She Said She Has Feelings For Someone - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Strangers—Just Nodding Acquaintances.

Early the next morning, everyone packed up to leave the island.

Luo Han and He Wenyin stayed in F-City, planning to visit home, while Xia Leshuang returned directly to L-City instead of traveling with the production crew. Her flight was even a bit earlier than theirs. Consequently, as soon as they reached the airport, Xia Leshuang said a hurried goodbye, grabbed her suitcase, and rushed for her plane.

Lu Shuyu felt like something was off, but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had happened. The vibration of her phone in her pocket interrupted her thoughts. It was a message from Zheng Yu.

— A collection of Eryu-Dada’s audio clips! Please check them out! — I spent several nights editing these! Listen to them!

“Eryu!” Chi Shan appeared beside her out of nowhere, catching a glimpse of the words on the screen.

Lu Shuyu tucked the phone away, saying with a hint of reproach, “Why are you peeking at other people’s screens?”

Knowing she was in the wrong, Chi Shan quickly apologized: “My mistake! It was an accident…” Usually, she would have just skimmed over it, but the name “Eryu” was so familiar that it triggered an instant reflex in her brain.

“It is Eryu,” Lu Shuyu explained. “My best friend—” Facing Chi Shan’s wide-eyed stare, she nodded. “The fellow fan you were curious about last time.”

“Ah!” Chi Shan cried out, grabbing her arm. “Introduce us! I’ve never met a fellow fan in real life. It’s so lonely!”

Lu Shuyu sighed. “You’re a grown adult. Why are you acting like a kid who needs a buddy for every hobby?”

“You don’t understand how precious a fellow fan is!” Chi Shan huffed.

“Fine, fine,” Lu Shuyu compromised. “I’ll ask her when we get back.”

Chi Shan’s mood instantly brightened. “Thanks, little Shuyu!”

Once she had placated Chi Shan, Lu Shuyu took out her phone again to check Zheng Yu’s subsequent messages.

— I don’t know if Eryu-Dada and Film Queen Xia are the same person, but since their voices are so similar, if you can’t have the Film Queen, Eryu-Dada’s voice is a pretty good substitute~ — Eryu-Dada is so nice, she definitely won’t mind! [Blushing] — By the way! This audio is for your ears only! Use headphones!

Lu Shuyu didn’t understand the last message, assuming it was a precaution against copyright issues. However, after downloading and listening to it on the plane, she realized why Zheng Yu had given that warning…

She suddenly ripped her headphones off. Chi Shan looked over, startled: “What happened? Why is your face so red?”

Lu Shuyu lowered her eyes, her headphones creaking in her tight grip. After a long silence, she managed to squeeze out: “Nothing.”

“I don’t believe you,” Chi Shan said suspiciously. “You weren’t listening to… something, were you?”

…

Lu Shuyu took a deep breath, feigning composure as she looked at Chi Shan. She shook her head and said, “No, it’s just an audio edit of Eryu.”

“She… her voice is very pleasant.” She racked her brain for some of the jargon Zheng Yu used to praise voice actors. “It’s very evocative,” she said through gritted teeth. “The kind that… makes your ears pregnant.”

Chi Shan went silent. After a long while, she whispered in slight horror, “Are you… that much of a voice-fetishist?”

While Eryu’s voice was indeed beautiful, hearing a description like “ears getting pregnant” come out of Lu Shuyu’s mouth was quite jarring.

“Yes, I am,” Lu Shuyu could only nod forcefully. “I only just realized it myself…”

“Oh…” Chi Shan gave an awkward smile. “Then continue. I won’t disturb you.”

Lu Shuyu exhaled silently and put her headphones away. “It’s fine. I’m a bit tired. I’ll listen to it at home.”

She pulled the blanket over her head, and her composure shattered instantly.

— Sister, I like you. — Sister, do you want to kiss me?

Those deep, lingering phrases echoed in her ears, along with the simulated sounds of soft, breathless kisses. It was like being brainwashed; she couldn’t get them out of her head. Enduring a racing heart and rising body temperature, Lu Shuyu wanted nothing more than to rush to Zheng Yu and demand an explanation.

You should have been more specific… even listening to this at home would be incredibly embarrassing…

…

On her third day back in B-City, Lu Shuyu stayed holed up at home, listening to the thirty-minute audio edit on repeat. Meanwhile, the first episode of The Silence of Gold officially premiered.

Coupled with Min Wutong’s marketing strategy and the previous hype, the premiere’s performance exceeded everyone’s expectations. In particular, Xia Leshuang and Luo Han—both lightning rods for public controversy—remained the focus of intense discussion.

Min Wutong monitored the public opinion and struck while the iron was hot, signing the six guests to full management contracts. Coincidentally, as soon as the contracts were signed, a wave of negative smear campaigns hit the guests and the show. Fortunately, they were prepared. Once the sentiment reached a certain point, Min Wutong seized the moment to flood all platforms with detailed clarifications, causing the show to “break the circle” and go viral.

Consequently, alongside the main guests, the term “Gold Sisters” became one of the hottest topics, sparking a massive discussion about “female empowerment.”

— The Gold Team is amazing! The sisters are all so charming! — Beautiful Gold Sisters! — Actually, it’s the Gold Sister Squad. Gold can take any shape; it’s not limited to being a ‘flower.’

“Shuyu, this was truly excellent.” In the office, Lu Shuyu looked up from the data reports to see Min Wutong’s sincere praise.

“I’m flattered,” she laughed. “It’s because President Min handled the public sentiment so well.”

Min Wutong raised a hand. “Don’t be humble this time. After Song Yi came out to clarify, your name has entered the public eye. Now, you are the sole producer of ‘Gold’ and its main pillar.”

At the mention of Song Yi, Lu Shuyu went silent. Since their last encounter, the two had rarely spoken. She only found out about Song Yi’s clarification after the statement had been released.

“Teacher… how has she been lately?”

Min Wutong raised an eyebrow, tempted to ask, “Why don’t you ask her yourself?” but seeing Lu Shuyu’s cautious expression, she changed her mind. She nodded and said, “Not bad. She looks healthy and her spirits seem good.”

“That’s good then.” Lu Shuyu felt relieved. Of course, she wanted to contact Song Yi, but she truly couldn’t find a common topic to talk about anymore. Since that day, she could feel an invisible barrier between them—a distance so vast she felt powerless to bridge it.

Changing the subject, she said, “President Min, the audience response to the Gold Team is very high. Many people like the ‘Gold Sister Squad.’ I want to release some promotional material featuring the guests together—short clips or longer videos. For example, the currently popular ‘reaction/commentary’ style videos.”

Min Wutong nodded. “Sure, you’re the producer, it’s your call. Coincidentally, when they came to sign the contracts the day before yesterday, they all said they had some free time.”

Lu Shuyu’s expression flickered. “How… did Teacher Xia look?”

Min Wutong laughed in surprise. “No way. Song Yi is one thing, but you don’t even talk to Teacher Xia?”

Lu Shuyu felt a pang of frustration. “If you’re not going to tell me, fine. I’m going home.”

Seeing her about to stand up, Min Wutong quickly called her back. “My mistake, my mistake. She looked quite good, and very proactive.”

To show her sincerity, Min Wutong had personally signed the six guests, so she had seen them with her own eyes.

“Proactive?” Lu Shuyu was curious. “In what way?”

“She was the first to arrive. Early in the morning, signed at nine o’clock.”

Alright, Lu Shuyu admitted, that did sound proactive.

“That’s the impression she gave me. I don’t know much more,” Min Wutong shrugged. “After all, we aren’t close. She was quite formal with me.”

Min Wutong was telling the truth. Lu Shuyu stopped prying.

“What is actually going on between you and Teacher Xia?” Min Wutong asked, perplexed.

“Nothing.” Lu Shuyu sighed blankly. “It wasn’t easy becoming friends again. I thought we could be like before, but it feels like we’ve actually drifted further apart.”

“Friends?!” Min Wutong sat up straight in shock. “You like her, and you’re just being friends? Are you crazy?”

Lu Shuyu hissed in dissatisfaction. “This isn’t something a thirty-something who’s been single since birth should be worrying about, okay?”

Rarely being so sharp, Lu Shuyu made Min Wutong burst out laughing. Min shook her head, looking proud: “If I liked someone, I definitely wouldn’t just be their friend.”

She looked so smug that Lu Shuyu sensed some gossip. Glancing at the rain-themed ornament on the desk, she asked, “Then what would you do?”

Min Wutong’s gaze fell upon the ornament, her eyes turning soft and lingering.

“Confess,” she said. “And then kiss her.”

…

That tone made it clear she had already put it into practice. Lu Shuyu couldn’t help but gasp. It seemed that even between adults, their worlds could be completely different.

“I’m going to discuss the reaction video with the Gold Team,” she said, standing up. “President Min is amazing! I’m rooting for you!”

She bolted out, ignoring the advice behind her: “You could give it a try!”

Try what? she thought. Aside from the fact that she couldn’t bring herself to do it, Xia Leshuang would be scared off. If they couldn’t even be friends, who would give her back a Xia Leshuang?

…

A day later, in the Cherry Building, the filming room for the Gold Sister Squad’s reaction video had been set up. The bright lemon yellow, warm khaki, vintage orange, and red colors created a cozy yet subtle atmosphere.

Lu Shuyu was checking the footage when footsteps approached the door, accompanied by familiar chatting. The guests had arrived. She opened the door and met Xia Leshuang’s smiling eyes. However, for just a fraction of a second, the smile stiffened and then faded.

Lu Shuyu felt a tightness in her chest. A surge of frustration rose, but she suppressed it and responded to Jiang Fei and Zhong Wen’s greetings.

“Did you all rest well these past few days?”

The six arrived one by one, sitting on the floor around a coffee table piled with snacks, drinks, and fruit. The beanbags were soft and comfortable, and Zhong Wen nestled right into one as soon as she sat down.

“Very well!” “Super well!”

The six looked radiant and full of energy. It wasn’t just that they had rested; the success of the show had clearly made them more confident and composed.

Lu Shuyu smiled with satisfaction. “Good. Then we’ll begin filming. Feel free to eat the snacks on the table. But,” she reminded them with a smile, “maybe drink a bit less water. We’re recording for two hours, and we want to avoid bathroom breaks.”

“Roger!”

The recording went smoothly. The six guests were very familiar with each other now, providing plenty of reactions and interacting naturally. Xia Leshuang was the same, acting as if she were close friends with everyone else.

Lu Shuyu recalled Xia Leshuang’s reaction upon seeing her earlier. They were supposed to be friends, yet she felt more like a stranger now than when they first reunited.

Frustration bubbled up. She realized her water bottle was almost empty. Lu Shuyu stood up, signaled to Chi Shan with her eyes, and headed to the restroom.

After washing her hands, she bumped into Xia Leshuang. She froze, and the other woman looked a bit surprised too, nodding with a smile: “Producer Lu.”

Having said that, she looked away and entered a stall.

Anger flared up repeatedly until it finally caught fire. Lu Shuyu laughed from sheer frustration. The friendship she had practically begged for had ended up becoming nothing more than being nodding acquaintances.

“Xia Leshuang.” She turned around and called out coldly.

The figure paused slightly, then turned halfway, her face filled with simple confusion: “Producer Lu, is something the matter?”

Lu Shuyu gave a mirthless smile. She crumpled the paper towel in her hand and tossed it sharply into the bin with a dull thud.

“Nothing. I just wanted to call your name. I thought you had turned into a different person.”