Liking Jin Hanshuang had been a secret Lu Yunshu kept in her heart for many years.
Due to Jin Hanshuang's marriage to Shen Minghai, she had always restrained herself, taking no action until last year when her feelings were rekindled and began to stir.
Jin Hanshuang was single now.
Jin Hanshuang also liked women.
So why couldn't she?
Why couldn't the woman standing next to Jin Hanshuang be her?
But she didn't know how to pursue someone, didn't know how to win Jin Hanshuang's favor, and feared that being too direct would backfire.
Until Jin Hanshuang asked if she had a relationship problem.
She saw it.
A great opportunity.
Since she didn't know how to win her beloved's favor, why not directly ask her beloved for advice? Even though she lied.
...So would Jin Hanshuang agree to help her?
She held Jin Hanshuang's wrist, her eyes fixed on her.
Jin Hanshuang was very beautiful today, her long, seaweed-like hair gently swaying in the breeze, revealing a red rose earring on her right ear.
The red rose was large and striking, but when worn on her ear, it was so bright and flamboyant, like a blazing fire, firmly attracting Lu Yunshu's gaze.
At this moment, it was very quiet between them, with only the whisper of the wind.
Jin Hanshuang stood still, not speaking.
She was processing the situation.
Her daughter's nemesis was asking her for help with a love problem.
She never thought this day would come.
She also didn't understand why it had to be her.
"Me?"
This one word fell, and Jin Hanshuang found it inexplicably amusing, a smile unconsciously forming on her lips.
"Why would you think of asking me? Love is a very private matter, and we're not particularly close..."
"Because I don't know who else to ask."
Jin Hanshuang's smile suddenly froze.
Such a pitiful tone.
It seemed even Lu Yunshu's gaze towards her had become pitiful.
"Of the people I know, only you also like women," Lu Yunshu said, "so I could only think of you... and only you can help me."
She tightened her grip on Jin Hanshuang's hand again, "Sister, help me, don't refuse me, okay?"
This lie was told with great effort, trying to appear natural.
In fact, among the people she knew, it wasn't just her and Jin Hanshuang who liked women... but everything was to get closer to Jin Hanshuang.
The desire not to be rejected by Jin Hanshuang made her expression and tone sincere and pitiful, like a little dog begging for attention in front of Jin Hanshuang.
Don't reject me... please...
"..."
Jin Hanshuang didn't answer immediately.
She couldn't help but look at Lu Yunshu twice, her thoughts uncontrollably drifting back to when they first met.
At that time, Lu Yunshu was in her senior year of high school, and so was Shen Wenxin.
Both were very diligent, attending the same prestigious high school in the city, and coincidentally in the same class.
Their fathers bought houses near the school, in a quiet environment close to the school, so they could focus on their studies for three years of high school, with someone responsible for laundry and cooking.
Coincidentally, both families bought houses in the same neighborhood, only realizing it after moving in.
Jin Hanshuang moved into the neighborhood with Shen Wenxin in her second year of marriage to Shen Minghai.
It was here that she met Lu Yunshu.
At that time, Lu Yunshu was already growing into a graceful and beautiful young woman, but still naive and inexperienced, with ordinary glasses on her nose, introverted and well-behaved.
She wore a ponytail every day, carrying her schoolbag back and forth, quiet and looking like a model student.
And she was indeed a model student.
Shen Wenxin said Lu Yunshu had been named a model student twice, one more time than her, and she was not happy about it.
Since then, Jin Hanshuang's impression of Lu Yunshu included one more thing: a good girl.
Now the good girl Lu Yunshu had grown up and become the head of the Lu family.
She had become mature and steady, and her glasses were no longer plain. She was also bent, just like her.
She even sought her help with relationship issues.
It was a development one could never have dreamed of.
Jin Hanshuang's thoughts drifted back to reality, and she opened her mouth, "Have you thought it through? I am your nemesis's stepmother."
Lu Yunshu's voice was gentle, "You are my nemesis's stepmother, not my nemesis."
Jin Hanshuang asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Wenxin?"
Lu Yunshu remained calm, "This isn't something that needs to be told to her, is it?"
Jin Hanshuang smiled.
This smile made Lu Yunshu a bit uncertain.
Was she agreeing or still planning to refuse her?
Thinking of the latter, Lu Yunshu nervously tightened her grip on Jin Hanshuang's hand again, "So will you agree to help me?"
Jin Hanshuang looked at the pitiful person in front of her... and nodded.
"Yes, Sister will help you."
The child was so pitiful, so she decided to help her.
Generous kindness turned into stars in Lu Yunshu's eyes, instantly lighting up her gaze.
Jin Hanshuang saw her lips curve into a smile, a joyful expression that made her whole being bright, like snow melting, like flowers blooming, radiant.
Then, she was hugged.
"Thank you."
Lu Yunshu's voice fell into Jin Hanshuang's ear, as gentle as the wind whispering.
"You are so kind."
The sudden hug made Jin Hanshuang freeze for a moment, blinking her eyes.
The boundaries between them had been crossed.
Very uncomfortable.
But seeing the young one so happy... she let it go.
Jin Hanshuang raised an eyebrow, then good-naturedly and awkwardly patted Lu Yunshu's back.
"It's a small matter, no need to be so polite."
However, it seemed her image in Lu Yunshu's heart was quite good.
"Tell me about the person you like."
Jin Hanshuang started the conversation.
They walked side by side towards the parking lot.
"Where should I start?"
Lu Yunshu seemed a bit confused.
"Age, maybe."
Lu Yunshu sneaked a glance at her.
"Older than me."
"When did you meet?"
"A long time ago, when I was still in school."
"Oh? A classmate?"
Lu Yunshu smiled, neither confirming nor denying.
"So, you've known each other for quite a while. Have you never tried confessing before?"
"No, for some other reasons."
Lu Yunshu's response was vague, and seeing that she didn't intend to be honest, Jin Hanshuang didn't press further and changed the topic, "What does she do now?"
Lu Yunshu thought of Jin Hanshuang's current status: a leisurely rich lady.
She definitely couldn't say that, not to mention the risk of exposure. If Jin Hanshuang misunderstood her as wanting to be a third party, that would be terrible.
She recalled the scene of the wind lifting Jin Hanshuang's long hair, revealing her striking earrings, and couldn't help but say, "She... does something related to fashion."
Jin Hanshuang was quite fashionable.
In terms of fashion sense, she had never lost.
Jin Hanshuang was unaware and nodded knowingly, "Oh, I see~"
She curved her lips and lightly asked the next question, "What do you like about her?"
"Like..."
Lu Yunshu turned to gaze at Jin Hanshuang.
"Her gentleness."
Their eyes met, and the person answering seriously had a touch of gentleness on her face.
She looked at her, very gently.
Liking her gentleness, she couldn't help but be gentle towards her.
Jin Hanshuang looked back at her.
After two seconds, she suddenly smiled, her expression softening.
"You really like her," Jin Hanshuang said, "When you talk about her, you become so gentle."
She didn't think of herself at all.
Lu Yunshu was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh softly.
She nodded lightly.
"Yes, I really like her."
The two stood in the parking lot, looking at each other. Suddenly, Jin Hanshuang changed the topic, "Then you should be careful with your jokes in the future."
Lu Yunshu: "?"
Jin Hanshuang took on the demeanor of an elder, looking slightly serious at the well-behaved but not very familiar child in front of her, "At the party the other night, you joked about pursuing me. How can you say such things when you already have someone you like? You, child, I didn't realize you had such an unserious side. This is not appropriate, you can't do this in the future."
She thought she was well-behaved and serious, but it turned out she could joke.
She thought she liked men, but it turned out she was also a lesbian and even told her directly.
She really didn't know enough about Lu Yunshu, and learning more wouldn't be surprising.
After hearing her words, Lu Yunshu fell silent.
-Speechless.
She had to obediently admit her mistake, "I understand. I won't make such jokes to others in the future."
"Good girl~"
Jin Hanshuang took out her car keys.
Watching her leave without any hesitation, Lu Yunshu smiled helplessly.
Regarding her feelings, she really hadn't thought of herself at all.