The next morning felt… unfamiliar.
Not because anything had visibly changed—
But because everything had.
When Lian Hua opened the flower shop, the street looked the same. The sunlight still filtered through the windows, and the scent of fresh blooms still filled the air.
But the feeling was different.
Heavier.
As if something invisible had followed her back from Zhen Wei's world.
The bell rang.
A customer walked in.
Then another.
But today, their eyes lingered longer than usual.
Whispers followed.
Soft.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
"…Isn't she the one…"
"…Mr. Zhen…"
"…I heard about last night…"
Lian Hua's hands slowed as she arranged the flowers.
Her chest tightened slightly.
It had already started.
By midday, the shop felt less like her safe place—
And more like a place under watch.
The bell rang again.
She looked up.
Chen Kai.
He stepped inside, his usual relaxed expression replaced with something more serious.
"You look tired," he said.
She forced a small smile.
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
He glanced around the shop.
"I can feel it the moment I walked in."
She sighed softly.
"People talk."
"They always do."
"But this time… it's different."
Chen Kai stepped closer.
"What happened last night?"
She hesitated.
Then said quietly,
"I met his family."
Chen Kai froze slightly.
"And?"
"It wasn't exactly welcoming."
He let out a small breath.
"I can imagine."
She looked at him.
"They told me to leave him."
Chen Kai's jaw tightened.
"And are you going to?"
She shook her head.
"No."
A brief silence passed.
"That sounds like him," Chen Kai said finally.
"What do you mean?"
"He doesn't let go of what he wants."
She looked down slightly.
"I chose him."
The words were soft.
But clear.
Chen Kai didn't respond immediately.
For a moment, he just stood there.
Processing.
Then he smiled.
But this time—
It wasn't playful.
It was… restrained.
"I figured," he said.
Lian Hua felt a small ache in her chest.
"I didn't mean to hurt you."
"You didn't," he replied.
"You just made your choice."
He stepped back slightly.
"But that doesn't mean things are over."
She looked at him, confused.
"What do you mean?"
Chen Kai met her gaze.
"I won't interfere with your relationship," he said.
"But I'm not disappearing either."
Her heart skipped.
"Chen Kai…"
"I care about you too," he said simply.
The honesty in his voice made everything feel more complicated again.
"But I'll do it differently," he added.
"No pressure."
"No competition."
A small pause.
"Just… being there."
Lian Hua didn't know what to say.
Because part of her understood.
And part of her felt conflicted.
Before she could respond—
The bell rang again.
Both of them turned.
A delivery man entered.
"With a package for Miss Lian Hua."
She blinked.
"For me?"
He nodded and handed over a sleek, carefully wrapped box.
Her heart beat faster.
She didn't need to ask who it was from.
She opened it slowly.
Inside—
A single crimson lotus.
Perfect.
Rare.
And far more expensive than anything she had ever seen.
Along with it—
A note.
She unfolded it.
"No matter how complicated things become… don't doubt this."
— Zhen Wei
Her fingers tightened slightly around the note.
Chen Kai glanced at it.
Then looked away.
"Yeah…" he said quietly.
"He really doesn't hold back."
Lian Hua smiled softly.
But her heart felt heavier than before.
Because now—
The pressure wasn't just external.
It was everywhere.