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Jin Hanshuang watched the store clerk wrap Lu Yunshu’s gifts. There was a total of four gifts. Just as a demonstration, she had chosen the scented candle. But there was no need for a demonstration. As she silently observed the gifts, her mind replayed the scene from just a moment ago.
Lu Yunshu’s face pressed against her palm, Lu Yunshu speaking in an obedient tone, as if she wanted to coax her, as if she liked her. The atmosphere was beautiful, but Jin Hanshuang felt a faint sense of unease.
…No way, does this kid really like her?
Her silence deepened. Could she conclude that Lu Yunshu liked her based on this? Lu Yunshu had acted cute and endearing before—what if this time, she was just pretending to be a spoiled child again?
“Everything is packed. Let me put it in the bag for you.”
The store clerk’s voice brought Jin Hanshuang’s thoughts back to reality. She observed the finished product. The four gifts were adorned with a simple and refreshing seafoam watercolor pattern, along with a perfect little white bow. The store clerk placed the gifts into a paper bag and handed it to Lu Yunshu.
Gifts were meant for people you like. If she was “the one,” would Lu Yunshu give them to her? Just the thought of it seemed absurd, so blatant that it was almost comical…
Her eyes met Lu Yunshu’s.
“Let’s go, Hanshuang.”
“Mm.”
The two of them returned to Lu Yunshu’s car. Jin Hanshuang stared ahead, silently. The car didn’t start. Jin Hanshuang snapped out of her daze and turned to look at Lu Yunshu, only to find Lu Yunshu’s gaze on her.
“What are you doing? Aren’t we leaving?”
Then Lu Yunshu leaned over. Jin Hanshuang reacted, about to pull away—only to see Lu Yunshu gently grab the seatbelt and pull it over her torso, fastening it for her.
Jin Hanshuang: “…”
She had forgotten to put it on.
Lu Yunshu sat back and said, “Ever since the gifts were being packed, you’ve been daydreaming, not saying a word. What are you thinking about?”
Jin Hanshuang smiled calmly. “What would I say?”
“I don’t know.” Lu Yunshu shook her head. “But it’s making me feel like I did something wrong to upset you. So…did I do something?”
Jin Hanshuang didn’t know why Lu Yunshu would come to such a conclusion, but her words were a bit pitiful. And the truth was, Lu Yunshu hadn’t done anything wrong. But before Jin Hanshuang could say anything, Lu Yunshu took her hand again—and rested it on her cheek, just like in the store.
“Don’t be mad, jiejie. It’s all my fault.”
Jin Hanshuang froze.
Then she found it amusing.
“What did you do wrong?”
“I don’t know.”
“?”
“Apologizing first is never wrong.”
Lu Yunshu gazed into Jin Hanshuang’s eyes, her expression full of sincerity. “Hanshuang, I don’t want to make you angry. I don’t want you to be unhappy because of me.”
Jin Hanshuang was stunned.
Oh no, her suspicions were growing stronger—
Now, she was convinced Lu Yunshu liked her.
Jin Hanshuang paced back and forth in her house. Outside, the sky was full of stars. Another day was about to pass, but her heart didn’t want to follow.
Lu Yunshu seemed to like her. Not just like her, but like her very much. Du Mengying seemed to have hit the nail on the head. But this was bad!
She had never considered having a relationship with Lu Yunshu! Not only was this kid seven years younger than her, but she was also Shen Wenxin’s mortal enemy. How could she possibly date her?
“I don’t understand,” Jin Hanshuang told Du Mengying on the phone. “Why me? Or maybe I should be more cautious?”
“Cautious?” Du Mengying didn’t follow.
Jin Hanshuang made circles in her room, her frown deepening. “She hasn’t admitted to anything, so I shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions on her behalf. If I’ve really misunderstood her, that would be bad.”
Du Mengying said in a light-hearted voice, “That’s easy—just go ahead and ask if she likes you.”
“…”
Jin Hanshuang was speechless. “Great idea, but what if I’m wrong?”
Du Mengying teased, “Then you get to experience a year’s worth of embarrassment.”
“Get lost.”
Her friend suddenly said, “You’re overthinking it. I’ve never seen you think so much before.”
About whether the other person liked her or not, about the embarrassment of a negative answer. Playing a game of twists and turns. In the past, her Hanshuang used to be the kind of person who would ask a girl out as soon as she caught her eye.
Jin Hanshuang said, “It’s different. I’ve never been in this situation before.”
With anyone else, she could be calm and composed, flirtatious and ambiguous. But this was Lu Yunshu. Lu Yunshu! She never imagined that her stepdaughter’s archnemesis would develop feelings for her. Wasn’t this too outrageous?
Du Mengying nodded. “You have a point.”
She couldn’t help but let her imagination wander. “But if it turns out we’re right…what would you do?”
What would she do?
Jin Hanshuang stopped pacing.
She turned her gaze to the night sky, her lips pressed together.
“The only thing I can do. Reject her.”
The next few days passed quietly.
Lu Yunshu was busy with work and had no time to meet up. Jin Hanshuang wasn’t in a hurry to deal with the situation. She could wait until the other woman was less occupied. She still hadn’t decided whether to probe further or have an honest conversation, but she agreed to meet when Lu Yunshu was free.
A few days later, Jin Hanshuang went to the Sifang Pavilion, a private club, to pick up Shen Wenxin.
It was already eight in the evening, and Shen Wenxin had just finished socializing. She had been staying at Jin Hanshuang’s place for the last couple of days, and because she was drinking, she asked Jin Hanshuang to take her home.
They walked into the bright, expensive lobby. Jin Hanshuang raised her hand and said to Shen Wenxin, who was behind her, “Give me the car keys.”
Shen Wenxin handed the keys to her, yawning.
Seeing this, Jin Hanshuang patted her head. “Did you have a hard day?”
Shen Wenxin nodded. “These last few days have been exhausting enough. When we’re home, I’m taking a bath and going to bed.”
Jin Hanshuang stroked Shen Wenxin’s hair.
When she turned her head to look at the elevator, she saw a familiar face—Lu Yunshu.
Lu Yunshu wasn’t alone. There was a girl standing next to her. The girl had a good sense of fashion, vibrant and bright. Her long hair cascaded down her head like water, and even though Jin Hanshuang only caught her profile, it was clear that she was a beautiful young woman.
Then there was the bouquet of flowers in her hand, a bundle of warm and romantic red roses next to a small white paper bag and a gift box. Jin Hanshuang recognized them all. The bag was from the Shen family’s jewelry company, and the gift was one of the four she saw packaged with her own eyes, complete with the seafoam wrapping paper and white ribbon.
The elevator doors opened, and the beautiful young woman, her arm affectionately wrapped around Lu Yunshu’s, walked in.
Jin Hanshuang came back to her senses.
What had Lu Yunshu said?
Those were the gifts meant for the person she loved.
