That night, Lian Hua couldn't sleep.
No matter how many times she closed her eyes, the same image kept replaying in her mind—
Zhen Wei… standing across the street.
Looking at her.
Then walking away.
She sat up, pulling the blanket around her.
"Why does it feel like this…" she whispered.
It wasn't anger.
It wasn't confusion.
It was something deeper.
Something that hurt.
The next morning, she opened the flower shop earlier than usual.
She needed something to distract her.
Something to stop her thoughts from spiraling.
But it didn't work.
Every sound made her look at the door.
Every second felt longer than it should.
Until—
The bell rang.
She looked up.
Zhen Wei.
He stepped inside slowly.
His expression calm.
Too calm.
But his eyes—
They weren't the same.
There was something heavier in them.
Something restrained.
"Zhen Wei…" she said softly.
He didn't reply immediately.
Instead, he walked closer.
Stopping just in front of the counter.
"You went out with him."
It wasn't a question.
It was a statement.
Lian Hua swallowed.
"Yes."
A quiet silence filled the shop.
"You looked comfortable," he added.
Her chest tightened.
"We were just talking."
"I saw."
His voice was still calm.
But it felt colder now.
"Zhen Wei…" she began.
But he interrupted.
"Is that what you want?"
The question caught her off guard.
"What do you mean?"
"Him," he said simply.
She froze.
For a moment—
She didn't know how to answer.
"I asked you for time," she said finally.
"And I gave it to you."
"Yes…"
"But I didn't ask you to replace me."
Her heart skipped.
"I didn't replace you."
"It looks like it."
The tension between them rose quickly.
Stronger than before.
More fragile.
Lian Hua stepped out from behind the counter.
"I'm trying to understand my feelings," she said.
"And I'm trying to respect that," he replied.
"But there's a limit."
She looked at him.
"What limit?"
Zhen Wei's gaze locked onto hers.
"How long do you think I can stand there… and watch you with someone else?"
The words hit hard.
"I'm not doing this to hurt you," she said softly.
"I know."
"Then why are you angry?"
"I'm not angry," he said quietly.
"I'm at my limit."
Silence.
Heavy.
Painful.
For the first time—
She saw it clearly.
The control.
The restraint.
The patience he had been holding onto.
All of it—
Cracking.
"Zhen Wei…" she whispered.
He stepped closer.
Close enough that she could feel the tension in him.
"I told you I wouldn't let go," he said.
"But if you choose him…"
He stopped.
His jaw tightened slightly.
"…then I will."
Her heart dropped.
Because for the first time—
He sounded serious.
Not possessive.
Not certain.
But real.
"I'm not asking you to choose right now," he continued.
"But don't make me wait while you stand between two worlds."
Her hands trembled slightly.
"This isn't easy for me."
"It's not easy for me either."
Another silence.
But this one felt different.
Like something was about to break.
"I need to know," he said quietly.
"Am I the one you want?"
The question hung in the air.
Clear.
Direct.
Impossible to avoid.
And for the first time—
Lian Hua realized she couldn't keep standing in the middle.
Not anymore.