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“Why are you sitting out here alone?”

A familiar voice interrupted the gentle trickle of water.

Lu Yunshu glanced up, watching as Jin Hanshuang sat beside her on the fountain’s edge. 

The soft murmur of the water shrouded them in its thick embrace, muting the sounds of the bustling crowd and transforming their shared space into a peaceful refuge.

Lu Yunshu asked, “What brings you here?”

“I saw you sitting alone, so I came down.” Jin Hanshuang crossed her legs. Resting her face in her hands, she turned to look at Lu Yunshu. “Now that I’m up close…You really do seem a little unhappy.”

Lu Yunshu smiled faintly. “Not too bad.”

Yes, not too bad.

She had been wondering what to do about Jin Hanshuang, but unexpectedly, the woman had come over on her own. It was true that she was in a bad mood before, but now that she saw Jin Hanshuang, she felt much better.

Her heart was easily comforted, easily satisfied.

Suddenly, another hand gave the back of her palm a light pat.

This hand was slender and beautiful, slightly cool to the touch but extraordinarily gentle.

“It’s alright.” Jin Hanshuang’s eyes were soft, just like her voice. “Even if this date didn’t work out, there will be another chance.”

Lu Yunshu was slightly taken aback. Then she smiled. “Hanshuang came down just to comfort me?”

Jin Hanshuang nodded. “Mhm~”

From the manor’s terrace, she had quietly watched Lu Yunshu and her friend enter the front door. But then Lu Yunshu, with a glass of champagne, broke away from her friend and wandered into the solitude of the front yard. Lu Yunshu perched on the fountain, quiet and sullen, as if…really unhappy.

Something within Jin Hanshuang stirred. She remembered that Lu Yunshu had just been stood up, and she recalled that Lu Yunshu had said that she liked this person for many years. Tsk, in the end, she couldn’t help but feel a little sorry.

So as a friend, she came down to Lu Yunshu’s side.

Lu Yunshu took Jin Hanshuang’s hand.

The younger woman’s face was incredibly gentle.

“Thank you, Hanshuang.”

Lu Yunshu held Jin Hanshuang’s hand tightly. Her eyes shone like the hexagram bracelet on her wrist, brilliant and moving.

“I’m really happy to know you.”

Jin Hanshuang felt a pang of pity.

“Does that friend of yours know why you’re upset?”

Lu Yunshu curled her lips slightly. She didn’t respond.

Jin Hanshuang had already filled in the answer in her mind. She began to feel even more pity for Lu Yunshu. Unable to resist, she reached out her hand to pat Lu Yunshu’s head, her expression full of affection. “So pitiful, our poor little puppy…”

None of Lu Yunshu’s friends knew she was a lesbian, including the friend who invited her to this party. How pitiful, to be unable to share your burdens with your friends…

“But your friend seems to treat you well,” Jin Hanshuang said. “Even though she only knew you were unhappy, she tried to find a way to make you happy.”

Lu Yunshu’s smile deepened. “Yes, she is very kind.”

Seeing that Lu Yunshu’s mood had lightened, Jin Hanshuang decided to tease her. “And what about jiejie? Is jiejie kind?”

Lu Yunshu continued to smile. “Fifty percent.”

“Hmm?”

“It was kind to comfort me, but it was unkind to enjoy yourself while I was upset.”

“?”

“Jin Hanshuang, you’re heartless.”

“What? You little brat.” Jin Hanshuang laughed, pinching Lu Yunshu’s cheek. “Jiejie left a room full of beauties to come find you. You should be thanking me, not calling me heartless.”

“Among those beauties, is there anyone you like?”

Jin Hanshuang’s hand froze. She withdrew her fingers, her expression calm. “I don’t know, maybe there will be later?”

“…”

Lu Yunshu responded in silence.

After a while, Jin Hanshuang heard Lu Yunshu say, “Jin Hanshuang, you’re heartless.”

“What did I do now?”

“I’m sad, but you’re off flirting with other girls.”

“When did I do that?”

“You said maybe later.”

“Ai-ya, you’re studying me now?”

“What should I do?”

Lu Yunshu mimicked Jin Hanshuang’s tone.

She was imitating her again.

There was a naughty smile on Lu Yunshu’s face.

She was teasing Jin Hanshuang on purpose, imitating her for fun.

Jin Hanshuang straightened and responded, “Yes, what should I do?”

They looked at each other and smiled.

Someone was in a better mood already.

Her phone dinged. It was Qiu Xiaoliu.

Jin Hanshuang glanced at her screen, then she stood up. With her glass in hand, she said, “What should I do? Jiejie is going to find another meimei^[1] now, that’s what I should do.”

Just as she was about to take a step forward, Lu Yunshu seized her hand again.

Lu Yunshu gazed up at her. “Are you really going off to flirt?”

“Yes, because I’m heartless.”

“…”

Lu Yunshu suddenly said.

“Don’t go.”

Her fingers tightened around the older woman’s wrist as if she were afraid that Jin Hanshuang would turn into a wisp of wind and slip through her fingers.

“Why not?”

Jin Hanshuang continued to tease Lu Yunshu. “Didn’t you say I was heartless?”

“No.” Lu Yunshu pursed her lips, her fingers unconsciously stroking Jin Hanshuang’s.

She was so eager but hesitant.

After a moment, she said as if admitting defeat, “It’s me who’s heartless. I don’t want you to go…”

Jin Hanshuang came to comfort her, was so kind to her, yet she didn’t want Jin Hanshuang to flirt or fall in love with anyone else.

How selfish.

Jin Hanshuang was stunned by Lu Yunshu’s words.

She couldn’t help but laugh.

Such a child, even accusing herself of being heartless in such a serious tone.

“Why don’t you want jiejie to go? Is it because you want me to sit and talk to you?”

“Mm, I want you to stay with me.”

“Do you like being with jiejie?”

“Yes.”

Lu Yunshu tightened her grip on Jin Hanshuang’s hand.

She said with a hint of possessiveness, “So don’t go to them. Stay with me.”

Jin Hanshuang couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Using the hand that was being held, she reached out a finger and poked Lu Yunshu’s face. “Jiejie came to comfort you, but now you’re stopping her from flirting with pretty girls. Ai-ya, you’re so heartless.”

Lu Yunshu watched her with large and shining eyes, inexplicably pitiful.

Seeing her like this, Jin Hanshuang’s playful mood faded. She explained for no reason, “My friend is looking for me. I need to see what she wants. Don’t sit here alone. Enjoy the party. Otherwise, your friend will worry.”

“Jiejie is leaving now.” After speaking, she gently brushed over the spot where she poked Lu Yunshu, only to have a piece of candy placed in her hand again. It was the same kind, an orange-flavored hard candy.

Jin Hanshuang looked down at the candy in her palm, then at Lu Yunshu, who was slowly standing up. She smiled and said, “What’s this, you’ve got another candy? Are you a magician?”

Right in front of Jin Hanshuang, Lu Yunshu took out another piece of candy from her trousers. “No, but my pants are.”

She had brought two pieces of candy when she went out tonight.

Jin Hanshuang’s gaze flicked between their candies, then onto Lu Yunshu’s expression. Suddenly, she burst into laughter, as if someone had tickled her funny bone.

Lu Yunshu’s lips curved as well, her face brightening.

The person she liked touched her face.

They even held hands.

Jin Hanshuang went back inside.

She returned to Du Mengying’s side with a magician’s candy.

When she set down her wine, the candy was still inside her mouth.

Du Mengying introduced her to a younger woman.

The girl was beautiful and cheerful, a good conversationalist.

Jin Hanshuang smiled politely, nodding but she couldn’t focus.

Her mouth and mind were full of orange candy.

So sweet.

Just like a certain someone.

The translator (AmEricaNo) has something to say:

Moving up schedule from Thursday 7 p.m. EST to Thursday 8 a.m. EST this time. Might switch back to Saturdays 8 a.m. for convenience next week.😅

The author (热到昏厥) has something to say:

Little Lu is happy again.

^[1] 妹妹 (mèimei) or “younger sister.” To Jin Hanshuang, both Lu Yunshu and Qiu Xiaoliu, who are younger than her, can be considered “妹妹s.”“Why are you sitting out here alone?”

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