The city didn't change.
People still moved.
Cars still passed.
Life continued—
As if nothing had happened.
But for Lian Hua—
Everything had.
She didn't remember how she got home.
Didn't remember unlocking the door.
Didn't remember sitting down.
All she remembered—
Was the silence.
Her apartment felt unfamiliar.
Empty.
Too empty.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at nothing.
"…it's over," she whispered.
The words didn't feel real.
Her chest tightened.
Because even now—
A part of her expected her phone to ring.
Expected him to show up.
Expected something—
To undo what had just happened.
But nothing came.
Across the city—
Zhen Wei stood in his office.
The view from the top floor stretched endlessly.
Usually—
It calmed him.
Today—
It meant nothing.
"Cancel everything," he said coldly.
His assistant hesitated.
"Sir—"
"I said cancel it."
His tone left no room for argument.
"…yes, Mr. Zhen."
The door closed.
Silence.
Zhen Wei loosened his tie slightly.
His movements were controlled.
Too controlled.
Because if he stopped—
Even for a moment—
Everything he was holding in might surface.
"…she left," he said under his breath.
Not angry.
Not loud.
Just—
Empty.
Back at the flower shop—
The next day felt unbearable.
Lian Hua moved through it like a shadow.
Arranging flowers.
Taking orders.
Smiling faintly when needed.
But nothing felt real.
"You're not okay."
Chen Kai's voice broke through again.
She didn't deny it this time.
"I'm not."
He watched her carefully.
"You ended it."
She nodded slowly.
"…yeah."
A pause.
"Do you regret it?"
The question was simple.
But her answer wasn't.
"…I don't know."
Because part of her believed she did the right thing.
And another part—
Felt like she had just lost something she couldn't replace.
"He hasn't come back," Chen Kai said quietly.
Her hands stilled.
"I didn't expect him to."
"That's not what I asked."
She looked at him.
"…I thought he would."
Chen Kai didn't respond.
Because that answer said enough.
That night—
Her phone lit up again.
Her heart reacted instantly.
She grabbed it quickly.
But—
It wasn't him.
Just another message.
Another notification.
Another reminder—
Of everything except him.
Across the city—
Zhen Wei sat alone.
A glass untouched beside him.
His phone in his hand.
Her contact open.
He stared at it.
Long.
Too long.
Then—
He locked the screen.
And set it aside.
"…you chose this," he said quietly.
Not to her.
To himself.
Two people.
Same city.
Same memories.
Same feelings.
But now—
Separated by something neither of them could easily fix.