Chapter 18: Echoes of the Past

The afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of the art studio, casting golden light across the scattered brushes and paint cans. Mei Lin sat before her canvas, her brush hovering mid-air as her mind wandered. She had been staring at the same spot for nearly ten minutes, unable to bring herself to finish the painting. Her thoughts were no longer on the strokes or the colors but on Li Wei.

The tension between them had escalated again, with misunderstandings building up like walls. He had been distant—colder than usual, if that was even possible. But this time, there was something behind his eyes she couldn't place. Was it hurt? Or perhaps regret? She couldn't help but wonder if she was imagining it.

Her phone buzzed on the table, pulling her from her thoughts. It was Li Na.

Want to grab coffee?

Li Na's text was short, but it felt like a lifeline.

Mei Lin sighed and wiped her hands on a rag before typing back, Sure, meet you in 20?

As she packed up her things, her mind drifted back to the first time she and Li Na had bonded. The memory surfaced without warning, and for a moment, it was as if she was transported back to that day.

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It had been during one of their shared classes—History, if she remembered correctly. They had been paired for a project, and while Mei Lin had always preferred working alone, something about Li Na's open and easygoing nature had made it hard to stay closed off.

"Do you always work this hard?" Li Na had asked after one of their study sessions. Mei Lin had been up late the night before, pushing herself too hard again.

Mei Lin had shrugged, trying to brush it off. "It's nothing."

Li Na hadn't been fooled. "You know, you don't have to pretend everything's fine. It's okay to be tired or frustrated. You don't always have to be perfect."

That had been the first time someone had said something like that to Mei Lin. For as long as she could remember, she had always been the strong one, the one who didn't show cracks. But somehow, with Li Na, it felt different.

A few weeks later, Li Na had invited her for coffee after noticing Mei Lin staying behind in the art room late into the evening. They hadn't been close friends then, but Li Na had sensed something. It was that day, over warm mugs of coffee, that Mei Lin had opened up about her struggles—about the weight of her dream of becoming a lawyer, and how, deep down, she wasn't sure if that was really her passion.

"I love painting," Mei Lin had confessed softly, her fingers tracing the rim of her mug. "But no one knows that. It feels like...if I admit it, I'm letting everyone down. My parents, my expectations of myself."

Li Na had been silent for a moment, watching her carefully. Then she had reached across the table and squeezed Mei Lin's hand. "You're not letting anyone down by being true to yourself. If painting makes you happy, then you owe it to yourself to pursue that happiness."

That had been the moment their friendship solidified. Mei Lin had never felt such relief in confiding in someone. From then on, Li Na had been the one person who truly understood the struggle between her dream and her passion. And she had supported Mei Lin every step of the way, never pushing, but always there when she needed a sounding board.

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Back in the present, Mei Lin smiled faintly at the memory as she closed the door to the studio behind her. She didn't know what she would have done without Li Na over the past few years.

Arriving at the café, she spotted Li Na sitting by the window, waving her over with a grin. Mei Lin couldn't help but feel a rush of gratitude for her friend.

"So, what's going on in that beautiful, brooding mind of yours?" Li Na teased, sipping her iced latte.

Mei Lin rolled her eyes but took a seat across from her. "I don't brood."

"Please, you brood more than anyone I know." Li Na leaned in, lowering her voice. "It's about Li Wei, isn't it?"

The sound of his name sent a jolt through Mei Lin. She had tried to avoid thinking about him, but it seemed he was impossible to escape. "It's just...complicated," Mei Lin admitted.

Li Na raised an eyebrow. "Complicated how?"

"There's something between us, but it's always been so...strained. It's like every time we get close, something pulls us apart. And now...I think I've made things worse."

Li Na looked at her thoughtfully for a moment before speaking. "You know, for someone who's as strong and independent as you are, you're really bad at facing your own feelings."

Mei Lin blinked, surprised by the bluntness of the comment.

"Look," Li Na continued, "I don't know what's going on between you two exactly, but you can't keep avoiding it. If you care about him—and I think you do, whether you want to admit it or not—then maybe it's time to talk to him. Really talk to him."

Mei Lin looked down at her hands. Was it that simple? Could a conversation really bridge the chasm that had grown between them?

But deep down, she knew Li Na was right. The tension between her and Li Wei had been festering for too long, and if they didn't face it, it would only continue to spiral out of control. She just wasn't sure if she was ready to deal with the consequences of opening that door.

"Think about it," Li Na said gently, breaking the silence. "Whatever happens, you'll feel better knowing you tried."

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As the sun set outside the café window, casting a warm glow across the room, Mei Lin felt a flicker of hope. Maybe things with Li Wei weren't as impossible as they seemed. Maybe there was still a chance to untangle the web of misunderstandings that had formed between them.

She took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll think about it."

Li Na smiled, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. "Good. Now, let's talk about something less stressful—like your next art project."

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End of Chapter 18

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