Days passed.
But distance—
Didn't help.
Man Ning avoided unnecessary meetings.
Short replies.
Minimal interaction.
Professional.
Controlled.
But it didn't work.
Because every time she saw him—
That feeling returned.
Stronger.
Meanwhile—
Shen Yan did the same.
No extra conversations.
No distractions.
But still—
His mind went back to her.
Again.
And again.
One afternoon—
They crossed paths.
Unexpected.
In the hallway.
Man Ning stopped.
So did he.
Silence.
Just a few steps between them.
But it felt—
Too close.
"…You should be resting," Shen Yan said.
Man Ning looked at him.
"I'm fine."
Same answer.
Same tone.
But her eyes—
Not the same.
A pause.
Then—
"Are you always this stubborn?" he asked.
Man Ning frowned slightly.
"Are you always this controlling?" she replied.
A small tension.
But not anger.
Something else.
Unspoken.
Shen Yan almost smiled.
Almost.
"…Maybe," he said.
Man Ning looked away.
"…Then don't try to control me."
Silence again.
But this time—
Less cold.
More real.
Then—
A strange moment.
Their eyes met again.
And stayed.
Longer than needed.
Something passed between them.
Not words.
Not memories.
But something deeper.
Then—
Footsteps.
Minji.
She stopped.
Looking at them.
Together.
That feeling again.
Stronger.
"…Why does this feel wrong…" she whispered.
But not wrong—
In a bad way.
Wrong—
In a hidden way.
Man Ning stepped back.
Breaking the moment.
"I have work," she said.
And walked away.
Shen Yan watched her leave.
Again.
That same feeling.
Unfinished.
Minji looked at him.
"…You felt it too, didn't you…" she thought.
But didn't say it.
Because she wasn't ready.
👉 Sometimes distance doesn't help.
👉 It only makes the connection clearer.