The morning sun cast a warm glow across Jade Street.
Lian Hua was carefully arranging crimson lotuses when the bell above the door chimed.
Chen Kai stepped in, carrying a small gift bag and wearing a casual smile that seemed almost too confident.
"Good morning, Lian Hua," he said smoothly. "I thought I'd drop by to see you."
Lian Hua's fingers froze for a moment as she glanced at him.
"You… you just came yesterday," she said softly.
"I know," he said with a grin. "But I couldn't resist."
Before she could respond, the bell rang again.
Zhen Wei had arrived.
The air shifted immediately.
Chen Kai noticed the change.
"Oh… looks like someone else is here," he said lightly, though his eyes flicked nervously toward Zhen Wei.
Zhen Wei's gaze was fixed on Lian Hua, dark and unreadable.
"You should leave," Zhen Wei said quietly, his voice calm but carrying a sharp edge.
Chen Kai's grin faltered slightly, but he kept his composure.
"I just came to give her this," he said, holding out the gift bag.
Lian Hua hesitated, caught between the two men.
Zhen Wei stepped closer, subtly placing himself between her and Chen Kai.
"Tell me something," Zhen Wei said, his voice low. "Why do you keep visiting her?"
Chen Kai's casual smile didn't waver.
"Because she's interesting," he said lightly.
Zhen Wei's dark eyes didn't blink.
"Interesting?" he repeated quietly. "You mean… important?"
Chen Kai shrugged.
"Maybe. But it's not my place to decide that."
Zhen Wei's jaw tightened.
"You're wrong," he said firmly. "It is your place to leave."
Chen Kai laughed softly, trying to lighten the tension.
"Alright, alright. I'll go… for now," he said, handing the gift bag to Lian Hua.
She took it, feeling the weight of both their gazes on her.
Chen Kai nodded once at Zhen Wei, then left the shop.
The silence left behind was thick, almost suffocating.
Zhen Wei finally turned to Lian Hua.
"You're safe," he said softly, though his dark eyes held a storm she had never seen before.
Lian Hua placed the gift bag down, feeling a mix of relief and unease.
"Zhen Wei… you don't have to be like this," she whispered.
He reached out and gently touched her hand.
"I do," he said quietly. "Because no one else will have you but me."
Her heart skipped.
And for the first time, she realized…
Zhen Wei's obsession wasn't just protective.
It was possessive.
Chapter 29 – A Bold Approach
The morning sun cast a warm glow across Jade Street.
Lian Hua was carefully arranging crimson lotuses when the bell above the door chimed.
Chen Kai stepped in, carrying a small gift bag and wearing a casual smile that seemed almost too confident.
"Good morning, Lian Hua," he said smoothly. "I thought I'd drop by to see you."
Lian Hua's fingers froze for a moment as she glanced at him.
"You… you just came yesterday," she said softly.
"I know," he said with a grin. "But I couldn't resist."
Before she could respond, the bell rang again.
Zhen Wei had arrived.
The air shifted immediately.
Chen Kai noticed the change.
"Oh… looks like someone else is here," he said lightly, though his eyes flicked nervously toward Zhen Wei.
Zhen Wei's gaze was fixed on Lian Hua, dark and unreadable.
"You should leave," Zhen Wei said quietly, his voice calm but carrying a sharp edge.
Chen Kai's grin faltered slightly, but he kept his composure.
"I just came to give her this," he said, holding out the gift bag.
Lian Hua hesitated, caught between the two men.
Zhen Wei stepped closer, subtly placing himself between her and Chen Kai.
"Tell me something," Zhen Wei said, his voice low. "Why do you keep visiting her?"
Chen Kai's casual smile didn't waver.
"Because she's interesting," he said lightly.
Zhen Wei's dark eyes didn't blink.
"Interesting?" he repeated quietly. "You mean… important?"
Chen Kai shrugged.
"Maybe. But it's not my place to decide that."
Zhen Wei's jaw tightened.
"You're wrong," he said firmly. "It is your place to leave."
Chen Kai laughed softly, trying to lighten the tension.
"Alright, alright. I'll go… for now," he said, handing the gift bag to Lian Hua.
She took it, feeling the weight of both their gazes on her.
Chen Kai nodded once at Zhen Wei, then left the shop.
The silence left behind was thick, almost suffocating.
Zhen Wei finally turned to Lian Hua.
"You're safe," he said softly, though his dark eyes held a storm she had never seen before.
Lian Hua placed the gift bag down, feeling a mix of relief and unease.
"Zhen Wei… you don't have to be like this," she whispered.
He reached out and gently touched her hand.
"I do," he said quietly. "Because no one else will have you but me."
Her heart skipped.
And for the first time, she realized…
Zhen Wei's obsession wasn't just protective.
It was possessive.