The tension didn't snap all at once.
It built.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Until it couldn't be held anymore.
The flower shop was almost empty again.
Not completely—
But enough to feel it.
Lian Hua stood behind the counter, staring at the day's numbers.
Lower.
Again.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the paper.
"…this isn't sustainable," she whispered.
Chen Kai didn't argue.
Because it was true.
"We can adjust," he said.
"How?" she asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
Because the truth was—
There wasn't a simple solution.
Her phone buzzed.
She looked down.
Zhen Wei.
For a moment—
Her heart reacted the same way it always did.
But this time—
She hesitated.
Then answered.
"…hello?"
"Where are you?" his voice came.
"At the shop."
"I'm coming."
The line ended.
Chen Kai looked at her.
"He's on his way?"
She nodded.
Silence settled.
Because both of them knew—
This wasn't just a visit.
Minutes later—
The door opened.
Zhen Wei walked in.
But something was different.
Not just his usual calm.
Not just his control.
This time—
He looked… pushed.
Not broken.
But close to it.
"What's going on?" Lian Hua asked immediately.
He didn't answer right away.
Instead—
He placed a document on the counter.
Her eyes moved to it.
Then widened slightly.
"…what is this?"
"A suspension order."
Silence.
Her chest tightened.
"For what?"
"They're freezing part of the company's operations."
Chen Kai frowned.
"On what grounds?"
"They didn't need one," Zhen Wei said coldly.
Because now—
It was clear.
This wasn't pressure anymore.
This was punishment.
Lian Hua's heart dropped.
"…because of me?"
Zhen Wei didn't respond.
And that—
That was enough.
"I told you this would happen," she said softly.
"I know."
"Then why didn't you stop?"
His gaze sharpened.
"Because I don't regret it."
Silence.
Because that—
That answer wasn't what she expected.
"You're losing everything," she said.
"I'm choosing what matters."
"But what if it destroys you?" she asked.
"It won't."
"You don't know that!"
Her voice rose slightly.
Because this—
This wasn't theoretical anymore.
This was real.
Zhen Wei stepped closer.
"I'm not backing down."
Her chest tightened.
"And I'm not worth this."
The words came out before she could stop them.
Silence.
Heavy.
Because that—
That hit deeper than anything else.
Zhen Wei's expression changed.
Not anger.
Something sharper.
"Don't say that again."
"But it's true."
"No."
His voice dropped.
"You don't get to decide your worth based on what others are doing."
Her eyes softened slightly.
"This isn't about worth," she said.
"It's about reality."
A long pause.
Because now—
They were both at their limits.
"…if this continues," she said quietly,
"I don't know if I can stay."
The words hung in the air.
Final.
Dangerous.
Zhen Wei froze.
Because this—
This was the line.
"…you're thinking about leaving again," he said.
It wasn't a question.
Lian Hua didn't answer.
Because she didn't need to.
And that silence—
Said everything.