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Two more lollipop sticks rested inside the garbage can.
Lu Yunshu and Jin Hanshuang walked side by side. The night breeze swept through the alley, refreshing and comfortable.
It was so quiet, even as people came and went around them.
After a while, Lu Yunshu broke the silence. “The last time you asked if I was free, was there something you wanted to talk about?”
It took Jin Hanshuang a moment to remember.
She smiled. “Not anymore.”
There was nothing to clarify. She and Du Mengying had overthought Lu Yunshu’s intentions. Bringing it up now would only make things awkward.
Lu Yunshu blinked. She was curious, but she got the impression that Jin Hanshuang wouldn’t divulge any more.
“If you need to talk in the future, you can leave me a message even when I’m busy.”
Jin Hanshuang turned to look at the younger woman.
Lu Yunshu’s gaze was warm. “You have my WeChat. Whatever your concern is, I’ll reply as soon as I see it.”
Jin Hanshuang’s eyes curved. “Focus on your work. You don’t have to reply to me right away.”
“I do,” Lu Yunshu said. “I can’t let you wait too long.”
“So serious.”
“I have to be serious around Hanshuang.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m afraid you’ll find me dismissive and end up disliking me.”
Lu Yunshu’s voice was earnest and sincere.
Jin Hanshuang came to a stop. She met Lu Yunshu’s gaze again.
Underneath the yellow lamp, Lu Yunshu’s features seem to soften.
“Why?” Jin Hanshuang suddenly asked.
While she was relieved Lu Yunshu didn’t like her romantically, she couldn’t help but remember Du Mengying’s comment that Lu Yunshu’s kindness toward her was undeniable, visible to the naked eye.
But she couldn’t figure it out. Even though they didn’t have much interaction, why was Lu Yunshu willing to extend such warmth, seek her out, and become friends with her?
What could be…
“Because I like you.”
Spoken like a confession.
Jin Hanshuang froze. Then, with her eyebrows raised, she calmly waited for Lu Yunshu to finish.
“I like being friends with you.”
Finally, Jin Hanshuang nodded.
Of course.
It made sense.
Unbeknownst to Jin Hanshuang, Lu Yunshu reluctantly corrected herself.
While it was true that she wanted to be friends with Jin Hanshuang—had wanted to be friends with the older woman for a long time—she also liked Jin Hanshuang in that way and wanted to become Jin Hanshuang’s real lover. She wanted to confess, to really confess, but she didn’t have the courage.
Jin Hanshuang gazed down at Lu Yunshu curiously, a faint smile on her lips. “Is it because, after becoming friends with jiejie, you realized that jiejie is not so bad?”
Lu Yunshu smiled for a moment. Then she shook her head. “No.”
She continued, “Actually, I realized it a long time ago.”
“En?”
“You once asked me if I liked spending time with you, and I said yes.” As Lu Yunshu spoke, her gentle eyes reflected Jin Hanshuang’s image. “I wasn’t lying. I really do like spending time with you. I’ve liked being with you for a long time.”
In the night breeze, her soft words swept into Jin Hanshuang’s ears.
The genuine feelings they carried left no room for doubt.
Jin Hanshuang became even more curious.
“A long time ago? How long?”
“Probably…third year of high school.”
“Ah?” Jin Hanshuang couldn’t help but laugh in surprise, disbelief written on her face. “No way. Back then, you had such a cold personality, and you were especially indifferent to me. But now you say you liked spending time with me?”
Lu Yunshu blushed. She spoke softly, embarrassed, “Is that not allowed…”
She did have a cold personality in high school. But she had genuinely enjoyed Jin Hanshuang’s presence, though she wasn’t willing to admit it at the time.
Jin Hanshuang thought, Oh dear, the pitiful little puppy is here.
“Of course it’s allowed,” she said. “Whatever our Yunshu does is good.”
Lu Yunshu slowly turned her embarrassment into a smile.
Jin Hanshuang was still intrigued, her expression brightening with curiosity as she gazed down at the small puppy. “Why did you like spending time with me?”
“Because being with you felt so peaceful.”
Lu Yunshu’s memories drifted back to the past. She thought of a certain summer night.
“I still remember the first time we sat under a tree and looked at the stars.”
That day, she had returned home exhausted.
She didn’t want to study or listen to her father’s rants about “working hard” and “surpassing Shen Wenxin,” so she left home to sit next to the big tree downstairs.
As she sat alone, the world became quiet, even the stars in the sky.
She found a moment to catch her breath.
Then she saw Jin Hanshuang.
Jin Hanshuang had just returned from outside. The older woman was dressed brightly, stunning and radiant.
Their eyes met briefly.
Jin Hanshuang turned and went upstairs.
Lu Yunshu continued watching the stars.
But Jin Hanshuang came back down again. Wearing a casual set of clothes, she walked straight toward Lu Yunshu and set down next to her. Then she raised her head to gaze at the stars with her. It was all very natural.
Neither of them spoke.
It seemed like neither of them knew what to say, so they simply sat there in silence, awkwardly watching the stars. But it wasn’t uncomfortable at all.
At least that’s what Lu Yunshu thought.
She had no idea what Jin Hanshuang was thinking. She had never been able to see through this woman.
After a while, she couldn’t resist asking, “Do you need something?”
“No,” Jin Hanshuang replied.
“Then, what are you…?”
“I’m trying it out.”
“?”
“I’ve seen you sit here many times, so I got curious and decided to try it myself.”
“…”
It was utterly baffling.
Then she heard Jin Hanshuang say with a smile, “Wow, from this spot, the stars are really pretty, and the breeze feels great~ You’ve got a good eye.”
Jin Hanshuang’s words of approval instantly melted Lu Yunshu’s bubbling frustrations.
Yes, this spot was excellent.
She had great taste.
“But why do I feel like every time you sit here, you look like you’re weighed down by something?” Jin Hanshuang suddenly asked. “Do you always come here when something’s on your mind?”
Lu Yunshu: “…”
She didn’t answer.
Jin Hanshuang smiled knowingly. “It’s better to have your own way of resolving troubles rather than keeping it all in your heart. Sometimes we just need to take a break.”
Lu Yunshu replied expressionlessly, “Is that what Shen Wenxin did?”
Shen Wenxin had called in absent yesterday. Their homeroom teacher didn’t explain why, only saying that her mother had excused her. This “mother” could only be Jin Hanshuang.
Lu Yunshu didn’t know why Shen Wenxin had been absent, but she knew it wasn’t because the other girl was sick. She had seen Shen Wenxin this morning, lively as ever, coming downstairs to take out the trash.
She couldn’t understand.
The “mother” in question smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying Lu Yunshu’s accusation.
Jin Hanshuang said, “Oh, what third-year isn’t tired these days… You’re no exception, aren’t you?”
Just like that, the topic shifted to her.
Lu Yunshu: “…”
She didn’t need to answer. The truth was obvious.
Jin Hanshuang smiled gently. “I know. You’re all so tired…”
Lu Yunshu replied flatly, “Is Shen Wenxin tired? She looked pretty happy today.”
Shen Wenxin had been practically glowing with joy.
How could Shen Wenxin be tired? She looked perfectly fine.
Since she took Friday off and tomorrow was Saturday, she even got a full weekend!
Jin Hanshuang chuckled softly. She didn’t deny it. “Yes, she was very happy today.”
Then the older woman sighed. She gestured to herself, “But this jiejie is not so happy.”
Lu Yunshu asked for the reason.
Jin Hanshuang said, “Secret.”
“…”
Lu Yunshu asked, “Then why are you telling me?”
Jin Hanshuang said, “I was just expressing my feelings.”
Lu Yunshu said, “You should express your feelings to Shen Wenxin.”
“No, these feelings can’t be shared with her.”
“…?”
Lu Yunshu was confused. “Why?”
Jin Hanshuang’s lips curved. Suddenly, she became a little more honest. “Well…because it would ruin her image of me, and it would make her feel like her happiness is a burden. I don’t want that to happen.”
Her voice was soft, with a hint of somberness.
Lu Yunshu’s expression unconsciously became solemn as well.
It seemed like this was a serious subject…
Then she heard Jin Hanshuang exclaim, “Ah!”
The older woman said with a smile, “Looks like I’ll have to trouble Classmate Lu to keep another secret for me.”
Lu Yunshu: “…”
What an inexplicable adult.
“You should share fewer secrets.”
Jin Hanshuang smiled and looked away.
They stopped talking, quietly watching the stars in the cool night breeze.
The atmosphere was very harmonious.
At some point, Lu Yunshu stopped feeling awkward.
Jin Hanshuang didn’t have the aura of an elder. Sometimes, the older woman didn’t seem much different from her or Shen Wenxin… Besides, talking with Jin Hanshuang was actually quite relaxing. So, this was fine—let’s just sit here and watch the stars together, quietly.
At this moment, there was no overwhelming schoolwork, no heavy family burdens, and no intruding strangers. They were simply two people sitting under a tree, gazing up at the sky. Nothing could be more ordinary.
Later, there would be a second time, then a third time… Jin Hanshuang would occasionally come down to sit under the tree with her to watch the stars.
Gradually, Lu Yunshu began to enjoy her presence.
Jin Hanshuang, though sometimes incomprehensible, was an interesting woman.
Lu Yunshu’s thoughts drifted back to the present—
The beautiful world where she had a close relationship with the person she liked.
“Being with you now is just as peaceful as before, and your presence makes me happy, so I want to make the most of this chance to be friends with you.”
Jin Hanshuang understood everything.
Lu Yunshu had come to her because she wanted to be friends with her. It was a good thing, and there was no reason to doubt this kid’s intentions.
She gently patted the younger woman’s hair. “Good girl.”
“But I’m still curious about the secret you mentioned back then.” After realizing what she said, Lu Yunshu shook her head. “You probably don’t even remember that day anymore.”
“I remember.” Jin Hanshuang’s lips parted. “It left a deep impression.”
“Why?”
Just like back then, Lu Yunshu asked the same question.
Jin Hanshuang looked at her. After a moment, she smiled and said softly, “Because that day, jiejie got scolded.”
