She Said She Has Feelings For Someone - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Charm—If You Didn’t Say No, Then It’s a Yes.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Xia Leshuang regretted them.

Oh no, she thought. Once you cross the line, it’s all too easy to push your luck.

Before she could think of a way to take it back, Lu Shuyu raised an eyebrow and smiled: “Yeah. Don’t you like it?”

Such a direct counter-question caught Xia Leshuang off guard. She stood there stunned, unsure of how to respond. Seeing the hand holding the umbrella grip tighter until the knuckles turned white, Lu Shuyu smiled, looked into the distance, and nodded a greeting: “Hello.”

Startled, Xia Leshuang instinctively looked back and saw someone approaching.

The person was dressed simply in a long-sleeved shirt and a sun hat. Her skin was tanned—a healthy, glowing dark—marking her as someone who lived on the island long-term.

“Producer Lu, hello!”

“You must be An Xun?” Lu Shuyu shook her hand gently.

The woman flashed a toothy grin, looking both bright and a bit shy in the sunlight: “That’s me. Producer Lu, you’re really beautiful!”

An Xun was the island’s caretaker. Lu Shuyu had communicated with her a few days prior while coordinating with the locals.

Lu Shuyu chuckled, accepting the compliment gracefully: “Thank you. You’re very beautiful too.”

“I’m sorry I’m late,” An Xun apologized. “Something urgent came up at the last minute.”

“It’s no problem at all,” Lu Shuyu waved it off. “I understand.”

An Xun looked relieved, then noticed Xia Leshuang. She gasped in surprise: “Ah, are you… Film Queen Xia?” She immediately followed up with an apology: “I’m sorry, do you dislike being called that?”

Xia Leshuang realized the woman had likely seen the variety show’s teaser. She smiled: “It’s fine. You can call me whatever you like.”

The rain stopped. The production crew emerged from the convenience store, and after greeting An Xun, the group continued their walk.

Not wanting to interrupt their business, Xia Leshuang walked at the back of the line. She listened to the wind and waves on one side and An Xun’s introduction of the island’s facilities on the other.

Meanwhile, her mind drifted back to what Lu Shuyu had just said.

A delayed wave of shyness washed over her. Xia Leshuang pursed her lips and slowed her breathing, trying to steady the racing heartbeat in her chest. She couldn’t help but wonder: If I had been brave enough to say ‘I like it’ just now, how would Lu Shuyu have reacted?

Her gaze quietly drifted forward through the crowd, landing on the high ponytail swaying at the very front. The sea breeze was gentle, making Lu Shuyu’s straight hair dance in soft, delicate arcs. It looked soft and smooth—and she knew from experience it felt that way, too. Last night at the hospital, when Lu Shuyu had fallen asleep on her shoulder, Xia had touched it while gently adjusting her posture.

Suddenly, the ponytail turned. She collided with those amber eyes. One look was enough to lock her in place; she practically forgot how to walk.

“Teacher Xia, why is your face so red?” Lu Shuyu stopped in surprise. “Did you not put on sunscreen?”

Xia Leshuang’s breath hitched. She scrambled for an excuse: “Maybe… I didn’t put enough on.”

It was a lie, of course; Zhong Wen and the others had made sure she was slathered in a thick layer before they left.

Lu Shuyu took a spray bottle from Hua Tong and walked straight up to Xia Leshuang: “Close your eyes. Hold your breath.”

Xia Leshuang obeyed. A cool mist of sunscreen sprayed over her face, followed by her neck, arms, and other exposed areas.

“All done,” Lu Shuyu said.

Just as Xia opened her eyes, she felt a warmth on her wrist—Lu Shuyu had grabbed her and pulled her forward a few steps.

“The rest of you look a bit red too. Touch up your sunscreen, don’t get burned.”

Lu Shuyu returned the spray. While the others were busy applying it, she looked at Xia Leshuang again: “An Xun said there’s a basketball court here. Do you know how to play?”

Basketball?

Xia Leshuang was surprised. She thought for a moment before saying, “I played a few times in middle school, but not since then.”

“That’ll work,” Lu Shuyu mused. “I remember Teacher Luo and Teacher He can play. We’ll arrange a friendly match later.”

Xia Leshuang was even more shocked: “They can play?”

“Mm-hmm.” Lu Shuyu nodded with a smile. “Doesn’t look like it, does it? Especially Teacher He. I was pretty stunned when I found out, too.”

The production team had a list of the guests’ hobbies and specialties. Lu Shuyu had memorized almost everyone’s and kept a file on her phone for quick reference. Thinking about how it all connected now, she felt that fate was quite a fearsome thing. Luo Han and He Wenyin were truly destined to cross paths.

…

It wasn’t until evening that An Xun finished her detailed tour and said goodbye, adding Lu Shuyu’s contact information before she left.

“A rainbow in your signature?” An Xun asked suddenly.

Lu Shuyu tilted her head and gave a noncommittal shrug and a smile. But the signal of “being the same kind” had been received.

An Xun smiled too, looking quite happy: “I’ll head out then. Contact me anytime if you need anything tonight. See you tomorrow, Producer Lu.”

Standing nearby, Xia Leshuang couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: Lu Shuyu’s charm is truly irresistible. A hint of bitterness rose in her heart. She turned and walked a few steps back toward the group, pretending she hadn’t seen anything.

Back at Granny’s guesthouse, the courtyard was lively.

“Producer Lu and the others are back!” Jiang Fei shouted happily.

“Just in time for dinner!” Luo Han held up a skewer of grilled squid. “Taste this, fresh off the grill!”

Lu Shuyu took it and shared it with Xia Leshuang, Chi Shan, and the others. “Not bad!” she exclaimed. “Teacher Luo has these skills too?!”

Seeing they liked it, Luo Han laughed: “When I lived here before, there weren’t as many food options as there are outside. Granny happened to have all the tools, so I made things myself quite often.”

He Wenyin came out with a plate of washed fruit. Hearing this, she smiled: “It’s a pity I wasn’t here then; I missed out on the good food~”

The entire crew knew about the “fate” between Luo and He, and the two women had obviously heard about it too. However, as the subjects of this miraculous coincidence, there didn’t seem to be any particularly mysterious change between them.

“Here, Miss Ma,” Granny He used a fork to feed a piece of pineapple to Luo Han. “Your favorite pineapple.”

Luo Han, busy grilling, laughed and took a bite. “Thanks, Granny! You still remember after all this time?!”

“Of course,” Granny He said proudly. “My memory is excellent!” After that, she fed a piece to He Wenyin: “Yin-yin loves pineapple most too. Have a piece.”

He Wenyin accepted it: “Thanks, Grandma~”

Granny He was cheerful and cute. Having successfully fed them both, she stamped her feet happily, making everyone in the yard chuckle.

“I heard it hasn’t been this lively at Granny’s in a long time,” Xia Leshuang explained softly as she and Lu Shuyu stood to the side. She must have overheard it while the others were chatting in the yard earlier.

Hearing this, Lu Shuyu stepped outside with her food. The two of them ate their dinner while facing the sea. When He Wenyin divorced, her daughter was already school-aged, so her mother had been in the city taking care of the granddaughter. The elderly woman didn’t want to leave the island, so they only reunited on the island during school holidays. And because He Wenyin was so busy with work, she hadn’t been back in over six months.

Thinking of this, Lu Shuyu felt a pang of guilt: “The schedule was so tight the last few days, I didn’t even give Teacher He a chance to go home.”

Xia Leshuang smiled and shook her head. “It’s fine. She’ll have a break after we finish filming on the island.”

As soon as she said that, both of them froze. Zhang Island was the final stop for The Silence of Gold. This meant that after the fireworks display tomorrow, they wouldn’t see each other for a while.

“What about you, Teacher Xia?” Lu Shuyu asked. “Going back to L-City right after filming?”

Xia Leshuang’s lips curled slightly as she nodded: “Most likely.”

She’s not telling the truth, Lu Shuyu sensed keenly. Instantly, her food lost its flavor.

Seeing her staring blankly at the horizon, Xia Leshuang asked curiously, “Why did you stop eating?”

Lu Shuyu gave a soft “mm” without moving her gaze. “I just recovered from being sick; eating too much greasy food isn’t good.”

Hearing this, Xia Leshuang looked back at the house and said, “Then wait for me a moment.” Before Lu Shuyu could respond, the other woman had already run off, her speed leaving Lu Shuyu feeling a bit stifled.

Her phone vibrated. It was a message from An Xun asking if she had eaten. Lu Shuyu replied briefly that she was eating. An Xun sent an emoji and then asked if she wanted to go for a walk later, saying the sea at night was beautiful.

Lu Shuyu raised an eyebrow, thinking An Xun was quite the “straight-shooter.” She could sense the signal An Xun was sending, but since she was leaving the island the day after tomorrow, she didn’t feel the need to be too explicit as long as no boundaries were crossed. However, perhaps a subtle hint was necessary.

— Sorry, I have to organize the shooting plan tonight. We’re leaving the island early the day after tomorrow, so time is very tight.

Not long after the message was sent, An Xun replied: Okay, I understand. Good luck, Producer Lu!

The conversation ended there. They were both perceptive adults.

Twilight fell, and the ambient lights in the courtyard flickered on one by one, adding a lot of atmosphere to the barbecue.

“Chatting with CEO Min?” Chi Shan appeared beside her.

Lu Shuyu shook her head: “It’s An Xun.”

Chi Shan was speechless for a moment before whispering, “You’re such a heartbreaker…”

Lu Shuyu shot her a look: “Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Wow—” Jiang Fei shouted from behind. “So many stars!”

Everyone in the yard looked up. Lu Shuyu stared at the sky and nudged Chi Shan: “Quick, film this.”

Chi Shan laughed: “Chen Qian is faster than us.” Lu Shuyu looked over and saw that Chen Qian had already set up a tripod. She smiled: “Then go film the sea.”

Chi Shan feigned anger: “You slave driver!”

Lu Shuyu accepted the title guiltily: “Thank you for your hard work!”

Not long after Chi Shan left, Xia Leshuang returned carrying a pot of hot apple and orange water. She addressed the group: “There’s no tea in it, help yourself if you want some.”

She ladled out a bowl and walked over: “Drink this.”

Lu Shuyu looked at her through the night. Those dark pupils were full of sincerity, and all the irritation in her heart vanished completely. “Thank you, Teacher Xia.”

Xia Leshuang gave a helpless smile: “I thought we were friends? Why so polite?”

Lu Shuyu’s heart stirred. She couldn’t help but smile: “So Teacher Xia doesn’t like me being polite?”

“…” Xia Leshuang clearly stiffened. After a long pause, she said, “Of course.”

“Hmm…” Lu Shuyu hummed for a moment. “Then I know.”

She didn’t follow up for a long time, focusing instead on drinking her water. Xia Leshuang’s heart was in her throat as she finally couldn’t help but ask—

“Know what?” Is it just that she doesn’t like being polite?

Lu Shuyu lowered her head slightly, then looked over, her expression serious yet innocent—

“If Teacher Xia doesn’t like something, she says so.”

“So…”

“If Teacher Xia didn’t say she doesn’t like it, then she must like it.”

The sound of the waves rose. The wind caught Lu Shuyu’s hair, brushing it into her eyes. She blinked gently, the innocence in her gaze instantly replaced by a hint of mischief.

“Teacher Xia, am I right?”