Update app.py

app.py

@@ -737,15 +737,15 @@ def ask(question: str) -> str:
         if chunks:
             dlog("CLEAN", "Post-clean applied")
             answer = _answer_from_chunks(chunks, q)
-            return _ensure_min_answer(_post_clean(answer)) or "I don’t know."
-        return "I don’t know based on the provided context."
+            return _ensure_min_answer(_post_clean(answer)) or direct_llm_fallback(q)
+        return direct_llm_fallback(q)
 
     chunks = retrieve_context(q, top_k=5)
     if not chunks:
-        return "I don’t know based on the provided context."
+        return direct_llm_fallback(q)
     dlog("CLEAN", "Post-clean applied")
     answer = _answer_from_chunks(chunks, q)
-    return _ensure_min_answer(_post_clean(answer))
+    return _ensure_min_answer(_post_clean(answer)) or direct_llm_fallback(q)
 
 # ================== UI: NAME GATE + PER-ANSWER FEEDBACK ==================
 def _now_iso():