The next few days passed slowly, each one feeling like a test of patience. Lin Yue couldn't stop thinking about her conversation with Zhang Wei. His words echoed in her mind: "I'm not going anywhere." There was comfort in that, but also an underlying pressure. She wasn't sure if she was ready to give him the reassurance he needed, not when her own heart was so uncertain.
At work, she found herself distracted, staring out of her office window as her thoughts wandered to him. Zhang Wei had given her space, as promised. He hadn't contacted her for the past few days, and part of her was relieved. The silence gave her time to think, but it also felt like a void between them—an emptiness she couldn't ignore.
Just as she was about to dive back into her work, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Mei:
"How are things with Zhang Wei? You've been distant."
Lin Yue sighed, staring at the message for a long moment before replying:
"I don't know, Mei. I'm just trying to figure things out."
A few minutes passed before Mei responded:
"You've always been good at figuring things out. Just don't let fear keep you from what could be great."
Lin Yue smiled softly at her friend's words, but the weight of uncertainty still pressed against her chest.
Later that evening, Lin Yue decided to take a walk to clear her mind. The crisp evening air felt refreshing as she walked through the park, the sounds of the city fading into the background. She found a bench by the lake, the water reflecting the city lights in a mesmerizing pattern.
As she sat there, lost in thought, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Zhang Wei:
"Can I see you tonight? Just for a little while."
Her heart skipped a beat. She had been waiting for this moment, but now that it was here, she wasn't sure if she was ready.
She stood up, pacing back and forth. What should I do?
After a few moments of deliberation, she typed back: "I'll meet you at 8."
When Lin Yue arrived at the café, she immediately spotted Zhang Wei sitting in the corner booth, his posture tense and his eyes fixed on his phone. There was something about the way he sat there, looking almost too serious, that made her heart race with nervous anticipation.
As she approached, he looked up and smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey," he said softly, motioning for her to sit.
"Hey," she replied, slipping into the seat across from him. The silence between them felt heavy, as if they were both waiting for something—waiting for the other to make the first move.
Zhang Wei took a deep breath before speaking. "I've been thinking a lot, Lin Yue. About us."
Lin Yue's heart thudded in her chest. She wasn't sure if she was ready for another deep conversation, but here it was.
"I know we agreed to take things slow, and I promised not to rush you," Zhang Wei continued, his eyes searching hers. "But I think we both know that I care about you. I can't keep pretending like I'm okay with just waiting around. I need to know, Lin Yue—do you want this? Do you want us?"
The question hung in the air, and Lin Yue felt the weight of it press down on her chest. She had been waiting for a moment like this, but now that it had arrived, she wasn't sure how to answer.
She glanced down at her hands, her fingers twisting nervously around the edges of the napkin. "I do want this, Zhang Wei. But I'm scared."
Zhang Wei's gaze softened, his hand reaching across the table to gently cover hers. "I know. And that's okay. I'm not asking you to have all the answers right now. I'm just asking you to be honest with me."
Lin Yue looked up at him, her eyes filled with emotion. "I'm afraid that I'll make a mistake. That I'll let you down. I've been hurt before, and I'm scared of letting my guard down again."
Zhang Wei squeezed her hand. "I won't let you down, Lin Yue. I promise. I just need to know if you're willing to take a chance on us."
For a long moment, they sat in silence, the weight of their words lingering between them. Lin Yue felt her heart pounding in her chest, her emotions swirling in a whirlwind. Could she take that step? Could she take a chance on him?
Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to try. I want to see where this goes. But I can't promise you everything right away. I need time."
Zhang Wei smiled, his eyes warm with relief. "That's all I'm asking for. Time, patience, and honesty. We'll take it one step at a time, together."
As they sat there, their hands intertwined, Lin Yue realized that perhaps the greatest leap of faith wasn't in rushing into the future. It was in trusting each other, one step at a time, no matter how uncertain the path ahead might seem.