The shop was busy again.
Too busy.
Voices filled the space, louder than usual, layered with something new—
Curiosity.
Rumors Turn Real
"Did you hear? The Li family's engagement is practically confirmed."
"I heard she's already in the city."
"Of course. Someone like him wouldn't stay single long."
Yulan kept working.
Hands steady.
Face calm.
But the words didn't miss him.
Not this time.
She Arrives
The bell above the door rang softly.
And the shop went quiet.
Not completely—
But enough.
Everyone noticed.
Lin Meiyu stepped inside.
Elegant.
Composed.
Completely out of place in a small dumpling shop—
And yet, somehow, perfectly in control of the attention.
Yulan looked up.
And knew immediately.
Presence Without Effort
"Good afternoon," she said politely.
Her voice was soft.
Measured.
But it carried.
"I'm looking for Li Wei."
Yulan held her gaze for a second longer than necessary.
"…He's not here."
"I see," she replied.
She didn't leave.
Instead, she walked further in.
Slow.
Observant.
Taking everything in.
Including him.
Unspoken Understanding
"You work here," she said.
It wasn't a question.
"…Yes."
She nodded slightly.
Then, after a pause:
"You must be important to him."
Yulan's fingers tightened slightly around the tray he was holding.
"…I'm just helping my father."
Lin Meiyu didn't argue.
But she didn't look convinced either.
Li Wei Walks In
The door opened again.
Li Wei stepped inside—
And stopped.
For the first time in a long while—
He looked caught off guard.
"…Meiyu."
Her expression softened slightly.
"Li Wei."
The room felt smaller.
Tension in Silence
"I didn't expect to find you here," she said.
Li Wei's voice was calm again.
"I told you I come here."
She glanced briefly at Yulan.
"…I see that now."
A pause.
Then—
"We should talk."
Li Wei nodded.
"…Outside."
Watching Them Leave
Yulan didn't move.
Didn't follow.
Didn't speak.
He just watched them walk out together.
Side by side.
Like something that made sense.
Like something that fit.
Chen Hao (Low Voice, Serious)
"…You okay?" Chen Hao asked quietly.
Yulan nodded.
"…Yeah."
Chen Hao didn't believe him.
But he didn't push.
Outside – A Different World
Across the street, Li Wei and Lin Meiyu stood facing each other.
"You've been avoiding this," she said calmly.
Li Wei didn't deny it.
"Yes."
She studied him.
"…Is it because of someone?"
Silence.
That was enough.
Inside – Holding It Together
Yulan kept working.
Even when he couldn't hear what they were saying—
He didn't need to.
The distance was already there.
They Return
When Li Wei came back inside—
He didn't come alone.
Lin Meiyu followed.
Not close.
But close enough.
That mattered.
The Short, Intense Interaction
For a moment—
Everything stopped.
Li Wei looked at Yulan.
Yulan looked back.
So much unsaid—
Pressed into one second.
Then—
Yulan spoke first.
"…Do you need something?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Li Wei's expression shifted slightly.
"…No."
A pause.
Then, quieter:
"I was just leaving."
Yulan nodded.
"…Alright."
That was all.
A Different Kind of Pain
Li Wei turned.
And walked out again.
This time—
With her.
Chen Hao Sees It Clearly
Chen Hao exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
Yulan didn't look at him.
"…Don't."
Chen Hao nodded.
"…I won't."
End of Chapter 27