He was getting anxious. He wanted to go inside and see what was happening, but that would be too obvious, so he could only continue waiting.
Heaven rewards the patient. Half an hour later, his chance finally came.
The moment Ruan Qingli stepped out, Fang Shubai hurried over.
He was so eager that he let something slip.
“Ali, Han the Constable threw you out, didn’t he?”
The question came out of nowhere, and Ruan Qingli immediately looked at him suspiciously.
“Why would you ask that?”
Only then did Fang Shubai realize he had misspoken. He was momentarily speechless, unable to come up with a reasonable explanation.
Seeing the expression on his face, Ruan Qingli noticed something was off.
“You were the one who had someone steal my money pouch, weren’t you? You waited here because you were certain Young Master Han would throw me out, and you were waiting for me to beg you to take me back. Isn’t that right?”
Fang Shubai hadn’t expected her to figure it out so quickly. He hurriedly defended himself.
“Ali, what are you talking about? I don’t understand a word.”
“You don’t? Then do you dare let me search your house?”
Putting on an aggrieved expression, Fang Shubai said,
“Ali, what do you mean ‘your house’ and ‘my house’? That’s our home. If you want to go home, you can return anytime.”
Ruan Qingli shot him a glare and walked straight past him toward the Fang residence.
After she walked ahead, a smug look of satisfaction flashed across Fang Shubai’s eyes.
He had deliberately exposed that flaw just now to lure her into searching the house.
Getting in would be easy.
Getting back out wouldn’t.
But when Ruan Qingli reached the entrance, she suddenly stopped.
“Ali, why aren’t you going in?”
“You really want me to go inside? Fang Shubai, do you really think I’m that stupid?”
“Ali, you distrust me that much?”
“Yes. I don’t trust you at all! Fang Shubai, you’d better keep your tail hidden well. If I ever catch you slipping, you’ll regret it.”
With that, she turned and walked away without the slightest hesitation.
Fang Shubai grabbed her arm.
“Ali…”
Ruan Qingli spun around and slapped him across the face.
Afterward, she shook her hand, feeling immensely satisfied.
“I have nothing to do with you anymore. Stop putting your hands on me. If you dare touch me again, I’ll report you to the authorities for harassing a respectable woman.”
Fang Shubai was so angry he actually laughed.
“Report me for harassing you? We shared the same bed for three years. Just a few days ago, you were trying every trick to seduce me, and now you’re acting all virtuous? Do you really think Han Sheng wants you? Wake up, Ruan Qingli. A woman like you—even the old widowers in town wouldn’t want you. Don’t forget, you’re a hen that can’t lay eggs.”
He deliberately aimed for her deepest wound.
If someone else had said it, Ruan Qingli could have pretended not to care.
But the one saying it was Fang Shubai.
After all, they had lived together for three years, and she had once sincerely loved him.
The people who hurt you the most are rarely strangers.
They’re the ones closest to you, because they know exactly where your weakest spot is.
Just then, Han Sheng came out and happened to hear Fang Shubai’s words.
He had expected Ruan Qingli to burst into tears.
Instead, she didn’t.
She was vulnerable for only a brief moment before putting her armor back on.
She shot back,
“If I’m a barren hen that even old widowers don’t want, then why are you chasing after me? Are you that shameless? Or do you have some unspeakable problem yourself, so I’m the only one you can pair up with?”
She had struck his sore spot.
Fang Shubai’s face immediately flushed red with anger.
Changing the subject, he said,
“Ali, I’ll give you one last chance. Think carefully. If you don’t come back now, once Han Sheng throws you out, I won’t take you back.”
“Who said I was throwing Ali out? And why would I throw her out?”
Han Sheng’s voice arrived before he did.
Seeing him come out, Fang Shubai quickly cupped his fists in greeting.
“Brother Han! Ali and I were just discussing some family matters in your courtyard. Sorry to make you laugh.”
“Family matters? Didn’t you already divorce Ali? What family matters could there possibly be?”
Ruan Qingli felt Han Sheng had said exactly what she wanted to say.
Family matters? What nonsense!
“Young Master Han, I suspect Fang Shubai ordered someone to steal my money pouch!”
Fang Shubai hadn’t expected her to accuse him directly. His eyes widened in disbelief.
Still, he knew she had no evidence. Even if Han Sheng was the town constable, he couldn’t accuse someone without proof.
Han Sheng naturally understood that as well.
“Ali, give me some time. By tomorrow, I’ll definitely catch the person who stole your money pouch. Once that happens, we’ll know exactly who’s innocent and who’s guilty.”
Fang Shubai knew Han Sheng’s capabilities.
There were only a handful of petty thieves in town. If Han Sheng investigated seriously, he would definitely uncover the truth.
The thought made him nervous, though he maintained a calm appearance.
He cupped his fists toward Han Sheng.
“It’s getting late. I won’t disturb your rest any longer, Brother Han. Farewell.”
As he left, he looked back at Ruan Qingli one last time.
His gaze carried both reluctance… and a warning.
After Fang Shubai departed, Han Sheng told Ruan Qingli to go inside and sleep while he went out to take care of something.
She asked,
“Young Master Han, are you going to follow Fang Shubai?”
Han Sheng hadn’t expected her to see through his plan. Smiling faintly, he replied,
“Smart. After what I just said, Fang Shubai will most likely go meet the thief who stole your money pouch.”
“Then I’ll come with you and catch him!”
“All right.”
The two of them hid in the shadows and waited for an hour.
But Fang Shubai never came out.
Seeing Ruan Qingli nodding off with sleepiness, Han Sheng smiled helplessly.
“Forget it. Maybe I guessed wrong. Let’s go back and get some sleep.”
Little did they know that just after they returned—barely enough time to drink a cup of tea—Fang Shubai quietly slipped out.
Their guess had been correct.
He had indeed gone to meet the petty thief.
Moreover, he planned to send the man out of town overnight. That way, even if Han Sheng had extraordinary abilities, he would never be able to catch him.
Behind a courtyard wall, Ruan Qingli whispered to Han Sheng,
“Once we throw a sack over Fang Shubai’s head, do you think I should beat him with this thinner stick or this thicker one?”
In the darkness, her eyes sparkled with excitement. There wasn’t the slightest trace of sleepiness.
Everything they had said earlier had merely been an act for Fang Shubai’s benefit.
Whether they caught the thief didn’t really matter.
Tonight’s real purpose was simply to lure Fang Shubai out so they could give him the beating he deserved.
Han Sheng chuckled.
“If you like the thick one, use the thick one. If you prefer the thin one, use the thin one.”
“I’ll use the thin one then. After all, I’m a lady. I shouldn’t be too rough.”
But after Fang Shubai had the sack pulled over his head, Ruan Qingli immediately threw the thin stick aside and grabbed the thick club instead.
She had been holding this grudge in for far too long.
Tonight, she finally vented it to her heart’s content.
Spending one tael of silver for the chance to beat Fang Shubai once…
It was money well spent.
After their little escapade, it was already the second half of the night by the time they returned.
As soon as Ruan Qingli entered the house, she gulped down a large bowl of water.
She felt wonderfully refreshed.
When she turned around, she found Han Sheng looking at her.
“Is… is there something on my face?”
“No.”
“I just think you look beautiful, and I wanted to look a little longer.”
“What looks beautiful?”
Han Sheng didn’t answer.
Instead, he simply said,
“Go get some sleep. Dawn is almost here.”