The city felt louder again.
But Yulan noticed something different this time—
It wasn't the noise.
It was the absence.
What Everyone Else Sees
By afternoon, the rumors had changed shape.
They were no longer whispers.
They were assumptions.
"Li Wei is officially engaged now."
"I saw them together outside the district office."
"They look like a proper match."
Yulan kept his head down.
Kept working.
Kept folding dumplings like nothing had changed.
But his hands were starting to slow again.
Li Wei in Another World
Li Wei wasn't at the shop.
He was elsewhere.
A formal gathering.
Bright lights.
Careful smiles.
Lin Meiyu stood beside him in front of guests who didn't ask questions directly—but said everything anyway.
"You two suit each other," someone said warmly.
Li Wei gave a polite nod.
"…Yes."
One word.
Neutral.
Controlled.
But empty.
A Photo That Spreads
Later that evening—
Chen Hao came in holding a newspaper clipping.
He didn't even speak at first.
Just placed it on the counter.
Yulan looked down.
And froze.
A photo.
Li Wei and Lin Meiyu.
Standing side by side.
Smiling.
Not fake.
Not forced.
Just… composed.
Perfect for public eyes.
Yulan didn't say anything.
But Chen Hao did.
"…It's staged," he said immediately.
Yulan nodded slightly.
"…I know."
But his voice didn't match his words.
The Distance Becomes Real
The door opened.
Li Wei stepped in.
And stopped.
He saw Yulan.
Saw the newspaper.
Saw Chen Hao's face.
Silence.
Heavy.
"…It was a public meeting," Li Wei said calmly.
Yulan didn't look up.
"…I figured."
A pause.
Then Li Wei added—
"…It doesn't mean anything."
That made Yulan stop.
Slowly, he lifted his gaze.
"…Doesn't it?"
Pressure Breaks Through
Li Wei stepped closer.
His voice lowered.
"I told you already. This is not my choice."
Yulan laughed quietly.
But there was no warmth in it.
"…You keep saying that."
Li Wei frowned slightly.
"…Because it's true."
Yulan's grip tightened on the counter.
"…Then why does it look like you're choosing it anyway?"
Silence.
That question landed too cleanly.
Closer — Too Close
Li Wei stepped in closer.
Too close.
His voice softened.
"…You think I wanted you to see that?"
Yulan didn't move back.
"…I don't know what to think anymore."
That was worse than anger.
The Almost Kiss (Interrupted Emotion)
Li Wei reached out—
Not fully touching.
Just close enough.
"…Yulan—"
Yulan looked up—
For a second, everything softened.
Everything almost slipped back into what they were before.
But then—
Yulan stepped back.
Just slightly.
Not rejection.
But distance.
That Hurt More
Li Wei froze.
"…You're pulling away now."
Yulan shook his head.
"…No."
A pause.
Then quieter:
"I'm trying not to lose myself in this."
That line hit harder than anything else.
Chen Hao (Stepping In Again)
"…Okay," Chen Hao said firmly, breaking the tension.
Both of them looked at him.
"This is getting stupid."
Li Wei frowned.
"Hao—"
"No," Chen Hao cut in. "Listen."
He pointed between them.
"You two are acting like you're already broken when you're not."
Silence.
Chen Hao exhaled.
"…But you are heading there if you keep this up."
The Ending Crack
Li Wei looked at Yulan again.
This time—
Not calm.
Not controlled.
Just tired.
"…I don't know how to fix this," he admitted quietly.
Yulan's expression softened slightly—
But he didn't step forward.
"…Neither do I."
That honesty—
Made it worse.
End of Chapter 28