Xia Fei sat at his small desk, fingers lightly tapping the edge as his mind raced. It had been a few days since Veinâs confession, and his thoughts were tangled. His heart had its own voice, but his head kept raising questions, doubts, and fears. He couldnât stop thinking about everything Vein had said, the sincerity in his voice, and how it all felt so confusing. The weight of Veinâs words still lingered in the air.
He needed someone to talk to. He needed advice from someone who would understand, someone who could give him perspective on the situation. Liu Xiao had always been reliable, but Xia Fei never trusted him in the first place...
Thatâs when he thought of Cheng Xiaoshi. They've always stayed in touch, and even though they didnât hang out often, Xia Fei knew he could trust him. Plus, since Xiaoshi is in a relationship with Luguang, he could probably offer some valuable relationship advice.
Without overthinking, Xia Fei pulled out his phone and dialed Cheng Xiaoshiâs number.
---
"Hey, Xia Fei. What's up?" Cheng Xiaoshiâs voice came through the phone, warm and casual as usual.
"Xiaoshi, I... I need some advice," Xia Fei said, feeling a little nervous. This was the first time heâd reached out to his friend for something so personal.
Cheng Xiaoshi was quiet for a moment, as if sensing the seriousness in his tone. "Of course. What's going on?"
"Itâs about Vein," Xia Fei began, sighing. "He⦠confessed to me, said he loves me, and I donât know what to do with all of this."
Cheng Xiaoshiâs voice shifted, no longer casual but attentive. "I see. So, how do you feel about it?"
Xia Feiâs thoughts swirled. He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes, trying to sort through the jumble of emotions. "I care about him. I do. But... I donât know if I can handle it. His world is so different from mine. Iâve seen things, been through things that make me wonder if itâs even possible to have something real with him. I donât know if Iâm brave enough for this."
Cheng Xiaoshi let out a soft chuckle, as if he found something reassuring in Xia Feiâs vulnerability. "Xia Fei, youâre way overthinking this." He paused. "Look, I know itâs complicated. I canât pretend itâs all smooth sailing. But you canât keep doubting yourself like this. Vein loves you for who you are. All of you. And that means you donât need to change or âbe perfectâ to be with him."
Xia Fei bit his lip, still unsure. "But what if I make a mistake? What if I mess it up somehow?"
"Youâre not going to mess it up, trust me," Cheng Xiaoshi said with confidence. "Iâm not saying you should rush into things, but thereâs no need to take it slowly or be super cautious. Let your feelings flow naturally. Just be yourself, Xia Fei. Thatâs what Vein loves about you. You donât have to worry about making the wrong move or being anything other than you."
Xia Fei felt a warmth spreading through him, a mix of relief and gratitude. "So, you think I should just go for it?"
"If thatâs what you want," Cheng Xiaoshi replied, his tone light but earnest. "Youâve got to stop second-guessing yourself. Vein isnât expecting perfection. He just wants you. And I think you want him too. So why hold back?"
Xia Fei let out a deep breath. "I guess⦠I guess Iâve been holding back for so long because I was scared of what could happen. But maybe you're right. Maybe I should just let things happen, see where they go."
Cheng Xiaoshi chuckled softly. "There you go. And remember, thereâs no ârightâ way to do this. Itâs about how you both feel. And you donât need to overthink it. Just let things be, and youâll figure it out as you go."
Xia Fei smiled, feeling lighter. "Thanks, Xiaoshi. I appreciate it. I think I needed to hear that."
"Anytime, man. You deserve to be happy. Donât be afraid to go after what you want," Cheng Xiaoshi said, his voice warm with encouragement. "And, you know, if you ever need anything, you can always talk to me. Also update me if anything new comes up, hehe."
"I will. Thanks again." Xia Fei paused, his thoughts still racing but now with more clarity. "Iâll try to let things happen. Letâs see where it goes!"
---
After hanging up, Xia Fei felt a sense of calm wash over him. For the first time in days, he didnât feel so lost. Cheng Xiaoshiâs words had given him the reassurance he needed. Vein wasnât asking for perfection. He was asking for Xia Fei. And that, Xia Fei realized, was something worth exploring.
As he set his phone down and stared out the window, a part of him felt ready to take the next step. There was no perfect answer, no guaranteed outcomeâbut maybe, just maybe, letting things happen naturally was the best choice.
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Short chapter and I kind of rushed it tbh but yeah (they are going on a date in the next chapter) (â ã¥â ï¿£â  â ³â ï¿£â )â ã¥
ALSO BTW GUYS!!
INFORMATION YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW BUT ACTUALLY VEIN AND XIAFEI HAVE A 4 YEARS AGE GAP! Didn't expect that tbh ð¨