The following days passed in a blur for Mei Lin. She tried to focus on her studies, on her artwork, on anything that could keep her mind occupied, but nothing seemed to help. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Li Wei's face—his pained expression as he told her about the arranged marriage. His silence as she walked away.
Li Na had tried to comfort her, but even her best friend couldn't pull her out of the storm of emotions that raged inside her. Mei Lin didn't know what hurt more: the fact that Li Wei had kept something so important from her, or the knowledge that his family had already decided his future, leaving no room for her.
She had never felt so powerless.
As she sat in the library, her sketchbook open but untouched in front of her, Mei Lin couldn't shake the feeling that she was slowly unraveling. Every day without Li Wei felt like another thread being pulled loose, and she didn't know how much longer she could hold it together.
Her phone buzzed on the table, and Mei Lin glanced at it, expecting another message from Li Na. Instead, her heart lurched as she saw Li Wei's name on the screen.
For a moment, she just stared at the message, her mind torn between the urge to ignore him and the desperate need to hear what he had to say.
Li Wei: Can we meet? I need to talk to you.
Mei Lin hesitated, her thumb hovering over the screen. After everything that had happened, part of her wanted to shut him out completely. But another part of her—the part that still loved him despite everything—wanted answers.
Finally, she typed a response.
Mei Lin: Fine. Where?
His reply came almost immediately.
Li Wei: The park. Same place as before.
Mei Lin's stomach twisted at the thought of returning to the park where everything had fallen apart. But she knew she couldn't avoid this conversation forever. If nothing else, she needed closure.
---
The Park
When Mei Lin arrived at the park, the sun was already setting, casting a golden glow over the trees and the empty benches. Li Wei was standing by the fountain, his hands shoved into his pockets as he stared down at the water. He looked as conflicted as she felt.
Mei Lin approached slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. "Li Wei."
He looked up, his expression softening slightly when he saw her. "Mei Lin. Thanks for coming."
She nodded but didn't say anything. The tension between them was thick, almost suffocating. Mei Lin crossed her arms, more to keep herself from trembling than out of anger. "What do you want to talk about?"
Li Wei sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I... I don't know where to start."
Mei Lin's jaw tightened. "How about with the truth? You should have told me about the marriage contract."
"I know," Li Wei said, his voice laced with regret. "I should have told you. I wanted to, but... I didn't know how. I didn't want to hurt you."
Mei Lin shook her head, anger bubbling up inside her. "Well, you hurt me anyway. Keeping it from me didn't make it any better."
Li Wei winced, and Mei Lin could see the guilt in his eyes. "I didn't want to drag you into it. It's not fair to you. My family... they're controlling everything. I didn't want you to get caught up in that."
Mei Lin let out a bitter laugh. "Too late for that. I'm already caught up in it, Li Wei. We're in this together, or at least I thought we were."
He took a step closer, his voice soft. "We are. I'm still fighting this. I don't want that life, Mei Lin. I don't want anyone but you."
Mei Lin's heart ached at his words, but she couldn't let herself believe them. Not after everything. "You say that, but your family is the one making the decisions. What am I supposed to do, Li Wei? Just stand by and watch as they control your life?"
Li Wei's expression darkened, his frustration evident. "I'm trying, Mei Lin. But it's not that simple. My father... he's already made deals. There's so much at stake."
Mei Lin looked away, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She didn't want to hear about deals or business mergers. She wanted Li Wei to fight for them—for her. But maybe that was too much to ask.
"I can't keep doing this," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I can't keep waiting for you to choose me when your family is always going to come first."
Li Wei's face contorted in pain. "That's not true. You're not second to anyone, Mei Lin."
"Then prove it," Mei Lin shot back, her voice rising with emotion. "Prove to me that I'm not just some... some distraction. That you're willing to fight for us, no matter what your family says."
For a long moment, Li Wei just stared at her, his jaw clenched, his hands balled into fists. Mei Lin could see the battle raging inside him, the war between his love for her and his loyalty to his family.
Finally, he exhaled, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I don't know if I can."
Those words shattered something inside Mei Lin. She had hoped—prayed—that he would choose her, that he would stand up to his family and fight for what they had. But now, standing here in the fading light, she realized that he wasn't ready. Maybe he never would be.
"Then I guess we're done here," Mei Lin said quietly, her voice thick with tears.
Li Wei's eyes widened in panic. "No. Mei Lin, please. Don't do this."
"I have to," she whispered, taking a step back. "I can't keep waiting for something that may never happen."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned and walked away, leaving Li Wei standing by the fountain, his heartbroken gaze following her retreating figure.
---
Back at Mei Lin's Dorm
That night, Mei Lin lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling as tears silently slipped down her cheeks. She had walked away from Li Wei, but it didn't feel like a victory. It felt like a loss—a devastating, soul-crushing loss.
But what choice did she have? She couldn't keep waiting for him to figure things out. She couldn't keep holding on to something that was slipping away, no matter how much she loved him.
A knock on her door startled her from her thoughts. Wiping her eyes, Mei Lin sat up, her heart skipping a beat as she wondered who it could be. Maybe it was Li Na, coming to check on her.
She opened the door, only to find Li Wei standing there, his face etched with desperation and pain.
"Li Wei—"
"Please," he said, cutting her off, his voice thick with emotion. "Just hear me out."
Mei Lin stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared at him. She had no idea what he was going to say, but she couldn't turn him away. Not yet.
Li Wei took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto hers. "I'm going to fight this, Mei Lin. I swear. I'll do whatever it takes."
Mei Lin's breath hitched in her throat, her heart racing as she searched his face for any sign of doubt. But all she saw was determination—fierce, unyielding determination.
"I don't care what my family says. I don't care about the contracts or the deals. I'm not going to lose you," he continued, his voice trembling. "I can't."
Mei Lin's heart ached at his words, but she couldn't let herself believe him so easily. Not after everything. "How do I know you mean it this time?"
Li Wei stepped closer, his eyes burning with intensity. "Because I love you, Mei Lin. And I'll do whatever it takes to prove that to you."
The sincerity in his voice, the raw emotion in his eyes—it was enough to break down the walls Mei Lin had built around her heart. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that he could fight for them, that he could change. But there was still that lingering fear—that doubt that gnawed at her, warning her not to get too close.
Mei Lin swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've said things like this before, Li Wei. How do I know that this time will be different?"
Li Wei's eyes softened, and he reached out, gently taking her hands in his. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver through her, but she didn't pull away.
"I know I've let you down," he said, his voice raw with emotion. "And I know I haven't always been honest. But I'm not going to lose you. Not this time." He took a deep breath, as if steadying himself before speaking again. "I've already spoken to my father. I told him I'm not going through with the engagement. I told him... I choose you."
Mei Lin's breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in surprise. "You... you really did that?"
Li Wei nodded, his grip on her hands tightening slightly. "I did. I know it won't be easy, and I know my family won't just let this go. But I don't care anymore. I'll fight them if I have to. For you. For us."
For a moment, Mei Lin didn't know what to say. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the determination in every word he spoke. But after everything that had happened, after all the lies and half-truths, it was hard to let herself fully believe it.
But as she stood there, staring into his eyes, something inside her began to soften. Maybe this time, things really could be different. Maybe this time, Li Wei truly was ready to fight for her.
Slowly, Mei Lin pulled her hands free from his, taking a step back. "I need time," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I can't just... jump back into this. Not after everything."
Li Wei nodded, understanding flashing across his face. "I get it. I don't expect you to forgive me overnight. Just... please, give me a chance to prove it to you. Let me show you that I mean what I say."
Mei Lin hesitated, her heart torn between hope and fear. But after a long moment, she gave a small nod. "Alright. But you have to understand, Li Wei, this is it. I can't go through this again."
Li Wei's eyes filled with relief, and he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I won't let you down this time. I promise."
Mei Lin's heart fluttered at his touch, but she kept her guard up. "We'll see."
---
The Next Day
Mei Lin found herself staring at her easel, the canvas in front of her still blank. Despite everything that had happened, the weight of her emotions, she felt a strange sense of calm. Li Wei's promise lingered in her mind, and though she wasn't ready to trust him completely, a part of her couldn't help but feel hopeful.
As she began to mix her paints, her mind wandered back to their conversation the night before. The way he had looked at her, the sincerity in his voice... It was different this time. She could feel it.
But there was still so much left unresolved. His family wasn't going to give up easily, and Mei Lin knew that their relationship would face even more challenges in the days to come. And then there was her own future—her dreams of becoming a lawyer, her passion for painting... She still hadn't figured out how to reconcile those parts of her life.
With a sigh, Mei Lin dipped her brush into the paint and began to work, the familiar motions of creating art easing some of the tension in her chest. As the colors began to take shape on the canvas, she let herself focus on the present, on the strokes of her brush, on the blending of hues.
For now, that was enough.
---
Li Wei's Perspective
Li Wei stood outside the door to his father's study, his heart pounding in his chest. He had made the first move—he had told Mei Lin how he felt, promised her that he would fight for their relationship. But now came the real test: facing his family.
He knew his father wasn't going to make this easy. The marriage contract had already been drawn up, the terms agreed upon, and breaking it now would be seen as a betrayal—not just to his family, but to the powerful business partners they were connected to.
But Li Wei didn't care. Not anymore.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door and stepped into the study. His father was seated at his desk, reviewing some papers, but he looked up as Li Wei entered, his expression unreadable.
"Li Wei," his father said, his tone cool. "I was wondering when you'd come to your senses."
Li Wei clenched his fists at his sides, steeling himself. "I'm not going through with the marriage."
His father's eyes narrowed, and the air in the room seemed to grow heavier. "What did you say?"
"I'm not going through with it," Li Wei repeated, his voice firm. "I'm not marrying the Zhou family's daughter. I'm going to be with Mei Lin."
For a long moment, his father said nothing, simply staring at him with cold, calculating eyes. Then, slowly, he stood, placing his hands on the desk in front of him.
"You're making a mistake," his father said, his voice low and dangerous. "This is bigger than you. Bigger than some... schoolgirl infatuation."
"It's not an infatuation," Li Wei shot back, his anger rising. "I love her. And I'm not going to let you or anyone else decide my life for me."
His father's expression darkened, and Li Wei could see the barely restrained fury behind his eyes. "You're throwing away everything we've built. For what? For a girl who can't offer you anything? Do you think love will protect you when you're standing in the ruins of our family's legacy?"
"I don't care about the legacy," Li Wei said, his voice shaking with emotion. "I care about her."
His father stared at him for a long, tense moment, and then, without a word, he sat back down, his expression turning cold and dismissive. "Do what you want, Li Wei. But don't come crying to me when it all falls apart."
Li Wei stood there for a moment longer, his heart pounding, before turning and leaving the room. As the door clicked shut behind him, he exhaled, feeling a strange mix of relief and fear.
He had made his choice. Now, all that was left was to see if he could live with the consequences.
---
Mei Lin's doubts about whether Li Wei can truly stand up to his family will linger, and she will continue to wrestle with her own dreams and passions. Meanwhile, the growing tension between Li Wei and his family will escalate, leading to new complications in their relationship. Mei Lin's internal conflict about her future career as a lawyer versus her passion for painting will also take center stage, as she begins to question where her heart truly lies.