Chapter 27: The Mask Begins to Crack

Mei Lin sat by the window, gazing at the rain pattering softly against the glass. The sky was overcast, mirroring the storm brewing in her heart. Since the last confrontation with Li Wei, an unsettling quiet had settled between them. She hadn't seen him in days, and his absence felt like a hollow echo in her life, something she hadn't quite realized she depended on.

She pulled her knees to her chest and buried her face in her arms, feeling the weight of everything bearing down on her. The struggle between her dream of becoming a lawyer and the newfound passion for painting gnawed at her every day. It was a dilemma she hadn't yet resolved, and her growing feelings for Li Wei complicated things even further.

A knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts. She wasn't expecting anyone, and with a quick glance at the clock, she realized it was well past study hours. When she opened the door, a soaking-wet Li Na stood in the hallway, a concerned expression on her face.

"Mei Lin, I had to come," Li Na said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "I heard something—something about Li Wei."

Mei Lin's heart skipped a beat at his name. She tried to remain composed, but her voice wavered. "What... what did you hear?"

Li Na hesitated for a moment, clearly trying to figure out how to phrase the news without causing too much distress. "I think there's something serious going on with his family. There are rumors… about his father, his company, everything. People are saying that Li Wei is being forced into a position he doesn't want."

Mei Lin's brow furrowed in confusion. "A position he doesn't want?"

"His family is pushing him into taking over certain responsibilities—responsibilities that he isn't ready for," Li Na explained, crossing her arms. "I know Li Wei can seem cold and distant, but it's because of the pressure he's under. He's carrying more weight than anyone should at our age."

Mei Lin felt a pang of guilt, realizing how she had often misunderstood his behavior. All this time, she had assumed his aloofness was born of arrogance, but now, she could see it for what it truly was: the crushing burden of expectations he never asked for.

"Why didn't he say anything?" Mei Lin muttered, more to herself than to Li Na.

"Because he's Li Wei," Li Na replied softly, taking a seat on the bed next to Mei Lin. "He hides everything behind that cold facade. He doesn't want to appear weak."

A long silence stretched between them, punctuated only by the rhythmic patter of the rain outside. Mei Lin's mind raced with thoughts of all the times she had confronted Li Wei, all the arguments, the cold silences. Had she been too harsh? Too quick to judge?

"I need to talk to him," Mei Lin finally said, standing up with renewed determination.

Li Na looked at her with cautious optimism. "Are you sure? He's been avoiding everyone, even his closest friends."

Mei Lin nodded. "I've misunderstood him for so long. If there's even a chance that I can help, I need to take it."

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Later that evening, Mei Lin found herself walking towards Li Wei's dorm. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and the air smelled fresh and damp. Her footsteps were soft on the pavement as she neared his building, her heart pounding with each step.

When she reached his door, she hesitated. What if he refused to talk? What if he shut her out the way he had before? Mei Lin steeled herself, lifting her hand to knock.

The door opened before she had the chance.

Li Wei stood there, his expression unreadable, his eyes dark and tired. His usual cool composure was nowhere to be found. He looked vulnerable, almost fragile.

"Mei Lin?" he asked, surprise flickering in his voice.

"I—I heard about your family," Mei Lin stammered, feeling suddenly unsure of herself. "I wanted to see if you were okay."

Li Wei's eyes flickered with something she couldn't quite place—anger? Frustration? Pain? He sighed heavily and stepped aside, allowing her to enter.

The room was dimly lit, and papers were scattered across his desk, evidence of the chaos in his life. Mei Lin stood awkwardly near the door, not knowing where to begin.

"Why are you here?" Li Wei finally asked, his voice cold but not unkind.

"Because I care," she blurted out before she could stop herself. Her words hung in the air between them, raw and vulnerable. She hadn't meant to say it so bluntly, but it was the truth, and she was done hiding from it.

Li Wei's expression softened, if only for a moment. He turned away, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "It's not that simple, Mei Lin."

"Then explain it to me," she pleaded, stepping closer. "I've misunderstood you for so long, and I hate that. If there's more to this, please, let me in."

For a long moment, Li Wei said nothing. His shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world were pressing down on him. Finally, he spoke, his voice quieter than before.

"My family… expects me to take over everything," he began. "The company, the business deals, all of it. I've been groomed for it since I was a child. But it's not what I want. It's never been what I wanted."

Mei Lin listened intently, her heart aching for him. She had never seen him like this—so open, so raw. "Then why don't you tell them?"

"You think it's that easy?" Li Wei snapped, his voice rising in frustration. "You think I haven't tried? My father doesn't listen. To him, I'm nothing more than an asset to be used."

The bitterness in his voice struck Mei Lin like a physical blow. She stepped forward, gently reaching out to touch his arm. "You're more than that, Li Wei. So much more."

He looked down at her hand on his arm, his expression softening again. "I don't know if I can fight it, Mei Lin. I don't know if I have the strength."

"You're not alone in this," she whispered. "I'll help you. Whatever it takes."

Li Wei met her gaze, and for the first time, Mei Lin saw the real him—the boy beneath the mask, vulnerable and lost. And in that moment, something shifted between them, something undeniable.

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End of Chapter 27

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