In the days that followed, Xiao Zhan tried to settle back into his usual rhythm, pretending that night had been just another memory among the countless others they'd shared. But the lingering warmth of that kiss and the sense that something had shifted between them wouldn't leave him. He was caught between the comfort of their friendship and the silent yearning to hold her close, to make her his.
That evening, just as he was sinking into his couch after a long day, he heard a knock at the door. He opened it to find Sang Zhi, looking flushed and breathless, her usual confident demeanor replaced by a touch of anxiety.
"Zhi?" he asked, surprised. "Everything okay?"
"Can I come in?" she asked, fidgeting with her fingers.
"Of course," he replied, stepping aside. She walked past him, her eyes scanning the room as if searching for answers among the mess of his belongings. He closed the door and watched her, sensing something was off.
She finally plopped down on his couch, crossing her arms and letting out a frustrated sigh. "My mom is driving me crazy."
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What happened?"
"She's been on my case about dating, and now she's trying to set me up on a blind date." Sang Zhi scrunched her nose, her voice laced with irritation. "It's like she's convinced I'm destined to be single forever if I don't go meet some random guy she found through her friend's cousin's… whatever."
Xiao Zhan's heart sank, though he did his best to hide it. The thought of her sitting across from someone else, smiling, laughing, with someone else trying to win her over it made his chest tighten painfully. He forced a smile, masking the swirl of emotions. "So… are you going?"
She turned to him, eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. "Of course not! I told her I wasn't interested, but she won't listen. It's like I'm speaking to a wall. I told her I'm perfectly happy on my own, but she doesn't believe me. She thinks I need someone."
Xiao Zhan nodded, feeling a strange sense of relief at her words. "Good. I mean, if you don't want to go, you shouldn't have to."
Sang Zhi leaned back, exasperated. "That's what I said! But she just keeps pushing, telling me how great he is, how perfect we'd be together." She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "As if she'd know what I want."
He swallowed, trying to ignore the pounding of his heart. "Then don't go. You know what you want better than anyone else."
Her expression softened, and she glanced at him, a small smile creeping onto her face. "Thanks, Zhan. You always know what to say." She reached over and gave his hand a quick squeeze, the warmth of her touch sending a familiar spark through him.
He cleared his throat, pulling his hand back as casually as he could. "Yeah, well… I'm just saying, you don't owe anyone anything. If you're not interested, that's that. Why put yourself through it just to make someone else happy?"
Sang Zhi looked at him thoughtfully, her eyes studying his face as if searching for something. For a moment, it was quiet between them, the weight of unsaid words filling the air. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then seemed to change her mind, instead letting out a sigh.
"I guess I came here because… I needed someone to tell me it's okay to stand my ground," she said softly, looking down at her lap. "Sometimes I feel like everyone's moving forward, finding people, building these… relationships. And here I am, still figuring out what I want."
Xiao Zhan's heart clenched. He wanted to tell her that maybe she didn't need to look any further, that maybe what she wanted what she needed was right here. But the words caught in his throat, weighed down by the fear of ruining everything they had.
"Well, you're not alone," he finally said, his voice gentle. "It's normal to feel that way. I mean, life isn't a race, right?"
She laughed softly. "You always say that."
"Because it's true," he replied, his tone soft but firm. "You don't have to measure yourself by anyone else's standards. Just… do what feels right for you. If this guy isn't someone you'd want to get to know, then don't waste your time."
She looked at him, her gaze steady, and for a moment, he felt as if she could see right through him, right into the depths of his heart. But then she shook her head, letting out a deep sigh. "I wish my mom could understand that. She's just… she worries too much."
Xiao Zhan took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Zhi… if you really don't want to go, just tell her again. Be clear, and maybe… maybe she'll finally get it."
"Maybe," she murmured, resting her head back against the couch. "But she's relentless. I don't know how to make her see things my way."
A mischievous thought crossed his mind. "What if… I pretended to be your boyfriend?" He tried to keep his tone light, teasing, but his heart hammered as he waited for her reaction.
She blinked, looking at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "You? My boyfriend?"
He laughed, shrugging. "I mean, it'd give your mom a reason to back off, right? If she thought you were already seeing someone, she'd stop setting you up."
Sang Zhi chuckled, rolling her eyes. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"
"Hey, it's an option," he said, grinning. But beneath his playful tone, there was a kernel of truth a desperate hope that maybe, somehow, she'd see him in a new light.
She nudged him playfully. "Maybe I'll take you up on that offer someday."
His smile faltered, but he managed to keep his voice steady. "I'll be here whenever you need me."
They sat in silence, the moment stretching between them, filled with unspoken words and unacknowledged feelings. Xiao Zhan's mind raced with possibilities, with the fantasy of being with her not as a friend, but as something more. But he knew that for now, all he could do was wait, hope, and be there for her in whatever way she needed.
As the evening wore on, Sang Zhi finally rose to leave, casting him one last smile before stepping out the door. "Thanks, Zhan. You always make me feel better."
"Anytime," he replied, his voice soft as he watched her go, his heart aching with the weight of everything left unsaid.