The room stayed silent after Yulan's quiet congratulations.
Too silent.
Li Wei stood at the doorway, still in formal clothes, the faint smell of expensive cologne and rain clinging to him.
Yulan hated that he noticed.
Distance in One Word
"…Yulan."
Li Wei's voice was softer now.
Careful.
Like he already knew the damage had been done.
Yulan finally looked up.
His expression wasn't angry.
That would have been easier.
Instead—
He just looked tired.
"You should sleep," Yulan said quietly.
Li Wei stepped further into the room.
"We need to talk."
A faint smile touched Yulan's lips.
Not warm.
"Do we?"
The Weight of Public Things
Li Wei loosened the tie at his collar slightly, frustration finally slipping through.
"I didn't agree to this."
"But you stood there."
The words landed immediately.
Li Wei went still.
Yulan looked away toward the window again.
"…You stood beside her while everyone clapped."
Silence.
Because there was no defense against that.
What Yulan Really Feels
"I know it's complicated," Yulan continued quietly.
"I know your family controls everything. I know you didn't want it."
His fingers tightened slightly against the newspaper beside him.
"But that doesn't change what it felt like to see it."
That hurt more than accusations would have.
Because it was honest.
Li Wei Finally Breaks
Li Wei crossed the room quickly.
Not aggressive.
Desperate.
"Do you think I wanted that?" he asked quietly.
Yulan looked up immediately.
And for the first time—
Li Wei looked genuinely shaken.
Not composed.
Not controlled.
Just exhausted.
"They trapped me publicly," Li Wei said. "That announcement was planned after the warehouse."
Yulan frowned slightly.
"…Because of what happened there?"
Li Wei nodded once.
"They know I'm unstable when it comes to you now."
The honesty in that sentence made the room feel smaller.
The Truth They've Been Avoiding
Yulan stood slowly.
"…Then maybe they already won."
Li Wei's expression tightened instantly.
"No."
"But look at us," Yulan whispered.
That line cut deeper than anything else tonight.
A Different Kind of Intimacy
For a moment—
Neither moved.
The distance between them wasn't physical anymore.
It was fear.
Pressure.
The future.
Then Li Wei stepped closer anyway.
Because he always did.
"…Don't do this," he murmured softly.
Yulan's heartbeat stumbled slightly.
"Do what?"
"Push me away before I'm gone."
That sentence felt dangerously close to a confession.
Or a warning.
The Most Emotional Kiss Yet
Yulan grabbed the front of Li Wei's shirt suddenly.
Not angry.
Not soft either.
Just emotional enough that neither of them could pretend anymore.
Then he kissed him.
Hard.
Immediate.
Months of tension and fear and hurt collapsing into one desperate moment.
Li Wei responded instantly, one hand gripping Yulan's waist tightly as the kiss deepened almost painfully.
There was nothing careful left now.
No pretending.
No distance.
Just two people trying to hold onto something already slipping through their hands.
Yulan's fingers curled tighter into Li Wei's shirt as Li Wei tilted his head, kissing him slower now—but deeper, like he was trying to memorize every second.
When they finally separated—
Neither let go.
Foreheads pressed together.
Breathing uneven.
The Confession Hidden Inside
"…I hate this," Yulan whispered.
Li Wei closed his eyes briefly.
"…I know."
"No," Yulan said softly.
"I hate that I still want you this much even now."
That finally cracked something inside Li Wei completely.
He pulled Yulan against him immediately, holding him tighter than before.
Almost protective.
Almost afraid.
Downstairs – Chen Hao Suffers Again
Chen Hao sat at the counter downstairs eating cold dumplings alone.
Then slowly looked toward the ceiling.
"…Every time they get emotional, my life gets worse."
A pause.
"…Still rooting for them though."
A New Problem Appears
Suddenly—
A loud knock hit the front door downstairs.
All three froze.
Another knock.
Harder this time.
Chen Hao frowned immediately.
"…Who the hell comes here this late?"
He walked toward the door cautiously—
Then stopped cold after looking through the glass.
"…Li Wei."
Upstairs, Li Wei immediately stiffened.
Chen Hao's voice lowered sharply:
"…Your father is here."
Silence crashed through the room instantly.
Ending Scene
Li Wei turned toward Yulan immediately.
And for the first time in the entire story—
Yulan saw something terrifying in his expression.
Fear.
Real fear.