Days passed.
Then a week.
And somehow—
Everything felt both too fast and too slow at the same time.
Lian Hua returned to her routine.
Waking up early.
Opening the flower shop.
Arranging bouquets.
Smiling at customers.
From the outside—
She looked fine.
But inside—
It felt like she was holding everything together with effort.
"Here," Chen Kai said, placing a cup of tea beside her.
She looked up.
"Thanks."
He leaned against the counter, watching her.
"You're getting better at pretending."
She gave a faint smile.
"I don't know if that's a good thing."
"It's not," he said honestly.
She sighed softly.
"I just… don't want to fall apart every day."
Chen Kai's expression softened.
"You don't have to pretend with me."
"I know."
A small pause.
"And that's why I'm still standing," she added quietly.
He didn't respond—
But he understood.
Meanwhile—
Zhen Wei had changed.
Not slowly.
Not subtly.
Completely.
Meetings resumed.
Decisions were made.
Deals were signed.
But something was different.
He spoke less.
Listened less.
Smiled less.
Everything about him had become sharper.
Colder.
"Sir, the partnership proposal—"
"Approve it."
"But we haven't reviewed—"
"I don't need to."
His assistant hesitated.
"…yes, Mr. Zhen."
The room fell silent again.
Zhen Wei stared at the documents in front of him.
Focused.
Precise.
Unshaken.
But beneath that—
Something was missing.
Back at the shop—
The bell rang.
Lian Hua looked up instinctively.
Her heart reacted before her mind could stop it.
But it wasn't him.
Just another customer.
"…you still expect him to walk in, don't you?" Chen Kai said quietly.
She looked down.
"I'm trying not to."
"But you do."
She didn't deny it.
Because it was true.
That evening—
After closing the shop—
Chen Kai walked with her outside.
"You've been doing better," he said.
"I've been trying," she replied.
"That counts."
A small silence settled.
Then—
He said something different.
"Come out with me tomorrow."
She blinked.
"…where?"
"Somewhere normal."
She smiled faintly.
"Isn't everything normal now?"
"Not in your head," he replied.
She let out a small breath.
"…okay."
As she walked home that night—
She felt it again.
That strange emptiness.
Not sharp.
Not overwhelming.
Just… constant.
And somewhere else in the city—
Zhen Wei stood by his window again.
Looking out.
Same view.
Same silence.
Different feeling.
His phone lit up.
A message.
He glanced at it.
Then—
Ignored it.
Because none of them—
Were the one he wanted.
Two lives moving forward.
Or at least—
Trying to.