Two ice cream sticks were added to the trash can.
Lu Yunshu and Jin Hanshuang walked side by side, the night breeze blowing through the alley, cool and comfortable.
So quiet.
Even with people coming and going around them.
After a while, Lu Yunshu broke the silence first, "When you asked to meet when I was free, was there something you wanted to talk about?"
Jin Hanshuang thought for a moment before remembering what she meant, then smiled, "Nothing now."
What needed to be clarified no longer needed to be said.
She and Du Mengying had thought too absurdly about Lu Yunshu, and saying it now would only add awkwardness.
Lu Yunshu blinked lightly.
Curious, but it seemed like asking wouldn't yield an answer.
"Next time I'm busy and you need to talk to me, you can leave me a message."
Jin Hanshuang turned to look at her.
Lu Yunshu's gaze was gentle as she looked into her eyes.
"No matter what it is, I'll reply to you as soon as I see it."
Jin Hanshuang smiled, "You focus on your work, no need to reply to me immediately."
"I need to," Lu Yunshu's tone was very serious, "I can't let you wait too long."
"You're so serious."
"I have to be serious with Hanshuang."
"Hmm?"
"Afraid you'll think I'm being perfunctory and dislike me."
"I don't want you to dislike me."
Lu Yunshu's voice remained serious and sincere.
Jin Hanshuang suddenly stopped and looked into Lu Yunshu's eyes.
She was bathed in the yellow light, her appearance softened.
"Why?" she suddenly asked.
She was relieved that Lu Yunshu didn't like her, but as Du Mengying said, Lu Yunshu's kindness was real and visible.
But why?
Despite not having much interaction, she was willing to be gentle, find her, approach her, and become friends.
Why...
"Because I like you."
A sudden sentence, like a confession.
Jin Hanshuang was stunned, calmly raised an eyebrow, waiting for Lu Yunshu to finish.
"I like being friends with Hanshuang."
Jin Hanshuang nodded.
As expected.
That made sense.
Lu Yunshu's patch was half willing, half unwilling.
She did want to be friends, had wanted to for a long time.
She also liked her, wanted to be her lover, wanted to confess, but always lacked the courage.
Jin Hanshuang looked at her curiously, her lips slightly curved, "Did you suddenly find out that sister is not bad after being friends recently?"
Lu Yunshu also smiled.
Then shook her head.
"No."
"Actually, I realized it a long time ago."
"Hmm?"
"You asked me before if I liked being with you, and I said yes."
Lu Yunshu said, her gentle eyes reflecting Jin Hanshuang's image.
"I wasn't lying, I really like being with you.
"I've liked it for a long time."
The gentle words fell into Jin Hanshuang's ears with the night breeze.
The genuine feelings in the words made her believe it.
And made her more curious.
"A long time? How long ago?"
"Around senior year of high school."
"Huh?"
Jin Hanshuang was even more confused but couldn't help laughing, full of disbelief.
"No way, you were so cold back then, your reaction to me was so indifferent, but you liked being with me?"
Lu Yunshu blushed from her laughter.
"Is that not allowed..."
Her tone was light, a bit embarrassed.
She was indeed quite cold during her senior year.
But she really liked being with Jin Hanshuang, just didn't want to admit it at the time.
Hearing this tone, Jin Hanshuang couldn't help but feel sorry for the little puppy.
"Of course, of course, our Yunshu can do anything."
Only then did Lu Yunshu's pitiful expression turn into a smile.
Jin Hanshuang became interested, looking at the little puppy with a smile, "Why do you like being with me?"
"Because being with sister is very peaceful."
Lu Yunshu's memory drifted back to the past, to a certain summer night.
"I still remember the first time you sat under the tree with me, looking at the stars."
That day, she felt very tired.
She didn't want to read, didn't want to hear her father say things like "you have to work hard" and "you have to surpass Shen Wenxin."
So she walked out of the house, left home, and sat alone under the big tree downstairs.
When she sat alone, everything was very quiet, even the stars in the sky.
She found a moment of respite in the quiet.
Then she saw Jin Hanshuang again.
Jin Hanshuang had just come back from outside, dressed beautifully, still looking dazzling.
Their eyes met briefly.
Jin Hanshuang turned and went upstairs.
She looked up at the stars again.
Then Jin Hanshuang came back down.
She had changed into comfortable home clothes and came back down.
She walked straight to Lu Yunshu, sat down next to her very naturally, looked up, and watched the stars with her.
No one spoke.
Or rather, it seemed like no one knew how to start a conversation, so they just sat there silently, watching the stars, not awkwardly.
At that time, Lu Yunshu thought maybe it was just her thinking that way.
She didn't know what Jin Hanshuang was thinking; she could never see through this woman.
After a long time, she couldn't help but ask, "Is there something you need?"
"No," Jin Hanshuang said.
"Then what are you doing...?"
"Experiencing."
"?"
"I see you often sitting here alone, curious, so I came to experience it too."
"......"
Nonsensical.
Then she heard Jin Hanshuang laugh and say, "Wow, this view of the stars is really nice, and the breeze is very comfortable~ You have a good eye for places."
Lu Yunshu's speechlessness was instantly dissolved by this recognition.
Yes, this place was really nice.
Tasteful.
"But I feel like you always look troubled when you sit here," Jin Hanshuang suddenly asked, "Do you come here whenever you have something on your mind?"
Lu Yunshu: "......"
Didn't answer.
Jin Hanshuang smiled knowingly, "Having your own way to unwind is good, better than keeping it all inside. Sometimes people need to give themselves a break."
"So did Shen Wenxin take a break?"
Lu Yunshu replied expressionlessly.
Shen Wenxin had taken a leave of absence yesterday.
The homeroom teacher didn't say why, just that her mother called to ask for it.
This mother referred to Jin Hanshuang.
She didn't know why Shen Wenxin took a leave, but it definitely wasn't for illness.
She saw Shen Wenxin coming downstairs to throw out the trash today, lively and energetic.
Didn't understand.
Knowing the inside story, Shen's step mother smiled faintly, didn't say yes or no, just said, "Oh, high school seniors are always tired... aren't you too?"
The topic shifted to her.
Lu Yunshu: "......"
No need to answer, the answer was obvious.
Jin Hanshuang smiled gently, "I know, you're all very tired..."
Lu Yunshu expressionlessly said, "Is Shen Wenxin tired? She looked very happy today."
Shen Wenxin's expression today was sunny and bright.
How was she tired? Wasn't she quite happy?
Taking leave on Friday, plus the Saturday rest day, she even had a complete weekend!
Jin Hanshuang chuckled softly and didn't deny it, "Yes, she was very happy today."
She sighed lightly, "But sister wasn't so happy."
Lu Yunshu asked why.
Jin Hanshuang replied, "It's a secret."
"......"
Lu Yunshu: "Then why are you telling me?"
Jin Hanshuang: "I'm just sighing."
Lu Yunshu: "You should sigh to Shen Wenxin."
Jin Hanshuang: "No, I can't sigh to her about this."
Lu Yunshu: "......?"
Lu Yunshu didn't understand again, "Why not?"
Jin Hanshuang smiled, suddenly becoming a bit honest, "Hmm... because it would ruin the image she has of me, it would burden her happiness, and I don't want that."
Her voice was gentle, with a touch of seriousness.
Lu Yunshu's expression unconsciously became solemn.
This was probably not something to joke about...
She heard Jin Hanshuang suddenly say, "Oh dear, I have to ask Classmate Lu to keep another secret for me."
Jin Hanshuang smiled brightly.
Lu Yunshu: "......"
Nonsensical adult.
"You should say fewer secrets."
Jin Hanshuang smiled and looked away.
They stopped talking, quietly watching the stars in the cool night breeze.
The atmosphere was harmonious.
At some point, Lu Yunshu no longer felt awkward.
Jin Hanshuang didn't have the airs of an elder, sometimes she wasn't much different from them... and talking to Jin Hanshuang was actually quite easy.
So just like that, sitting together watching the stars, quietly.
At this moment, there were no complicated studies, no heavy family burdens, no third person.
They were just two people sitting under a tree watching the stars, nothing more ordinary, nothing more mundane.
After that, there was a second time, a third time... Jin Hanshuang would occasionally come down to sit under the tree and watch the stars with her.
Gradually, she felt this was quite nice.
Jin Hanshuang, though sometimes nonsensical, was also a very interesting woman.
Lu Yunshu's thoughts returned to reality,
To the beautiful reality of being close to her crush.
"Now being with you is also very peaceful and happy, so I want to seize the opportunity to be friends with you."
Jin Hanshuang understood everything.
Lu Yunshu came to her because she wanted to be friends, which was a good thing, and she shouldn't doubt it anymore.
She gently patted Lu Yunshu's hair, "Good girl."
"But your secret that day made me very curious."
After saying this, Lu Yunshu shook her head.
"You probably don't remember that day anymore."
Jin Hanshuang opened her lips, "I remember."
She said, "It left a deep impression."
"Why?"
Lu Yunshu asked the same question as back then.
Jin Hanshuang looked at her, didn't speak for a long time, then smiled softly, "Because sister got scolded that day."