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Jin Hanshuang was well aware that she was being hypocritical when it came to Lu Yunshu.

On the surface, she had rejected her. But in reality, she cared for her and even reminded her to take her medicine on time.

What kind of rejection was this?

What was she doing?

What was this?

Ridiculous, outrageous!

After condemning herself in her heart, Jin Hanshuang did not respond to Lu Yunshu.

She ignored Lu Yunshu for two days.

Or rather, she cooled her mind for two days.

She needed to calm down, restrain herself, and find a way to avoid letting this relationship spiral out of control.

Lu Yunshu noticed Jin Hanshuang’s cold shoulder.

During those two days, she often rambled to herself in their chat box.

It wasn’t too unusual. Sometimes, Jin Hanshuang might not reply with a single word all day.

She knew this was Jin Hanshuang’s way of rejecting her.

It was a very hurtful and cold rejection—all because she was Lu Yunshu.

Yet they had clearly been such good friends before…

At night, Lu Yunshu sat at home, staring blankly at her phone.

After a while, she picked up her phone again and sent Jin Hanshuang a message:

[Hanshuang, you’re ignoring me again. You promised me you would stop.]

Jin Hanshuang, a liar.

Lu Yunshu sighed softly.

But she liked this liar so much.

This liar who had shown care for her just two days ago. Hot and cold—it was enough to make her heart itch.

[Lu Yunshu]: Is it only when I’m sick that you’ll talk to me?

[Jin Hanshuang]: Don’t talk nonsense.

The reply came almost instantly.

Lu Yunshu’s eyebrows rose, and her eyes lit up with happiness. Had Jin Hanshuang been looking at their chat window the entire time?

[Lu Yunshu]: You finally replied to me.

[Lu Yunshu]: How could you choose to ignore me right after I got better?

Her tone was full of complaint and grievance.

She turned into a pitiful little puppy whining in front of Jin Hanshuang.

Jin Hanshuang’s expression softened involuntarily.

Poor little puppy…

[Lu Yunshu]: You should talk to me when I’m not sick. This way, I’ll stay healthy.

Jin Hanshuang tilted her head, confused.

She couldn’t help asking: [Healthy?]

[Lu Yunshu]: Talking to healthy people prevents us from being infected by illness.

“?”

Jin Hanshuang was shocked into laughter.

[Jin Hanshuang]: What kind of nonsense is that?

Lu Yunshu couldn’t help laughing at herself either.

In order to get Jin Hanshuang to respond, she really was willing to say all kinds of nonsense.

But all she wanted was for Jin Hanshuang to notice her.

To see her when she was sick, to care for her when she wasn’t. It was a simple desire.

She decided to change the subject.

[Lu Yunshu]: Were you worried that I might make myself sick just to get your attention?

Jin Hanshuang frowned slightly.

This sentence carried a hint of ambiguity. The word “worry” could be used to mean genuine concern, or it could imply a sort of fear, even disdain. And in Lu Yunshu’s message, the latter meaning seemed unusually strong.

But that wasn’t Jin Hanshuang’s intention…

[Jin Hanshuang]: I’m just afraid that you will use your own body as a joke.

[Lu Yunshu]: No, I wouldn’t do that.

Lu Yunshu’s reply was swift and decisive.

[Lu Yunshu]: It’s not the right course of action. You won’t like it, and I won’t either. Doing something like that is tantamount to emotional blackmail.

[Lu Yunshu]: I don’t want to threaten you.

[Lu Yunshu]: I just want to appear pitiful.

[Lu Yunshu]: As soon as I get better, you don’t want to talk to me anymore. It’s tragic.

She sent a GIF of a puppy flopping onto the ground with a thud and crying two long streams of tears—the definition of pitiful.

The tone of the conversation shifted again.

Jin Hanshuang: “…?”

She couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Worse—she actually found Lu Yunshu a little cute like this.

[Jin Hanshuang]: I really can’t handle you, kiddo.

[Lu Yunshu]: I’m not a kid anymore.

[Lu Yunshu]: I’m 27, the right age to fall in love.

Her intentions might as well be plastered across her face.

Jin Hanshuang huffed out a laugh.

[Jin Hanshuang]: Then why don’t you go date someone?

[Lu Yunshu]: Too busy waiting in line for my jiejie’s love.

[Lu Yunshu]: Jiejie, what’s my number?

[Lu Yunshu]: Can I cut the line?

Jin Hanshuang found this hilarious.

She didn’t know Lu Yunshu had it in her.

What a shame.

[Jin Hanshuang]: Sorry to say you won’t make the cut.

[Lu Yunshu]: [Crying puppy.gif]

[Jin Hanshuang]: Crying won’t help either.

Lu Yunshu stared at her phone, resting her chin on her hand in silence.

Jin Hanshuang was really hard to chase.

The little puppy didn’t manage to capture her jiejie’s heart, but her crying was surprisingly effective. Jin Hanshuang no longer ignored Lu Yunshu. She started replying to her messages again, and gradually, the number of replies came more frequently. It almost felt like they were close friends again. 

Even so, it didn’t stop Jin Hanshuang from looking for her next peach blossom date.

It was time to fall in love again.

If she found a relationship, the little puppy would have to give up.

This was what it meant to kill two birds with one stone.

Her matchmaker was the social butterfly Qin Xiaoliu.

Qin Xiaoliu had recently made a new friend.

This new friend was beautiful, had a good personality, and was excellent in every conceivable measure. She was also single but not an innocent little flower—someone who seemed perfect for Jin Hanshuang.

Qin Xiaoliu’s professional opinion was that Jin Hanshuang should get to know this person. They could start as friends and, if things clicked, progress into a relationship.

Jin Hanshuang agreed.

She decided to give this person a chance as friends and leave the rest up to fate.

Qin Xiaoliu planned a night of barbecue, games, and movies—a small gathering at home and a simple, casual meetup.

Everyone invited was a close friend except for the new friend she wanted to introduce to Jin Hanshuang.

As soon as the new friend arrived, Qin Xiaoliu introduced her to Jin Hanshuang, implicitly handing off the task of helping this person feel comfortable to Jin Hanshuang.

Jin Hanshuang, with her good looks and approachable demeanor, was the perfect choice for the job. Whether it was helping the new friend fit in or simply keeping her company, they could proceed with whatever worked for them.

As Qin Xiaoliu flounced away, Jin Hanshuang and the new friend looked at each other. This new friend was very beautiful. She wore a pair of thin, black-rimmed glasses on her nose, her long black hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. The tight black dress wrapped around her body gave her an elegant and gentle air, emphasizing her noble appearance. Once again, Miss Qin’s selection process was excellent.

Yet Jin Hanshuang couldn’t help but think that she preferred gold-rimmed glasses. That was more her style. Not because of Lu Yunshu, but just because she liked beautiful women in gold-rimmed glasses—wait, why was she thinking of Lu Yunshu again?

Shaking the little puppy out of her mind, she extended her hand. “Hello, I’m Jin Hanshuang.”

“Bai Lu. It’s nice to meet you.” The other woman took her extended hand and shook it firmly. She looked at her. “I know who you are.”

Jin Hanshuang raised an eyebrow. Her lips curved, she asked, “What kind of knowing?”

“The kind that is very familiar with the other person.”

“Oh?”

“Xiao Liu said she wanted to introduce a friend to me. She mentioned it was you, so I looked online for your picture. You were very beautiful.”

“Really?”

“You’re even more beautiful in person.”

Jin Hanshuang blinked. Her smile widened. “So direct?”

Bai Lu nodded. “You should be straightforward with the person you like.”

No one could blame her for being true to her words.

Inexplicably, Jin Hanshuang thought of Lu Yunshu again.

Lu Yunshu was also very straightforward now. Ever since her secret love was exposed, Lu Yunshu eagerly told her how much she liked her this way or that way, even claiming to be in line with a love ticket…It was such nonsense.

Bai Lu noticed a faint smile playing on Jin Hanshuang’s lips.

Jin Hanshuang turned to her and said, “Let’s head inside. Xiao Liu will come to find us later.”

Bai Lu nodded. “Alright.”

Qin Xiaoliu, Du Mengying, and some of the other guests were playing Overcooked!^[1] in the living room. Jin Hanshuang sat at the bar, content to watch from the sidelines with Bai Lu. They drank non-alcoholic juices and talked peacefully. The atmosphere was pleasant, and Bai Lu was a great conversationalist, witty and charming.

Jin Hanshuang sat on her stool, quietly listening to Bai Lu talk. She found their discussions mildly interesting—but only that, mildly interesting.

Her phone buzzed on the bar counter. She glanced down at the screen.

[Lu Yunshu]: What’s Hanshuang up to?

Right at that moment, a commotion erupted in the living room.

“The pot! The pot!” Qin Xiaoliu’s voice rang out.

In the game, one of the pots was billowing black smoke.

“Ahh! Fire extinguisher! Get the fire extinguisher!” cried Qin Xiaoliu’s girlfriend.

Followed by the sound of someone extinguishing fire. “Fsst—”

“Everyone, calm down~” Du Mengying said in her calm voice.

Jin Hanshuang and Bai Lu were drawn by the ruckus, turning their heads to look. Jin Hanshuang casually took a picture of the chaos and sent it to Lu Yunshu.

[Watching friends play games.]

[Lu Yunshu]: Don’t you want to play?

[Jin Hanshuang]: Too busy. Jiejie is keeping a meimei’s company.

After she sent this message, Lu Yunshu was silent for a few seconds.

[Lu Yunshu]: Did you guys just meet?

[Lu Yunshu]: What about me?

Jin Hanshuang stared blankly at her screen.

[Lu Yunshu]: I am also your meimei.

[Lu Yunshu]: I need your company too.

[Lu Yunshu]: More than she needs it.

One message after another, dripping with jealousy. Jin Hanshuang didn’t even have a chance to get a word in. She looked at Lu Yunshu’s jealous sentences and laughed. She didn’t even know why she laughed. She couldn’t help it.

[Lu Yunshu]: I was there first.

Jin Hanshuang’s smile faded.

“…”

She turned her phone over and pressed it down onto the table. She turned her attention back to Bai Lu, listening to her talk about this or that. If she wanted to fall in love, she should pay attention to her new meimei.

Bai Lu was very talkative and was even more gorgeous when she smiled.

Jin Hanshuang propped her chin on her hand, her gaze softening as she watched Bai Lu’s bright expression. Her fingers absently brushed the edge of her phone. She thought absentmindedly that the little puppy also had a beautiful smile.

Not just beautiful—absolutely stunning.

Especially when she leaned down and rested her face in Jin Hanshuang’s palm, her deep eyes staring up at her affectionately, her mouth shaping into a brilliant smile. There was nothing else like it. No one could compare.

The little puppy also pouted, sulked, and got jealous.

—I was there first.

Jin Hanshuang snapped out of her daze, startled.

“Jiejie.”

Bai Lu’s voice fell in her ears.

Again. “Jiejie?”

Jin Hanshuang looked at her, unfocused. “Hm? What’s wrong?”

Bai Lu asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Jin Hanshuang smiled apologetically. “I just remembered something, sorry. What were you saying earlier? Can you tell me again?”

“Of course.”

Jin Hanshuang rubbed her temples.

This wasn’t good…

Lu Yunshu drove to Jin Hanshuang’s neighborhood.

She stood at the foot of Jin Hanshuang’s building, looking up at the floor where Jin Hanshuang’s apartment was.

She didn’t even know why she came. What could she accomplish by being here?

But the moment she heard that Jin Hanshuang was with another woman, she was seized by this impulsive idea.

She wanted to see her.

She was afraid Jin Hanshuang wouldn’t come home tonight.

She was even more afraid Jin Hanshuang wouldn’t come home alone…

“What are you doing here?”

A voice broke through her thoughts.

Lu Yunshu turned to see Jin Hanshuang standing not far away, staring at her with surprise. The tension in Lu Yunshu’s heart faded right away. There was no one beside her.

She smiled and greeted Jin Hanshuang, “Why did you come back so soon?”

“I had something to take care of, so I came back early.”

“Oh, what was it?”

Jin Hanshuang fell silent.

She didn’t know how to answer.

She didn’t know how to tell the person in front of her:

When I’m with someone else, all I can think about is you.

This evening, she tried to forge a new connection and let go of Lu Yunshu.

But the more she tried to use Bai Lu to forget about Lu Yunshu, the harder it became to let go. The closer she got to Bai Lu, the clearer Lu Yunshu’s image became in her mind.

It was as if the heavens were conspiring against her.

It was as if the heavens wanted her to confront her true feelings.

Her mind was in turmoil, so she found an excuse to leave early and breathe the fresh air on her way home. But she didn’t expect to run into the person who had been torturing her all night right at her doorsteps.

Jin Hanshuang changed the subject. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.”

Lu Yunshu made no effort to hide her affection.

“I was afraid that you’d be snatched away by someone else, so I decided to cut in line.

“Hanshuang, please consider me. Okay?”

Shen Hanshuang looked at Lu Yunshu, saying nothing.

After a few seconds, she suddenly burst into laughter, her voice full of helplessness.

It was over.

She actually wanted to say yes….

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

This is love~ It is messy and confusing~

The next update (Sunday) will be back to the normal 9 o’clock schedule.

^[1] Literally “分手厨房” (“fēnshǒu chúfáng”) or “Break-Up Kitchen.” As someone who has played Overcooked with friends and family before, I think this is a brilliant Chinese title for the game, haha.

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