father... Mother..." her voice trembled, but she did not lift her head. "I was wrong."

Madame Fu froze.

Master Fu’s expression hardened.

Fu Li continued, her forehead nearly touching the ground.

"I have been disrespectful to Sister-in-law. I did not treat her properly. I acted selfishly and carelessly." Her voice shook more as she spoke. "Last night... I ran out without thinking. I abandoned the family when you needed me the most. I caused trouble again and again."

Tears began falling onto the floor beneath her.

"I am sorry for worrying you. I am sorry for shaming our family. I am sorry for everything."

The room remained painfully quiet.

Madame Fu’s eyes filled with tears again, but she did not move immediately.

Master Fu slowly turned his face away.

He did not even look at her.

The rejection was silent but heavy.

Fu Li’s shoulders trembled.

"Father..." she whispered weakly.

He remained facing the other direction, his jaw tight.

"You are old enough to understand consequences," he said calmly, but his tone was firm. "Apologies are easy. Reflection is not."

Fu Li lowered her head even further.

"I understand."

The air felt heavy again, I glanced at Fu Sheng.

He was watching quietly, his expression unreadable.

After a long moment, Madame Fu finally stepped forward and gently touched Fu Li’s shoulder.

"Stand up," she said softly, though her voice still carried weight. "What is done cannot be undone. What matters is whether you truly change."

Fu Li slowly lifted her head, her eyes red and swollen.

"I will," she said firmly. "I promise."

Master Fu did not respond.

And somehow, that felt like the only permission she would receive for now.

Just as the silence settled again, footsteps sounded at the door.

Li Manman entered.

She walked in slowly, her expression carefully arranged, her brows slightly drawn together as though she had been deeply worried all along. Without hesitation, she moved toward Fu Li.

"Fu Li, are you alright?" she asked gently, her voice soft and full of concern.

Fu Li nodded faintly. "I am fine."

Li Manman sighed as though she had been holding her breath this entire time.

"It is fortunate we found you when we did," she continued, glancing around the room. "If I had not suggested we check that slope, who knows how long it would have taken to find you?"

Her tone was subtle.

But not subtle enough.

I watched her quietly and there it was.. the credit. The gentle reminder that without her, none of this would have happened.

A small smirk tugged at my lips.

"You did show us where she had fallen," I said calmly.

Li Manman’s eyes flickered toward me.

"But saving her was not part of your plan, was it?"

The room went quiet again.

Her smile stiffened.

"I... I do not understand what Young mistress means."

I leaned slightly against the pillow, my tone light.

"You were much lighter than I am. The rope would have held you more easily. Yet when it was time to go down into the hole, you refused."

Li Manman’s face paled slightly.

"That is not— I was afraid of heights..."

Her voice softened, and she quickly lowered her head, her shoulders trembling just enough to look fragile.

"I only did not want to cause more trouble. If something had happened to me as well, would that not have made things worse?"

Sigh! she started her stupid pitiful acting.

"I only wanted to help."

"Helping is not only about pointing a direction," I said evenly. "Sometimes it requires stepping forward."

Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.

The room felt tense again.

Fu Sheng remained silent beside me.

Fu Li looked between us, confused and uncomfortable.

Li Manman lowered her head again, her voice trembling.

"If Young Miss believes I was wrong, then I accept it."

So now she was playing the obedient one.

I smiled faintly.

"I do not believe anything," I replied softly. "I only remember what happened."

Her jaw tightened for a split second before she quickly masked it.

The room stayed quiet after I finished speaking. Li Manman kept her head lowered, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. Even if her face looked calm, her body had already betrayed her.

Before she could continue acting pitiful, Fu Sheng suddenly stood up.

The movement was not loud, but it was firm enough to draw everyone’s attention.

He looked at Li Manman directly. His expression was calm, yet there was a clear distance in his eyes.

"This is a family matter," he said in a steady voice. "Next time, do not enter without making your presence known first."

The room fell even quieter. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

He continued, "And if you wish to come in, wait to be invited."

His tone was not harsh, but it left no room for argument.

Li Manman stiffened.

For a moment, she looked like she wanted to speak back, but under Fu Sheng’s gaze, she swallowed her words.

"I was only worried," she said softly, though the sweetness in her voice now sounded forced.

Fu Sheng did not respond.

He simply looked at her.

That silence was heavier than any scolding.

After a few seconds, Li Manman lowered her head slightly, then turned around and walked toward the door. Her steps were quick, and when she left, the door closed a little harder than necessary.

Once she was gone, I rolled my eyes slightly.

Fu Sheng looked down at me.

He did not ask why I disliked her. He did not question me. He did not defend her either.

From the way he had spoken just now, it was clear he was not comfortable with her either.

He slowly sat back down beside me.

The air in the room felt lighter without her there.

Madame Fu gently cleared her throat, choosing not to bring up what had just happened. Fu Tong and Fu Teng looked at each other but wisely stayed quiet.

Fu Li returned to stand beside our parents, still looking uneasy as Fu Sheng’s hand slowly reached for mine again.

"Now that we have this matter settled.. the head guard said by tommorrow our journey to the barren lands would be close to getting completed."