She Said She Has Feelings For Someone - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Delusion—If Love Could Be Controlled.

The pause lasted only a second before she moved forward again.

It happened so quickly that Lu Shuyu wondered if she had imagined it. She couldn’t be certain if Xia Leshuang had heard her, and she certainly didn’t want to chase after her to ask. She was afraid that if Xia had heard, it would only add to her distress.

Lu Shuyu let out a long internal sigh, took a deep breath to suppress the rising bitterness, and quickened her pace to catch up.

As the sun gradually dipped toward the west, the azure sea was stained with a pale, dusky yellow, looking soft and warm. The guests, armed with tongs in one hand and buckets in the other, scoured the shoreline for small creatures stranded by the ebbing tide.

“Hey!” Jiang Fei let out a strange cry. “I caught a crab!”

The camera operator quickly followed, capturing the struggle of the crab in the tongs as it dropped into the bucket.

“How did you find such a big one?” Zhong Wen marveled.

“Follow me!” Jiang Fei raised her arm with heroic flair. “Our ‘Deceiver Squad’ is never short on luck!”

Zhong Wen chuckled. “Sure, if you count bad luck too.”

At that, Jiang Fei stomped her foot. “No talking gloomily!”

“Alright, alright,” Zhong Wen said, startled. “Just don’t twist your ankle.”

Nearby, the “Victim Alliance” watched with amusement. Tang Jiahe shook her head. “They really are quite a pair.”

“Where’s Leshuang?” He Wenyin looked around. “Is she off on her own again?”

“Over there!” Luo Han pointed. “Leshuang, don’t go too far!”

Xia Leshuang was currently photographing the sunset. Hearing her name, she turned her head. “Coming back now!”

Lu Shuyu stood on higher ground, flying a drone to capture panoramic shots. With a slight flick of her thumb, the screen showed Xia Leshuang’s back as she stood alone filming the sunset. Her figure was as straight as a pine tree, and the muscle lines beneath her T-shirt were faintly visible in the light; despite the lonely aura of the yellow dusk, she looked full of strength.

Hearing the exchange between Xia Leshuang and Luo Han, Lu Shuyu felt a silent relief. It seemed the interlude from the afternoon hadn’t affected Xia too much.

Drones make a distinct sound when they get close. Xia Leshuang seemed to notice, looking back and instinctively flashing a faint smile at the lens. Lu Shuyu recorded that smile, then flew the drone higher to film the other guests.

“Do you always have to film this much footage?”

An Xun, who had accompanied them all day, was a bit surprised by the sheer volume of work.

“Yes,” Lu Shuyu replied. “Without enough footage, a variety show becomes very boring.”

An Xun sighed with a smile. “I see.” As she spoke, she turned her head slightly to look at Lu Shuyu’s profile.

When working, Lu Shuyu was intensely focused, completely oblivious to the gazes of others. Taking advantage of this, An Xun turned a bit more, observing her with a bold, focused curiosity.

Lu Shuyu’s long hair was tied up, though a bit disheveled by the sea breeze. However, bathed in the golden hour light, she seemed to be glowing; every movement and every moment of stillness was dazzling. This clean, clear, glass-like charm was so attractive that An Xun felt an uncontrollable urge to move closer. There was so much she wanted to say, but it wasn’t appropriate. She pursed her lips slightly, forced herself to look away, and stood quietly by.

Below, Jiang Fei and Zhong Wen caught another crab, dancing with joy. Looking up and spotting the drone, they waved and shouted, “Producer Lu—!”

Lu Shuyu smiled, adjusted the flight path, and captured the two high-energy women in the frame.

…

As half the sun sank below the horizon, the results of the beachcombing were all filmed and then released back into the sea.

“Let’s go. Time for camping.”

The beach chosen for the camping and barbecue was the same spot where they had seen the “Blue Tears” the night before. The crew had set the scene: ambient lights everywhere, white camping tents, matching tables and chairs, and an abundance of cooking gear and ingredients. It looked beautiful.

The ingredients were those purchased at the market. Lu Shuyu arranged the camera positions, and with a “clack” of the slate, the guests officially began their activities in front of the tents.

“It’s time for Sister Han to show off her skills again!” Jiang Fei clapped.

“I’m telling you, between Han and Wenyin, one handles the outside and one the inside—they’re perfectly matched!” Tang Jiahe joked.

“If you’re so bored, come help,” Luo Han said without looking up.

“Right away!” The group shut their mouths and stood up obediently.

Behind the lens, Lu Shuyu couldn’t help but smile. The personalities and roles of the “Six Sisters of the Gold Team” were slowly taking shape. She sighed inwardly. To her surprise, on the final night of filming the first season, her anticipation for the second season suddenly came surging forth.

Catching the last rays of the sunset, Xia Leshuang and He Wenyin returned from buying drinks. Chi Shan adjusted the lens to capture the two walking through the golden light. Chen Qian followed them, capturing the same scene from a different angle.

After filming, Chi Shan briefly checked the playback, then nudged Lu Shuyu. “Do you know which two-shot I’m most satisfied with this season?”

“Two-shot?” Lu Shuyu was puzzled. “That one just now?”

Chi Shan wagged her index finger. “It was you and Teacher Xia, in front of the convenience store yesterday.”

Lu Shuyu was stunned. Yesterday, in front of the convenience store? Wasn’t she just letting Chi Shan film b-roll of the rain? Seeing her confusion, Chi Shan rolled her eyes and muttered, “Zero romantic cells.”

“I’ll show you when we get back. You’ll see why I filmed it!”

Tonight there was no moon, but the galaxy sparkled over the sea. The six sisters sat under the stars, eating and chatting. Amidst the gentle sound of the waves, they reminisced about how they met and became close this season. The atmosphere grew warmer and a bit sentimental until Tang Jiahe suddenly cried out, slapping her thigh and looking behind the camera: “Producer Lu! What happened to the drinking session you promised?”

The drinking session they had agreed upon since L-City still hadn’t happened, even as the season closed. Lu Shuyu felt a bit helpless and quickly said, “We’ll set it up as soon as we get back.”

“A woman’s word,” Tang Jiahe tsk-tsked, “is as unreliable as a ghost story.”

The group burst into laughter, breaking the earlier sentimentality. Xia Leshuang was laughing too, but her heart felt as cold as the green soda in her hand. She noticed An Xun check the time behind the camera and then approach Lu Shuyu to whisper something.

Immediately, Lu Shuyu clapped her hands twice and looked over. “Teachers! The fireworks start in ten minutes!”

“Whoa!” Jiang Fei was excited. “I can’t wait, I can’t wait!”

Zhong Wen couldn’t help but ask, “Which direction? I want to stand up to see!”

At this, Lu Shuyu and Chi Shan busily adjusted the camera positions and lighting. The six guests stood in front of the tents, together anticipating the summer night fireworks about to bloom.

Zhang Island did not let them down. Radiant fireworks filled the sky, then cascaded down like a falling galaxy—an exquisite sight.

“Like shooting stars…” Zhong Wen murmured.

Hearing this, Jiang Fei hurriedly said, “Quick, make a wish!”

If someone spoke of wishing on fireworks in normal times, it would likely be seen as childish or strange. But with the atmosphere so perfectly set, everyone was swept up in it and couldn’t help but follow suit. Even Lu Shuyu thought to herself: If possible, I hope the second season comes sooner.

She turned her gaze toward the group making their wishes. Xia Leshuang had also gently pressed her palms together, her head slightly lowered, looking deeply devout. Lu Shuyu couldn’t help but wonder what Xia Leshuang was wishing for.

When the fireworks ended, everyone felt a lingering sense of wonder. The guests returned to the tents, and Jiang Fei asked, “What did you wish for?”

Zhong Wen cried out, “If you say it out loud, it won’t come true!”

“It’s fine,” Luo Han laughed softly. “I think mine can be said.” Once she spoke, everyone’s eyes gathered on her. She smiled. “I hope the second season of ‘Gold’ comes sooner.”

“Wow!” He Wenyin couldn’t help but reach out. After Luo Han gave her a high-five, she said, “That’s what I wished for too!”

“What about Leshuang?” Tang Jiahe asked suddenly. “I saw you wishing for a long time.”

Caught off guard, Xia Leshuang froze for a moment, then shook her head. “I didn’t make a wish.” Seeing their confusion, she smiled sheepishly. “I suppose I had too many things I wanted to wish for, so I couldn’t choose the one I wanted most.”

“Whoa—” Jiang Fei teased. “I didn’t think Shuang-shuang was such a greedy woman!”

Xia Leshuang only smiled and didn’t answer, taking it as an admission.

In truth, the opposite was true. The time spent wishing wasn’t long, but those ten or so seconds were enough to make several wishes. But for her, those seconds weren’t enough to think of a single wish. The reason was simple: because Lu Shuyu was right there. Her mind was so full of this person that she couldn’t think of anything else.

The guests chatted for a while longer, finally raising their glasses in anticipation of the next season.

…

Once filming concluded, everyone packed up to return to the guesthouse.

“Let’s go buy some more drinks. We talked so much, I’m thirsty again.”

Hearing this, Xia Leshuang picked up a flashlight. “I’ll go buy them. I remember the way.” She ran off the fastest, so no one objected. “Thanks, Shuang-shuang~”

The others started back one by one. Lu Shuyu fell to the rear, surprised to find An Xun waiting for her. The two reached a fork in the main road, a short distance from the guesthouse.

An Xun spoke first: “Producer Lu, do you have a girlfriend?”

Though she had a feeling it was coming, Lu Shuyu was still surprised by the directness. She didn’t stall. “I’m sorry, I have someone I like.”

It was the same sentence she had used before, but unlike the intentional provocation she had used with Xia Leshuang during the L-City filming, she spoke very seriously this time.

An Xun pursed her lips and decided to try one last time. “Does she like you back?”

At this, Lu Shuyu went silent. Seeing this, An Xun stepped half a step closer. “Then, Producer Lu… would you consider liking someone else?”

In an instant, Lu Shuyu sighed inwardly, bitterness flooding her mind. So this is how it feels to hear someone say those words. No wonder Xia Leshuang hadn’t responded to her.

“If love could be controlled,” she shook her head, “I would still want to like her.” Her eyes were filled with a gentle, serious smile.

An Xun was speechless for a moment, finally deflating. “Alright. Being liked by Producer Lu… she’s lucky.”

Lu Shuyu shrugged, not arguing.

An Xun looked toward the guesthouse. “Is it someone from the guest group?”

Lu Shuyu was slightly startled. Just as she was about to speak, An Xun continued, “Actually, I saw some rumors about the guests before. But after interacting with them these past two days, I found they’re all very good people.” She laughed helplessly, looking quite sad. “They are worthy of Producer Lu’s affection.”

Lu Shuyu saw this but wasn’t in the mood to offer comfort. An Xun’s comment had alerted her. Whether it was the production crew or the guest group, they were still in the eye of the storm. She couldn’t let her own feelings cause further complications.

“It’s not a guest,” she explained. “The person I like isn’t here.” To make it sound more believable, she added, “She’s in B-City.”

An Xun was almost in tears. The distance between B-City and F-City was vast—nearly a three-hour flight. Moreover, she was the island’s caretaker. Even if Lu Shuyu didn’t have someone she liked, there were too many practical hurdles between them.

“I’m sorry, Producer Lu. I shouldn’t have bothered you.” She lowered her head and stepped back, not wanting Lu Shuyu to see her distress. “Goodbye, Producer Lu.”

An Xun ran off before Lu Shuyu could say another word. Lu Shuyu sighed and turned to head back to the guesthouse. Under the streetlights, her steps were slightly heavy, and her shadow stretched out slowly.

An Xun had been running so intently she hadn’t noticed someone else in the shadows of the corner.

After both An Xun and Lu Shuyu had disappeared, Xia Leshuang remained standing in the shadows, motionless. The bag in her hand was filled with soda bottles, the weight already leaving red marks on her skin, but she didn’t feel a thing.

It wasn’t until her phone vibrated in her pocket that she moved. The message was brief, but it instantly caused the shadows beneath her feet to build into a high wall, trapping her in a suffocating cage.

Xia Leshuang couldn’t help but take a deep breath to ease the feeling of powerlessness. Her eyes grew hot, but her heart was icy.

Yes… in such a terrible situation, what right do I have to indulge in delusions?