The photograph changed everything.
Even if Li Wei didn't know how much yet.
The warehouse incident spread quietly through the wrong circles overnight—too controlled to become public, too deliberate to be accidental.
And by morning—
Li Wei's father requested his presence at the estate.
Immediately.
The Invitation That Wasn't One
"You should eat first," Yulan said quietly.
Li Wei stood near the door adjusting the cuff over his bruised wrist.
"I'm not hungry."
"That's not an answer."
Li Wei looked at him for a moment.
Tired.
Distant again.
But softer than before.
"…I may not come back tonight."
Yulan's chest tightened slightly.
"…Because of the warehouse?"
Li Wei didn't answer directly.
"That incident accelerated things."
And somehow—
That sounded worse.
Chen Hao Understands First
From the counter, Chen Hao slowly lowered his chopsticks.
"…Wait."
He looked between them.
Then toward Li Wei.
"…Your family's moving now, aren't they?"
Silence.
That was enough.
"Oh, this is bad," Chen Hao muttered immediately.
The Li Estate
The estate was brighter than usual that evening.
Too bright.
Luxury cars lined the entrance.
Guests moved through the halls in elegant clothing, soft laughter echoing through polished rooms.
Li Wei stopped the moment he entered.
"…What is this?"
A servant lowered their gaze slightly.
"Chairman Li organized a family gathering, sir."
No.
Not a gathering.
A performance.
Lin Meiyu Arrives
At the top of the staircase, Lin Meiyu appeared in a dark silk dress, composed as always.
But when she saw Li Wei—
Something in her expression shifted.
Not happiness.
Concern.
"You weren't told?" she asked quietly.
Li Wei's jaw tightened.
"Told what?"
She didn't answer immediately.
That told him enough already.
The Trap Closes Publicly
The ballroom filled steadily.
Business partners.
Extended family.
Political connections.
Everyone important.
Li Wei immediately spotted his uncle speaking casually among them.
Watching.
Waiting.
Then—
His father stepped forward to address the room.
The conversations quieted instantly.
The Official Announcement
Chairman Li lifted his glass calmly.
"Thank you all for attending tonight."
His voice carried effortlessly across the room.
"For many years, the Li and Lin families have shared mutual trust and respect."
Li Wei went completely still.
No.
His father continued smoothly:
"And today, I am pleased to formally announce the engagement of my son, Li Wei…"
A pause.
"…to Lin Meiyu."
Applause filled the room immediately.
Polite.
Elegant.
Suffocating.
Li Wei's World Narrows
Li Wei barely heard the rest.
His father had done it publicly.
Intentionally.
There was no easy refusal now.
Not without consequences.
Across the room, his uncle smiled faintly.
Watching carefully.
Like he was waiting for Li Wei to break.
Lin Meiyu Sees the Truth
"…Li Wei."
Her voice was quiet beside him.
But Li Wei couldn't answer.
Not immediately.
Because all he could think about was Yulan.
The shop.
That small upstairs room.
The rain.
The promises that had never fully become promises—
And how quickly all of it could be destroyed.
Back at the Shop
Yulan closed the shop later than usual.
The city buzzed loudly outside.
Then Chen Hao burst through the door holding a newspaper.
Already printed.
Already spreading.
Yulan looked up immediately.
"…What happened?"
Chen Hao didn't speak at first.
He just handed over the paper slowly.
And Yulan saw it.
A photograph.
Li Wei standing beside Lin Meiyu beneath elegant lights.
The headline underneath:
LI AND LIN FAMILIES OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE ENGAGEMENT
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Silence That Hurts
Yulan stared at the image for a long time.
Too long.
Chen Hao watched carefully.
"…Yulan."
No answer.
Finally—
Yulan folded the paper carefully.
Too carefully.
"…I see."
That calmness worried Chen Hao more than if he had shouted.
At the Estate – The Cracks Show
Li Wei finally pulled away from the crowd and stepped onto the balcony alone.
Breathing hard for the first time all night.
Then—
The balcony door opened quietly behind him.
Lin Meiyu stepped outside.
Neither spoke immediately.
The city lights stretched below them in silence.
Finally, she said softly:
"…You love him."
Not a question.
Li Wei closed his eyes briefly.
"…Yes."
That single word carried everything.
Unexpected Understanding
Lin Meiyu looked away toward the city.
"…I thought so."
Li Wei frowned slightly.
"…Then why are you helping this continue?"
Her expression turned complicated for the first time.
"Because neither of us is fully free in this family."
That answer changed something.
For the first time—
They weren't standing as enemies.
Just two people trapped differently.
Ending Scene – Alone
Late that night, Li Wei finally returned to the shop.
The lights downstairs were off.
Only the upstairs room remained dimly lit.
He walked up slowly—
Then stopped at the doorway.
Yulan sat near the window silently.
The newspaper folded beside him.
He didn't look up.
"…Congratulations," he said quietly.
And somehow—
That hurt more than anything else so far.