The paper in Lian Hua's hands felt heavier than anything before.
A license review.
Not just pressure.
Not just interference.
A direct threat.
To everything she had built.
"This could shut you down," Chen Kai said quietly.
Lian Hua didn't respond.
Because she already knew.
Zhen Wei stood across from her, his expression darker than she had ever seen it.
"They're escalating too fast," he said.
"They want to force a decision."
Her chest tightened.
"…I know."
Silence filled the shop again.
But this time—
It wasn't fragile.
It was breaking.
"I'll handle it," Zhen Wei said.
"No."
The word came instantly.
Again.
He looked at her.
"You don't have a choice this time."
"I do."
Her voice was steady.
Even if her heart wasn't.
"This is my life," she continued.
"My shop. My responsibility."
"And they're using it against you."
"I know."
"Then why are you still resisting?" he asked.
Because this time—
He didn't understand.
"Because if I let you fix everything—"
She paused.
"Then what's left of me?"
Silence.
Because that—
That was the real fear.
Zhen Wei's expression shifted slightly.
"I'm not taking anything from you."
"It doesn't feel that way," she said softly.
A long pause.
Because once again—
They were standing on opposite sides.
Not of love.
But of control.
Chen Kai stepped forward slightly.
"She's right."
Zhen Wei's gaze turned cold.
"Stay out of this."
"No."
His voice remained calm.
"But I won't pretend this is okay."
The tension spiked instantly.
"She's being targeted because of you," Chen Kai said.
Silence.
Because that—
That was the truth no one wanted to say out loud.
Zhen Wei's jaw tightened.
"And you think I don't know that?"
"Then act like it."
Lian Hua stepped between them again.
"Stop."
Her voice was sharper this time.
Because she couldn't let this turn into something else.
"This isn't helping," she said.
She turned to Zhen Wei.
"And neither is this."
A pause.
"I can't keep doing this."
His expression froze.
"What do you mean?"
Her heart pounded.
Because she had reached the point again.
The same place.
The same choice.
"If everything around us keeps breaking…"
Her voice softened.
"…then maybe we're not meant to keep forcing it."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Zhen Wei stared at her.
"…you're saying this again."
She didn't deny it.
"Because nothing has changed," she said.
"Everything has changed," he replied.
"No," she whispered.
"It's just getting worse."
A long silence followed.
Because both of them knew—
This wasn't just fear anymore.
This was reality.
"…so what are you choosing?" he asked.
The question came colder this time.
More guarded.
Because he had been here before.
And he knew what it meant.
Lian Hua closed her eyes briefly.
Then opened them again.
And said the words—
The ones that hurt the most.
"…I don't know if I can keep choosing us."
Everything stopped.
Zhen Wei didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Because this time—
It hit differently.
Not like uncertainty.
Not like fear.
But like something slowly slipping away.