The music at the event played softly in the background.
Elegant.
Refined.
And somehow… distant.
Lian Hua stood beside Zhen Wei, but for the first time since arriving, she felt slightly out of place.
The whispers hadn't stopped.
The glances hadn't softened.
If anything—they had become more obvious.
"You're quiet again," Zhen Wei said softly.
She forced a small smile.
"I'm just observing."
"That's not all."
She hesitated.
Then admitted quietly—
"I feel like I don't belong here."
The words came out more honestly than she expected.
Zhen Wei turned to face her fully.
"You do."
She shook her head slightly.
"Look around," she said.
"They all know how to act… how to speak… how to fit in."
Her voice softened.
"I don't."
A brief silence passed.
"You don't need to fit in," he said.
She looked at him.
"That's easy for you to say."
Zhen Wei stepped closer.
Lowering his voice so only she could hear—
"They're the ones adjusting to you."
She blinked.
"That doesn't feel true."
"It is."
He studied her carefully.
"You think they're judging you."
"Aren't they?"
"Yes," he said simply.
She looked down.
"Then how is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"Because it means you matter," he replied.
Her eyes lifted again.
"They don't whisper about people who don't matter," he continued.
The words settled in her chest.
"And you're here with me," he added.
"That alone changes everything."
Her heart softened slightly.
"But I still feel…" she paused.
"Out of place."
Zhen Wei reached out, gently taking her hand.
This time—not hidden.
Not subtle.
But openly.
Several people nearby noticed.
The whispers grew louder.
Lian Hua's breath caught.
"Zhen Wei…"
He didn't let go.
"Then stay with me," he said quietly.
"Not with them."
Her heart steadied.
Just a little.
"Okay," she whispered.
For a moment, everything else faded.
The noise.
The pressure.
The attention.
Until—
"May I borrow Mr. Zhen for a moment?"
A man approached.
Professional.
Serious.
Zhen Wei glanced at him.
Then back at Lian Hua.
"I'll be right back," he said.
She nodded.
"I'll be fine."
He hesitated for just a second—
Then left.
And just like that—
She was alone.
The room suddenly felt larger.
Colder.
More distant.
People looked at her now without hesitation.
Without restraint.
She could feel it.
Every glance.
Every whisper.
"Not so confident now, are you?"
The same elegant woman from earlier stepped beside her again.
Lian Hua remained calm.
"I didn't say I was confident."
The woman smiled faintly.
"At least you're honest."
A pause.
"You're trying," the woman added.
Lian Hua looked at her.
"Yes."
"But this world isn't kind to people who 'try,'" she said.
The words were quiet.
But sharp.
"You either belong… or you don't."
Lian Hua felt the weight of it again.
But this time—
She didn't look away.
"Then I'll learn," she said softly.
The woman's expression shifted slightly.
"Interesting," she murmured.
Then she walked away.
Lian Hua stood there.
Alone.
But not as unsure as before.
Because even though the pressure was real—
So was her choice.
And she wasn't ready to walk away.