The next morning, Lian Hua opened her shop to the usual hum of the city, arranging flowers with careful precision. The sunlight streamed through the windows, catching the dew on the petals, making them glisten like tiny jewels.
The bell above the door jingled.
She looked up—and froze.
Zhen Wei stood there again, as if the city itself had guided him to her shop. His dark eyes swept over her, lingering on her hands as she adjusted a bouquet.
"Good morning," she said, trying to sound calm, though her heart raced.
"Good morning," he replied smoothly. "I see the lotuses are thriving."
"They are… thanks to proper care," she said, smiling faintly.
He stepped closer, letting his gaze roam over the shop, the flowers, and finally resting on her. "You have a talent for noticing things others miss," he said, a playful edge to his voice.
Lian Hua tilted her head. "Is that… a compliment, or a critique?" she asked lightly, raising an eyebrow.
He smirked faintly. "A little of both," he said. "You notice beauty… but sometimes you miss what's right in front of you."
She laughed softly, a little nervously. "And what am I missing?"
His eyes darkened ever so slightly, an intensity threading through his gaze. "Me," he said simply.
Lian Hua's cheeks flushed, but she didn't look away. Something about the way he said it—the confidence, the subtle possessiveness—made her pulse quicken.
Before she could respond, a customer entered the shop. Zhen Wei's gaze flicked toward the newcomer, and she noticed, with a small thrill of tension, the faint shadow of jealousy crossing his face.
"You'll want to be careful," he murmured under his breath, almost to himself. "Some people don't understand… what's important."
Lian Hua looked at him, curious and unsettled. "What do you mean?"
He smiled, a small, enigmatic curve of his lips. "Nothing. Just… keep your attention where it belongs."
The bell chimed as he left, leaving her surrounded by flowers, the faint scent of his presence lingering in the air. Alone, she traced the petals of a crimson lotus, thinking: he's more than intense. He's… consuming. And somehow, I don't want him to stop.