The school art exhibition was fast approaching, and the excitement in the air was palpable. Mei Lin threw herself into her work, spending late nights in the studio perfecting her piece. Her painting was a reflection of the past months—an abstract depiction of the duality she felt between her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer and the passion she had recently discovered for art. With every brushstroke, her thoughts drifted to Li Wei. His presence in her life had become constant, a source of comfort and strength.
But there was also something else—an undercurrent of unease. It wasn't just her growing feelings for him that made her nervous. Something had shifted between them recently, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
Li Wei, too, had been busy preparing his sketches for the exhibition, but Mei Lin noticed a change in him. He had been more distant over the past few days, his usual warm gaze turning colder and more aloof. It reminded her of the Li Wei she had first met—the one who seemed so unreachable.
Their once easy conversations now felt strained, and Mei Lin couldn't shake the feeling that something had gone unsaid between them. It was as though an invisible wall had risen between them, and every time she tried to break through, Li Wei would retreat further.
One evening, after yet another silent walk home, Mei Lin decided she couldn't keep pretending that everything was fine. She needed answers.
"Li Wei," she called out, just as they reached the front gate of her house. Her voice wavered, betraying the nervousness she tried to suppress. "Is everything okay? You've seemed… distant lately."
Li Wei stopped in his tracks, his expression unreadable. For a moment, it seemed like he was going to brush her off as usual, but then he let out a long sigh and turned to face her.
"I'm sorry, Mei Lin. It's just…" He paused, running a hand through his hair, clearly struggling to find the right words. "I've had a lot on my mind lately."
Mei Lin felt a pang of hurt but did her best to mask it. "You can talk to me, you know. I thought we were past the point of keeping things from each other."
Li Wei's gaze softened, but there was still a guardedness in his eyes. "It's not about not trusting you. It's just… complicated."
He didn't elaborate, and Mei Lin felt her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Complicated? Li Wei, I'm not asking for every detail of your life, but I deserve to know if something's wrong. You've been pulling away, and I don't know why."
Li Wei's jaw tightened, and for a brief moment, Mei Lin saw a flicker of something in his eyes—guilt, perhaps? But before she could press further, he took a step back. "I just need some time to figure things out. I'll see you at the exhibition," he muttered, and without another word, he turned and walked away.
Mei Lin stood there, stunned. She had wanted answers, but all she was left with were more questions.
End of Chapter 16