He lured her deep into his trap, using both overt and covert methods to seduce her.

"Come and sit down."

Fu An sank into the sofa, his fingertips tapping the armrest, his tone condescending, "Standing so far away, my brother will think I'm bullying you."

Song Zhi took a deep breath and forced herself to keep smiling.

Just as Fu An walked to the single sofa, his phone suddenly rang.

"Hello, Sister Fu?"

The moment Fu An answered the phone, Song Zhi's back stiffened.

Sister Fu?

Is it Zhou Fu?

The next second, Song Zhi's doubts were resolved.

She noticed Fu Anchao giving her a meaningful glance, and deliberately raised her voice: "I'm at the old house, I just got back to the country yesterday... By the way, what happened between you and my brother? Weren't you supposed to be engaged? Why did you break up?"

Song Zhi gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, the fabric crumpling into a ball in her palm.

She finally understood where Fu An's hostility came from; it turned out he was standing up for Zhou Fu.

"I suddenly remembered I had something to do."

Song Zhi nearly knocked over her teacup as she stood up, but her voice remained unusually calm, "Please sit down."

Fu An looked at her disdainfully and said, "What could you possibly have to do with me?"

Song Zhi felt a little embarrassed and made up an excuse to leave the living room.

As she stepped out of the living room, she heard Fu An chuckle softly into the phone: "Some people, they just can't be presented in a respectable way..."

Dusk was falling in the garden.

Standing in front of the rose bushes, Song Zhi suddenly found it all ridiculous.

She had thought she could get along with Fu An like Wei Yinuo, but now it seemed that was just wishful thinking on her part.

Some people are destined to be parallel lines from the first meeting, so why force them to intersect?

As long as the other party doesn't provoke her, she doesn't mind maintaining this distant but not too close relationship between her and her sister-in-law.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the garden in a soft, warm gold. Song Zhigang had just taken a few pictures of roses when her phone vibrated.

It was Fu Lu calling.

She quickly swiped to connect.

The next second, Fu Lu's voice came through the receiver.

"Where are you?"

Song Zhi spoke softly, "I was looking at the newly blooming flowers in the garden... You're back?"

"Yeah, I just got home and didn't see you."

"I'm in the garden now."

"Why did you go to the garden alone?"

"Come and take a look, I'll be right back."

"No rush, I'm coming to find you."

"Okay, then I'll wait for you."

After hanging up the phone, Song Zhi sat in the pavilion, watching Fu Lu's figure gradually approach from the other end of the corridor.

"Ninth Brother."

She raised her hand, her voice filled with a joy she herself didn't realize.

Fu Lu stopped in front of her and suddenly reached out to pluck a petal from her hair.

This sudden action made Song Zhi hold her breath, and she could clearly smell the faint sandalwood scent from his cuffs.

"Did you come here alone?"

Fu Lu sat down beside her and asked softly.

Song Zhi nodded: "If Uncle Chen said that many new varieties have been planted in the garden, then I came to take a look."

"Where is Fu An? Have you seen him?"

"seen."

"She is my cousin."

Song Zhi was somewhat surprised: "Cousin?"

"Ah."

"I thought it was your sister!"

"She's my cousin, my uncle's daughter. She went abroad before and came back yesterday."

"Oh."

"Weren't you guys chatting?"

"We chatted."

Fu Lu smiled noncommittally, then suddenly grabbed her hand: "Let's go, I'll take you to see the ancestors."

Song Zhi's heart skipped a beat: "Now?"

"Hmm." He gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips. "Uncle Chen has everything ready."

"What do I need to prepare?"

"It's good that you're here."

Fu Lu stood up, took Song Zhi's hand, and walked towards the ancestral hall.

The ancestral hall was solemn and dignified, filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

This is Song Zhi's first time here.

She didn't understand the rules of the ancestral hall, so she followed Fu Lu step by step in bowing and offering incense.

He steadily inserted three incense sticks into the incense burner, and wisps of smoke rose upwards.

"That's fine."

As Fu Lu turned around, the setting sun cast dappled light and shadows on his profile through the window lattice.

Song Zhi asked softly, "Is this all I need?"

"Um."

A smile played in his eyes as he nodded slightly: "From now on, you are the rightful daughter-in-law of the Fu family."

These words made Song Zhi's ears burn.

Fu Lu smiled, took her hand, and the moment their fingers intertwined, she felt the cool touch of the wedding ring on his ring finger.

It is Fu Lu's wedding ring.

No, it should be their wedding rings.

As they walked out of the ancestral hall, Song Zhicai asked softly, "Shall we go back now?"

Fu Lu squeezed her fingers: "We're staying at the old house tonight. It's the first night for a new bride, so she has to follow the rules."

Song Zhi lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

Fu Lu noticed her unease and gently placed his warm palm on the back of her hand.

"If you're feeling bored, why don't you let Fu An keep you company? That girl may be a bit boisterous, but she's straightforward, much like Yinuo."

Song Zhi nodded slightly, her eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyes: "Mm."

Fu Lu cupped her face in his hands: "What are you worried about?"

"Well..." her voice trailed off, "I felt a little embarrassed."

"That's how it is when you first meet someone."

Fu Lu gently stroked her cheek with his thumb, then suddenly changed the subject, "Do you know how nervous I was when I went to your house to see your uncle?"

Song Zhi looked up in surprise: "You get nervous too?"

"It's more than just nervousness."

Fu Lu chuckled softly, "When I stood at your door, my palms were sweaty, afraid that if your uncle said 'no,' I would have even come up with a plan to abduct you."

"nonsense!"

Song Zhi couldn't help but laugh out loud, "How could my dad disagree? You're so outstanding."

"What's the use of being excellent? If Uncle doesn't agree, there's nothing I can do."

"What if you really disagree?"

Song Zhi suddenly asked.

Without even thinking, Fu Lu said, "If they don't agree, I'll find a way. They'll eventually agree."

Song Zhi looked up at him and said, "Ninth Brother, I always feel like you're lying to me."

Fu Lu raised an eyebrow: "What are you trying to lie to me about?"

“My dad can’t possibly disagree; you’re the best candidate to be his son-in-law.”

Fu Lu smiled and said, "When we first met, he disagreed and told me not to bother you."

Song Zhi's eyes widened: "When did this happen? How come I didn't know?"

Fu Lu did not continue the topic, but instead lightly changed the subject: "It's all in the past, and Dad and Grandma have accepted me now."

"Ah That's good."

“Song Xiaozhi, don’t be afraid. You are my wife, and my family will accept you.”

"it is good."

"Let's go to the front hall."

As dusk deepened, their shadows overlapped on the bluestone slabs.

Looking at their intertwined shadows on the ground, Song Zhi suddenly realized that the man holding her hand had truly become her husband.

She called out softly, "Fu Lu".

Fu Lu stopped and turned around, just as the evening breeze brushed the stray hairs on his forehead.

Song Zhi looked into his deep eyes, her voice soft yet firm: "I'm very happy to be your wife."

She raised their clasped hands, their wedding rings gleaming in the afterglow. "Please guide me for the rest of my life, Mr. Fu."

Fu Lu's eyes lit up, and he suddenly pulled her into his arms.

As he lowered his head, his warm breath brushed against her ear: "It's my pleasure, Mrs. Fu."