The city felt colder that evening.
Not because of the weather—
But because of the silence between things.
Pressure Tightens
Li Wei arrived later than usual.
Yulan noticed immediately.
"You're late," he said softly, not looking up from the counter.
Li Wei didn't answer right away.
Instead, he walked in, closed the door behind him, and leaned against it for a second longer than necessary.
"…They've set a date," he said.
Yulan's hands stopped.
"…A date?"
"For a formal meeting," Li Wei clarified. "With her family."
Yulan nodded slowly.
"…I see."
His voice was steady.
Too steady.
Li Wei noticed.
"You're not asking anything else."
Yulan placed the cloth down carefully.
"…You already said you don't want it."
Li Wei stepped closer.
"I don't."
A pause.
"But that doesn't mean they'll stop."
Close… Too Close
The shop was quiet.
Chen Hao had gone out again — "important business," which probably meant nothing important at all.
Yulan exhaled slowly.
"…This is going to get harder, isn't it?"
Li Wei didn't answer with words.
He stepped closer instead.
Close enough that Yulan had to tilt his head slightly to meet his eyes.
"Yes," Li Wei said quietly.
Then, softer—
"But I'm still here."
Yulan's chest tightened.
"…I know."
The Almost Moment
Li Wei reached out, brushing his fingers lightly against Yulan's wrist.
Slow.
Intentional.
Yulan didn't pull away.
Instead, he stepped closer too.
The distance between them disappeared.
"Li Wei…" Yulan whispered.
Li Wei leaned in—
Their lips barely touched—
The door suddenly rattled.
Both of them froze.
"Hey! Why is the door locked?" Chen Hao's voice came from outside.
Yulan jumped back immediately.
Li Wei stepped away just as fast.
The moment shattered—
But the tension stayed.
Chen Hao Knows Everything (Again)
The door opened.
Chen Hao walked in, looked at both of them—
And stopped.
"…Oh."
Silence.
He slowly turned his head from one to the other.
"…Did I interrupt something?"
"No," Yulan said too quickly.
"Yes," Chen Hao replied at the same time.
Li Wei sighed.
"…Hao."
Chen Hao raised both hands.
"Relax, relax. I didn't see anything."
A pause.
Then he grinned.
"But I felt it."
Yulan covered his face.
"…Please stop talking."
Chen Hao leaned closer to Li Wei and whispered:
"You need better timing."
Li Wei rolled his eyes.
Quiet After
Later that night, after Chen Hao finally went to "sleep" (which probably meant listening from the other room), the shop was silent again.
Yulan stood near the window, looking outside.
"…We almost got caught."
Li Wei walked up beside him.
"…We didn't."
Yulan glanced at him.
"…That's not the point."
Li Wei's voice softened.
"I know."
A pause.
Then—
"I just don't want to pretend I don't feel anything."
Yulan's breath caught slightly.
"…You don't have to."
Soft, Bittersweet Moment
Li Wei reached out again.
This time slower.
Gentler.
As if asking for permission.
Yulan didn't move away.
Li Wei leaned in—
And kissed him.
Soft.
Careful.
But this time—
There was something heavier behind it.
Something that knew this wouldn't stay simple forever.
When they pulled apart, neither spoke.
They didn't need to.
Outside the Window
Across the street—
The man stood again.
Watching.
Still.
Unmoving.
End of Chapter 20