Relationships
Will a relationship progress on its own if you only think about wanting to know someone?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
If you want to know someone, you cannot keep the thought only in your mind. Actual contact and expression give the other person a chance to know who you are and make further interaction possible.
During military service, I got to know a woman working at a convenience store. At first, we chatted a little whenever I bought something. Only after many conversations did I gather the courage to write her a note saying I thought she was cute and wanted to know her. I did not hand her a note the first time we met. After those earlier interactions, I took the next step in expressing interest, and we later became closer friends.
I share this to explain that action gives things a chance to develop. However, the development I described was a closer friendship, not a promise that expressing your feelings will always bring the romance you want. Besides putting thoughts into action, the outcome still depends on how the two of you interact.