Chapter 226 -

Wei Meilan walked over to Fu Jun and Fu Jin as they sat by the stone wall, arguing over a piece of wood.

She sat down beside them on the low bench, trying hard to keep her voice light and calm. “What are you two making over there?” she asked gently.

Fu Jun held up the carved piece of wood proudly. “A sword! When we grow up, we’re going to protect the whole compound just like Father!”

“It’s going to be the strongest sword ever!” Fu Jin added, puffing out his small chest. “Nobody will ever bother our family again!”

Wei Meilan reached out, her hand shaking a little as she smoothed Fu Jun’s messy hair and wiped dirt off Fu Jin’s round cheek. She looked deeply into their bright eyes… the same eyes she used to look at when they were just little babies.

“Is that so?” she asked softly, her throat feeling tight. “You want to be brave like your father?”

“Yeah!” Fu Jun grinned. “Father told us a real man protects the people he loves. So I’m going to protect my little brother, and Mother Su Long, and Father, and everyone!”

Hearing him call Su Long ‘Mother’ so easily made Wei Meilan’s chest ache, but it also made her feel deeply relieved. Tears came to her eyes in the bright morning sun.

“Auntie Meilan, why are you crying?” Fu Jin asked, looking at her with worry. “Did we do something bad?”

“No… no, of course not, my good boy,” Wei Meilan whispered, letting out a small, watery laugh. She pulled both of them into a tight, warm hug, holding them close for a long moment. “Auntie is just… so happy to see how strong and good you both are growing up.”

She pulled back, looking at them through her tears with a big, loving smile. She could tell them the truth right now, that she was their real mother. But seeing how happy, safe, and loved they were here, she knew she didn’t need to say it. Their happy life was all that mattered to her.

“You two promise me something, alright?” she said, her voice full of feeling. “No matter how big you get, always stick together. Don’t fight over little things, and always love and respect your father and Su Long.”

“We promise, Auntie Meilan!” Fu Jun said seriously, patting her hand to make her feel better. “We’ll be good sons!”

“I know you will,” Wei Meilan smiled, giving their cheeks one last, gentle squeeze.

She stood up and walked away, her heart completely at peace.

….

Su Long and Fu Sheng sat side by side inside An Li’s living room, holding the warm cups of tea given to them by An Li’s mother.

An Li’s mother gave them a tired but warm smile as she set down the tray. “Please excuse me, you two. I have to get the final preparations ready for An Yu’s wedding tomorrow. There is still so much to do before the big day.”

With a polite bow, she turned and walked out of the room to tend to the decorations.

The moment she was gone, Su Long and Fu Sheng froze, holding their teacups mid-air. They turned their heads at the exact same time, exchanging a sharp, concerned look across the table.

“An Yu is getting married tomorrow?” Su Long whispered, setting her cup down on the table with a soft clatter.

Fu Sheng’s brow furrowed tightly, his face growing serious. Neither of them knew the full story of what was happening between Fu Teng and An Yu, but they weren’t blind. They had both noticed the soft, intense way Fu Teng looked at An Yu, and the quiet closeness between the two men whenever they were together. They had a strong feeling that Fu Teng liked An Yu… far more than just a boss or a friend.

“Fu Teng went back to work at the pavilion today,” Fu Sheng said, his deep voice heavy with worry. “If An Yu is getting married tomorrow, Fu Teng must already know… or he’s about to find out.”

Su Long reached over, placing her hand over Fu Sheng’s tense fingers. “We need to keep an eye on him today. If his heart is breaking, he won’t say a word to any of us, he’ll just lock it all inside.”

Fu Sheng nodded slowly, his dark eyes filled with quiet concern for his brother.

Su Long leaned forward slightly, looking closely at An Li. “An Li, do you know anything about An Yu’s love life? Who is he even marrying?”

An Li shrugged, taking a slow sip of her tea, looking completely unbothered by her brother’s upcoming wedding. “He’s just marrying some crazy girl,” she said nonchalantly. “They don’t even like each other like that. They just match each other’s craziness and think they’re compatible. Besides, An Yu isn’t even…”

She stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening slightly as if she had almost let something big slip.

Catching herself just in time, An Li cleared her throat and quickly changed the subject. “Anyway! Tomorrow morning is the big election, right? The candidate speeches and all the official events start first thing in the morning.”

Su Long and Fu Sheng exchanged another quick look, noting An Li’s sudden shift, but Su Long focused back on the election. “Yes, tomorrow morning is crucial. The speeches will set the tone for the entire vote for Unit 50’s leadership.”

Fu Sheng nodded, his face serious. “It’s going to be a long day for everyone tomorrow, on all fronts.”

An Li leaned across the table, looking at Su Long’s simple outfit. She shook her head.

“Su Long, you can’t wear those plain clothes tomorrow,” An Li said firmly. “You need brand new clothes, and you need to practice what you’ll say. I will write a strong speech for you, something that makes you sound like a leader who already has total power. Those stubborn officers need to respect you the moment they see you.”

Su Long smiled slightly. “A speech written by you? Is it going to sound too aggressive?”

“You’ll thank me later,” An Li grinned. “And to make sure everyone takes you seriously, I will send my best men to stand guard right next to you. When you walk into the room tomorrow, no one will dare question you.”

Fu Sheng looked at Su Long with pride, gently placing a hand on her back. “An Li is right. The people in these lands only respect strength. If we show them real power right away, your job tomorrow will be much easier.”