She Said She Has Feelings For Someone - Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Epilogue I — Birthday

Chapter Summary: Shall we learn from each other, then?

In the conference room, Lu Shuyu glanced at the time.

Today was September 9th, her birthday. Before leaving the house this morning, she and Xia Leshuang had agreed to go out for dinner together. She had originally wanted to invite Zheng Yu, but the other woman just rolled her eyes: “I’m already this busy, and you want me to be a third wheel? Is that appropriate?”

With the next filming location for Gold of Adventure imminent, the schedule in City S didn’t allow for a single full day of rest. Xia Leshuang was equally busy, so the two could only spend the evening together.

“Qinghai City has long sunlight hours and a large temperature difference between day and night. We need to pay attention to the health of the teachers and the crew members,” Hua Tong added as a concluding summary after adjusting the filming details.

Before the recording of Gold of Adventure began, Lu Shuyu had intended to take on a student to try and train them as a producer. After discussing it with Chi Shan and Min Wutong the day before, they finally decided to choose someone from within the team. Hua Tong, the assistant director who had followed the project since the preparation phase of Speed, was the most suitable candidate. Thus, she became Lu Shuyu’s deputy, and her role shifted to PD Assistant.

Lu Shuyu nodded, signaling Hua Tong to continue.

Since her position had changed suddenly, Hua Tong wanted to demonstrate her ability and attitude. She had done exhaustive homework, marking every detail—even the ones others hadn’t thought of—which surprised the staff members present. This thoroughness pushed the meeting past its scheduled end time.

Ten minutes passed, then another ten. Suddenly, someone grumbled, “Is this ever going to end?”

Coming right as Hua Tong paused, the grumble was particularly loud. The conference room fell silent instantly. Lu Shuyu hadn’t even reacted to this sudden situation before Chi Shan spoke up sharply.

“Does the Artist Liaison team have no patience at all? How are you going to interface with celebrities then?”

…

Lu Shuyu frowned, sensing something strange.

After being snapped at by Chi Shan, the head of the Artist Liaison team slammed the table and stood up. Everyone was startled. “Director Chi’s bureaucratic air is getting stronger and stronger. True, the Director’s group is the pillar of the show, so what does our Liaison group count for?”

Just as an argument was about to erupt, the Screenwriting group looked like they were about to step in to mediate, but in the next second, the sound of sobbing broke out.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” Hua Tong cried aggrievedly. “It’s… it’s my fault, but…”

Lu Shuyu’s scalp tingled. “What is wrong with you all?” She checked the time again. “If Liaison has something to do, you can say so and leave early. Everything can be adjusted; there’s no need to start a fight.”

She then looked at Chi Shan and scanned the rest of the group. “If there are conflicts, you can tell me privately. It’s normal for friction to occur after working together for a long time. Speak up, discuss it calmly; there’s nothing that can’t be resolved.”

After she finished speaking, everyone in the room looked at each other. Tears were still hanging on Hua Tong’s face, and her mouth was open as if she had something to say but didn’t know how to continue.

At this point, Lu Shuyu’s intuition kicked in. She stood up and scanned the room, finally noticing something odd: several potted plants had been moved.

Helplessness and irritation rose together. Looking at the dozen or so guilty faces at the table, she said sternly, “Don’t let there be a next time.”

Hua Tong shut her mouth and shrugged her shoulders. Chi Shan poked her from the side: “Say it…”

Hua Tong dodged the pokes, not daring to speak. Lu Shuyu looked over. “Speak.”

Hua Tong looked up under the pressure, cleared her throat with a “do or die” attitude, and announced loudly:

“But! As long as Lu PD has a happy birthday, we have no complaints!”

Immediately, everyone began pulling things out from under the table. As the Liaison member placed a cake in front of her, everyone acted like NPCs receiving a command and began to sing in unison:

“Happy birthday to Lu PD!” “Happy birthday to Lu PD!”

…

Lu Shuyu felt like her toes were curling in embarrassment. After the birthday song, a dozen party poppers went off with loud bangs, filling the conference room with colorful confetti.

“Dear Lu PD—” “Happy birthday—” “Cough, cough, cough…” “Ptooey, ptooey…”

The room was a mess. Lu Shuyu gave a polite smile, gritting her teeth. “Thank you all. You really… went through a lot of trouble.”

A few people quickly unpacked the cake and lit the candles. “Lu PD, blow out the candles quickly!” They collectively didn’t ask her to make a wish, knowing she had a “Part 2” for the evening.

Lu Shuyu laughed and decisively blew out the candles.

“Woo-hoo!” The weird cheers broke out everywhere.

“Alright, alright,” she covered her ears. “Don’t waste the cake, share it all.”

“Mission accomplished!” “Thank you for today, but this ‘hidden camera’ behavior is not allowed to happen again!” she emphasized repeatedly. “And what I said earlier is true: if there are conflicts, tell me in time. I am your PD; I have the responsibility to mediate.”

Only after they repeatedly promised to take her words to heart did Lu Shuyu leave.

…

As soon as she got downstairs, she saw a familiar car parked at the entrance. The passenger window rolled down, and she saw Xia Leshuang in the driver’s seat.

After getting in, she couldn’t help but ask, “Your timing is way too good, isn’t it?”

Xia Leshuang smiled. “I have accurate intelligence reports, of course.”

Lu Shuyu realized. “Ah, it’s Chen Qian, isn’t it?” Then she hummed, “I need to exchange contact info with Ruowei too. I can’t let you be the only one with intel!”

Xia Leshuang laughed. “Sure, I’ll send it to you now. She’ll probably be thrilled.”

Recalling Li Ruowei’s “fan declaration” when they first met, Lu Shuyu smiled as well. “True.”

They went to a popular high-altitude restaurant famous for its night view. Xia Leshuang had booked a private room with the best view a month in advance. Due to Chi Shan’s hidden camera prank, only a sliver of twilight remained when they arrived. Soon after, the night view of City B unrolled before them.

“It really is beautiful,” Lu Shuyu whispered after watching for a while.

“I’m glad you like it.” Seeing her enjoyment, Xia Leshuang felt much more at ease.

Food and wine were served, but before that, a more important task had to be completed. The wish she hadn’t made earlier was finally voiced. Lu Shuyu blew out her twenty-seventh-year candles. In the soft light of the night, Xia Leshuang said gently, “Shuyu, happy birthday.”

The overhead lights were turned back on, and she handed over an envelope. “Here.”

Lu Shuyu froze, her heart rate jumping instantly. “No way…” she muttered, feeling her eyes grow a bit stingy. Though she was afraid of crying, she couldn’t help but peel back the orange wax seal. Inside, she found a letter and a bank card.

…

“Twenty-seven-year-old Lu Shuyu, hello…”

I am also twenty-seven-year-old Xia Leshuang.

In the tenth year of our acquaintance, your love letter finally arrived. I feel like the luckiest person in the world.

You said love letters shouldn’t be about praise, but only about love. So, I will only talk about love too.

Actually, on the first day of high school, when you sat in the desk in front of me, I remembered you. The seats were soon reshuffled, but I kept observing you silently. When I was away filming and not at school, I couldn’t help but miss you and wonder about your day.

I peered into and was curious about your life like a stalker, until the fanfiction appeared, and I finally found the chance to get to know you. After that, I worked hard to become your friend, thinking that one day when the time was right, I would confess to you.

Unfortunately, that time never came. Our connection was broken. I knew your phone number by heart, but I didn’t dare contact you. I didn’t know how to speak to you, and I didn’t know if I would bring you trouble. So, I could only remember that string of numbers, praying you wouldn’t abandon it, hoping for a chance in the future to appear before you again.

I truly am the luckiest person in the world. Because before that could happen, you found me first.

Thank you, Shuyu. I love you. I have always, only loved you. I will love you passionately, bravely, and forever.

Just as we promised, we must be together in the next life too.

Today is your birthday, and I want to greedily ask you for a wish:

“Can we…” — Lu Shuyu read the last line — “…have a home together?”

…

After reading, she choked back a sob, and tears finally fell. The meaning of the bank card became clear at that moment.

Xia Leshuang wiped away her tears. “You said you still like City S and want to go back there in the future. So, I want to plan the future with you. Whether it’s yours, mine, or ours.”

Lu Shuyu took the card and carefully put it back into the envelope with the letter. The orange wax seal couldn’t be restuck; this was a gift already opened. She bloomed into a smile. “Okay. Let’s do it together.”

The night outside was perfect, the food and wine exquisite. They looked like the happiest lovers in the world.

…

A bottle of wine was finished. By the time they got home, Lu Shuyu was too drunk to walk straight.

“You have such a low tolerance, yet you drank so much.” Xia Leshuang helped her sit on the shoe bench, closed the door, and then knelt down to change her shoes.

Lu Shuyu protested, mumbling, “But I’m happy!”

Xia Leshuang laughed. “You really are quite drunk. I’ll go pour a glass of lemon water.”

“Xia Leshuang!” Lu Shuyu suddenly leaned in, hooked her arms around Leshuang’s neck, and a kiss smelling of wine landed without warning.

The kiss was so sudden that Xia Leshuang was a bit dazed, but she didn’t forget to respond. “What’s wrong?” Because she was so close, her voice was very soft.

Lu Shuyu suddenly laughed. Her clear eyes locked onto Leshuang’s, and her hands moved to the front of Leshuang’s neck. “I just realized, your voice sounds really good after you’ve been drinking.”

Xia Leshuang’s eyelashes fluttered. The blood in her body began to boil. For a moment, she was like a statue, not daring to move and not knowing how to respond.

Lu Shuyu continued, “Did you drink when you were doing the voice acting?”

…

The topic took a sharp turn. Xia Leshuang was helpless, but her body reacted; she wrapped her arms around the drunkard’s waist. “What do you want to hear? I’ll say it all for you now.”

Hearing this, Lu Shuyu’s eyes widened, filling with mischief and anticipation.

“I want to hear,” her gaze was direct, not flickering at all, “the sounds you make in |bed|.”

She shouldn’t have laughed at this moment, but Xia Leshuang couldn’t help it. It seemed Lu Shuyu’s tolerance was improving day by day. She suddenly smiled brightly, clearly seeing through the “drunk” disguise. Lu Shuyu wasn’t annoyed; she just gently stroked the skin under her hand. “Will you let me hear?”

Xia Leshuang’s breath hitched, and her voice dropped to a rasp. “But I don’t know how…” “Will Lu PD teach me?”

Lu Shuyu raised her eyebrow. “I don’t know how either.”

The hands on her waist tightened. In the next second, Xia Leshuang picked her up. They were eye-to-eye, their breaths entangling.

“Then… we’ll learn from each other,” Xia Leshuang leaned in. “Is that okay?”

Lu Shuyu didn’t speak, substituting a kiss for an answer.