What's Wrong With Being Fifteen Years Older Than Me?! - Chapter 2

“Hello, Xiaoli. Do you remember me?”

The chaotic din of the KFC vanished instantly. All Ye Li could hear was the graceful, gentle tone of the woman in front of her. It was like a spring breeze drifting over mountain slopes, leaving behind a subtle fragrance after dyeing the grasses green—an elusive, enchanting scent that captivated the heart.

For a moment, Ye Li was completely lost.

She quickly sat up straight, and the noisy sounds around her returned. She looked at the woman and shook her head, then glanced at her dad beside her, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“Say hello, now,” Ye Deyou urged, his eyes signaling her. He spoke in a low whisper that was barely audible.

“Hello, Auntie,” the three words tumbled awkwardly from the depths of Ye Li’s throat. Under the table, one of her hands restlessly twisted the soft skin of her thigh.

“That’s alright. The last time we met was six years ago, so it’s normal that you don’t remember me,” Lu Zhiyun said, her eyes smiling, her demeanor poised and generous. Her clear, beautiful eyes seemed to hold countless vibrant landscapes, and her gentle, charming presence exuded charisma at every moment.

Ye Deyou turned to his daughter, who was absentmindedly biting her soda straw, and then faced the woman. “Ms. Lu, could we step outside to talk?”

Before they left, Ye Deyou gave Ye Li a quick instruction: “Your Auntie Lu and I are going to talk alone. Be a good girl and stay in the restaurant. Don’t wander off.”

On the curb outside, Ye Deyou handed the woman a pre-prepared bank card, his face full of sincerity and gratitude. “Ms. Lu, please take this. It’s the living and tuition money I’ve saved for Xiaoli. Once I’m settled over there, I’ll send money back regularly.”

“No, I can’t take this,” Lu Zhiyun said, her brow furrowed slightly as she refused without hesitation.

“Please, you must. There isn’t much in there, but it’s all I have. I haven’t saved much over the years from various odd jobs, or I wouldn’t be so desperate as to take a risk and go overseas to make a living. The fact that you’re willing to come back for Xiaoli is a huge sacrifice for our whole family. We can’t ask for more. Please, take it—think of it as a request from Xiaoli’s late mother.” With that, Ye Deyou bowed deeply.

At that moment, Ye Li was sitting by the window, propping her head up with one hand and listlessly watching the scene unfold through the glass. She didn’t understand why her father was bowing to this woman. The thought of having to live in this stranger’s house filled her with an unbearable frustration.

Lu Zhiyun frowned, looking distressed. Reluctantly, she reached out and took the bank card. The woman’s fingers were fair and slender, her knuckles well-defined. A delicate lady’s watch adorned her slim wrist. She gently unlatched her plaid bag and put the bank card inside.

“Is the work you’re going to do overseas safe, Mr. Ye? Xiaoli has already lost her mother; she can’t lose her only father, too,” Lu Zhiyun said, her eyes filled with worry.

Ye Deyou replied, “Thank you for your concern, Ms. Lu. There shouldn’t be any problems. I’ll take good care of myself. I’m also entrusting Xiaoli to you. Her mother passed away early, and she’s a sensitive and rebellious child. Please be patient with her and look after her.”

As he said that, both of them on the sidewalk looked toward the restaurant window in unison. Ye Li quickly turned her face away to hide that she was peeking, burying her head to sip her now-lukewarm soda. The taste of the fizzy, dark brown drink had been diluted by the half-melted ice.

Half an hour later, at the outdoor paid parking lot across from the KFC, Ye Li stood silently, a gloomy expression on her face, watching Ye Deyou unload her suitcase from the old Santana’s trunk. The scorching summer sun blazed mercilessly, its heat distorting the air. It felt as if standing outside for even a little longer would cause a person’s skin to peel.

Unknowingly, a shadow fell over the girl’s head, accompanied by a faint, pleasant perfume that was hard to escape. Lu Zhiyun had come over with an umbrella to shield her. Ye Li turned her head in surprise, seeing the woman’s chestnut-brown, wavy hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, looking incredibly smooth. They were so close that she could clearly see the long, elegant curve of the woman’s neck, leading to a diamond necklace with a small blue dolphin pendant hanging just below her collarbone. This beautiful, stylish, and wealthy woman was nothing like Ye Li imagined her mother’s friend to be.

Ye Li had only ever seen photos of her mother; she was a simple country woman who didn’t dress up, wore plain clothes, and had straight black hair.

As if sensing the girl’s scrutinizing gaze, Lu Zhiyun looked down at her. The woman’s eyes were deep and mysterious yet as soft as silk. The next second, she smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. The already sweltering air seemed to ignite.

Ye Li squeezed her fingers, walked out from under the umbrella without hesitation, and said with tightly pressed lips, “I’m not afraid of the sun.”

From head to toe, the girl was declaring her unyielding stubbornness.

“Xiaoli, Dad is going now. From now on, you must listen to your Auntie Lu, okay?” Ye Deyou said, patting his daughter’s shoulder with a look of worry. Ye Li turned her face to the side and reluctantly replied, “I know.”

As she watched her father’s car slowly drive away, the girl who had been holding back for so long finally had tears well up in her eyes. She clenched her fists, her back ramrod straight, biting her lower lip to hold back the tears.

Lu Zhiyun saw all of this. She silently stepped forward, gently put an arm around the girl’s shoulder, and said, “I’ll take you to my place now.”

Ye Li took a sharp inhale. As she lowered her head, a tear, like a broken pearl, fell and hit the scorching concrete, creating a tiny splash. Then, like a broken faucet, the tears wouldn’t stop. Lu Zhiyun had never raised a child, let alone a girl this old. Feeling helpless, she put down her parasol and hugged her.

“Dad is just going to make money; he’ll be back. He wants to give you a good life. As long as you study and grow up well, he’ll feel more at ease and work harder,” Lu Zhiyun said, patting the girl’s back with an awkward tenderness as she offered comforting words. The woman’s scent was clean and gentle, like a frosty pine tree after the first snow—crisp and cool. It made one let down all their guards and pretenses. Ye Li cried her heart out against her.

In fact, when she was in the back of the taxi, heading home with the woman, she looked back and felt a deep sense of regret. Why did she cry? It wasn’t cool at all. The scenery outside the car window sped by. Ye Li was in a daze, knowing the current situation was an unchangeable fact. Seeing this, Lu Zhiyun quietly opened her white striped bag, took out a small, exquisite box, and handed it to the girl without a word.

“What is this?” Ye Li looked up, her voice slightly nasal from crying.

“Just a little welcome gift,” the woman said, blinking her clear, beautiful eyes. Her soft voice was strangely soothing. Ye Li looked down and opened the box indifferently. Inside was a delicate emerald bracelet that looked quite expensive. Lu Zhiyun continued, “The green color goes well with your shirt today; it’s the color of summer.” Ye Li glanced down at her dark green T-shirt and, without showing any emotion, closed the box. She opened her mouth and slowly, with difficulty, uttered two words: “Thank… you…” Her face felt a little warm. Fine, this woman wasn’t that difficult to get along with after all. Ye Li finally accepted the situation.

Lu Zhiyun currently lives on the top floor of a building in Shuiyun Bay. The apartment building was a mid-rise with one apartment per floor, built in the early 2000s. It was a bit old, but it had great greenery, reliable property management, and was conveniently located in the city center. The previous owners had moved to Canada, and their interior design sense was impeccable. Lu Zhiyun, not wanting any trouble, simply had a friend secure the apartment for her.

When they arrived, Lu Zhiyun changed into her slippers at the entryway and took out a brand-new pair for Ye Li. “I bought these just for you. Do you like them?” Ye Li looked at the children’s slippers with a Hello Kitty print on the floor and couldn’t help but frown.

“That room is for you. The bedding is all new; I just changed it this morning. Oh, what would you like to drink? Do you want some iced lemonade?” the woman asked, her figure disappearing into the kitchen. Ye Li stood in the living room, feeling a bit awkward, her eyes taking in the layout. The American country-style decor with deep orange-patterned tiles and dark green wallpaper made every piece of furniture and every small decoration look like it belonged to someone who loved life.

“Why don’t you sit for a bit? I need to cut the lemons fresh. Xiaoli?” Lu Zhiyun peeked half her body out of the kitchen door. Her chestnut-brown, wavy hair cascaded to one side, flowing in the air. Every move she made was like a dance. Ye Li didn’t say anything, fidgeting from side to side before choosing the single sofa closest to her. The sofa had a layer of off-white dust on it that hadn’t been removed yet. The girl sat right on top of it. From the kitchen came the distinct sound of a knife hitting a wooden cutting board, and the air filled with the tangy scent of fresh lemons. The girl placed her hands on her knees, and that’s when she felt the sticky wetness in her underwear. She waited, restless and anxious.

Lu Zhiyun came out with two glasses of iced lemonade. Ye Li quickly stood up, looking flustered. “I need to use the restroom.” “It’s over there. Go ahead,” Lu Zhiyun said. Once the girl went in and closed the door, Lu Zhiyun’s gaze fell on the sofa, where a distinct red stain was visible on the off-white fabric. Her grip on the glass tightened. She had to go back to the kitchen to put it down.

“Xiaoli, are you okay in there?” Lu Zhiyun knocked on the bathroom door, a bit worried since Ye Li had been in there for a while.

“Auntie Lu, I’m bleeding. A lot of bl00d…” a panicked, trembling voice came from behind the door. The woman’s eyes showed a flicker of emotion, a complex mix of distress and sympathy. The next second, she said in a gentle voice, “Come out first, Xiaoli. I need to talk to you.”