The progress didn't go unnoticed.
And neither did the resistance.
By the third day—
The pressure returned.
Stronger.
This time—
It wasn't just suppliers.
It was customers.
The shop was quieter again.
Too quiet.
Lian Hua stood by the counter, scanning the street outside.
"…this isn't normal."
Chen Kai nodded slightly.
"They're spreading something."
Rumors.
It didn't take long to confirm.
"Someone told me your shop might close soon," a regular customer said hesitantly.
Lian Hua's chest tightened.
"…that's not true."
The customer smiled awkwardly.
"I thought so. Just wanted to check."
But the damage was already there.
Doubt.
Hesitation.
Things that could slowly destroy everything she built.
Across the city—
Zhen Wei stood in another meeting.
This time—
Less formal.
More confrontational.
"You're going too far," he said coldly.
His father didn't look up from the document in front of him.
"I'm doing what's necessary."
"By destroying her business?"
A pause.
Then—
"It's not about her."
Zhen Wei's expression hardened.
"Then stop using her."
His father finally looked at him.
Calm.
Unmoved.
"You're the one who made her part of this."
Silence.
Because that—
That was the truth he couldn't deny.
Back at the shop—
Lian Hua stood alone for a moment.
Chen Kai had stepped out to handle a delivery.
And for the first time since everything escalated—
She was by herself.
The quiet felt heavier now.
Because this—
This was her test.
A woman walked in.
Not a regular.
Not friendly.
"I heard this place is unreliable," she said bluntly.
Lian Hua met her gaze.
"Then you heard wrong."
No hesitation.
No softness.
Just confidence.
The woman raised an eyebrow slightly.
"…prove it."
A challenge.
Lian Hua stepped forward.
"Tell me what you need."
The woman paused.
Because that—
That wasn't the response she expected.
Minutes later—
The order was completed.
Perfectly.
The woman studied the flowers.
Then—
"…I'll be back."
She left.
And just like that—
One small win.
But it mattered.
Because this time—
Lian Hua hadn't relied on anyone else.
She handled it herself.
That evening—
Zhen Wei arrived again.
He looked at her carefully.
"…you handled things today."
She nodded.
"…I had to."
A pause.
"And you did it well."
Her chest softened slightly.
Because this time—
That approval didn't feel like pressure.
It felt like recognition.
But even as things stabilized—
The tension remained.
Because this—
Was far from over.