Chapter 5: Sharing a Room

Wan Niang could not see, so she reached out to touch Yan Funing's face.

After feeling it for a while, she praised with a smile, "What beautiful features."

Fu Nanyao nodded with a smile, "Of course, my sister-in-law is the most beautiful."

"This bump on your forehead is quite serious." Wan Niang touched the swelling on Yan Funing's forehead, "Does it still hurt?"

Yan Funing was very puzzled. Why did Fu Ciyi tell his mother and siblings about everything else, but not about the fact that the bride had been switched last night?

As she was pondering, the bump on her forehead was touched, and she let out a soft cry, "Mmm, it hurts..."

Her voice was soft and tender, carrying a hint of a nasal whine.

It was as if it carried a hook, drilling straight into Fu Ciyi's ears, causing his handsome brows to knit tightly.

Fu Ciyi's face darkened. He glanced at Yan Funing's snow-white, rosy face and indifferently exited the carriage.

Seeing his expression, Yan Funing thought to herself, *This is bad.*

Could it be that once they arrived in the countryside, he would tell his mother and siblings that the bride was switched last night, that she was the woman who had broken off their engagement, and then seek harsh revenge?

——

The wheels rumbled and the horse hooves trotted swiftly.

After leaving the county town and passing through a town, the horse's nose gave a sneeze, blowing out a long breath of white mist, and the carriage jolted along its way toward the countryside.

The road grew narrower and more uneven.

Yan Funing gripped the carriage wall and lifted the curtain to look out.

There were many vehicles and pedestrians on the road, all appearing to be preparing New Year goods, except for them.

The wedding was held yesterday on the twenty-sixth of the twelfth lunar month, and today was the twenty-seventh. The Fu and Yan families were truly ruthless, driving people away at the end of the year.

Upon reaching the village, at the entrance of a small farmhouse courtyard, the horse reared and let out a long neigh, and the carriage finally came to a halt.

The small courtyard was at the foot of the mountain, in the most remote part of the entire village.

Fu Beimo helped his mother out of the carriage and headed toward the main hall.

Yan Funing helped Fu Nanyao out of the carriage. Since the carriage was at a certain height from the ground, Fu Nanyao's lame leg could not bear weight, so she stopped standing on the carriage.

Yan Funing jumped down from the carriage and reached out to help Fu Nanyao, but unexpectedly, Fu Ciyi beat her to it and assisted Fu Nanyao down.

Yan Funing awkwardly withdrew her hand and looked around.

Fu Nanyao stood in front of her, her voice tinged with apology, "I'm sorry, sister-in-law. My legs are inconvenient; in the past, it was always Brother and my brothers who took care of me."

Fu Ciyi, who had already circled to the back of the carriage to prepare to move the luggage, looked over upon hearing this.

When that certain woman had broken off their engagement, she had grabbed his sister's lame leg and insulted them. If she were to repeat the same old trick now...

Yan Funing smiled at Fu Nanyao, "Don't say that."

Suddenly meeting Fu Ciyi's cold gaze, especially the undisguised disgust between his brows, Yan Funing's smile instantly froze.

Fu Ciyi lowered his eyes indifferently and carried two bags of luggage toward the house.

At this moment, the driver said irritably, "Hurry up and take all the luggage down so I can return to the city early. It's almost New Year, truly bad luck, making me drive this trip."

Fu Nanyao said angrily, "How can you speak like that?"

"How can I speak? It's already good enough that I didn't leave you all halfway."

The driver picked up a large bundle, intending to throw it on the ground.

Yan Funing hurriedly grabbed it, "There are quilts and clothes inside. If you throw it, they'll get dirty. It's easy for you, but in this freezing weather, washing them would be a huge trouble for us."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"We haven't offended you, so why must you do this?" Yan Funing's voice was soft, yet it sounded firm, "The Second Young Master has great learning; he will surely become a great man in the future."

"He couldn't even bring his books out of the Fu family. Now that he has no books to read, how can he become a great man?"

Despite saying this, the driver did not throw the luggage again, and his voice lowered considerably.

Fu Ciyi felt nothing regarding what Yan Funing had just said.

The words mocking him for being a bookworm at the entrance of the study were still ringing in his ears.

Instead, Fu Nanyao said in pleasant surprise, "Does sister-in-law also think Brother's learning is great?" Then she said helplessly and angrily, "That wicked woman only says Brother is a bookworm with a rigid mind."

Yan Funing was stunned. Had the female supporting character insulted him like that too?

Recalling for a moment, there indeed had been such an instance.

The grudge was tied too deeply!

Without thinking further, she grabbed the large bundle and prepared to leave.

Unfortunately, the bundle was too heavy; after only two steps, her whole body tilted sideways.

Seeing this, Fu Nanyao reached out to help.

Seeing this from the house, Fu Ciyi immediately spoke up, "Sister cannot carry heavy objects."

Yan Funing hurriedly said to Fu Nanyao, "I'll do it."

With those words, her two small hands gripped the large bundle desperately, her teeth biting her lower lip as she struggled to walk into the house.

Fu Ciyi walked toward her, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

That certain woman used to be arrogant and willful, but now she deliberately lowered her voice, appearing so fragile as if she had suffered a great grievance.

He did not want to look at her, but his peripheral vision inevitably fell upon her.

Her fair little hands gripped the bundle tightly, her fingertips turning white from the effort. It was these very hands that had torn up their marriage contract back then.

Fu Ciyi's hands, clasped behind his back, clenched unnaturally.

Fu Nanyao moved a few steps and said softly, "Brother, I was the one who took the initiative to carry it just now."

Fu Ciyi remained silent.

Fu Nanyao added, "Because of my legs, I can't carry heavy things, and sister-in-law was raised with pampered care, so she won't be able to carry them either."

Yan Funing entered the room and placed the large bundle on a wooden stool against the wall.

When she returned to the carriage to move the luggage, she was quite surprised and puzzled. When she picked up a large bundle, that certain person would just scoop it up and walk away...

It was as if he were specifically acting against her.

Left with no choice, she could only take the small bundles.

Before long, the luggage was moved, and the driver drove away swiftly.

The family divided the rooms in the main hall.

"Fifteen years ago, Ciyi and I lived here for a period of time. Although I cannot see, I am still familiar with this place." Wan Niang pointed vaguely toward the eastern wing, "Nanyao and I will share a room, and the small room next to it will be for Beimo." Then, her finger moved through the air toward the west, "These rooms here will be for Ciyi and his young wife."

Yan Funing looked around. The courtyard was not large, enclosed by a circle of bamboo fences.

The main hall faced south, with the kitchen beside it. There were wings on the east and west sides, each with two rooms, one large and one small.

However, the fences were dilapidated and scattered.

The walls of the houses were peeling in many places, mottled and damaged.

Yan Funing looked toward the western wing. It was fine for her to stay in that small western room; having a place to stay was already good enough.

Fu Beimo went over and pushed open the door to the small western room. Looking from the outside, there was a hole in the back roof; it was uninhabitable in this weather.

"Mother, this small room is too dilapidated. It's not suitable for Brother to stay in, nor is it suitable for sister-in-law."

Wan Niang smiled and said, "This small room is the woodshed. Once your brother and sister-in-law are married, they will naturally live in that large room."

Yan Funing froze on the spot. She and that certain person had to sleep in the same room!?

Fu Beimo nodded as if he understood but didn't, returning to assist his mother toward the large eastern room, saying as they walked, "When I get married, I want to live in a large room too."

Wan Niang smiled and said, "Alright!"

Fu Ciyi said nothing, carrying his mother's and sister's luggage to their rooms.

Fu Nanyao took a few things she could carry and also left the main hall.

Only Yan Funing stood in the main hall, unmoving.

Before long, Fu Ciyi returned, picking up the bundle containing the quilts and walking a few steps.

Sensing she was still standing there, Fu Ciyi's gaze darkened, and his voice was slightly cold, "Do you intend to sleep in the main hall?"

(End of Chapter)