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Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: The Calm Before the Storm

The days following Mei Lin's conversation with Li Wei passed in a strange, peaceful haze. For the first time in months, the tension between them had eased, and they found themselves spending more time together, both in silence and in conversation. It was as though the walls between them had finally begun to crack, allowing glimpses of the person each had hidden from the world.

Mei Lin found herself smiling more when she thought of him. It wasn't the same nervous, tense anticipation that had once marked their encounters. This was different—softer, warmer. Every time she saw him, she felt a sense of calm settle over her, a comfort she hadn't realized she had been longing for.

But with that comfort came an undeniable sense of foreboding. She knew, deep down, that this peace wouldn't last. Li Wei was still caught in the complex web of his family's expectations, and though he had opened up to her, he hadn't yet made any decisions about his future. The storm that loomed over his life—and by extension, hers—had not yet passed.

It was early one Saturday morning when Mei Lin received a call from Li Na. She had just finished a painting and was cleaning up her supplies when her phone buzzed on the table. The sound startled her, and she wiped her hands on a towel before picking it up.

"Li Na? Everything okay?"

"Are you free today?" Li Na's voice was unusually hesitant. "I was thinking we could grab some lunch and hang out."

Mei Lin smiled at the suggestion. "Of course! Let me just finish cleaning up, and I'll meet you in an hour?"

"Great! See you then."

As Mei Lin hung up, she couldn't help but wonder what had prompted Li Na's sudden invitation. They had become close over the past few months, but there was something different in Li Na's voice—something she couldn't quite place. Shrugging it off, she finished cleaning and headed out to meet her friend.

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When Mei Lin arrived at their favorite café, she spotted Li Na already seated at a table by the window, her hands wrapped around a cup of coffee. She was staring out at the street, lost in thought, and didn't notice Mei Lin approaching until she was right in front of her.

"Li Na," Mei Lin said softly, sliding into the seat across from her. "You okay?"

Li Na blinked and shook her head slightly, as if shaking off her thoughts. "Yeah, sorry. Just a lot on my mind lately."

Mei Lin tilted her head, studying her friend carefully. "You want to talk about it?"

Li Na sighed, her fingers tapping nervously against her cup. "I've been thinking a lot about… well, about everything, really. About you, about Li Wei."

The mention of Li Wei's name sent a ripple of surprise through Mei Lin. She hadn't expected him to come up in this conversation.

"Li Wei?" Mei Lin echoed, her heart skipping a beat. "What about him?"

Li Na hesitated for a moment before speaking. "You two have gotten a lot closer recently, haven't you?"

Mei Lin nodded, unsure of where this conversation was headed. "We have, yeah. He's… he's been through a lot, Li Na. More than I ever realized."

Li Na's gaze flickered with something Mei Lin couldn't quite read—concern? Regret? "I know. That's why I wanted to talk to you about this."

Mei Lin frowned, leaning in closer. "What's going on?"

Li Na took a deep breath before answering. "There's something I haven't told you. Something about Li Wei… and his past."

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Back at the university, Li Wei sat in the library, his textbooks spread out in front of him. But his mind wasn't on his studies. Ever since his conversation with Mei Lin, he had felt a strange mixture of relief and dread. For the first time in a long time, someone knew the truth about his family, about the pressures that weighed him down. Mei Lin had seen him at his most vulnerable, and instead of pulling away, she had stayed.

But that didn't change the reality of his situation.

His father had called again last night, reminding him of his responsibilities, of the future that had been decided for him long before he could make his own choices. The conversation had been brief and cold, as always. Li Wei hadn't told Mei Lin about the call. He wasn't sure why—perhaps he didn't want to burden her with the reality of what was coming. Or maybe he didn't want to admit to himself that no matter how much he wanted to be free, his fate had already been sealed.

As he absentmindedly flipped through the pages of his book, his phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen and saw a message from his father.

Dinner tonight. Don't be late.

Li Wei's stomach tightened. His father rarely asked him to attend family dinners, and when he did, it was never a good sign. His first instinct was to refuse, to say he had too much to study, but he knew that wasn't an option. His father didn't take no for an answer.

With a heavy sigh, Li Wei closed his book and leaned back in his chair. The quiet peace he had found with Mei Lin over the past few days felt like a distant memory now, overshadowed by the weight of his obligations.

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Meanwhile, at the café, Li Na hesitated before speaking again. "I don't know how much you know about Li Wei's family, Mei Lin. But they're… they're not like other families. His father is ruthless when it comes to business, and he expects the same from Li Wei."

Mei Lin frowned, her heart sinking. "I know his family has high expectations for him, but…"

"It's more than that," Li Na interrupted, her voice soft but firm. "Li Wei's been groomed to take over the family business since he was a child. His father controls everything, and Li Wei… he doesn't have much say in his own life."

Mei Lin's stomach twisted with worry. "He told me a little about it. But I didn't realize it was this bad."

Li Na nodded grimly. "It is. And I'm worried about him, Mei Lin. I'm worried that if he doesn't find a way out, he's going to lose himself."

Mei Lin felt a pang of guilt. She had been so focused on her own struggles, on her own feelings, that she hadn't fully considered what Li Wei was going through. The weight of his family's expectations, the pressure to live up to a legacy he didn't even want—it was all too much for anyone to bear alone.

"I have to help him," Mei Lin whispered, more to herself than to Li Na. "I can't let him go through this alone."

Li Na reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "I know you care about him, Mei Lin. But just be careful, okay? Li Wei's world is… complicated. And once you're in, it's hard to get out."

Mei Lin nodded, her mind racing with thoughts of what she could do, how she could help. But deep down, she knew that Li Wei's battle wasn't one she could fight for him. All she could do was be there for him, no matter what came next.

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As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the campus, Mei Lin found herself walking back to her dorm, her thoughts swirling with worry and determination. She didn't know what the future held for her and Li Wei, but she knew one thing for certain: she wouldn't let him face it alone.

Whatever storms lay ahead, they would weather them together.

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End of Chapter 28

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