The day of the school art exhibition arrived, bringing with it a mix of excitement and nervous energy. Mei Lin stood in front of her canvas, her hands slightly trembling. She had poured her heart into this piece, and while it felt deeply personal, it also symbolized a turning point in her life. The painting was a fusion of her past and present—a swirling blend of the ideals of justice she once held close and the vibrant colors that now represented her passion for art. The final touch was a solitary figure standing at a crossroads, representing her.
But there was another layer to her nerves today—Li Wei.
Since their tense conversation days earlier, Mei Lin had barely spoken to him. He had become more distant, colder, as if he was purposefully avoiding her. Every time she saw him at school, he seemed absorbed in his thoughts, never meeting her eyes. And now, at the exhibition, his absence was palpable.
Mei Lin bit her lip, scanning the room. Students and teachers roamed the gallery, admiring the pieces on display. Her friends gathered around her, congratulating her on her work, but her thoughts kept drifting to Li Wei. He hadn't even texted her about the exhibition, something they had planned together weeks ago. Why was he pulling away now? What had she done to push him away?
A familiar voice broke through her thoughts. "Mei Lin, your painting is stunning. The symbolism is so powerful."
It was Li Na, one of her closest friends, her eyes full of admiration. Mei Lin forced a smile, thankful for the distraction. "Thanks, Li Na. It means a lot coming from you."
Li Na glanced around the room before leaning in conspiratorially. "Have you talked to Li Wei today? I heard some people saying he's been acting strange lately, like something's bothering him."
Mei Lin's heart sank. "I haven't seen him," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "We… haven't really talked in days."
Li Na raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension. "You two seemed so close. What happened?"
Mei Lin shook her head, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I don't know. It's like he just started pulling away. And I don't know why."
Li Na looked thoughtful for a moment. "Sometimes people withdraw when they're dealing with something personal. Maybe he's going through something he hasn't shared yet."
Mei Lin nodded, but the knot in her chest only tightened. It wasn't like Li Wei to shut her out like this, especially after all they had been through together. She had seen glimpses of the real him, the one behind the cold and aloof exterior. But now, it felt like he was slipping away from her, and she didn't know how to stop it.
The exhibition buzzed around her, but Mei Lin felt detached, her thoughts consumed by the unanswered questions that gnawed at her. Why had Li Wei changed so suddenly? What was he hiding?
Suddenly, the room grew quiet, and Mei Lin's attention snapped back to reality. A hush fell over the crowd as the principal took the stage to announce the winners of the exhibition. Mei Lin's heart pounded in her chest, though she wasn't sure if it was from the anticipation of the results or the lingering thoughts of Li Wei.
"And the winner of this year's student art exhibition is… Mei Lin!" the principal's voice rang out, and the room erupted in applause.
Mei Lin's breath caught in her throat as she blinked in disbelief. Her friends cheered and pushed her forward, and she found herself standing in front of the crowd, accepting the award with shaky hands. It should have been a moment of pure joy, but all she could think about was the empty space beside her. Li Wei wasn't there to share in her happiness.
After the applause died down and the crowd dispersed, Mei Lin found a quiet corner to collect her thoughts. She glanced at her phone, hoping for a message from Li Wei. Nothing.
Her heart ached with a mixture of frustration and sadness. What had gone wrong between them? Why had he chosen to push her away at a time when they should have been growing closer?
Just as she was about to leave, she felt a presence behind her. Turning around, her breath caught in her throat. Li Wei stood there, his expression unreadable, but his eyes held a weight that she hadn't seen before.
"Li Wei," Mei Lin breathed, taking a step toward him. "Where have you been? I thought you weren't coming."
Li Wei's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Mei Lin thought he was going to turn and walk away again. But then he spoke, his voice low and filled with tension. "I came. I saw your painting. It's incredible, Mei Lin. You deserved to win."
His words should have brought her comfort, but there was something in his tone that unsettled her. "Thank you, but… Li Wei, what's going on? Why have you been avoiding me?"
Li Wei glanced away, his hands clenching at his sides. "It's not that simple."
"Then explain it to me," Mei Lin pressed, her voice cracking. "We were fine, and then suddenly, you're shutting me out. Did I do something wrong?"
Li Wei shook his head, his expression pained. "No, you didn't. It's me. I'm the problem."
Mei Lin felt her frustration bubble over. "What does that even mean? You've been so distant, and I don't understand why. We were supposed to do this exhibition together, and now it feels like we're worlds apart."
Li Wei's eyes flickered with emotion, but he still held back. "You deserve someone better, Mei Lin. Someone who can be there for you completely. I don't know if I can be that person."
Mei Lin's heart dropped. "You don't get to decide that for me," she said, her voice shaking with anger and hurt. "I thought we were past pretending to be strangers. I thought we meant more to each other than that."
For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of their unspoken words pressing down on them. Mei Lin's chest tightened as she fought back tears. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. They had come so far, only for everything to fall apart now.
But just as Mei Lin was about to turn and walk away, Li Wei reached out, grabbing her hand. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I'm so sorry."
Mei Lin froze, her heart racing. Slowly, she turned back to face him. "Then why are you pushing me away?"
Li Wei's grip tightened on her hand as he finally met her gaze. "Because I'm scared, Mei Lin. I'm scared of losing you. Of not being enough."
Mei Lin's heart softened at his confession, the anger and hurt dissolving into understanding. "You're enough, Li Wei. You've always been enough."
For the first time in days, Li Wei's expression softened, and Mei Lin saw the vulnerability he had been hiding. Slowly, he pulled her into his arms, and Mei Lin felt the tension between them melt away. They stood there for what felt like an eternity, wrapped in each other's warmth, the silence between them now filled with unspoken promises.
"I don't want to lose you either," Mei Lin whispered against his chest. "But we can't keep running from each other."
Li Wei nodded, his chin resting on top of her head. "I know. I won't run anymore."
As they pulled apart, Mei Lin saw a new resolve in Li Wei's eyes. It was as if the walls he had built around himself were finally coming down.
Their reunion was tender, filled with the promise of mending the cracks that had formed between them. Yet, in the back of Mei Lin's mind, a subtle unease remained. This wasn't the end of their challenges—something else loomed on the horizon, though she couldn't quite place what it was. She could sense it in Li Wei's gaze, a hint of something unspoken, something that would reveal itself in the chapters to come.
---
End of Chapter 17