Li Manman stood with the sword pressed against her neck, her hands shaking badly.
"If I can't follow the Fu family," she cried, "then I have no reason to live!"
Shock spread through the crowd. Even the guards froze for a moment.
Fu Li stared at her in disbelief. "She's… she's not normal."
Fu Fei whispered, "I never knew she could be like this."
Around them, people began to murmur.
"What kind of person would do this in public?" Grandma Fu said under her breath.
"She's trying to force their hand." Aunt Fu added, "How shameless."
I didn't react at all. I just watched her quietly.
Then I smiled.
I took a slow step forward and said calmly, "If you want to die, go ahead. No one is stopping you."
The world seemed to freeze.
Everyone turned to look at me. Madame Fu stared in shock. Master Fu looked stunned. Even Fu Sheng glanced back at me, surprised.
But I didn't look away. My smile didn't change.
Just because I chose to treat my husband and in-laws better this time didn't mean I would play the good person for everyone. If someone wanted to act, then fine. I would play the villain.
Li Manman panicked. Her grip on the sword weakened. She quickly turned toward Master Fu and Madame Fu, her eyes full of tears.
"Please…" she sobbed. "Don't leave me behind…"
Madame Fu's heart softened at once. "Child… put the sword down first…"
Master Fu also spoke gently. "This isn't the way. Calm down."
They both turned toward Fu Sheng, silently asking him to help.
Fu Sheng looked at Li Manman coldly. There was no warmth in his eyes.
He spoke clearly and without emotion.
"If she chooses to die, that is her choice. It has nothing to do with us. And whether she is exiled or not is also her own business."
Li Manman's face filled with weak hope.
But Fu Sheng continued, his voice firm.
"If it involves her following my family, I will never agree."
After saying that, he bent down, picked up Fu Jin and Fu Jun, and walked away. As he walked, he gently fixed their shoes so they wouldn't stumble.
That small action said everything.
Li Manman's strength finally gave out. The sword slipped from her hand and fell to the ground.
The Head Guard reacted immediately. He rushed forward, grabbed the sword, and slapped her across the face.
The sound was loud.
I nearly laughed.
"Are you out of your mind?" he shouted. "How dare you grab a guard's weapon? And cause trouble here?"
He glared at her with anger. "You're lucky I'm not dragging you away for this."
Then he turned and walked off.
Li Manman slowly pushed herself up, still in shock. She looked around helplessly, then began to walk in the same direction as everyone else, clearly trying to follow.
I wasn't finished.
"Li Manman."
My voice stopped her.
Everyone turned to look at me.
Fu Jia, standing beside her mother and Bai Ming, scoffed.
"What does that woman want now?"
I stepped forward slowly, my eyes on Li Manman, a calm smile on my face.
Her act was over.
Now it was my turn.
I looked straight at Li Manman and spoke calmly, my voice clear enough for everyone to hear.
"If you truly want to be exiled with us," I said, "then shouldn't you go and register your name with the people in charge of the exile?"
The words landed heavily.
The Fu family members turned to look at me, confused. Fu Fei frowned slightly, Fu Tong looked between me and Li Manman, and even Madame Fu paused, unsure of what I meant.
Li Manman also froze. She stared at me like she hadn't expected those words at all.
I continued, my tone gentle but sharp.
"Everyone who is being sent into exile has their names recorded. That's how the guards know who is allowed to follow and who is not. If your name isn't on that list, you are just a passerby."
Silence fell.
The guards nearby began to listen.
I tilted my head slightly. "So if you're serious about this… go register. Put your name down. Let it be official."
Li Manman's lips parted, but no words came out.
Because she knew.
She knew that once her name went on that list, there would be no turning back. No pretending. No easy escape. No secret return.
This was no longer a performance.
This was real.
Fu Li's eyes flicked toward Li Manman, then curved into a small, mischievous smile.
"Well?" she said lightly, crossing her arms. "What are you waiting for? If you really want to follow us, then go register your name."
She sounded almost playful, but the meaning behind her words was sharp.
Fu Fei immediately reached out and pinched Fu Li's arm, whispering, "Don't be so direct."
But Fu Li only shrugged her off.
"What? I'm just saying the truth," she replied. "If everything she's showing us is real, then there's nothing to be afraid of. But what if this is all just an act? What if she follows us for a while, sees how terrible the barren lands are, and then abandons us halfway?"
Her words made everyone go quiet.
Fu Teng and Fu Tong exchanged looks, then slowly nodded.
Madame Fu hesitated for a moment before nodding as well. Even Master Fu gave a small, thoughtful nod.
"She… does have a point," Madame Fu admitted softly.
Li Manman's face grew paler.
Her hands tightened at her sides, and I could see her smile starting to tremble. She tried to hide it, but the unease was obvious now.
I watched her closely.
And then I noticed it.
Her fingers were pinching together again and again, a small nervous habit she didn't seem aware of.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
That was strange.
In the original story, Li Manman never reacted like this when she was under pressure. She was always calm, gentle, perfectly in control.
But this reaction…
This wasn't something from the original plot.
This was something else.
Something familiar.
A habit I recognized all too well.
A habit that belonged to someone from the modern world.
"So what do you have to say? Are you registering your name or what? Cat's Got your Tongue?"