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President Lu didn’t have work on Sunday.

The young couple went on a date to watch a movie.

Lu Yunshu wasn’t afraid of the dark.

Now Jin Hanshuang knew too.

But that didn’t stop Lu Yunshu from reaching for her girlfriend’s hand at the entrance of the dimly lit theater.

Jin Hanshuang smiled. Just like before, she led Lu Yunshu up the stairs by hand.

Once they found their seats, they settled in and placed their popcorn down.

The movie hadn’t started yet, and the theater was filled with glowing screens as people walked into the theater.

Lu Yunshu leaned over.

Jin Hanshuang followed her movement.

Lu Yunshu whispered gently in Jin Hanshuang’s ear, “Your braids are beautiful today.”

Her girlfriend’s hair braiding skills were very good.

Her girlfriend’s silk scarf, courtesy of herself, also looked very good.

Her Hanshuang was beautiful no matter what.

Jin Hanshuang smiled and said, “Your silk scarf compliments my looks. Our family’s Yunshu has such good taste.”

It was a seabird orange color, like the sun setting over the ocean in summer.

Jin Hanshuang adored it.

Lu Yunshu asked, “Hanshuang, how do people flirt in a movie theater?”

Jin Hanshuang’s mind instantly flashed back to a certain day in the past.

Back then, she was still in the dark about the true target of this little one’s feelings.

She looked at Lu Yunshu askance. “We’re already together. Do we still need to learn how people flirt with each other before they’re together?”

“I’m just curious.” Lu Yunshu started acting like a well-behaved little puppy again. “Hanshuang, please enlighten me.”

Jin Hanshuang chuckled. “It’s all about the fleeting, subtle touches. When two people like each other but haven’t confirmed one another’s feelings yet, every touch makes their heart race. Every brush in the dark is a test. You’re afraid your feelings will get ignored, but you’re also afraid they’ll be noticed. That the other person is going to reject your advances.”

She sighed. “Oh, ambiguity…so bittersweet.”

Lu Yunshu said, “Jiejie is so capable.”

The first time she went to the movies with Jin Hanshuang, she was just as Jin Hanshuang described. Hesitant and contradictory. Afraid that Jin Hanshuang wouldn’t notice her love, but also afraid that Jin Hanshuang would realize it and push her away.

In the end…Jin Hanshuang really did reject her advances.

But the result was good.

They found happiness in the end.

Lu Yunshu reached out and took Jin Hanshuang’s hand.

But even this intimacy didn’t feel like enough.

They exchanged eye contact.

Jin Hanshuang moved the popcorn aside.

Lu Yunshu put the armrest up.

Interlocked fingers rested between them.

Jin Hanshuang laughed. “We really need to hold hands just to watch a movie?”

Lu Yunshu’s eyes curved. “Well, I also want to flirt with my jiejie.”

The movie began.

Their entwined hands felt right and comfortable.

Jin Hanshuang didn’t mind.

Since her little puppy liked it, she’d let her do it.

She was fine using her other hand to eat popcorn, feeding Lu Yunshu a bite or two.

Then she noticed that Lu Yunshu was playing with her hand.

One moment Lu Yunshu was touching her fingers. Then she was gently separating two of Jin Hanshuang’s fingers with her fingertips, rubbing softly at the spot between them. After a while, she intertwined their fingers and locked them together in an iron-clad grip.

There was no hesitation in her touches, just blatant stroking.

Jin Hanshuang didn’t stop her. Not until the movie ended, the credits rolled, and they walked out of the theater. Only then did Jin Hanshuang gently poke Lu Yunshu with a finger and tease, “You weren’t paying attention to the movie.”

Lu Yunshu was very honest. “The movie wasn’t very good.”

Jin Hanshuang chuckled. “True.”

There was no new release taking critics by storm. Lu Yunshu and Jin Hanshuang had gone to the theater to celebrate a new first since they began dating. In other words, it was just an excuse for a date.

Lu Yunshu said, “Since the movie wasn’t good, I was busy feeling moved.”

She hooked their fingers together. “I can finally hold our hand whenever I want.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, like a breeze kissing Jin Hanshuang’s ear.

Not only were the words sweet, but the voice was charming too.

Jin Hanshuang sighed in her heart.

Wow, this woman was too good at sweet talking.

But it was also the truth.

Because Lu Yunshu was always sincere, her comment was very effective on Jin Hanshuang.

Jin Hanshuang’s eyes shimmered with happiness.

She cradled the finger Lu Yunshu had hooked around hers and playfully teased, “You can hold my hand as much as you want now, but you’re still busy feeling moved?”

“That’s right. Feel it.” Lu Yunshu placed Jin Hanshuang’s hand over her heart. She smiled brightly. “It’s still racing.”

Jin Hanshuang playfully smacked her. “If it weren’t racing, you’d be dead.”

Lu Yunshu laughed with Jin Hanshuang. “What should we do next?”

“Let’s go to a gift shop. I want to buy a present.”

“Okay. Is it for a friend?”

“Yeah.”

They returned to the same gift shop.

Inside, the wind chimed jingled softly. The air was filled with a light and pleasant fragrance. The racks were still filled with familiar blue wrapping paper.

It was here that Jin Hanshuang once came so close to realizing Lu Yunshu’s true feelings.

Jin Hanshuang chose a scented candle and a wind chime. The shop assistant put the items into a box for her, preparing to wrap them up.

Lu Yunshu stood beside Jin Hanshuang, quietly watching her girlfriend choose the familiar blue wrapping paper.

Then, before she knew it, there were two gifts in her hands.

“?”

Jin Hanshuang’s smile bloomed. “This time, it’s a scented candle chosen by your girlfriend.”

Lu Yunshu looked at the gifts, then at Jin Hanshuang.

So the “friend” was actually the “friend” in “girlfriend.”

Lu Yunshu felt even happier knowing that Jin Hanshuang remembered every single little thing that had happened between them.

Her eyes curved. “Hanshuang has a good memory.”

Jin Hanshuang felt a little absurd. All it took was an extra scented candle, and this little puppy was beaming with joy. How could she be so adorable?

If Lu Yunshu asked for the moon, Jin Hanshuang would find a way to pluck it from the sky.

“As long as my Yunshu is happy~”

Lu Yunshu leaned in and placed a kiss on Jin Hanshuang’s cheek.

In a place where no one knew who they were, they openly expressed their love.

It began raining again.

Just like that day, it wasn’t easy to leave.

Fortunately, there was a café near the gift shop.

They sat inside, watching the rain.

Jin Hanshuang looked at Lu Yunshu.

Lu Yunshu looked at Jin Hanshuang.

Jin Hanshuang asked, “What are you thinking about right now?”

Lu Yunshu replied, “Hanshuang already knows.”

Jin Hanshuang raised an eyebrow.

Lu Yunshu said, “I made a new wish.”

“What is it?”

“That Shen Wenxin isn’t staying over at your place tonight either.”

Jin Hanshuang burst out laughing.

So cute. How could Lu Yunshu be so cute?

Did she, Jin Hanshuang, develop a disease that made her think everything her girlfriend did was adorable?

Lu Yunshu drove Jin Hanshuang to her apartment complex.

The rain fell in a soft, steady drizzle.

There was only one umbrella in the car.

Lu Yunshu opened the umbrella, pushing back raindrops.

She tilted the umbrella slightly to cover Jin Hanshuang’s small frame.

Under the umbrella, Jin Hanshuang slipped her arm through Lu Yunshu’s.

At the entrance, they locked eyes.

“I’m home,” Jin Hanshuang said.

“I know.” Lu Yunshu held her hand.

Jin Hanshuang’s eyes curved.

“Do you know what I would have done if we were still flirting?”

Lu Yunshu’s gaze became curious.

Jin Hanshuang reached out and took the umbrella from Lu Yunshu.

“I would lend the other person my umbrella so we have a reason to meet again.”

Lu Yunshu’s expression turned to realization.

“It seems I made a mistake last time.”

“Not really.”

Jin Hanshuang closed the umbrella and shook off the raindrops.

“You did very well last time.” After a moment, the older woman nodded to herself. “Excellent performance.”

Jin Hanshuang still felt charmed whenever she remembered that day.

She propped her cheek on her hand and sighed.

“Back then, I was already thinking ‘This kid is clearly so good at this. Why would she need me to teach her anything?’”

Lu Yunshu suddenly realized why Jin Hanshuang had said those words to her when she got home that night.

So it turned out a certain someone had already been secretly moved.

“I still need Teacher Jin.” Lu Yunshu raised a hand to gently caress Jin Hanshuang’s face, her gaze dark. “There’s still so much I need to learn, like…”

Jin Hanshuang looked at her. “Like…?”

“Now that I’ve lent my umbrella to the person I like so we have an excuse to meet again, what should I do next?”

Lu Yunshu’s expression turned pitiful and innocent again.

She was playing the role of a drenched little puppy again.

Jin Hanshuang chucked. “Yes, what should you do?”

Warmth pooled in Lu Yunshu’s eyes.

Jin Hanshuang took Lu Yunshu’s hand and led her inside. “Of course, you should come home with me and stay the night.

“Congratulations, your wish came true. Wenxin won’t be coming over anytime soon.”

Lu Yunshu’s eyes lit up.

How wonderful. She could sleep in the same room as Jin Hanshuang again.

She could be alone with her, do so many things with her…do so many things to her.

Lu Yunshu snapped out of her thoughts.

They were in the elevator.

No one else was there. The polished doors reflected their image.

They were hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder.

Jin Hanshuang whipped out her phone, adjusted her camera, and took a couple’s selfie with their reflection on the elevator doors.

In the final shot, Jin Hanshuang caught the moment right when Lu Yunshu was just looking up from her phone to see what her girlfriend was doing.

“Take more.” Lu Yunshu’s voice sounded beside Jin Hanshuang’s ear. “Send them to me.”

Laughing, Jin Hanshuang dutifully fulfilled Lu Yunshu’s request. She continued taking pictures until they arrived home, sending them over as soon as she shot them.

She walked through the front door praising Lu Yunshu. “Our Yunshu is so beautiful she doesn’t even need edits. Absolutely stunning~”

The door closed behind them.

Lu Yunshu rested her chin on Jin Hanshuang’s shoulder. “Hanshuang is beautiful too. How can Hanshuang be so good-looking?”

She kissed Jin Hanshuang’s cheek.

“I really, really like Jin Hanshuang.”

Jin Hanshuang reached up and gently patted Lu Yunshu’s face.

“I really, really like Lu Yunshu too.”

Lu Yunshu said, “The Lu Yunshu you like wants to ask a question.”

Jin Hanshuang tilted her head. “What question?”

Lu Yunshu parted her lips and said:

“When does Jin Hanshuang plan to ‘corrupt’ Lu Yunshu?

“Aren’t you going to teach me something else?

“Teacher Jin?”

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

(puppy wagging its tail.gif)

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