The next morning felt different.
Lian Hua noticed it the moment she opened her eyes.
Everything seemed the same—the soft sunlight through her window, the quiet sounds of the street below—but inside her, something had shifted.
She touched her lips unconsciously.
And immediately remembered.
The kiss.
Her cheeks warmed.
"Why am I like this…" she murmured softly, shaking her head.
At the flower shop, the air was fresh with the scent of new blooms.
Lian Hua tried to focus on her work, but her thoughts kept drifting.
Every little thing reminded her of him.
The way he looked at her.
The way he spoke.
The way he said there's no going back now.
The bell above the door rang.
Her heart reacted before her mind did.
She looked up quickly.
Zhen Wei.
He stepped inside like he always did—calm, composed, but his presence felt stronger today.
More certain.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good morning," she replied, trying to sound normal.
But her voice was softer than usual.
Zhen Wei noticed immediately.
"You're different today."
She blinked.
"I am not."
"You are."
He walked closer.
"You're avoiding my eyes."
"I'm not avoiding—"
She stopped when she realized she really was.
Zhen Wei's lips curved slightly.
"Last night changed something."
Lian Hua exhaled softly.
"Yes… it did."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then she said carefully,
"What are we now?"
The question lingered between them.
Zhen Wei didn't hesitate.
"You're with me."
Her heart skipped.
"That's not really an answer."
"It is to me."
She shook her head slightly.
"You can't just decide that alone."
He stepped closer.
"I didn't decide it alone."
"Then what is it?"
Zhen Wei looked directly into her eyes.
"It's something we both chose."
The words settled in her chest.
And she realized… he was right.
She hadn't stopped him.
She hadn't walked away.
She had chosen that moment too.
Before she could respond—
The bell rang again.
Both of them turned.
Chen Kai.
But this time…
He wasn't smiling the same way.
He walked in slowly, his expression calm but serious.
"Morning," he said.
Lian Hua hesitated.
"Good morning…"
Zhen Wei didn't speak.
The tension returned instantly.
Chen Kai looked between them.
"So… I guess I wasn't imagining things last night."
Lian Hua felt her heart tighten.
"Chen Kai—"
"It's fine," he said quickly.
His voice wasn't playful anymore.
It was controlled.
Measured.
"But I'm not giving up that easily."
Zhen Wei's gaze hardened slightly.
"You should."
Chen Kai met his eyes.
"I don't think so."
The two men stood facing each other again.
But this time, it felt different.
Not just rivalry.
Not just tension.
This was something more serious.
Because now—
They both knew exactly what they were fighting for.
Lian Hua stepped forward.
"Stop," she said softly.
Both of them looked at her.
"This isn't something you can fight over," she continued.
Chen Kai exhaled slowly.
"Maybe not," he said.
"But I'm still in this."
Zhen Wei didn't respond.
But the silence between them said everything.
As the moment passed, Lian Hua realized something important.
Her relationship with Zhen Wei had begun.
But instead of making things simpler—
It had made everything more complicated.
Because now there were consequences.
And they were just starting to appear.