How to give a carefully prepared gift to the person you like without confessing, that's a good question.
And Lu Yunshu's solution was-give it directly.
Yes, give it directly.
Face to face, as direct as it could be.
And she did just that.
She waited another day, in anticipation, trying to appear natural, and then arranged to meet Jin Hanshuang.
They met in the evening.
During the day, President Lu had to work, no time, and didn't want to have someone else deliver it.
The meeting place was a park not far from Jin Hanshuang's neighborhood.
Jin Hanshuang was taking a walk there, enjoying the night breeze.
Well, not exactly, she just decided to take a walk because Lu Yunshu was coming.
"Yes, I'm in the park, near the entrance, under the streetlight, you'll see me when you come.
"What? The back entrance? Why are you at the back entrance? The lights there have been broken recently and haven't been fixed yet, there are many trees, it's very dark."
Jin Hanshuang held her phone, turned towards the back entrance of the park.
The next second, she was already walking.
"Don't take a detour, just stay there, I'll come to you, aren't you afraid of the dark?"
-Aren't you afraid of the dark.
The gentle and warm voice fell into Lu Yunshu's ear, bringing back memories and gently flooding her, making her stop.
She still remembered she was afraid of the dark.
Under the overlapping shadows of the trees, darkness enveloped Lu Yunshu, blurring the contours of her face, but not hiding the slight brightness in her eyes.
At this moment, she was standing at the back entrance, where only a bit of moonlight illuminated the path.
The back entrance of the park was full of trees, with only a few strands of moonlight filtering through, not enough to brighten the area, making it a horror scene for those afraid of the dark.
But she wasn't afraid, not panicking, very calm.
Now, Lu Yunshu was no longer afraid of the dark.
Suddenly, she calmly retreated.
She stepped out of the darkness, back to the parking area, back to the light, then holding her phone and the gift, obediently waited for her beloved to come.
When Jin Hanshuang arrived, she saw a well-behaved young one.
A gray pinstriped short-sleeve shirt, black wide-leg jeans, casual white shoes.
A silver necklace, black watch, and gold-rimmed glasses on her nose.
Long black hair flowing in the wind, soft and shiny, as if just dried, at its fluffiest and most perfect moment.
Lu Yunshu stood there waiting for her, like a child waiting for a parent after school, looking very well-behaved.
Her expression was also well-behaved, and with those gold-rimmed glasses on her nose... really endearing.
She really liked those glasses.
Lu Yunshu saw Jin Hanshuang walking towards her, a bit hurried, a bit anxious for her.
She felt happy, her heart leaping.
She spoke first, "The parking lot is nearby, I didn't know the lights here were broken."
Jin Hanshuang didn't mind, "You don't live here, it's normal not to know."
She approached, smelling a faint scent of freshly washed hair, smiled, her voice still soft, "Just took a shower?"
"Yes," Lu Yunshu said, "Got ready to meet someone."
To meet the one she liked.
Jin Hanshuang chuckled, "You look quite good in your work attire too."
Not to brag, but Lu Yunshu really looked the part in her formal wear.
Mature, steady, with a restrained beauty that had a certain... allure to those like her.
Her kind, her type.
"Do I look good?" Lu Yunshu suddenly asked.
"You look great," Jin Hanshuang replied with a bright smile.
Lu Yunshu smiled too.
Jin Hanshuang was momentarily taken aback by that smile.
How to describe Lu Yunshu's smile? It was pure, a simple "I'm so happy to be complimented" kind of feeling.
Unconsciously, Jin Hanshuang attached this light-hearted psychological description to Lu Yunshu, and paired with Lu Yunshu's serious expression, she couldn't help but laugh, "What's the matter? Just one compliment from Sister makes you this happy?"
"Happy."
The smile on Lu Yunshu's face deepened.
Happy to be complimented by Sister.
Happy that Sister remembered she was afraid of the dark.
Very, very happy.
Jin Hanshuang added, "My compliment is nothing, you should get compliments from the person you like, that would be even more worth celebrating."
Lu Yunshu said, "Yes, Sister is right, but I'm happy with both."
She looked very teachable.
So well-behaved.
Jin Hanshuang wanted to pinch her cheek but restrained herself, instead asking, "What brings President Lu to see me in person?"
Just as she asked, a small white gift bag was handed to her.
"A gift."
"?"
Jin Hanshuang was caught off guard by those three words.
She didn't take it.
"Why are you giving me a gift out of the blue?"
Lu Yunshu calmly used the prepared words, "Thank you for agreeing to help me when I was most confused and giving me advice, letting me know what to do next and what to give."
Jin Hanshuang chuckled again, "Ah, just for that?"
Lu Yunshu earnestly said, "Yes, just for that."
Jin Hanshuang asked, "Have you given the gift to her yet?"
Lu Yunshu replied, "Not yet, she's not in City A these days. I'll wait for her to come back."
"Oh~ A gift is more meaningful when given in person."
"Yes."
After a while, Lu Yunshu softly called, "Sister."
She said, "My hand is getting a bit tired."
-Poor little thing.
Thinking this, Jin Hanshuang responded, "Alright," and took the gift from her, casually asking, "What did you get that you had to deliver it in person?"
"If you're curious, you can open it now," Lu Yunshu said.
"Really?"
With that, Jin Hanshuang didn't hold back. She unwrapped the exquisite packaging in front of her, finally opening the white velvet box inside.
A gasp.
Full of surprise, disbelief.
Earrings!
The pair of earrings she said she liked yesterday!
"How-did you make a mistake?"
"No mistake."
Lu Yunshu's eyes curved into a smile.
"This is the gift I chose for you, Sister."
"For me?"
"Yes, I picked out two gifts yesterday, one for you and one for her. The one I showed you was for you."
"Weren't you asking for my advice?"
"Yes, both."
"Huh?"
Seeing her surprised expression, Lu Yunshu's eyes softened, and she earnestly said, "I really didn't know what to give her, so I asked you. After asking, I knew. Then, while choosing the gift, I thought of you, remembered you also wear jewelry, so I picked a gift for you too... How is it? Is my emotional consultation fee acceptable, Teacher Jin?"
Emotional consultation fee?
Jin Hanshuang looked at the earrings, designed perfectly to her taste, then at the beautiful and serious student in front of her, and suddenly laughed.
"If I don't help you win her over, won't I be the villain?"
Lu Yunshu: "The master leads the way, but the practice is up to the individual."
Jin Hanshuang: "Pfft."
Lu Yunshu: "Right?"
Jin Hanshuang: "Yes, that's right~"
"Snap."
The box was gently closed.
Teacher Jin's eyes curved into a beautiful smile, her voice even more pleasant, "Then the teacher will accept it~"
She then opened the box again and asked Lu Yunshu to hold it, "No, I want to wear them right now."
Such beautiful earrings, delaying even a second to wear them would be disrespectful.
Lu Yunshu was initially stunned, then smiled and obediently stood there, acting as a human vanity table for Jin Hanshuang.
She watched as Jin Hanshuang first tidied her long hair, using a shark clip to pin it back, then carefully put on the earrings one by one.
She saw Jin Hanshuang's hands, long and white, with distinct joints, and her fingertips gently brushing the tassels, making even the casual movements look beautiful.
She unconsciously looked at Jin Hanshuang's lips, naturally red without any makeup, looking beautiful, with slightly curved corners and full lips... so beautiful that it made one want to take a bite.
Lu Yunshu's thoughts quickly returned to their place, hurried and quiet.
A bit impolite.
She discreetly shifted her gaze, diverting her attention, acting as if nothing had happened.
Jin Hanshuang finished putting on the earrings and asked, "Do they look good?"
Lu Yunshu quickly responded, "They look great."
Jin Hanshuang took out her phone and opened the front camera.
She turned her head slightly, the tassels gently swaying, the light reflecting off them.
She smiled with her eyes.
"Really beautiful."
Little Lu has good taste.
The earrings are good.
She herself looks good too.
Pleasing to the eye.
She didn't take them off, planning to wear them all the way home.
The outfit didn't match, too casual, a loose set of short sleeves and long pants, next time she'll pair them with something more suitable.
"Thank you, President Lu~"
When she smiled, her head moved slightly, and the earrings swayed gently.
Lu Yunshu's mood swayed along with them, like the rising tone in her voice, light and soft, very pleasant.
The gift she prepared was very much liked by the person she liked.
"As long as Sister likes it."
"Yes~ Sister likes it very much."
"Are you busy next?" Jin Hanshuang looked around and asked, "If not, shall we go for a walk?"
Lu Yunshu had just given her such a beautiful gift, it would be too unkind to just wave her off after receiving it.
She had no grudge against Lu Yunshu.
"Not busy, let's go for a walk," Lu Yunshu said, "You lead the way."
Jin Hanshuang pointed to the poorly lit back entrance of the park, "Does President Lu mind entering from here? It's a bit far to go around to the main entrance. I remember you were afraid of the dark, but it's okay if someone is with you, right?"
Lu Yunshu glanced at her and responded with a soft "Hmm."
Jin Hanshuang turned, "Then come on, I'll take you through. Don't be afraid, it's okay."
Lu Yunshu followed her steps.
After a few steps, Jin Hanshuang suddenly stopped, "Wait a moment."
Lu Yunshu had to brake abruptly, almost bumping into her, "Hmm?"
Jin Hanshuang's beautiful eyes scanned Lu Yunshu up and down, then she cupped her face with her hands, frowning, "I remember you being afraid of the dark when you were a student. Now that you're grown up, are you still afraid?"
Her understanding of Lu Yunshu was mostly stuck in her student days, and it hadn't been updated for a long time.
What if she wasn't afraid of the dark anymore?
Wouldn't her current concern be unnecessary and funny?
After speaking, she saw Lu Yunshu take a small step closer, her scent wafting over, faint and pleasant.
"Afraid."
Lu Yunshu raised her hand, her long fingers reaching for Jin Hanshuang's hand, pausing slightly before changing direction to lightly pinch the corner of her clothes.
Then, she looked into her eyes, soft and gentle, like a harmless little puppy.
"Very afraid."
Jin Hanshuang's heart was instantly touched.
So pitiful.
How could she be so pitiful?
Why hadn't she noticed this little one was so pitiful before?
"Alright, alright, then follow Sister. Sister will protect you."
Jin Hanshuang took the initiative to hold her wrist, leading her towards the moonlit back entrance of the park.
Lu Yunshu looked at their hands and smiled, averting her gaze.
Yes, she was a bit sneaky.