Shen Chuying never dared to say "I want it".
As the least visible second child in the family, she was used to being ignored, suppressed and silenced by her grandmother. It wasn't until her sophomore year in high school that she accidentally met a person named Li Mingxi on a forum.
He is four years older than her, gentle and rational, with clear handwriting.
"You have the right to express your emotions and your feelings are important."
His letters came one after another, unraveling her problems and also unraveling her shell. During the winter and summer vacations, he taught her programming, from beginner to proficient, as if he was teaching her to live her life all over again.
She worked hard to get into his city, come to his university, and stand by his side.
After three years of love, she expressed herself more and more bravely; but he avoided her more and more quietly.
He never mentioned home, never said he was tired, and never showed vulnerability.
She chases, he flees.
After the breakup, she came to the northwest where he grew up to teach with unanswered questions.
From the mouths of colleagues and students, she pieced together his childhood: a stern father, an anxious mother, a closed door, and a silent little boy.
She finally understood: it was not her that he was avoiding, but love itself.
At the same time, his life suffered a heavy blow: his father suffered a heart attack and was hospitalized, and his work project suffered a major setback. He was forced to confront the trauma he had been avoiding and realized that his avoidance patterns left him unable to rely on others and to be dependent on others.
He traveled a twelve-hour drive to the northwest and handed a long handwritten letter among the sea of kelsang flowers:
"I'm still learning how to no longer be afraid of showing vulnerability, still learning how not to let you carry it alone, and still learning how to be loved by you. But this time, I don't want to miss it again."
Her eyes were hot and she squeezed his hand.
"It's okay, let's learn together."
This time, they finally caught the light.
Love grows in both directions, and change requires courage. The two people appear to make each other a better version of themselves.
Concept: Love is two-way growth, and change requires courage; two people appear to make each other a better version of themselves.