Jin Hanshuang neither agreed nor refused, nor did she drive Lu Yunshu away.
They were taking a walk.
Shoulder to shoulder, they walked slowly along the road outside the apartment complex.
The night breeze blew, and the air was filled with the scent of grass.
"Where's the new girl?"
Lu Yunshu was the first to speak, asking the question she cared about the most.
"The new girl is playing games with my friends."
"You're not accompanying her?"
"No."
"I have something to do," Jin Hanshuang said again.
"Do you want to do it first, and we can continue our walk after you're done?"
Lu Yunshu really believed her.
Jin Hanshuang couldn't help but laugh.
So serious and earnest, she actually believed it.
"It's okay, things can be handled later."
When Lu Yunshu heard this, she suddenly understood something and felt a small joy in her heart: "You don't like her?"
If she didn't dislike her, why would she rush back to handle things that could be done later?
Jin Hanshuang corrected her: "Just no feelings, not that I don't like her. We can still be friends. The girl is quite nice, very talkative, interesting, and pretty."
Lu Yunshu asked again: "Prettier than me?"
Jin Hanshuang smiled helplessly: "Really..."
This child never misses a chance to compete for first place in her heart.
"Different kind of pretty," Jin Hanshuang said, "You both wear glasses, she has black frames, you have gold ones, very different."
Lu Yunshu smiled: "Got it, you like me."
Jin Hanshuang looked at her.
Lu Yunshu also looked over, with a smile in her eyes.
"I know, you like gold-rimmed glasses."
Jin Hanshuang asked in surprise, "How do you know?"
"You mentioned it in your Moments."
"?"
"A few years ago, you posted a Moment with a picture of gold-rimmed glasses on the table, and the caption was "Really beautiful." Weren't you praising the glasses?"
Jin Hanshuang had posted too many Moments and had no impression of this one.
However, Lu Yunshu was right.
"Yes, sister likes these glasses and also likes to see pretty girls and pretty sisters wearing these glasses."
After she finished speaking, the pretty girl beside her stopped, suddenly approached her, and got close to her face. The eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses were beautiful and bright.
"What about me?"
Lu Yunshu asked.
"Does sister also like to look at me?"
She is also pretty, right? She is also wearing the glasses she likes, so can she look at her more and like her more?
Jin Hanshuang looked at the unbelievably beautiful Lu Yunshu in front of her.
Now, not only was her mind filled with Lu Yunshu, but even her eyes were.
Then, she realized: "Wait, did you change the glasses for me?"
Lu Yunshu's lips curved into a charming smile.
"Yes. Do you like them?"
Jin Hanshuang suddenly understood and was even more surprised.
She thought to herself, the kid who used to wear ordinary glasses, how did she suddenly start wearing these glasses one day?
It turns out she had hidden her feelings for her for so long.
She really liked her so much...
The long-standing secret crush was revealed, clearly placed in front of Jin Hanshuang, surprising her, making her incredulous, and unknowingly softening her heart.
She sighed, "I never thought someone would like me for so long..."
This was a love beyond her imagination, and she was almost unable to resist it.
Lu Yunshu suddenly gently held her hand.
Their fingers intertwined, softly entangling.
The bracelet she had given Lu Yunshu as a friend was now gleaming on Lu Yunshu's wrist.
She heard Lu Yunshu say, "Hanshuang is worth it."
Then, Lu Yunshu placed her hand on her own face, gazing at her with extraordinary tenderness in her palm.
She could only see her.
"......"
Jin Hanshuang didn't respond.
After a while, her fingertips moved and lightly touched Lu Yunshu's face.
...
"Did it work? Did it work!"
Le You's excited voice came through the phone receiver.
Lu Yunshu instinctively shook her head, though no one could see: "No."
Then came Fan Jia's voice: "She touched your face!"
And then Little Fanfan's voice: "Exactly, she touched your face!"
Lu Yunshu recalled that moment of tenderness, smiled helplessly, and softly repeated: "Exactly, she touched my face."
Jin Hanshuang had indeed touched her face.
Jin Hanshuang clearly didn't resist her.
But what was the result? The result was still no result.
Just when she thought there would be further action, Jin Hanshuang smiled at her and told her to go home.
"I have to go back and take care of my things."
That's what Jin Hanshuang said at the time.
She still didn't know that matter was, but she couldn't keep Jin Hanshuang from leaving, so she could only say, "See you next time."
Jin Hanshuang gently patted her arm, said nothing, and turned to leave.
She was left standing there with the evening breeze.
The place where Jin Hanshuang had touched seemed to still hold Jin Hanshuang's warmth, deeply unforgettable.
So... did she like her a little?
......
The next evening, Du Mengying was invited out for drinks by Jin Hanshuang.
At the quiet bar they often visited, in their usual corner spot, there was no one else around, and no one was singing on stage. It was very quiet, perfect for conversation.
After listening to what Jin Hanshuang said, Du Mengying smiled slightly and poured her a glass of wine, then uttered three words: "You are finished."
Jin Hanshuang lifted her eyelids to glance at her, reached for the wine, and drank it all in one go.
Yes, she was finished.
She knew she was completely done for.
She had completely fallen for Lu Yunshu, that kid!
"What do you plan to do now?" Du Mengying asked, "Talk?"
Jin Hanshuang paused while pouring the wine.
Talk? With Lu Yunshu?
How strange, that was her daughter's arch-enemy.
But... her heart was anticipating it.
She kind of didn't want to refuse anymore.
"I don't know..."
Jin Hanshuang downed another glass of wine and muttered softly, "So annoying, stupid puppy."
It would have been better if she had confessed back then.
It would have been better if she hadn't taken her words as a joke back then...
"What do you think?"
She suddenly threw the question to Du Mengying.
"What do I think?" Du Mengying said with a laugh, "What use is what I think? You're already like this."
"Like this?"
"Because you like Lu Yunshu so much that you want to finish all the wine here."
"I'm just troubled."
"Yes, troubled because you like her."
"....."
"Very troubled."
Very troubled, so very much in love.
Jin Hanshuang kicked her under the table.
Du Mengying laughed twice, then said, "Honestly, if you really like her that much, then go talk to her."
Jin Hanshuang looked at her.
Du Mengying asked, "Are you worried about Wenxin?"
Jin Hanshuang didn't deny it.
Du Mengying continued, "Is she really that unable to accept Lu Yunshu?"
Jin Hanshuang drew out her words, "Hmm... not exactly."
"Their feelings for each other are a bit complicated. They dislike each other, but not entirely."
It's not pure dislike, nor is it voluntary dislike, but rather "following" their father's animosity towards each other.
Sometimes they would even speak up for each other in front of others.
For example, Lu Yunshu said that her infidelity would make Shen Wenxin sad.
For example, she once saw Shen Wenxin in high school scolding some boys in their class who were gossiping about Lu Yunshu behind her back, calling them "toads commenting on humans."
You could say they disliked each other, as they were always competing with each other.
But you couldn't say they completely hated each other, as they would still protect each other.
It's a very complicated rival relationship.
"I don't know how to describe it, sometimes I think they're really quite childish."
Jin Hanshuang's expression also became complicated.
But there was one thing she could still be sure of.
"But if Wenxin finds out that I'm with Yunshu now, it will definitely be a shock."
"Then... don't let her know?"
"?"
Du Mengying said, "She has never interfered with your love life. As long as you don't bring her in front of Wenxin, isn't that enough freedom?"
Jin Hanshuang squinted her eyes slightly, "What are you trying to say?"
Du Mengying smiled, "Date secretly, for as long as it lasts. Maybe you won't even need to wait for Wenxin to find out, and you two will have already broken up?"
"....."
Jin Hanshuang chuckled softly, rubbing her forehead helplessly, "Who starts a relationship thinking about breaking up..."
"Then I wish you two a long and happy life together."
"....."
"May you bathe in love forever, be united in heart, grow old together, Happy New Year, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival?"
"You're crazy."
Jin Hanshuang laughed in exasperation.
Du Mengying suddenly clapped her hands, "Maybe if Wenxin finds out you conquered her rival, she'll think, 'Wow, my mom is amazing!' and then let you toy with Lu Yunshu!"
Jin Hanshuang frowned, both speechless and amused, "You're a pervert. My Wenxin isn't like that!"
Her Wenxin was a good person.
...So was Lu Yunshu.
"So what should you do?" Du Mengying asked, smiling as she looked at her, "Reject Lu Yunshu?"
Jin Hanshuang fell silent.
She slowly leaned back in her chair, looking up at the ceiling.
After a long while, she finally spoke, "What should I do? This time, I'm a bit reluctant to refuse..."
She poured herself another glass of wine and drank it all in one go.
......
Jin Hanshuang was drunk, half-drunk.
Her mind was half clear and half muddled, still aware of what she was doing.
She was thinking of Lu Yunshu.
She was thinking of Lu Yunshu again.
The little puppy that always pretends to be pitiful has been running around in her mind lately...
She suddenly wanted to see her.
Du Mengying, who was beside her, took out her phone: "I'll call a driver for you."
Both of them had been drinking, so driving themselves was definitely not an option.
Jin Hanshuang gently nodded, then seemed to remember something and suddenly reached out to hold Du Mengying's arm: "Wait."
Then silence, silence.
After a while: "I have a phone number."
Ten minutes later.
Du Mengying looked at Lu Yunshu standing in front of them: "....."
Really impressed.
Thought you called a driver, but you actually called your ambiguous partner!
Du Mengying had nothing to say, really nothing to say.
Lu Yunshu didn't expect Jin Hanshuang to call her.
She asked if she was free.
She asked if she was willing to come pick her up.
Then she appeared here and realized that Jin Hanshuang was drunk.
She looked at Jin Hanshuang.
Jin Hanshuang was sitting quietly, staring at the wine glass on the table, not speaking. Her eyes were clear and bright, not looking drunk at all.
She tilted her head and looked at Du Mengying, inquiring with her eyes.
Du Mengying explained, "Half drunk, her mind is still somewhat clear."
Lu Yunshu understood.
Du Mengying said, "Then it's hard work for President Lu to send her home. Don't forget to ask her for the driving fee."
She turned to Jin Hanshuang and reminded her, "Hurry home and sleep."
"My ride is here, I'm leaving."
Jin Hanshuang sat there, leisurely waved her hand at her, "Bye~"
Lu Yunshu nodded politely, then took Jin Hanshuang out of the bar.
Half-drunk and half-awake, Jin Hanshuang walked steadily enough, but her hands were restless.
Lu Yunshu's hands were warm, so Jin Hanshuang kept holding them, even alternating between her left and right hands, as if holding a hand warmer.
Lu Yunshu didn't struggle, letting Jin Hanshuang do as she pleased.
"Are you cold?" Lu Yunshu asked softly.
"A little."
Jin Hanshuang tightened her grip on Lu Yunshu's hand, unconsciously relying on her.
It seemed that drinking had made her lose her sense of propriety, or perhaps it had made her more true to herself...
"Let's get back to the car quickly."
"Okay."
The night wind swayed and brought the fragrance of Lu Yunshu's body.
Jin Hanshuang smelled it and said, "You smell so good, like body wash... Did you just take a shower?"
Lu Yunshu responded with a hum, "I just finished showering when I got your call."
Jin Hanshuang smiled, "Oh? Then it seems like it's my fault, making our President Lu go out right after a shower."
"It's okay," Lu Yunshu gently wrapped her arm around her shoulder, her eyes full of laughter, "President Lu is very happy."
"Happy to see me?"
"Yes."
Lu Yunshu mimicked her coquettish tone.
So cute.
Jin Hanshuang thought.
How can she be so cute even when imitating her?
Lu Yunshu suddenly asked, "What about you, sister?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you happy to see me, sister?"
Jin Hanshuang smiled at the words, looked up at her, and accidentally fell into her star-like enchanting eyes.
In those eyes, there was only her.
Past, present, it was all her.
She looked, looked, the alcohol overcame her sobriety, her heartbeat controlled her reason, and she softly blurted out, "Sister is also very happy... especially happy."
As the words fell.
The wind and moonlight rustled gently above their heads.
In that moment, Lu Yunshu seemed to see the echo of her love.