Love Beyond Borders
a soft, lingering charm in Shanghai and Lucy
ed back to the evening she had spent with Li Wei. The mooncake celebration had been delightful, but it was
mystery she found he
he had gleaned only fragments of his world, and those fragments left her wanting to know more. His interest in tradition, his respect for
work, she would find her mind drifting to the details of their conversation
she realized how much she still had to learn about Chinese c
commute, Lucy received a messag
u're doing well. I'd like
e was quick an
nds wonderful!
end you the details. L
i Wei's favorite tea. She had not forgotten this detail from their
e scent of something delicious wafting through the air. She rang the doorb
n," Li Wei said, steppin
th a smile. "I brought you
"Thank you so much. Please, make yourself c
legance and subtle traditional touches, much like Li Wei himself. She could hear the sounds of
sy at work. He moved with practiced ease, chopping vegetables, stirr
nted, watching as Li Wei exp
d. It's a way for me to unwind and connect with my heritage. Tonight, I've pre
each dish a
red in a fragrant mixture of soy sauce, rice wine, and spices until it was tender and glossy. Alongside it, he was preparing a de
s he plated up the food. "Meals were always an important part of my family's day. My father ins
the spread before her. The food was not only visually st
naturally. Lucy praised the flavors of each di
verything had its place, and every action had its reason. I was expected to follow the family traditions, to
ations Li Wei had grown up with. "It sounds like you had
importance of discipline and respect. I didn't always appreciate it then, but as
"she said with a chuckle. "My parents always encouraged me to be independent. There were few rules in our household, and I was given a lot of
t of their conversation, and both found themselve
ned by freedom and exploration. Yet, despite these differences, they found common gr
ling the cool evening breeze. The night was serene, the distant hum of the city providing a soothing backdrop to their conversation.
d glimpses of a life steeped in duty and discipline. He shared memories of his childhood, where his every action was measured and his every success celebrated-but only in a reserved, alm
eved it would teach me patience and discipline. Every morning, I would sit at the table, practicing my strokes for hours. My father would watch, correcting me if I strayed even
his father, but also the weight of the expectations that had been placed upon him. It was a life
ay reading or exploring the woods near our house, that was fine. If I decided to travel on a whim, they supported it. I think they just wanted me to b
ces. Li Wei admired Lucy's independence and the ease with which she navigated life's uncertainties.
at Lucy, noticing the way the soft light from the apartment played on her features, the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke with enthusiasm. He could feel the
something more. Her heart beat a little faster each time Li Wei's gaze lingered on her. There was a part of her that wanted to lean in, to
They sat side by side, the distance between them small yet significant. The city spread out
I've really enjoyed tonight, Lucy," he said, his eyes meeting he
through her at his words. I've enjoye
t, a brief flicker of time, where either one of them could have leaned in, could have crossed the boundary between friendship and somethi
l palpable but unacknowledged. Li Wei opened the door for her, and
said softly, his voice tin
, her heart still racing with th
her skin. As she walked away, she felt a mixture of emotions-contentment from the evening t