The afternoon sun slanted in through the window, falling warmly on the flower shop floor and stretching the shadows of the lilies long.
Jiang Yixia was behind the counter, organizing her ledgers. The tip of her pen scratched softly against the paper. She would occasionally pause to think, then continue writing.
Lu Fan sat on a chair in the corner, holding a cup of tea. It had already gone cold, but he hadn't drunk any of it.
His gaze was fixed on Jiang Yixia, following her movements, from the strands of hair that fell forward when she looked down to write, to the curve of her fingers as she turned a page.
A row of flower stands separated them. The fragrance of lilies mingled with the sweetness of roses, slowly diffusing through the air.
Jiang Yixia could feel his gaze, but she didn't look up.
Her ears felt a little hot, and her cheeks were warm, but she feigned ignorance and continued writing the numbers in her ledger.
