The days after Lin Yue's decision to trust Zhang Wei felt like a turning point. They had both agreed to take things slow, but there was a new sense of closeness between them, a shared understanding that hadn't been there before. It was as if the walls that had once kept them distant were slowly crumbling, piece by piece.
Still, Lin Yue couldn't help but feel a lingering unease. It wasn't that she regretted her decision—it was just that navigating a relationship was more complicated than she had anticipated. It was the little things that sometimes made her second-guess herself: the fleeting moments of doubt, the nagging fear that she wasn't doing enough, wasn't being enough. She had spent so much time protecting herself, building walls around her heart, that letting someone in completely felt like an alien concept.
Zhang Wei, for his part, had been patient. He respected her boundaries and never pressured her to move faster than she was comfortable with. But Lin Yue could feel the weight of the unspoken words between them—the questions they both had, the uncertainties they weren't quite ready to confront. It was only a matter of time before those questions surfaced, and she couldn't shake the thought that their relationship, despite the progress they had made, was still standing at the edge of something unknown.
One chilly evening, after a long week of work and endless responsibilities, Lin Yue found herself walking home alone. Her thoughts were heavy, and the quiet of the streets only made them more pronounced. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, interrupting the silence.
"I miss you. I was thinking of seeing you tonight, if you're free." The message was from Zhang Wei, and for a moment, Lin Yue couldn't help but smile. He always seemed to know when she needed a little extra support, when the weight of the world felt too much to bear.
But tonight was different. Tonight, something in her heart told her she needed space—space to think, to process the emotions she had been burying. She felt guilty for even considering it, but she couldn't shake the need to figure things out on her own.
She typed back a quick response, keeping it light.
"I'm a little tired tonight. Let's catch up tomorrow?"
She immediately regretted it. Her heart felt heavy, and she knew that Zhang Wei would likely be disappointed. But she needed this time to herself, to sort through her feelings before she could fully give herself to the relationship. After hitting send, she shoved her phone back into her bag and continued walking, her mind in turmoil.
The following day, Lin Yue tried to distract herself from the growing discomfort she felt about her decision. She spent the day at work, lost in her thoughts, only managing to push the nagging guilt to the back of her mind. When she returned home that evening, she was surprised to find a message from Zhang Wei waiting for her.
"It's okay. Take your time. But remember, I'm here when you need me."
The message was simple, but it struck her deeply. His understanding and patience made her heart ache. She had never had anyone in her life who was so willing to give her the space she needed, and yet, the distance between them felt so much more pronounced in that moment. How could she keep asking him to wait while she struggled with her own fears?
Lin Yue sat down on her bed, the quiet of her room only amplifying her inner turmoil. She knew Zhang Wei wasn't rushing her—he wasn't the type to push. But she couldn't ignore the growing distance between them, a distance that wasn't physical but emotional. Could she really keep moving forward in this relationship if she wasn't sure of herself?
Her phone buzzed again, pulling her out of her thoughts. This time, it was a song from Zhang Wei, a simple gesture that made her smile despite herself. The song was one they had shared once before, a tune that had become a small symbol of their connection. It was a reminder of the bond they were trying to build, of the promise they had made to each other.
She listened to the song, letting its soft melody wash over her. As the last note lingered in the air, she found herself thinking about everything they had shared—about the laughs, the late-night conversations, the moments of vulnerability. It wasn't perfect, but it was real. And maybe that was enough for now.
Later that evening, Lin Yue made a decision. She didn't want to keep running from her feelings, didn't want to keep pushing Zhang Wei away when all he had done was show her patience and kindness. Maybe the path wasn't clear, maybe the future wasn't set in stone—but it didn't mean she had to let fear rule her actions.
She picked up her phone and typed a message to Zhang Wei.
"I'm sorry for pulling away yesterday. I think I've been overthinking things. Can we meet tonight? I need to talk to you."
Her heart beat faster as she sent the message, but she knew this was the right step. She had to confront her fears if she wanted this relationship to work. She couldn't keep hiding behind walls that had long since outlived their purpose.
Within seconds, Zhang Wei replied.
"Of course. I'll be there in 30 minutes. I'm looking forward to seeing you."