The lunch ended.
But the silence didn't.
Man Ning walked out first.
Calm.
Controlled.
But inside—
Not steady.
That look.
The way Shen Yan stared at her ring.
"…Why did he react like that…" she murmured.
Her fingers touched the ring again.
Unconsciously.
A strange feeling rose.
Familiar.
Painful.
But incomplete.
Meanwhile—
Shen Yan remained seated.
Still.
His eyes—
Fixed on the table.
"…That ring…" he whispered.
The image returned again.
A girl.
Smiling.
Standing in sunlight.
But her face—
Blurred.
"…Who are you…" he murmured.
He closed his eyes tightly.
Trying to remember.
But nothing came.
Only that feeling.
Warm.
Then painful.
He opened his eyes again.
Frustrated.
"…Why now…" he said.
Back at the office—
Minji waited.
Watching him carefully as he entered.
"…Sir, are you okay?" she asked.
Shen Yan didn't answer immediately.
"…Have we ever worked with someone named…" he paused.
Then stopped.
"…No. Forget it," he said.
Minji frowned slightly.
Because that hesitation—
Was new.
Meanwhile—
Man Ning stood in front of her mirror.
Looking at herself.
At the ring.
"…Why did I wear this…" she whispered.
She tried to remove it.
But stopped.
Her hand froze.
"…Just for today," she said.
A lie.
Because deep inside—
She didn't want to take it off.
Elsewhere—
Mr. Kim sat with Minji.
A quiet café.
"You look troubled," he said calmly.
Minji sighed.
"…I feel like I forgot something important," she admitted.
Mr. Kim watched her carefully.
"Then maybe it will come back," he said.
Minji shook her head.
"…What if it's something I don't want to remember…"
A pause.
Mr. Kim leaned slightly forward.
"Then face it anyway," he said.
"Running won't change it."
Minji looked at him.
"…You talk like you've experienced it," she said.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"I have," he replied.
Silence.
But this silence—
Comfortable.
Minji felt it.
For the first time—
Peace.
👉 Some memories don't return fully.
👉 They stay… until you're ready to face them.