The silence in the flower shop felt heavier than the noise from before.
Zhen Wei stood still, his gaze fixed on Lian Hua.
For once—
He didn't have an immediate solution.
"I'll shut it down," he said finally.
Lian Hua shook her head.
"You can't."
"I can."
"This isn't a business problem," she said softly.
His jaw tightened.
"It's people," she continued.
"And people talk."
Zhen Wei ran a hand through his hair, frustration flickering across his usually controlled expression.
"I won't let them turn your life into this," he said.
"But it already is," she replied gently.
Those words—
They hit harder than anything else.
For the first time—
Zhen Wei looked… stuck.
He was used to control.
Used to fixing things.
Used to making decisions that shaped outcomes.
But this—
This wasn't something he could simply command away.
"I'll deal with the source," he said.
Lian Hua frowned slightly.
"What does that mean?"
"Whoever leaked those photos."
"And then what?"
Silence.
He didn't answer.
Because even if he found them—
It wouldn't erase what had already spread.
Lian Hua stepped closer.
"Zhen Wei…"
His eyes met hers.
"You don't have to fight everything," she said softly.
"I do when it affects you."
Her heart tightened.
"And what about me?" she asked.
A pause.
"What about you?"
She took a breath.
"I'm the one living in it."
The words settled deeply between them.
For a moment—
Neither of them spoke.
Because now—
It wasn't just about protection.
It was about understanding.
And control—
Versus reality.
"I need space," she said quietly.
The words came gently.
But they landed hard.
Zhen Wei froze.
"…space?" he repeated.
She nodded.
"Just a little," she added quickly.
His gaze darkened slightly.
"This again."
"It's not like before," she said.
"Then what is it?"
"It's me trying to breathe."
Silence.
Zhen Wei looked at her for a long moment.
He didn't like it.
Didn't agree with it.
But he understood something—
If he pushed now—
He might lose her.
"…how much time?" he asked finally.
She hesitated.
"I don't know."
That answer didn't help.
But still—
He stepped back.
"Fine," he said quietly.
The word was controlled.
But not easy.
"I'll give you space."
Lian Hua's heart tightened.
"Thank you."
He nodded once.
But this time—
There was distance in his eyes.
Not anger.
But restraint.
The kind that came from holding too much in.
"I'll be nearby," he added.
She gave a small nod.
And just like that—
They stepped apart again.
Not completely.
But enough to feel it.
Chen Kai, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke after Zhen Wei left.
"You okay?" he asked.
Lian Hua didn't answer immediately.
"I don't know," she said honestly.
He nodded.
"That's fair."
She looked at him.
"I feel like I'm being pulled in every direction."
"Then stop moving," he said.
She blinked.
"What?"
"Let everything else move for once," he added.
His words were simple.
But grounding.
And for the first time in a while—
Lian Hua felt like she could stand still.
Even if everything else around her wasn't.