Why did These Phenomena Appear?

I am about the same age as the story's heroine, Meng Xiaoyu, and I have similar taste. I like literature, and I like exploring everything beautiful in life. But I certainly do not have the courage of Meng Xiaoyu (or let's call it "openness"). I have not yet had contact with this problem. I sometimes even think that unless there is a go-between other people will laugh at love — how can two young people of the opposite sex broach this topic on their own?