The tea in front of her had gone cold.
But Lian Hua hadn't touched it.
Her mind was still stuck on one sentence.
There is an arrangement.
An arranged marriage.
A future already planned.
A path Zhen Wei was supposed to follow—
Before she ever existed in his life.
"What will you do about it?"
His father's voice echoed again.
Lian Hua slowly lifted her gaze.
Her chest felt tight.
But her voice remained steady.
"…does he know?" she asked.
A pause.
"Yes."
Her heart dropped.
"And he still chose to be with you."
That should have made her feel better.
But somehow—
It didn't.
"Then why are you telling me this?" she asked quietly.
His father leaned back slightly.
"Because you deserve to understand what you're interfering with."
The word interfering hit differently this time.
"This isn't just about feelings," he continued.
"It's about alliances. Power. Stability."
Lian Hua looked down at her hands.
"And you think I can't be part of that?"
"I think," he said calmly,
"that you were never meant to be."
Silence.
Not cruel.
Not loud.
But heavy.
Lian Hua's fingers tightened slightly.
Because deep down—
A small part of her had already known this.
She just hadn't wanted to face it.
"You care about him," his father said.
"Yes."
"Then think carefully."
She didn't respond.
"If you stay," he continued,
"you will become a weakness."
Her breath caught.
"A distraction."
Another pause.
"And eventually… a problem."
The words were quiet.
But they settled deeply.
"Is that what you want for him?" he asked.
Lian Hua closed her eyes briefly.
Because suddenly—
This wasn't about her anymore.
It was about him.
His future.
His responsibilities.
His world.
And where she stood in all of it.
"…no," she whispered.
Silence filled the room again.
Then—
His father spoke once more.
"Then you already know what to do."
The walk back felt longer than it should have.
The city looked the same.
People moved as usual.
Life continued.
But inside—
Everything felt different.
He knew.
Zhen Wei knew.
And he still chose her.
So why did it feel like something was breaking?
When she returned to the flower shop—
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Chen Kai looked up the moment she entered.
"Well?" he asked.
Lian Hua didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
She walked to the counter.
Set her bag down.
And stood there.
Still.
"…he told me," she said finally.
"Told you what?"
She swallowed.
"There's an arranged marriage."
Chen Kai froze.
"…what?"
"He was supposed to marry someone else," she continued.
Silence.
"And he still chose you?" Chen Kai asked.
"Yes."
A pause.
"Then what's the problem?" he said.
Lian Hua looked at him.
"That is the problem."
He frowned.
"I don't understand."
She took a breath.
"He chose me… but it costs him everything."
The words were soft.
But heavy.
Chen Kai's expression shifted.
"And now?" he asked.
Lian Hua didn't answer.
Because for the first time—
She was thinking about walking away.
Not because she didn't care.
But because she did.