The days that followed brought a sense of rhythm and comfort to Lin Yue's life, yet a quiet unease still lingered. It wasn't because of Zhang Wei, nor their relationship, which had only grown stronger. No, it was the deeper question that gnawed at her—the one that always seemed to surface when life began to feel too easy: Was she truly ready to make a permanent commitment to anyone, especially when her own future still felt so uncertain?
It was a typical Tuesday when it all came to a head. Lin Yue found herself alone in her apartment, sitting on the couch with her laptop open. She had deadlines to meet, emails to respond to, and tasks to check off her ever-growing list. But her thoughts kept wandering, drifting toward Zhang Wei. Toward their relationship. Toward everything they had said, everything they had promised each other in those soft, intimate moments.
Just then, a knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She stood up quickly, hoping it was Zhang Wei—he had mentioned stopping by after work.
But when she opened the door, she was greeted by someone else.
Her mother stood in the doorway, looking as composed as ever, though there was a hint of concern in her eyes. Lin Yue felt a sudden rush of nervous energy, unsure whether she was ready for this conversation.
"Mom," Lin Yue said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd drop by and check on you," her mother replied, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "You've been so busy with work lately. I wanted to see how you're doing."
Lin Yue gave her a tight smile, gesturing for her to sit. "I'm doing fine. Just the usual—work, meetings, deadlines."
Her mother eyed her carefully, her gaze sharp. "Is everything really fine, Lin Yue? You've been distant lately. Are you sure nothing is weighing on you?"
Lin Yue paused, unsure of how to answer. The truth was, something had been weighing on her, but it wasn't something she was ready to voice just yet.
Instead, she forced a smile and said, "I'm just figuring things out. Nothing to worry about."
But her mother wasn't convinced. "I know you, Lin Yue. You're not one to hide things. What's really going on?"
Lin Yue sighed, rubbing her temples as she sat down across from her mother. "It's just... I'm not sure about everything. About the future, about the decisions I've made. There's a lot I need to figure out."
Her mother's expression softened, but only slightly. "I understand that, but you've always been so focused on your career. Don't forget about the other parts of life, the ones that matter the most—family, love, settling down."
Lin Yue's heart skipped a beat at the mention of settling down. She wasn't ready for that conversation, not yet. The idea of settling down, of commitment, still felt like something far off, something she hadn't quite prepared for.
"I know you want what's best for me, Mom," Lin Yue said carefully. "But I'm not sure I'm ready for everything you want for me. I'm still figuring it out. I need to make these decisions for myself, not because of someone else's expectations."
Her mother's eyes flashed with a mixture of disappointment and understanding. "I just want you to be happy, Lin Yue. But remember, life doesn't wait. You can't keep putting things off forever."
Lin Yue swallowed hard, fighting the lump in her throat. "I know. I just... I need time."
The conversation with her mother left Lin Yue feeling more conflicted than ever. On the one hand, she understood her mother's concern—life had a way of demanding decisions, forcing people to move forward. But on the other hand, Lin Yue couldn't help but feel that rushing into anything, whether it was love, commitment, or the future, was never the answer.
Later that evening, as she sat at the dinner table, Zhang Wei arrived, as he always did after a long day of work. His presence felt like an anchor, steady and grounding, yet Lin Yue couldn't shake the unease that lingered after her conversation with her mother.
"Hey," Zhang Wei said, his smile softening the tension in the room. "How was your day?"
Lin Yue took a deep breath, trying to push her worries aside. "It was fine. My mom stopped by."
Zhang Wei raised an eyebrow, sensing that something was off. "Oh? What did she want?"
Lin Yue hesitated. She didn't want to bring her mother's words into their space, but the weight of them was too much to keep inside. "She just... wants me to settle down. To make decisions that I'm not sure I'm ready for."
Zhang Wei's gaze softened. He sat down next to her, his hand gently resting on hers. "I understand. Parents can be a little... insistent about these things."
Lin Yue chuckled, despite herself. "That's one way to put it."
Zhang Wei was quiet for a moment, considering his words carefully. "You don't have to have everything figured out right away, Lin Yue. I'm not asking you to make a decision today, or tomorrow. We have time. But I also want you to know that I'm here, no matter what."
Lin Yue's heart swelled at his words. For so long, she had been afraid to let anyone in, to share her fears, her uncertainties. But with Zhang Wei, she was learning to trust, to lean on someone else when the weight of the world felt too heavy.
"I'm trying to figure it out," Lin Yue said softly. "But I'm scared of making the wrong choice. Scared of disappointing you. Or my mom."
Zhang Wei smiled gently, lifting her chin so that she met his gaze. "You won't disappoint me. And you won't disappoint your mom. Whatever you choose, I'll be here. No matter what."