For a moment after the kiss, neither of them moved.
The night air felt softer… quieter… as if the world itself had paused.
Lian Hua's heart was still racing.
She could feel it clearly now—there was no pretending anymore.
Something had changed.
Completely.
Zhen Wei was still standing close to her, his gaze steady, but no longer guarded in the same way.
"You're quiet," he said softly.
"I… don't know what to say," she admitted.
"That's new," he replied, a faint hint of amusement in his voice.
She looked up at him.
"You act like this is normal."
"For me," he said calmly, "it is."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"You kiss people like this all the time?"
"No."
"Then why are you so calm?"
Zhen Wei paused.
Then he said quietly,
"Because I've wanted to do that for a long time."
Her cheeks warmed instantly.
"You're impossible," she murmured.
"And you didn't stop me."
That made her freeze.
She looked away quickly.
"I didn't know how to."
"That's not true," he said gently.
"You knew."
The honesty in his voice made her heart tighten.
She turned back to him.
"Maybe… I didn't want to stop you," she admitted softly.
For a moment, Zhen Wei didn't speak.
Then something in his expression changed—something deeper, more certain.
"Good," he said quietly.
Lian Hua blinked.
"That's all you're going to say?"
"What else should I say?"
"I don't know… something dramatic?" she teased, trying to lighten the moment.
Zhen Wei stepped closer again, his presence calm but intense.
"This is dramatic," he said softly.
Her breath caught slightly.
"You're very confident."
"I am," he replied.
"Why?"
"Because I know you feel it too."
Her heart skipped.
She couldn't deny it anymore.
The way she looked at him.
The way she didn't step away.
The way that kiss still lingered in her mind.
"Yes," she whispered.
"I do."
The words felt small compared to everything she was feeling.
But they were enough.
Zhen Wei's gaze softened again.
"Then don't fight it," he said.
"I'm not sure I can," she admitted.
"Good."
He reached out, gently taking her hand.
This time, she didn't hesitate.
Didn't pull away.
Didn't question it.
Because for the first time—
She was choosing him.
But even as that moment settled between them…
Somewhere else, under the same night sky—
Chen Kai stood alone.
His hands in his pockets, his expression no longer playful.
He had seen enough earlier.
He understood what was happening.
And for the first time—
He wasn't smiling.
"So this is how it ends…" he murmured quietly.
But something in his eyes flickered.
Not just disappointment.
Not just regret.
Something more determined.
"This isn't over yet."
Back at the apartment entrance, Lian Hua finally let go of Zhen Wei's hand.
"I should go inside," she said softly.
He nodded.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
She hesitated.
Then smiled.
"Tomorrow."
As she walked inside, her heart still felt light… but also uncertain.
Because deep down, she knew—
This was only the beginning.