She Said She Has Feelings For Someone - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Breaking the Ice: “An Illusion.”

Since the recording equipment was still running, they didn’t continue the previous topic. Fortunately, the food arrived quickly, and they all tacitly chose to eat first.

Once her stomach was full, Tang Jiahe raised her head, taking on the responsibility of hosting this hot pot gathering.

“Let’s talk about some topics the audience and fans like to see,” she suggested.

Luo Han nodded. “Sounds good.”

“How about starting with what we’ve been up to lately?” Jiang Fei proposed.

Except for Jiang Fei, they had all been famous before and had a foundation of fans. Now that they were returning to the screen, many people would naturally be curious about their recent lives.

He Wenyin nodded but added, “Should we keep it light?”

Luo Han couldn’t help but laugh. “The heavy stuff probably wouldn’t make the final cut anyway.”

She meant it as a joke, but the atmosphere at the table turned a bit somber. Luo Han quickly added, “Sorry, my fault for bringing it up.”

“Not at all,” Tang Jiahe shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”

Seeing this, He Wenyin hurried to change the subject. “Speaking of which, my daughter really likes Sister Han. She’s watched that legal drama of yours several times.”

Thus, accompanied by the rising steam of the hot pot, a warm “sisterly” chat officially began.

Xia Leshuang seemed ravenous. Aside from occasionally chiming in to support the mood, her chopsticks almost never stopped. She was entirely focused on her food.

“Leshuang, you’re so hungry,” Tang Jiahe laughed.

Luo Han chimed in: “Let her eat. She definitely put in the most effort today.”

Xia Leshuang looked up. With her mouth full, it wasn’t convenient to speak, so she simply offered a smile.

Halfway through the meal, she finally felt the discomfort in her stomach. She reluctantly put down her chopsticks and said, “I’m going to the restroom.”

The private room was at the end of the hallway. A window was open, letting in a gentle spring night breeze that cleared her foggy head.

She had unconsciously eaten too much, and her stomach felt uneasy. But even that physical discomfort couldn’t squeeze out the heavy, dull mood caused by the earlier gossip; it remained thick and stagnant in her chest.

Xia Leshuang let out a few soft sighs and followed the signs to the restroom, only to bump into Min Wutong at the entrance.

She instinctively put on her standard smile. “President Min.”

“Teacher Xia?” Min Wutong was equally surprised. Then, as if thinking of something, she arched an eyebrow and said with a smile, “I’m here to bring Shuyu some sanitary pads.”

…

Xia Leshuang was momentarily stunned. Immediately following that was a heavy, sinking feeling in her heart.

She suppressed it inwardly, maintaining a look of realization and nonchalance. “Ah, I see.”

Min Wutong smiled, said nothing else, nodded, and left.

Xia Leshuang didn’t understand Min Wutong’s motive. There seemed to be no hostility, but it was definitely intentional. Or was it simply a public display of affection?

Her heart stalled again. Then, she heard a familiar voice: “Teacher Xia?”

“There you are,” Lu Shuyu said, puzzled. “Why are you standing there like a statue?”

“Playing Truth or Dare?”

It wasn’t a stretch for Lu Shuyu to guess that; Xia Leshuang was standing at the door motionless like a guardian spirit. To Lu, it looked like the result of losing a dare.

Xia Leshuang froze for a moment before saying, “No, just came to use the restroom.”

“…Alright then, go ahead.” Lu Shuyu stepped aside and turned on the tap to wash her hands.

The water splashed with a bright, crisp sound.

Suddenly, Lu Shuyu realized how quiet it was outside the restroom. It was far from the noise of the restaurant and free of the ventilation sounds inside the stalls. Because of this, she noticed that no footsteps had sounded for a long time.

Lu Shuyu looked up; in the mirror, Xia Leshuang was looking down, lost in thought.

She turned off the tap. “Teacher Xia?”

“It’s nothing.” Xia Leshuang’s expression returned to normal as she walked quickly into the restroom.

Lu Shuyu was confused—until she returned to the private room and saw Min Wutong’s shoes. She realized she and Min happened to be wearing the same style today. They looked quite like “couple’s shoes,” and they had indeed bought them for that effect.

Could it be…?

“What’s wrong?” Min Wutong asked. “Why are you dazed?”

Lu Shuyu extended her foot. “Our shoes.”

“Oh, right,” Min Wutong noticed too. “What a coincidence.”

Song Yi glanced over and smiled. “If you’re going to put on a show, you have to do it right. Don’t let the secret out.”

“Yes, yes,” Min Wutong nodded quickly. “Got it!”

Lu Shuyu breathed a secret sigh of relief, though a sense of disappointment also crept in: Right, why would Xia Leshuang notice something like that?

…

The hot pot session wrapped up. Led by Song Yi, the guests headed downstairs and ran into Lu Shuyu, who was walking back.

Jiang Fei waved. “PD Lu! We were just looking for you!”

Lu Shuyu walked over with a smile. “Did you all enjoy your meal?”

“Thanks to you, PD Lu, we ate very well,” Tang Jiahe laughed.

Luo Han asked casually, “Did President Min leave?”

Lu Shuyu nodded. “She’s gone.”

At that moment, the gossip that had been forced down earlier began to stir again. Jiang Fei blinked, her eyes full of envy and curiosity. “PD Lu and President Min have such a great relationship.”

She quickly corrected herself: “Wait, wrong word—connection! PD Lu and President Min have a great connection~”

Jiang Fei appeared harmless and had an outgoing personality; even if she said something slightly intrusive, it didn’t come off as offensive.

Lu Shuyu arched her brow and gave a generous smile. “Thank you.”

She then stepped aside to make way. “Come on, I’ll walk you to the parking lot.”

The guests’ car had been moved by the staff, and the keys had been handed to Lu Shuyu during dinner. The parking lot wasn’t far—just a two-minute walk. Lu Shuyu walked in front, chatting with Luo Han and Jiang Fei about the day’s filming.

Xia Leshuang walked at the very back, so silent that even Zhong Wen found it strange.

“We’re here,” Lu Shuyu said. “Who gets the keys?”

Luo Han had driven on the way there. Since Tang Jiahe had been talking non-stop to host the dinner, that left He Wenyin and Xia Leshuang as the two with driver’s licenses.

However, He Wenyin glanced at the woman beside her. In the warm spring night, Xia Leshuang’s eyes were cast down; she was clearly distracted, looking almost forlorn.

“I’ll drive,” He Wenyin stepped forward to take the keys.

Once the transfer was done, Lu Shuyu stepped back. “Then drive slowly, teachers. Be safe on the road.”

When her gaze swept over Xia Leshuang, she paused for a second before waving goodbye softly. “Great work today. Please get some rest; you have an early start tomorrow.”

“You worked hard too, PD Lu~” the group replied in unison.

Lu Shuyu stood by the passenger side. As Tang Jiahe and Jiang Fei walked past, she habitually patted their shoulders. Then, her hand landed on Xia Leshuang as she passed by as well.

It was a brief contact, but it brought a spark of warmth—almost like the sound of ice cracking.

“Goodbye, PD Lu,” Xia Leshuang stopped, her eyes silhouetted against the light. “You should make sure to rest, too.”

Her voice was very soft. Lu Shuyu couldn’t help but look up into her eyes, answering just as softly: “Okay. I will.”

The two looked at each other through the darkness of the night. Despite being only two steps apart, they couldn’t see each other clearly. That spark of “ice-breaking” warmth from a moment ago instantly felt like an illusion.

Xia Leshuang felt a sudden, inexplicable impulse.

She wanted to take a step forward.

She wanted to smash the heavy, suffocating wall of ice that stood between them.