She Said She Has Feelings For Someone - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Deities — Fireworks of the Mortal World

“Adventure Keywords, Current Mood, Special Missions.” Jiang Fei read out the text at the top of the three spinning wheels.

Each wheel featured eighteen unique entries, half of which were covered by stickers, making the random element quite significant.

“Ah, a blind box!” Zhong Wen grew more excited. “I love this!”

Xia Leshuang’s sharp eyes caught a few of the revealed missions, and she couldn’t help but let out a helpless laugh. After a moment, she asked, “Is it too late to regret my choice now?”

“Doing a gesture dance? Singing?” He Wenyin’s eyes widened in shock. “In the middle of a tourist attraction?”

According to the original plan, tomorrow was supposed to be an individual battle like L-City, with six check-in locations for promotion. The day after would have launched a new segment: Gold’s Adventure.

In that version, guests would draw six keywords to form an adventure route, then find those keywords in T-City to check in. To keep things manageable, the route points were linked to the six main locations, just at different coordinates.

The alternative plan merged these two concepts, splitting the guest group into two teams to complete the filming together.

Lu Shuyu smiled and nodded. “Yes.”

She then continued to explain the rules. “Tomorrow and the day after, the six of you will be randomly divided into two groups to complete check-in PK missions at your destinations.”

Her tone shifted slightly. “And our six destinations are hidden within the treasures everyone obtained today.”

The six women froze. Tang Jiahe was the first to react. “Then originally—”

If they had followed the original plan, and her and Luo Han’s locations were stolen by the “Cute Deception” duo, it meant their missions were stolen too. She and Luo Han could have skipped straight to the final link to claim victory.

“PD Lu,” Tang Jiahe raised her hand, “I regret everything.”

Jiang Fei and Zhong Wen also realized what had happened. They rushed to grab Tang Jiahe and Luo Han, acting cute and pleading, “We were wrong! We were really wrong!”

Lu Shuyu shrugged, looking helpless. “They know they were wrong, let’s forgive them~”

“PD Lu is so good at fanning the flames,” He Wenyin sighed with a smile.

Xia Leshuang couldn’t help but suggest, “Actually, we could split into three groups—”

“Shuangshuang!” “Leshuang!”

The “Cute Deception” duo protested in unison.

Tang Jiahe and Luo Han suppressed their laughter. “That’s an idea.”

Seeing Jiang and Zhong hugging each other pitifully, Lu Shuyu finally called a stop to the teasing. “Teacher Xia’s three-group idea is a good suggestion; I’ll consider it for next time. But for now, we’ll stick to the plan. Two groups is perfect.”

Recording paused for a few minutes. The guests went upstairs to get today’s treasures and placed them on the coffee table to resume.

Inside the classical wooden boxes were cultural souvenirs of the old city: metal stamps engraved with iconic buildings, exquisite and unique. After the recording ended that afternoon, Jiang and Zhong had already returned the “stolen” items. Variety effects were one thing, but it was more meaningful for everyone to have their own memento.

“So they were hidden under the stamps.”

Since they hadn’t unpacked them earlier, they hadn’t noticed the secret underneath.

“So the locations for this round were actually decided during today’s game.”

They pulled out the slips of paper printed with the destinations and lined them up on the table. Then, they looked back at the giant wheels.

He Wenyin sighed. “Please, anything but the gesture dance and the singing.”

In front of a crowd? That would be total “social death.”

Lu Shuyu chuckled. “Let’s begin.”

First came the Adventure Keywords. Each guest took a turn spinning. Each keyword required six different types of check-ins. If they could complete more than three keywords over the next two days, it would be a success.

“According to the old rules, a total success still grants a six-fold points bonus.”

Xia Leshuang nodded immediately. “Then of course we have to complete them all.”

“Shuangshuang’s competitive streak…” Jiang Fei was thoroughly impressed.

Once the three wheels were spun—aside from the “misfortune” of drawing the dance and singing tasks—everything went smoothly.

“Look at Leshuang and Wenyin’s expressions…” Luo Han suddenly started laughing.

Lu Shuyu looked over and saw two identical “soul-less” faces.

“Not bad,” she laughed. “The teachers’ expressions right now are great for variety value.”

Jiang Fei gasped. “PD Lu is still that heartless PD Lu…”

“It’s okay,” Tang Jiahe comforted. “Just treat it like acting. Don’t panic!”

After the joking, they aligned the words from the three rounds with the locations, brainstormed some combinations with Qingqing, and finalized tomorrow’s rough route.

With that, only one task remained for tonight’s temporary shoot—

The team split.

“Welcome back our old friend.” Lu Shuyu brought out the black box. “I’m looking forward to these results.”

The “Cute Deception” duo shuddered. They hadn’t realized their “quick thinking” during the shoot would become such a massive liability…

“Feifei,” Zhong Wen hugged Jiang Fei pitifully. “We might be stuck together for life…”

Jiang Fei gripped her back, her face serious but hopeful. “Don’t say that! As long as we aren’t on the same team, we can move past this!”

There were six balls in the black box of two different colors, wrapped in paper so the camera wouldn’t reveal the results immediately.

After everyone drew a ball, Zhong Wen steeled herself and was the first to unwrap the paper, revealing a black sphere.

“Pfft…” Tang Jiahe teased. “Truly the ‘Cute Deception’ group. A little black ball. Very fitting.”

As she spoke, she unwrapped her own. Upon seeing the white, she was surprised. “It really is a black vs. white split?”

Seeing this, Jiang Fei was even more afraid to unwrap hers.

Lu Shuyu waved her hand. “Pure coincidence.”

Over there, Luo Han and Xia Leshuang both unwrapped theirs—one black, one white.

“Oh ho,” Tang Jiahe said, enjoying the chaos. “Which of you two is next?”

Jiang Fei was conflicted and unprepared, but before she could brace herself, He Wenyin smiled and raised her hand—

“Ahhh—”

Two screams rang out simultaneously.

It turned out He Wenyin had already secretly unwrapped her ball—it was white.

“Hahaha—” Luo Han laughed so hard she leaned on Tang Jiahe, who was also doubled over. “Wenyin is a bit ‘dark’ too.”

Jiang Fei and Zhong Wen threw their black balls down and played dead. Xia Leshuang reached out with her long arms to pick them up, unconsciously fiddling with them in her hand. Her slender, pale fingers against the black spheres were unexpectedly beautiful.

Lu Shuyu shifted her gaze, laughing as she patted the two “dead” guests on the ground. “Thank you both. You contributed many funny moments today~”

“The three of us are the ‘Victims Group’ then,” Tang Jiahe summarized.

Xia Leshuang laughed and added, “Don’t be afraid, you two. When they attack, I’ll definitely run far away~”

“I thank you…” Zhong Wen’s voice was barely a whisper.

Jiang Fei stood up and pulled Zhong Wen up too. “Don’t be scared, Xiao Wen. Tomorrow, we’ll be responsible for drawing the fire, and Shuangshuang will be responsible for winning! We can do it! Fighting!”

…

“Oh, right!” Zhong Wen’s eyes lit up, her lifelessness vanishing instantly. Given Xia Leshuang’s competitive nature, nothing could stop her from winning. With the three of them on a team, the division of labor was surprisingly clear.

Xia Leshuang tilted her head. “Exactly.”

The “Victims Group” looked at each other, and finally, Tang Jiahe said, “I’m hungry. Let’s eat something to fuel up for tomorrow.”

Lu Shuyu smiled. “Go ahead. I’ll stay with Qingqing to refine the script.”

Xia Leshuang looked over, appearing as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, it was just: “Hard work, PD Lu.”

“Hard work to you all too,” Lu Shuyu pumped her fist. “Good luck with the shoot tomorrow!”

…

After a quick bite with the scriptwriters, they worked until past 11:00 PM.

Lu Shuyu wasn’t in a hurry to sleep. She went downstairs to the courtyard. There was a magnolia tree here too, and its blossoms were exquisite under the moonlight.

She stretched, breathing in the fresh air. Her exhausted body felt much more relaxed. She looked up and noticed the moon was much rounder tonight—nearly full to the naked eye.

After a moment’s thought, she took out her phone, found the right angle under the tree, and snapped a photo of the full moon framed by magnolia branches. She posted it to her Moments.

—The moon is round, the night is beautiful. Wishing everyone peace and health.

Shortly after posting, her phone buzzed with likes and comments from Zhong Wen and Min Wutong.

Min Wutong: Peace and health [Moon] Zhong Wen: Hard work, PD Lu! Please check your express delivery!

Lu Shuyu was surprised. Just as she was about to reply and ask what that meant, she heard a sound outside the gate. It sounded like the door of the inn next door, followed by—

Knock, knock—

A knock on the gate. Surprised, Lu Shuyu walked closer and asked tentatively, “Teacher Zhong?”

“It’s me.”

It wasn’t Zhong Wen. It was Xia Leshuang.

In an instant, an uncontrollable joy surged in Lu Shuyu’s heart. She pursed her lips and took a deep breath before sliding back the bolt.

Creak—

The light outside the inn was brighter than the moon. Xia Leshuang stood in that beam of light, looking as gentle as a deity presiding over this spring night.

The deity raised her hand and smiled. “Are you hungry?”

No. She wasn’t an unreachable deity. She was the real Xia Leshuang, part of the “fireworks” of the mortal world.

“Actually,” Lu Shuyu smiled, “I am a bit hungry.”

As she took the box, Xia Leshuang turned to leave. Lu Shuyu instinctively called out to her, “Teacher Xia, are you in a hurry to get back to rest?”

Xia Leshuang froze and shook her head. “No.”

“Then come in and sit for a bit?”

It was a transparent packaging box containing a four-inch cake. Lu Shuyu raised the box and added, “I can’t finish this alone. It won’t be fresh by tomorrow.”

While four inches wasn’t large, it was late at night, and eating too much wasn’t great for digestion. Realizing this, Xia Leshuang let out an “Oh.” Before she could say anything else, Lu Shuyu stepped back to let her in.

The two sat on the swing. Lu Shuyu opened the packaging. The cake was pale green and very pretty.

“Green apple cake?” she asked.

“On the outside,” Xia Leshuang said, handing her a fork. “The filling is half green apple and half orange.”

“Thank you, Teacher Xia,” Lu Shuyu smiled.

Suddenly, a few magnolia petals drifted down from above. Xia Leshuang felt a stir in her heart. She glanced back at the inn and asked, “Has President Min left?”

“Yeah,” Lu Shuyu nodded. “She wasn’t comfortable leaving Teacher Song alone, so they went back together.”

“It’s delicious! You have a bite too.” Her eyes widened with the excitement of eating something good.

“Really?” Xia Leshuang asked with a smile. Seeing the frantic nodding, she took a bite. “Mmm, it is good.”

Lu Shuyu was indeed hungry. If she wasn’t worried about digestion, she would have finished the whole thing herself.

“Where did you buy this?” she asked. “I want to get one tomorrow.” She paused, adding regretfully, “Wait, we leave early tomorrow. They definitely won’t be open yet.”

“Then buy it after we finish filming early in the afternoon,” Xia Leshuang suggested.

“That works too,” Lu Shuyu laughed brightly. “Eating it earlier means no worries about digestion.”

As they spoke, a white petal brushed past her nose and landed on her leg. She instinctively picked it up and suddenly smiled. “The magnolias here are so white. Not like the ones near your home—those have purple at the base of the petals.”

The sudden change in topic caught Xia Leshuang off guard. She instinctively remembered the question about “liking spring” from a few days ago, and even more, the promise made on the bus nine years ago…

Memories rushed back like a tide, but her throat was dry and tight with pain. She remembered that the street leading to her home was lined with crabapples, and the magnolias with purple at the base were the ones at the entrance of her residential complex.

So the magnolias Lu Shuyu was talking about…

“How did you…” she asked with difficulty. “Did you… later…”

“Yeah, I went to find you.” Lu Shuyu smiled, her expression calm and steady. “After you left without saying goodbye.”

She looked over. The atmosphere was almost frozen. Xia Leshuang’s heart raced, but her brain had stalled. Countless words fought to burst from her throat, but they were a tangled mess, unable to form a proper sentence.

“I…”

After a long while, she managed to utter a single syllable, but nothing followed.

Suddenly, Lu Shuyu smiled. It was soft and dreamlike.

“Xia Leshuang.”

“Shall we… continue being friends who talk about everything?”

“Just like before.”