The days that followed felt… unfamiliar.
Not chaotic.
Not intense.
Just quiet.
Too quiet.
Lian Hua woke up earlier than usual.
Not because she wanted to—
But because sleep didn't come easily anymore.
The shop opened on time.
Everything looked the same.
But it didn't feel the same.
Because something was missing.
Someone.
She moved through her routine slowly.
Arranging flowers.
Cleaning the counter.
Checking orders.
Each action felt heavier than before.
Like she was carrying something invisible.
"Morning," Chen Kai said as he walked in.
She gave a small nod.
"Morning."
He studied her quietly.
"You didn't sleep much."
"…no."
He didn't push further.
Because he didn't need to.
A few customers came in.
She smiled.
Spoke normally.
Acted like everything was fine.
But the moment they left—
The silence returned.
And with it—
The truth.
"…I keep expecting him to walk in," she admitted softly.
Chen Kai leaned against the counter.
"That doesn't go away immediately."
She looked down.
"I know."
A pause.
"But it still feels strange."
Because before—
No matter how complicated things got—
He was always there.
Now—
He wasn't.
Across the city—
Zhen Wei had returned to his routine.
Meetings.
Decisions.
Strategy.
Everything moved forward.
Just like before.
But something had changed.
Subtly.
Deeply.
"Sir, we've recovered two of the lost partnerships," his assistant reported.
Zhen Wei nodded.
"Good."
No hesitation.
No distraction.
Focused.
Cold.
Because this time—
He wasn't splitting his attention.
He wasn't thinking about her every second.
At least—
Not where anyone could see.
Back at the shop—
The afternoon dragged on.
Lian Hua stood by the window, watching people pass.
Life moving normally.
As if nothing had changed.
"…how do people just keep going?" she asked quietly.
Chen Kai followed her gaze.
"They don't stop."
"That's it?"
A faint pause.
"They feel it," he added.
"But they keep moving anyway."
She nodded slowly.
Because that made sense.
Even if it didn't make things easier.
That evening—
After closing—
She stayed a little longer.
Alone this time.
The shop felt different at night.
Quieter.
More honest.
She walked slowly through the space.
Touching the flowers.
The counter.
The door.
Everything was still here.
Everything except—
Him.
Her chest tightened again.
But this time—
She didn't cry.
She just stood there.
And let the feeling settle.
Because maybe—
Letting go—
Didn't happen all at once.
Maybe—
It happened like this.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Piece by piece.