The flower shop felt different after the woman left.
Too quiet.
Too heavy.
Lian Hua stood behind the counter, staring at the flowers in front of her—but she wasn't really seeing them.
Leave him.
The words echoed in her mind.
She tried to shake it off.
Tried to focus.
But something had already shifted inside her.
The bell rang.
She looked up.
Zhen Wei.
Relief flickered in her chest the moment she saw him—but it didn't erase the unease.
"You're early," she said softly.
Zhen Wei studied her face immediately.
"You're not okay."
"I'm fine."
"No," he said calmly, stepping closer.
"You're not."
She hesitated.
Then exhaled slowly.
"Someone came to see me today."
His expression changed instantly.
"Who?"
"A woman."
Zhen Wei's gaze darkened.
"What did she say?"
Lian Hua looked at him.
"She knew who I was."
Silence.
"And she told me to leave you."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Zhen Wei's jaw tightened.
"Did she say her name?"
"No."
He didn't need to hear it.
He already knew.
A flicker of anger passed through his eyes.
"I told them not to interfere."
"Zhen Wei…"
"She had no right to come here," he said, his voice low and controlled—but there was something dangerous beneath it.
Lian Hua stepped closer.
"It's not just about her," she said softly.
"It's about everything she represents."
He looked at her.
"And what does she represent?"
"Your world."
A quiet silence fell between them.
"You don't belong there," she continued gently.
"And I don't belong in it either."
Zhen Wei took a step closer.
"That's not your decision to make."
"It's reality," she said.
"No," he replied firmly.
"It's what people want you to believe."
She shook her head slightly.
"They're not wrong."
"They are."
"Zhen Wei—"
"I don't care what they think," he interrupted.
His voice wasn't loud.
But it was intense.
Unshakable.
"I chose you."
The words hit her deeply.
"And I haven't changed my mind."
Her heart tightened.
"But things are already changing," she whispered.
"Only if you let them."
She looked down.
For the first time since everything began—
She felt unsure.
Not about her feelings.
But about what those feelings would cost.
The bell rang again.
Both of them turned.
Chen Kai.
But this time—
He didn't look relaxed.
He looked serious.
He stepped inside slowly, his gaze moving between them.
"I heard something interesting," he said.
Zhen Wei's expression didn't change.
"Then keep it to yourself."
Chen Kai ignored him and looked at Lian Hua.
"Someone came to see you today, didn't they?"
Her eyes widened slightly.
"How did you—"
"Word travels fast," he said.
Zhen Wei's gaze sharpened.
"You're more involved than you should be."
Chen Kai shrugged lightly.
"Or maybe I just pay attention."
He stepped closer to Lian Hua.
"You don't have to deal with this alone," he said quietly.
Zhen Wei immediately moved, placing himself between them again.
"She's not alone."
Chen Kai looked at him.
"Really?"
A pause.
"Because from where I'm standing… she looks overwhelmed."
The words hit harder than expected.
Lian Hua stayed silent.
Zhen Wei's voice dropped.
"You should leave."
Chen Kai didn't move.
"I'm not here to fight," he said.
"I'm here to make sure she's okay."
"That's not your role."
"Maybe not," Chen Kai replied.
"But at least I'm not the reason she's in this situation."
Silence.
Sharp.
Heavy.
Zhen Wei's eyes darkened.
But before he could respond—
"Stop."
Lian Hua's voice cut through the tension.
Both men turned to her.
"I don't want this," she said softly.
"This fighting… this pressure… all of it."
Her hands trembled slightly.
"I just wanted a simple life."
The words hung in the air.
And for the first time—
There were cracks.
Not in her feelings.
But in the world forming around them.