Exiled!? Ha! I have An Infinite Space

Chapter 193: Chapter

The morning sun had only just begun to spread across the courtyard when the Fu family slowly gathered outside as they usually did before breakfast.

Grandfather Fu and grandma Fu sat in the courtyard table chatting and laughing.

Not far away, Han Fuji and Fu Fong were seated together talking casually.

The atmosphere was peaceful.

Inside the kitchen, the women were busy preparing breakfast. The sound of chopping vegetables and boiling porridge drifted through the open windows, creating the familiar warmth of an ordinary family morning.

At least, it had been ordinary until Fu Teng appeared.

He stepped out of the house while adjusting the sleeves of his robe.

His expression was calm as usual.

"I’ll be leaving now," he said casually.

"I’ll eat breakfast at the pavilion."

Nobody thought much about it.

After all, Fu Teng had been working at An Yu’s pavilion for quite some time already.

Grandfather Fu merely nodded.

"Don’t overwork yourself."

Fu Teng gave a small nod.

"I know."

Then he turned and started walking toward the gate.

That was when a voice suddenly stopped him.

"Fu Teng."

The voice was calm.

Very calm.

Yet it immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Fu Teng paused.

Slowly turning around, he saw Fu Sheng standing near the doorway.

Sometime during the last few moments, Fu Sheng had come outside without anyone noticing.

His expression was unusually serious.

For some reason, seeing that expression made my heart skip a beat.

Because I knew exactly what had happened the night before.

And I knew Fu Sheng had barely slept afterward.

The entire courtyard gradually became quiet.

Fu Teng frowned slightly.

"What is it?"

Fu Sheng walked forward.

His gaze never left his younger brother.

Then he spoke.

"From today onward, you won’t be working at An Yu’s pavilion anymore."

Even the birds seemed to stop chirping.

Fu Teng stared at him.

For several seconds, he genuinely thought he had misheard.

"What?"

Fu Sheng’s expression did not change.

"I said you won’t be working there anymore."

This time everyone heard it clearly.

Grandfather Fu looked up.

Grandmother Fu blinked.

Han Fuji lowered his teacup.

Even Fu Fong looked confused.

Nobody understood where this was coming from.

Fu Teng frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

Fu Sheng folded his arms.

"I’m talking about your job."

"My job?"

"Yes."

Fu Teng stared at him.

Then let out a short laugh.

"Since when do you decide where I work?"

The atmosphere immediately became tense.

Fu Sheng remained calm.

"Since now."

Fu Teng’s brows knitted together.

For the first time, irritation appeared on his face.

"And why exactly am I quitting?"

"Because I said so."

...

Master Fu had just stepped out of the house when he heard the raised voices in the courtyard.

He paused immediately.

His eyes moved from Fu Teng to Fu Sheng, then to the rest of the family gathered around them.

The atmosphere was clearly wrong.

"What is going on here?"

At almost the same moment, Madam Fu hurried out from the kitchen after hearing the commotion.

The women followed behind her.

Zhao Yue, Bai Ming, Fu Li, Fu Fei and Zhao Yin all stepped into the courtyard.

The moment Madam Fu saw the expressions on her sons’ faces, her brows immediately furrowed.

"Why are you two standing there looking like enemies?"

Neither brother answered.

The silence only made everyone more uncomfortable.

Master Fu walked forward and stood between them.

His expression became serious.

"Fu Sheng."

"What is this about?"

Fu Sheng remained silent.

Master Fu rarely used such a tone, but this time even he could tell that something serious was happening.

Meanwhile, Madam Fu moved closer.

Her gaze shifted between her two sons.

Then she looked at Fu Sheng.

"Your father is right."

"Tell us what is happening."

She pointed toward Fu Teng.

"Why are you suddenly telling your brother to quit his job?"

The courtyard fell silent again.

Everyone waited for an explanation.

Even Fu Teng folded his arms and looked at Fu Sheng.

He wanted to hear it too.

After all, since the argument began, Fu Sheng had not given a proper reason.

For a brief moment, something complicated flashed across Fu Sheng’s eyes.

His gaze briefly landed on Madam Fu.

Then he looked away again.

Because the truth was that he wanted to tell them.

He wanted to tell them everything.

He wanted to tell them what Su Long had overheard weeks ago.

He wanted to tell them what Zhao Yue had recently discovered.

He wanted to drag Fu Teng back into the house and lock him there until his mind returned to normal.

But the words refused to leave his mouth.

Because standing before him was his mother.

His mother who loved all of her children equally.

His mother who would probably be heartbroken if she heard the suspicions currently filling his mind.

Fu Sheng clenched his jaw.

Several long moments passed before he finally spoke.

"Mother."

Madam Fu looked at him.

"I am not going to answer that question."

The entire courtyard froze.

Madam Fu blinked.

"What?"

Fu Sheng’s expression remained firm.

"I cannot explain it."

"But Fu Teng is not going to that pavilion anymore."

Fu Teng’s face darkened instantly.

"You’re being unreasonable."

Fu Sheng ignored him.

His gaze remained fixed on his parents.

"He must quit that job."

His voice grew firmer.

"This time I mean it."

The calmness in his tone somehow made the words sound even more serious.

Master Fu frowned.

"Fu Sheng."

"You expect us to agree without knowing why?"

"Yes."

The answer came immediately.

Master Fu nearly choked.

Madam Fu stared at her eldest son as though she had never seen him before.

This was not like Fu Sheng at all.

He had always been calm.

Always reasonable.

Always willing to explain himself.

Yet now he was refusing to explain anything while demanding that his brother quit his job immediately.

Even Grandfather Fu’s brows had knitted together.

"Boy."

His old voice sounded across the courtyard.

"You’ve always been the most sensible among your brothers."

"Don’t make decisions based on emotion."

Fu Sheng turned toward him.

"This isn’t emotion."

"Then what is it?"

Fu Sheng fell silent.

Because he couldn’t answer.

Not without saying too much.

The atmosphere became increasingly awkward.

Fu Teng finally laughed.

Except there was no humor in the sound.

"See?"

He spread his hands.

"He doesn’t even have a reason."

"I do."

Fu Sheng replied immediately.

"Then say it."

"I can’t."

"Then stop trying to control my life."

For the first time since the argument began, genuine anger appeared in Fu Teng’s voice.

The courtyard became even quieter.

The two brothers stared at each other.

Neither willing to back down.

Meanwhile, standing near the edge of the crowd, I felt my heart sink.

Because I knew exactly what Fu Sheng was trying to do.

And I also knew exactly why it would never work.

If he couldn’t explain himself...

Then nobody would listen.

Especially not Fu Teng.

Sure enough, Fu Teng adjusted his sleeves again and turned toward the gate.

"I have work to do."

The moment he moved, Fu Sheng stepped forward.

"You’re not leaving."

Fu Teng stopped.

Slowly.

He turned around again.

The two brothers locked eyes.

Neither brother was willing to back down.

Fu Teng stood near the gate with a dark expression on his face while Fu Sheng remained directly in his path, his posture calm but stubborn.

Anyone who knew Fu Sheng understood how unusual this was.

He was not someone who lost his temper easily.

He was not someone who forced his opinions on others.

Most of the time, he preferred talking things through calmly.

Yet today, he seemed determined to stop Fu Teng no matter what.

Madam Fu looked from one son to the other.

The more she watched, the more worried she became.

Finally, she stepped forward.

"Fu Teng."

Her voice was gentle.

Immediately, both brothers looked toward her.

Madam Fu placed a hand on Fu Teng’s arm.

"Listen to your brother."

Fu Teng frowned.

"Mother—"

"No."

She shook her head before he could continue.

"I don’t know what is going on."

"I don’t know why Fu Sheng is acting this way."

Her gaze shifted toward her eldest son.

A troubled look appeared in her eyes.

"But I have never seen him like this before."

The courtyard became quiet.

Madam Fu’s voice softened.

"Your brother has always been calm."

"He has always been reasonable."

"He never interferes with your affairs."

She sighed softly.

"So if he is suddenly reacting this strongly..."

Her eyes returned to Fu Teng.

"Then perhaps there is a reason."

Fu Teng clenched his jaw.

He understood what his mother was saying.

The problem was that Fu Sheng refused to explain that reason.

Master Fu rubbed his forehead.

Even Grandfather Fu and Grandmother Fu looked troubled.

Nobody knew who was right anymore.

Madam Fu slowly turned toward me.

Her eyes were filled with concern.

Almost hope.

As though she was silently asking whether I knew what was happening.

For a brief moment, our gazes met.

My heart immediately skipped a beat.

Of course I knew.

Unfortunately, I also knew that explaining it right now would create an even bigger disaster.

So after several seconds, I simply shook my head.

Madam Fu’s disappointment was obvious.

She sighed softly and looked away.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere between the two brothers continued growing colder.

I could practically see Fu Sheng’s patience running out.

That was when I finally made my decision.

Before the situation could become even worse, I walked forward.

Everyone’s attention immediately shifted toward me.

Fu Sheng looked at me in surprise.

"Su Long—"

I didn’t let him finish.

Reaching out, I grabbed his wrist firmly.

"Come inside."

Fu Sheng blinked.

"What?"

"Inside."

My tone left no room for argument.

The entire courtyard stared.

Especially Han Fuji, who looked like he was watching the most entertaining show of his life.

Fu Sheng frowned slightly.

"But Fu Teng—"

"He won’t go anywhere ."

I tightened my grip.

"Come inside."

Fu Sheng looked as though he wanted to continue arguing.

Then he saw the warning in my eyes.

Immediately, he fell silent.

Honestly, after being married for this long, he knew exactly what that look meant.

It meant stop talking.