Conflict in PHP. Part 2. How to fix?

Question

PHP

In the online store, when adding an item to the cart, the cart icon slides down and the "Checkout" link appears on top.
Here is the code.

<?php if ($data->totalProduct) echo  $data->cart_show; ?>
<div class="vmCartModule <?php echo $params->get('moduleclass_sfx'); ?>" id="vmCartModule">

As I understand it, the 1st line is responsible for the inscription "Place an order", and the 2nd line is for the basket icon.
When the first line is deleted, the inscription disappears and everything falls into place, but the basket icon itself is not active, that is, it is not possible to go to the basket by clicking on it.
Yesterday it was advised here to do the following:
Delete the first line, and add < a href="/cart" > to the second one.
So I did. It worked. But then a division appeared in the top menu before the first item (as if there was another item before the first item)
Site for clarity: https://esteting.ru/
Now everything is there as it was originally. That is, everything slides when you add an item to the cart.
Help me please! How can this be done more intelligently?

Answer 1

<a href="/cart" class="vmCartModule <?php echo $params->get('moduleclass_sfx'); ?>" id="vmCartModule">
.................
</a>

So it is necessary.