It was mid-afternoon when the bell jingled again. Lian Hua looked up, expecting another customer, but her heart skipped a beat.
Zhen Wei.
He moved with his usual calm precision, but this time, there was something sharper in his gaze. Something almost… possessive.
"Good afternoon," Lian Hua greeted, trying to keep her voice steady.
He nodded, glancing around the shop, then paused at the counter, watching her as she arranged a new bouquet. "Busy day?" he asked.
"Yes… quite," she said, forcing a smile.
Just then, the door opened again, and a young man carrying a briefcase peeked inside. "Excuse me, miss, do you have any lilies left?"
Lian Hua turned to assist him, but when she glanced back, Zhen Wei was observing her every move. His jaw tightened slightly, and for the first time, she noticed the faint shadow of jealousy in his dark eyes.
"Lilies," he repeated, almost under his breath, as if tasting the word. "I think she prefers lotuses," he muttered to himself, but loud enough for her to hear.
Lian Hua's cheeks warmed, but she didn't comment. Something about the way he was watching—not just her, but her attention to anyone else—made her uneasy.
The young man left with the lilies, and Zhen Wei stepped closer. "You shouldn't let anyone take your attention away," he said softly, his voice low and steady, but there was a sharp edge beneath it.
"I… I was just helping a customer," she said, feeling a mix of confusion and something else—something magnetic in the way he spoke.
He smiled faintly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I know," he said. "It's just… I like it when you're focused on the things that matter. Like your flowers… or yourself."
Lian Hua looked down, suddenly aware of how fast her heart was beating. The shop seemed smaller, the air thicker. She had never met anyone who made her feel this… observed, yet strangely protected.
"I… I need to finish arranging these," she said softly, stepping back to regain composure.
"Of course," he said, stepping aside but still watching her, his gaze lingering like a shadow she couldn't shake.
As the bell chimed his departure, Lian Hua exhaled slowly. She touched a lotus, tracing the delicate petals with her fingers, thinking: this man… he isn't ordinary. And somehow, I don't want him to be.