Jin Hanshuang found Shen Wenxin's question difficult to answer for the first time.
It was a very sharp and sensitive question.
She hesitated for a moment before smiling and saying, "This... is hard to answer. Sexual orientation is a personal privacy matter, and it shouldn't be pried into."
Shen Wenxin leaned back on the sofa, smiled, and said, "I thought you two were very close."
Jin Hanshuang also smiled, "Do you think we're that close?"
Shen Wenxin: "Maybe?"
"When I was in school, you two often sat together and chatted. Even now, when she sees you, she greets you. She's so well-behaved in front of you, like a different person."
Back in senior year, she already knew that Jin Hanshuang and Lu Yunshu were in contact.
Mainly because Jin Hanshuang didn't hide it from her.
When Jin Hanshuang came back from buying ice cream, she would occasionally say, "I saw your classmate downstairs and gave her one."
Sometimes it might be other small snacks.
Jin Hanshuang shared with Lu Yunshu and also shared these little things with her.
These were just small matters.
What's the big deal? It's just giving something to Lu Yunshu.
Her Shen family is wealthy and powerful, would they be stingy over a small ice cream?
Moreover, her stepmother is just like that.
Kind-hearted, gentle, and very approachable.
"We've gotten quite familiar this year."
Jin Hanshuang was slightly more honest.
Shen Wenxin glanced at her and nodded, "True."
After she graduated and joined the company, Jin Hanshuang also returned to the Shen family.
Under her father's watchful eye, how could the Shen family possibly associate with the Lu family?
She didn't care, but her dad did, and even those small matters couldn't be known to him.
Back to the present, Shen Wenxin said, "You two are quite familiar, yet you don't know her sexual orientation?"
Jin Hanshuang laughed it off, "We're not that close."
Shen Wenxin suddenly became serious, "Maybe she really is. Which heterosexual would be so secretive?"
Jin Hanshuang was about to say, "Homosexuals don't need to be secretive either," but then she remembered something and silently closed her mouth.
Not every homosexual is open about it...
"Why are you suddenly so hung up on this?" Jin Hanshuang couldn't help but laugh, "You don't think she likes you, do you?"
Shen Wenxin fell silent.
After a few seconds, she half-jokingly said, "If she keeps this up, I might start to suspect it."
Jin Hanshuang laughed and ruffled her hair, "What? No way!"
Shen Wenxin: "Because she's acting so strangely. Being overly attentive for no reason, it's suspicious!"
"Why think so badly of her? She's just trying to make peace with you," Jin Hanshuang said, "Isn't it better to have one less enemy and one more friend, wiping the slate clean of past grievances?"
She looked at Shen Wenxin: "Or is it that deep down, you don't want to make peace with her?"
Shen Wenxin touched her chin and thought for a moment, thought again.
Finally, she concluded: "I don't know."
"I've been like this with her for over ten years, always being sarcastic when we meet. It's become a habit, and now she suddenly changed, suddenly saying she wants to make peace, without any warning. It's so strange, so uncomfortable."
"Lu Yunshu... tsk, really not normal."
The informed Jin Hanshuang sat beside her, smiling as she patted her head: "Then try to get used to it."
"Rather than being rivals, I always hope you can become friends."
Shen Wenxin was very calm: "Let's talk about it later."
She really didn't know how to handle this matter.
She might need to get used to it first.
Or, wait for Lu Yunshu to give up and return to "normal"-rivals should be sarcastic and not act friendly in front of each other.
......
Jin Hanshuang went out on a date with Lu Yunshu.
They went to play the claw machine.
Lu Yunshu stood by the claw machine, watching her girlfriend's serious face. As the claw dropped, she frowned and said, "Shen Wenxin thinks I like her?"
Is Shen Wenxin crazy?
How could she possibly like her?!
Does Shen Wenxin even listen to the nonsense she's saying?!
-Missed.
Jin Hanshuang regretfully straightened up, but when she turned to see her girlfriend's face, she smiled again and kissed her on the cheek, "Don't worry about it, Wenxin was just joking."
Lu Yunshu thought about it and agreed.
Of course, they couldn't possibly like each other.
Not even if the King of Heaven himself came down.
For them, it would be a nightmare. Who would willingly embrace a nightmare?
She had someone she liked, and that person was Jin Hanshuang!
"I don't like her making such jokes, it's scary," Lu Yunshu said, wrapping her arms around Jin Hanshuang's waist, "Besides, I already have someone I like."
The smile in Jin Hanshuang's eyes deepened, "Oh, she told me, not you, don't worry about it~"
Lu Yunshu smiled, "What if she makes this joke with me someday?"
Jin Hanshuang also smiled, jokingly, "Then you just tell her you have someone you like."
Lu Yunshu mimicked her, "Then I'll say that next time."
Jin Hanshuang pinched her cheek, "You little cutie."
After pinching her cheek, they went back to the claw machine.
Jin Hanshuang pointed at the white puppy plush inside, a small one that could be hung on a keychain or bag.
She was determined: "I must get this puppy!"
"I want one too," Lu Yunshu said.
"Alright, let's get two!" Jin Hanshuang said, rubbing her hands together.
Lu Yunshu leaned against the claw machine, watching her intently, seeing her bright eyes and lively expression, full of energy and cheerfulness.
So beautiful, so cute.
She really liked her.
For her, she was willing to make an effort to make peace with that annoying Shen Wenxin.
"Hanshuang."
"Mm?"
"Help me arrange a meeting with Shen Wenxin in a while."
A soft "clink."
The claw dropped.
Jin Hanshuang looked up at Lu Yunshu: "What do you want to do?"
Lu Yunshu reached out, lifted her long hair, and gently caressed her face: "Meet her and have a good talk."
She didn't have much free time in the next few days, so she could only deal with this matter later.
Jin Hanshuang raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled gently: "Alright, you two should sit down and have a good chat."
Then she turned back to the claw machine, her face lighting up with joy: "Ah, I got it!"
Lu Yunshu now had a white puppy plush in her arms.
Her girlfriend's first prize was hers.
Jin Hanshuang ended up with a bag full of puppies.
She couldn't resist the puppies now, and today she was performing exceptionally well!
Even the heavens were helping her, wanting her to have the puppies.
She hoped the heavens would also help her puppy and her daughter get along harmoniously and not quarrel.
......
A week later, a little after 3 PM, Shen Wenxin stepped into Jin Hanshuang's favorite café again.
She didn't head to the counter.
After scanning the hall, she walked purposefully to a quiet corner.
She pulled out a chair, sat down calmly, and looked at the person opposite her.
"Why did you ask me out?"
Lu Yunshu, unhurried, asked, "What would you like to drink?"
Shen Wenxin ordered a hot latte.
Lu Yunshu then asked, "What would you like to eat?"
Shen Wenxin: "That's enough, I'm not here for afternoon tea with you."
Lu Yunshu, calm and composed: "I'm treating, you get it for free, don't you want it?"
Shen Wenxin: "Then I'll have some."
She had money, but this was Lu Yunshu, and being able to get a free meal from her was a skill!
Desserts and a hot latte were placed in front of Shen Wenxin.
Shen Wenxin picked up the warm latte to warm her hands, not forgetting the main topic: "If you have something to say, say it."
"I want to talk to you again."
"About what?"
"What else could it be?"
Shen Wenxin didn't respond.
Lu Yunshu, with a calm expression, spoke seriously to Shen Wenxin: "You and I both know that the conflict between our families was between my dad and your dad. Now that they're both gone, continuing to target each other is meaningless."
Shen Wenxin crossed her legs, took a sip of her latte, agreed, but didn't say anything.
Lu Yunshu glanced at her: "Are you planning to let me decide this matter by not speaking?"
Shen Wenxin spoke: "I'm just curious about one thing, when did you have a change of heart?
"How did a perfectly fine person suddenly want to make peace with me?"
She touched her chin, recalling: "I remember you used to be indifferent to me, and then within a few months, you started acting strange... Did nothing happen during that time? No trigger?"
"......"
"Your reaction suggests there was."
"......"
Shen Wenxin, quite perceptive.
The perceptive Shen Wenxin took a leisurely sip of her hot latte, raising her eyebrows: "Come on, tell me. If you don't, how can I judge whether your attempt to make peace is genuine or not?"
Lu Yunshu pursed her lips, looking a bit troubled.
How could she explain her relationship with Jin Hanshuang at this moment...
She remained silent.
Seeing her hesitant expression, Shen Wenxin suddenly had a guess. She unconsciously leaned back, her eyes becoming strange, as if facing a great enemy: "Lu Yunshu, don't tell me... you like me?"
Lu Yunshu: "......?"
She asked a soul-searching question: "Don't you find it disgusting to say that yourself?"
Shen Wenxin laughed upon hearing this: "As long as it's not true."
She believed it.
With that reaction, it was absolutely impossible that she liked her.
She asked with interest, "So, are you going to tell me, or should I keep guessing?"
Lu Yunshu frowned, her expression full of disdain.
"Stop guessing, I don't want to hear your wild imagination. Since you want to know, I'll tell you."
She had to give Shen Wenxin a reason, otherwise, Shen Wenxin would keep dwelling on it.
Shen Wenxin elegantly made a "please" gesture, leisurely crossing her legs.
Then she heard Lu Yunshu say, "I like your stepmom, I want to pursue her."
"Bang!"
Shen Wenxin's knee hit the table.
It hurt a lot, and she was very confused.
Shen Wenxin: "?"
Lu Yunshu looked at the table: "?"
Shen Wenxin: "Are you serious?"
Lu Yunshu's expression was as serious as it could be: "What do you think?"
Shen Wenxin's brain momentarily crashed, her CPU overheated, and her processing program was in chaos.
Shen Wenxin: "Are you crazy? My dad is dead!"
Lu Yunshu was stunned for a moment: "You're crazy, I'm talking about your stepmom!"
Shen Wenxin: "...?"
Silence. After a moment, Shen Wenxin's expression was shocked: "Are you crazy? That's my stepmom!!"