The next morning, Li Wei's phone buzzed insistently on the table. He stared at it for a moment, thumb hovering, before answering.
"…Yes." His voice was calm, controlled.
From the other side came a measured, formal tone.
"Li Wei, we have received your latest report about the shop visits. And… we need to speak about the matter of Lin Meiyu."
Li Wei's jaw tightened slightly.
"…Understood. I'll be there tonight."
He hung up.
Yulan, noticing his tense posture, walked over.
"…Everything okay?" he asked quietly.
Li Wei forced a smile.
"Family matters. Nothing more."
Yulan frowned but didn't press. He knew when Li Wei's walls were up — and this was one of those times.
Family Pressure Begins
That evening, Li Wei arrived at the Li estate. Everything was pristine, polished, and suffocatingly formal.
His father sat at the head of the room, stern, hands folded. Beside him, a lawyer-looking woman — Lin Meiyu's mother.
"Li Wei," his father began, voice smooth but firm. "We need to discuss your future. Lin Meiyu's family is ready to proceed with the arrangements. Your agreement would honor both families."
Li Wei's expression remained calm, but his hands clenched lightly.
"…Father, I have already told you — I am not interested in this arrangement."
His father's eyes narrowed.
"And yet you continue to visit… the dumpling shop. Is this how you intend to spend your time?"
Li Wei's gaze flickered, and for a moment, he looked human — conflicted.
"…I… care about someone," he said quietly, almost a whisper.
His father's eyes sharpened immediately.
"Care about… what? Are you suggesting…?"
Li Wei stayed silent.
The room fell into tense quiet.
Back at the Shop
Later that night, Li Wei returned, exhausted. Yulan was waiting, seated on a stool near the counter, head resting on his hands.
"…You okay?" Yulan asked softly.
Li Wei sank into the chair beside him.
"No," he admitted quietly. "It's getting heavier. Their expectations… it doesn't end."
Yulan reached out instinctively, brushing his fingers along Li Wei's hand.
"…Then let's deal with it together," he murmured.
Li Wei's lips curved faintly.
"…I want to."
For a moment, silence. Not awkward — just full of things neither had said aloud before.
A Small, Tender Kiss
Li Wei leaned closer, softly brushing his lips against Yulan's temple.
"…Thank you for being here," he whispered.
Yulan's heart raced. He tilted his head slightly, capturing Li Wei's gaze.
"…Always," he replied.
Li Wei smiled softly and kissed the corner of Yulan's lips — brief, light, intimate.
"…You make it harder," Li Wei murmured, half-smile, half-serious.
Yulan laughed quietly.
"…I make life better."
Li Wei's hand lingered on his, but for now, they let the quiet moments speak louder than words.
Chen Hao's Observation
From the counter, Chen Hao leaned back, chewing a dumpling thoughtfully.
"…Yep. Family drama coming. Still… cute, you two."
Yulan glared playfully.
"Do you ever stop commenting?"
Chen Hao shrugged.
"Never. That's my job."
Unseen Shadow
Outside, in the alley across the street, the same man watched again. A notebook in hand this time, scribbling details silently.
No one noticed.
For now.