Lin Yue awoke with a feeling of quiet unease, a storm of emotions brewing within her that she couldn't quite control. Zhang Wei's words from the day before echoed in her mind, reverberating through her thoughts. "I see you in my future… permanently." The weight of the statement pressed against her chest, making it difficult to breathe. Was she ready to make that kind of leap? To dive headfirst into something so serious when her own heart wasn't entirely sure?
She spent the morning in a daze, trying to focus on her work but unable to shake the thoughts of him. His declaration had rattled her in a way she hadn't expected. She'd always believed in taking things slow, savoring the moments before committing to something permanent. But with Zhang Wei, everything felt fast, almost like she was already drowning in something too big to control.
Her phone buzzed, dragging her from her thoughts. A message from him.
"Can we meet tonight? I've been thinking about you, and I need to talk. It's important."
The words were simple, but the weight of them felt like a heavy stone. Lin Yue couldn't help but hesitate. What was so urgent that it couldn't wait?
After a moment of contemplation, she typed back: "Sure. I'll be free at 7 PM."
That evening, Lin Yue found herself in the same café where they had shared so many important conversations. Zhang Wei was already there, sitting by the window with a cup of coffee in front of him. His face was serious, more so than usual. She couldn't help but wonder what had changed since their last meeting.
As she approached, Zhang Wei looked up and smiled—though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey," he said softly, his voice lacking its usual warmth.
"Hey," Lin Yue replied, sliding into the seat across from him. Her heart thudded in her chest, uncertainty bubbling up.
He stared at her for a long moment before speaking again, his gaze unwavering. "Lin Yue, I need to ask you something."
"Okay…" she replied, her throat dry.
Zhang Wei leaned forward, his hands clenched around his coffee cup. "I know we've only been seeing each other for a short time, but I want to know—what do you see in our future?"
Lin Yue froze, her mind racing. Our future? What kind of future was he imagining? She didn't know what to say. Was he talking about something serious? Was it really time for her to picture a future with him, or was this all too fast?
"I… I don't know," she said quietly, her voice betraying her uncertainty. "I guess I'm just trying to figure things out. I'm not sure where this is going yet."
Zhang Wei's face fell slightly, the hurt evident in his expression. "I see. So you don't see us together long-term?"
Lin Yue sighed, her heart heavy with the weight of his question. "It's not that I don't want that, Zhang Wei. It's just… I'm scared. I don't know if I'm ready for something so permanent. You talk about the future, but I'm still figuring out the present."
There was a long pause. Zhang Wei's eyes softened, and he reached across the table, placing his hand gently over hers. "Lin Yue, I don't want to rush you. I just want you to know that I'm here for you. If you need time, I'll give you all the time you need. But please, don't push me away."
Lin Yue blinked back sudden tears, her chest tightening at his words. "I'm not trying to push you away, Zhang Wei. I just don't want to make a mistake. I don't want to get swept up in something I'm not ready for."
He nodded, his thumb brushing gently over her hand. "I understand. I can wait. But I want you to know that I'm serious about you. About us."
As the evening wore on, Lin Yue found herself lost in her thoughts. The conversation with Zhang Wei had cleared a lot of things up. She realized that she wasn't afraid of him, but of the potential for heartbreak. The fear of opening up completely, of giving her heart fully to someone, had always held her back. But with him, it felt different.
It wasn't that she didn't care for him. She did. More than she could put into words. But the idea of commitment scared her. Of making promises she might not be able to keep.
She stood up to leave, and as she did, Zhang Wei caught her wrist gently. "Lin Yue, I mean it. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here, whenever you're ready."
Tears pricked at her eyes as she looked down at him. His sincerity was overwhelming, and for a moment, she could see the future he envisioned—one where they were together, supporting each other through everything life threw their way. But was she strong enough to take that step?
"I'm scared," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But I'll try."
Zhang Wei smiled softly, a smile that seemed to light up his entire face. "That's all I ask."