Li Shen's words lingered in the air—
cold, sharp, impossible to ignore.
For a long moment, no one moved.
Then—
he let out a quiet breath, dragging a hand through his hair as if forcing something down.
"…Tch."
The sound was low, restrained.
His gaze shifted—away from Cheng Mo,
away from me—
to the hospital bed.
To the fragile stillness lying there.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Not anger.
Not this time.
Something heavier.
"…Not here," he muttered, almost under his breath.
Like a warning.
To himself.
Cheng Mo didn't loosen his hold.
His arm remained firm around me, unmoving, unyielding.
Watching.
Li Shen noticed.
A faint, humorless smile touched his lips.
"Relax," he said quietly. "I'm not going to make a scene."
A pause.
Then—
his eyes found mine again.
And there it was.
Jealousy.
Raw. Unhidden.
Mixed with something deeper… something that made my chest tighten unexpectedly.
"…Not today."
He stepped back.
Once.Twice.
This time, there was no hesitation in it.
No challenge.
No provocation.
Just distance.
Then he turned—
walking toward the door in slow, measured steps.
Each one felt deliberate.
Controlled.
Like he was holding something back with every movement.
His hand reached the handle.
Fingers curling around it.
The door creaked slightly as it opened—
just enough for him to leave.
But—
he didn't.
Not yet.
He stopped.
Shoulders stiff.
Back still turned.
And then—
slowly—
he looked over his shoulder.
Just once.
His gaze landed on me.
Not Cheng Mo.
Only me.
And in that single glance—
everything was there.
The jealousy.
The anger.
The hurt he refused to show before.
And something else—
something unresolved.
Unfinished.
It lasted barely a second.
Then it was gone.
His expression hardened again, walls snapping back into place.
Without another word—
he pushed the door open wider—
and walked out.
This time—
he didn't stop.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
But the feeling he left behind—
was anything but soft.
Because that look—
that one last look—
felt less like goodbye…
and more like a warning.