Meeting

An hour later, Yu Xuekun got up and switched off all the equipment. Hesta also rose from her chair, waiting to say goodbye.

But Yu Xuekun did not turn around for a long time. With her back to Hesta, one hand resting on the camera tripod, she fell silent.

"Are you all right?" Hesta stepped to the side and leaned over to look at Yu Xuekun's profile.

Yu Xuekun gave a bitter laugh. She raised a hand and lightly ruffled the loose strands of hair over her forehead.

"...What happened this week?" Yu Xuekun turned around, her gaze somewhat helpless. "Are you willing to talk about it now?"

"I need to go to a café later," Hesta replied. "I have an appointment with Madam Kaja this afternoon... This has already been delayed for a long time."

"Is it urgent?"

"Not really." As she spoke, Hesta sat back down in the black leather chair. "If you're free to talk now, I should be able to stay another half hour."

"Tell me what happened this week... Was there anyone or anything that particularly moved you?"

Hesta's hand, resting on her left knee, slowly clenched. She looked steadily into Yu Xuekun's eyes. "...A lot."

"But you understand the nature of our conversations this week, right? I already—"

"You've told me many times," Hesta nodded. "Yes, I understand."

"Last Wednesday, here in this very room, we discussed how to answer questions about Zuo Wentao. I thought we had reached an agreement on what you were supposed to say this week. And Lin Jiao and the others' club—do you remember what you said then? You repeatedly emphasized that you had no interest in them—"

"That's true, but—"

"And then this week it became 'they're very charming'?" Yu Xuekun struck her chest hard several times. "If