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Two weeks later, the social butterfly Qin Xiaoliu organized another gathering and invited her friends to a sing-along at a karaoke bar.
Today, she was going to introduce everyone to her girlfriend. She wanted the whole world to see how amazing her baby’s singing voice was!
Aside from the usual group, there was a younger woman in the mix. She was a friend of Qin Xiaoliu’s new girlfriend, two years younger than the rest of them.
Of course, Jin Hanshuang and Du Mengying were also invited. Before going to the private room, the two made a quick stop in the bathroom.
The restroom was sparkling clean and so spacious you could hear an echo if you shouted.
Du Mengying wiped her hands and checked her makeup in the mirror. It was flawless. Once again, she was worthy of being called Ms. Du with the skillful hands. After she finished appreciating herself, Du Mengying turned and saw a faint smile on Jin Hanshuang’s lips.
She poked her friend with her elbow. “Hey, what’s so funny?”
Jin Hanshuang glanced at her, smile deepening. “Nothing, just thinking of Yunshu.”
“?”
Du Mengying asked humbly, “Please explain the connection, my friend.”
“Echoes.”
Jin Hanshuang flashed a mysterious smile and turned to leave.
“What echoes?”
Du Mengying stood confused.
What was all this about? Totally incomprehensible.
The private room was lively.
Qin Xiaoliu was singing a sweet duet with her girlfriend.
Everyone else was eating, drinking and cheering with them on cue.
Jin Hanshuang was focused on eating.
Every time she came to this karaoke bar, all she wanted to do was eat and listen to music.
There was no denying it—Qin Xiaoliu’s girlfriend could really sing. Her voice was clear and polished, and she effortlessly hit every high note.
No wonder Qin Xiaoliu insisted on meeting here. She just wanted to show off her wife!
Jin Hanshuang continued enjoying herself in tune to the music when the phone in her lap suddenly vibrated. She glanced down.
It was a message from Lu Yunshu.
[Lu Yunshu]: Have you eaten yet?
Jin Hanshuang put down the spoon to reply: [I’m eating right now.]
She took a picture of the braised pork and rice and sent it to Lu Yunshu. Then she snapped photos of the fruit platter, the snacks, and even Du Mengying’s matching braised pork set and forwarded them all together: [Everything here tastes great, I’ll bring you next time.]
These days, she loved saying the words “next time” to Lu Yunshu.
And she was always true to her word, really bringing Lu Yunshu to these places later.
As a self-proclaimed “dating coach,” she had recommended so many great spots and introduced the younger woman to so much delicious food that those pretty earrings Lu Yunshu had gifted her certainly hadn’t gone to waste.
Lu Yunshu replied quickly, [Sounds good. Where is it?]
[Jin Hanshuang]: It’s the karaoke bar on Binhai Road.
[Jin Hanshuang]: But it doesn’t matter if you’re unfamiliar with the area. When I bring you here next time, you’ll know.
[Lu Yunshu]: Hm.
A few seconds later—
[Lu Yunshu]: Are you with friends?
[Jin Hanshuang]: Yeah, one of my friends asked us to come.
[Lu Yunshu]: Are you singing?
[Jin Hanshuang]: Nope.
[Jin Hanshuang]: I’m eating.
[Lu Yunshu]: Impressive.
Jin Hanshuang chuckled at Lu Yunshu’s reply. [What are you implying, little puppy Lu? Are you mocking your jiejie?]
[Lu Yunshu]: It’s an earnest word of praise.
[Lu Yunshu]: Little Puppy Lu thinks that whatever jiejie does is great.
She even sent Jin Hanshuang some clapping cat emojis.
Then she followed up with a voice message.
Jin Hanshuang pressed the phone to her ear and played the audio.
Lu Yunshu’s soft voice came through, tinged with sincerity—and a hint of laughter. “Hanshuang is amazing.”
Jin Hanshuang suddenly felt as if someone was patting her on the head and proudly praising her, saying she was so beautiful, so impressive. She was something else.
But why would anyone feel proud of her just for eating? This kid really…
Jin Hanshuang couldn’t hide the growing smile in her eyes.
She replied: [No need to send voice messages. Jiejie always senses your sincerity.]
She saw it, she saw it. Both her eyes recognized the little puppy’s earnest praise.
Jin Hanshuang set down her phone and saw Du Mengying suddenly leaning over, a melon-eating expression on her face as she whispered, “Who were you showing off the menu to? And why are you smiling so happily?”
Jin Hanshuang picked up a piece of fruit and said, “Oh, it’s nothing. Just recommending this place to that kid Yunshu.”
Du Mengying raised her eyebrows. She suddenly took Jin Hanshuang’s shoulders and looked at her friend with a serious expression. “Comrade Jin Hanshuang, I must remind you that you have been mentioning this President Lu a lot more often lately. And every time you say her name, you’re smiling.”
Jin Hanshuang’s expression was unfazed. “Am I?”
Du Mengying retorted, “Aren’t you? Shall I dig up the evidence?”
Even their chat history was filled with Lu Yunshu!
If Jin Hanshuang wasn’t talking about Lu Yunshu’s sense of humor, she was talking about Lu Yunshu’s cuteness. Her attention on Lu Yunshu was getting stronger, but Du Mengying didn’t know if it was because of maternal instincts flaring up or something else entirely.
Jin Hanshuang replied with her usual composure, “This is the first time I’ve met a friend who’s seven years younger than me. Can’t I be happy about that?”
Du Mengying said, “Wasn’t Wenxin the first friend who’s seven years younger than you?”
“Wenxin’s practically my kid.”
“Hmm? You’re not treating Lu Yunshu like a kid, are you? What’s this—moonlighting as someone else’s mother behind our backs?”
“Get lost,” Jin Hanshuang said. “I’m not treating her like she’s my kid…”
But she looked at the fruit platter between them and unconsciously fell into thought. Had she really been mentioning Lu Yunshu more often? What’s wrong with that? Lu Yunshu was so cute—it’s fun to be friends with her.
There’s no way that she liked her… No, definitely not. She was still rooting for Lu Yunshu to get together with her crush one day.
“She’s just a friend,” Jin Hanshuang said to herself, “that I like pretending is a kid.”
She narrowed her eyes at Du Mengying. “Forget about me—haven’t you teased younger girls before too?”
“Fine, fine.” Du Mengying remembered the past incidents and laughed.
Jin Hanshuang noticed that the younger friend Qin Xiaoliu’s girlfriend brought had been very quiet all night. After another glance at Qin Xiaoliu and her girlfriend, she shook her head.
Those two obnoxious lovebirds.
She nudged Du Mengying and tilted her head toward the quiet friend. “We should take care of that young girl first.”
Sitting in the private room so well-behaved, like a gentle and delicate flower. Their friends had already tried talking to her, but she remained a little shy. Lu Yunshu was well-behaved too, but Jin Hanshuang felt sure that Lu Yunshu wouldn’t just sit there timidly. Even if she stayed by Jin Hanshuang’s side as an obedient meimei, she’d definitely find her way into any conversation with confidence.
A CEO couldn’t lack people skills, after all.
Jin Hanshuang snapped out of her thoughts. Wait a minute—why was she suddenly thinking about Lu Yunshu? Tsk, she must be hanging out with the kid too much. But that deceptively sweet and innocent demeanor probably played a part…
She needed to expand her social circle. If she made more friends, maybe she’d stop constantly thinking about that child.
“Move over.” She patted Du Mengying’s knee. “I’m going to chat with that little friend, so she feels like she belongs. We can’t let Miss Qin treat us for nothing.”
Du Mengying shifted aside.
Jin Hanshuang walked over.
A while later, a new bowl of braised pork and rice appeared in front of the “little friend.” After taking a bite, the young woman smiled at Jin Hanshuang. “This is delicious!”
The menu still had a lot to offer, and Jin Hanshuang began recommending dishes left and right. Eventually, she decided to take the young woman to a table filled with even more food and introduced her, saying that as long as she stuck with these girls, she’d be fine.
The other women, seeing that the young woman was willing to join in, enthusiastically pushed their favorite dishes her way, as if they were afraid she was going to go hungry. Seeing everyone’s warmth, the young woman gave a shy smile. Then, she happily dug in.
Her expression was much more lively than before.
Du Mengying: “…”
Food really is life—nothing beats eating.
Mission accomplished, Jin Hanshuang returned to Du Mengying’s side.
Du Mengying’s eyebrows rose. “Why are you back? Aren’t you staying with her?”
“I’m hungry.” Jin Hanshuang scooped a spoonful of rice covered in brown sauce. “The little friend has plenty of company now.”
Du Mengying asked, “Did you get her WeChat?”
Jin Hanshuang was slightly startled, her spoon halfway to her mouth. “I forgot.”
She quickly resumed her calm demeanor. “Not important. Time to eat.”
Jin Hanshuang took a bite of rice.
She had originally wanted to add a friend, but after talking for a while, she subconsciously began treating the person as her little sister. Her main mission slowly shifted to helping this little sister integrate into the environment, absent of ulterior motives.
Once the mission was complete, she returned to her seat.
What WeChat contacts? What friends? She’d already forgotten about all that.
Oh well, no big deal. Countless younger women existed in the world. If this one wasn’t meant to be, there’ll always be another.
Du Mengying: “…”
This person really just came here to eat.
What a coincidence—so did she.
The friends’ gathering came to an end.
Everyone had a great time.
Unexpectedly, as they were making their way to the car, the “little friend” went out of her way to approach Jin Hanshuang—and ask for her WeChat.
Who would’ve thought? Jin Hanshuang hadn’t taken the initiative, but the “little friend” offered instead. Jin Hanshuang added her without a second thought. After all, she wasn’t about to refuse a new friend.
Later that evening, Qin Xiaoliu messaged her on WeChat.
She told Jin Hanshuang that the “little friend” had been asking about her sexual orientation.
Qin Xiaoliu also said that Jin Hanshuang was the girl’s ideal type.
Finally, she asked Jin Hanshuang: [Are you interested?]
If Jin Hanshuang was interested, Qin Xiaoliu would let the woman know and play matchmaker. If not, then forget about it.
Jin Hanshuang stared at Qin Xiaoliu’s three rapid-fire messages, but instead of thinking of her new little friend’s face, her mind drifted to Lu Yunshu.
She was reminded of something Lu Yunshu said.
“Jin Hanshuang, you’re heartless.”
The words were spoken pitifully, leaving a deep impression.
Lu Yunshu had said it to accuse Jin Hanshuang of going off to pursue romance while leaving her stuck with her unresolved crush.
“…”
Jin Hanshuang found it baffling that she suddenly remembered this sentence.
How was she heartless? She hadn’t even started a new relationship yet.
She’d worked so hard to teach Lu Yunshu how to date and fall in love. She was the epitome of a considerate friend.
With a moral compass as steadfast as hers, she was more than worthy of starting a new relationship.
Jin Hanshuang moved her fingers across the screen, typing a few words before sending them off.
[No, I’m fine.]
She put down her phone and went to take a shower.
It’s a pity that this little friend just wasn’t her type.
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