"When did you do this?" Zhong Hua asked in surprise. She had been cooped up in the house for the past few days and hadn't noticed the changes on the balcony at all.

"While you're at work," Ayu handed her a small spray bottle. "Here, water them."

Zhong Hua took the spray bottle, and the touch of her fingertips on the cool plastic actually lessened her trembling somewhat. The water flowed onto the soil, splashing up tiny droplets, mingling with the scent of lavender, slowly seeping into her tense nerves.

“Actually, I’ve looked it up,” Ayu suddenly said. “The scent of lavender can calm the nerves and relieve anxiety.”

Zhong Hua paused for a moment.

“I also looked into how to deal with those reporters.” Ayu scratched her head, a little embarrassed. “Mr. Lu’s PR team said they could issue a statement saying that you want to focus on your work and hope everyone can give you some private space. They also said…”

"Don't say anymore," Zhong Hua shook her head. She knew what Lu Mingyuan meant. He had called yesterday, saying he could help her hire an assistant, or even just let her take a break. But that wasn't what she wanted. She loved wearing her white lab coat and doing experiments, loved watching the data jump around on the screen—that was who she was, not someone's "wife."

"I want to go back to the lab," Zhong Hua said softly.

Ayu's eyes lit up: "Really?"

“Okay.” Zhong Hua nodded, water droplets dripping down the edge of the spray bottle. “I’ll go tomorrow. Let them write whatever they want in the news; I have to be myself.”

Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang again. It was a colleague from the lab, asking how the revised experimental plan was going. Zhong Hua took a deep breath, answered the phone, and said in a much calmer voice, "I'll send it to your email this afternoon. Remember to check it."

After hanging up the phone, she found that her hands had stopped shaking.

"Look," Ayu said with a smile, pointing to the flowerpot, "isn't lavender very effective?"

Zhong Hua didn't speak, but simply bent down and smelled the petals. The crisp fragrance filled her nostrils like a clear spring, washing away the chaotic noise. She suddenly remembered when she first met A Yu, he had helped her pick up a dropped paintbrush at an art exhibition, and he smelled just like that back then.

“Ayu.”

"Um?"

“Let’s make lavender cookies tonight,” Zhong Hua said, a smile finally appearing on her lips. “Let’s use that new mold you bought.”

Ayu paused for a moment, then smiled, revealing two small tiger teeth: "Okay, but you have to help me knead the dough."

Sunlight filters through the lavender bushes, weaving a warm net at their feet. The distant city remains bustling, news feeds continue to update, but on the balcony, only the sound of the wind rustling through the sea of ​​flowers and the gentle words, "Right now, only the scent of lavender remains."

Zhong Hua knew that the troubles might not be over yet, but she was no longer afraid. Because she had Lavender, Ayu, and that corner where she could be herself in peace.