The air felt heavier than before.
No crowd.
No noise.
No distractions.
Just the three of them.
Zhen Wei stood a few steps away, his presence calm—but impossible to ignore.
Lian Hua felt her heartbeat quicken.
She hadn't seen him since that day.
Since everything ended.
And now—
He was right in front of her.
"…now?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," he said.
Chen Kai glanced between them.
"I can leave," he said.
Lian Hua hesitated.
Zhen Wei didn't speak.
Didn't stop him.
Didn't acknowledge him.
As if—
He wasn't part of the conversation.
Chen Kai exhaled softly.
"I'll be nearby," he said to Lian Hua.
She nodded.
And just like that—
He stepped away.
Leaving them alone.
Silence returned.
Zhen Wei's gaze didn't leave her.
"You've been avoiding me," he said.
"I asked for space."
"And I gave it to you."
A pause.
"Now I'm taking it back."
Her breath caught slightly.
"That's not how it works," she said softly.
"It is for me."
The certainty in his voice hadn't changed.
But something else had.
He felt colder.
More controlled.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
Zhen Wei stepped closer.
"Because you don't get to decide everything on your own."
Her chest tightened.
"I didn't decide alone."
"You didn't include me."
Silence.
Because that—
That was true.
"I was trying to protect you," she said quietly.
"I don't need protection."
"I know," she replied.
"Then why did you leave?"
The question came sharper this time.
More direct.
Because he wanted the truth.
Not excuses.
Not soft answers.
The real reason.
Lian Hua looked at him.
"Because I care about you," she said.
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
"No," he said.
"It's an excuse."
The word hit harder than expected.
Her expression shifted slightly.
"I saw your future," she continued.
"And you decided you didn't belong in it."
Silence.
Because that was exactly it.
"…yes," she admitted.
Zhen Wei's jaw tightened.
"You should've let me decide that."
Her voice softened.
"You already did."
"And I chose you."
The words landed heavily between them.
"I know," she whispered.
"Then why wasn't that enough?"
Silence.
Because she didn't have an answer that would satisfy him.
Or herself.
"I was scared," she admitted.
The words were quiet.
But real.
"Of what?" he asked.
"Of being the reason you lose something important."
Zhen Wei stared at her.
"You don't get to decide what's important to me."
Her heart tightened again.
"But I'm part of it now."
"Yes," he said.
"Then I can't ignore it."
A long silence followed.
Because both of them—
Were right.
In different ways.
And that was the problem.
Zhen Wei exhaled slowly.
Then—
He said something quieter.
"…you went out with him."
Her breath caught.
There it was.
Not anger.
Not accusation.
Just—
Something else.
Jealousy.
She looked at him.
"It wasn't like that."
"Then what was it?"
"I was trying to move on."
The words hurt.
Even to say.
Zhen Wei's expression didn't change much.
But his eyes did.
"Are you?" he asked.
She hesitated.
"…I don't know."
Honest.
Uncertain.
Real.
Another silence.
This one softer.
But heavier.
Because now—
Everything was out in the open.