What's Wrong With Being Fifteen Years Older Than Me?! - Chapter 22

The temperature in Jingchuan was still a little low after the New Year, but it was a little warmer when you were in the sun.

“Why is your car at the airport parking lot, Auntie Lu?” Ye Li asked, her hand on the suitcase handle.

“I gave Tang Qianxia the spare key before I went to the US. Yesterday, she and her husband went to the cemetery in the suburbs to visit a grave and brought my car here for me,” Lu Zhiyun said, taking out her car keys and unlocking the car. So, on the way back from the airport, Ye Li was in Auntie Lu’s MINI.

The girl sat quietly in the passenger seat, her hand on the seatbelt. Her eyes unintentionally scanned the hand on the steering wheel. She saw a silver bracelet on Auntie Lu’s wrist. She couldn’t recognize the brand. Her heart sank a little. She already has a bracelet. She probably won’t wear the one I gave her. She hadn’t even mentioned that one of the gifts was from her. But even if she had, she couldn’t demand that she wear it.

The more Ye Li thought about it, the more annoyed she got. She rested her chin on her hand and looked out the window. The woman who was driving noticed this and glanced at her. “Are you not feeling well, Xiaoli?”

The girl didn’t say anything.

“I know. It’s because your dad left again, right? I understand. After all, your dad is the person you’re closest to. But I heard from him that he’ll try his best to come back before your college entrance exam next year to be here for the most critical time.”

The girl’s eyebrows furrowed even more. She was even more annoyed. That night, Lu Zhiyun returned to her room to pack after her shower. She remembered the two jewelry boxes she had put in her bag. The boxes had different brand logos, which meant they were from two different stores. It was a little surprising that Ye Li’s dad went to two different stores to buy her gifts.

The woman sat down at her vanity and opened both boxes. One of them had a thick gold bracelet. It was a classic style and looked like it weighed a lot. The other one was the Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra clover bracelet. Lu Zhiyun recognized it instantly. The combined value of the two gifts was probably close to 100,000 yuan. She truly felt their sincerity. The gold bracelet looked like Ye Li’s dad’s style, but the other one… The woman picked it up and held it in her palm, lost in thought.

The next morning, Ye Li heard a sound from outside her room while she was still half-asleep. She tossed and turned and eventually got up. When she came out of the bathroom, she ran into Auntie Lu, who was dressed and ready to go out.

“Are you going out?” the girl asked, stopping at the bathroom door.

“Yes, the fridge is empty. I’m going to go grocery shopping. Do you want to come with me?” Lu Zhiyun asked, her eyes curved in a smile.

“Okay, but you’ll have to wait a little. I need to change.”

Ye Li went back to her room and stood in front of her closet, wondering what to wear. Why did I agree to go out with her?

When they went downstairs, Lu Zhiyun was in front, and Ye Li was right behind her. Today, Lu Zhiyun was wearing a light yellow French-style short down jacket and pure white straight-leg pants. She looked tall and gentle with a certain sweetness. They were just ordinary clothes, but she somehow made them look perfect. Ye Li put her hands in her pockets and looked down at her own black down jacket, white knit shirt, and jeans. What is this style? Mixed and matched?

The two of them got into the car. Lu Zhiyun put her hands on the steering wheel and slowly drove out of the parking lot. Ye Li, in the passenger seat, looked at the woman’s fair and slender hands again. She couldn’t help but look at her own. They were also long, but they weren’t as fair as hers. How does she keep them so white?

Just then, the girl looked at the steering wheel again, and the same thing that had happened yesterday happened again. The car shook as it went over a speed bump, and a bracelet slid out from the woman’s sleeve. It was the clover bracelet she had bought! Ye Li’s heart tightened. She was a little dazed and couldn’t help but clench her fingers. Why do I feel a little excited?

“That bracelet…” The girl’s throat was a little dry, and she couldn’t help but blurt it out. Her heart beat a little faster.

The woman who was driving looked down at the bracelet on her wrist. A slight smile appeared on her lips. “I really like it,” she said.

Those four words made Ye Li’s bl00d boil. She secretly pursed her lips, and her cheeks turned a shade of red that she didn’t even notice.

“Oh, that’s good. I’m glad you like it.” The girl quickly turned to look out the window. She never mentioned that she had saved up her own money to buy the bracelet. And Lu Zhiyun never asked.

The second semester of her sophomore year passed quickly. It was almost the day before summer vacation. It was already mid-July, which was late compared to other grades. But they were the most important students to the school now. They were the rising seniors. The previous senior class had already graduated after their college entrance exams in June.

During the last class meeting, the whole class groaned when the homeroom teacher announced that they only had a fifteen-day summer vacation this year. The whole class started to whisper.

“Why is it only fifteen days? That’s awful.” “Fifteen days? The school might as well not give us a break and just continue classes until senior year.” “I’d say they should just continue classes until the day before the college entrance exam.”

…

In reality, they were still in school because of the school’s “tutoring” tradition. This was Jingchuan High School’s secret to being the number one school in the city for graduation rates. Ye Li, being tall, had always sat in the back of the classroom since her freshman year. She rested her chin on her hand, listening to the protests and complaints. Whatever. I’ll be completely free in less than a year. She knew how this school was. What was there to complain about? Ye Li wasn’t surprised because Qin Shu had gone through the same thing. She had complained to her about it.

“I know you’re all upset about the school’s arrangement,” the homeroom teacher said like a demon, looking at them. “But you have to realize that you’re now rising seniors. There are fewer than 365 days until your college entrance exam. Don’t you feel anxious? Your main goal is to get ready for the exam, to study and review as much as you can. Every point matters. It’s a battlefield…” After a long speech that sounded like a pyramid scheme, the middle-aged man on the podium pushed up his glasses, and a cold light reflected off them. “Also, I can tell you in advance that your next winter break will be even shorter. Only one week.”

He was truly a demon. That last sentence crushed most of their holiday spirit. As soon as he finished, the groans from the class got even louder.

When the bell rang, Ye Li slowly packed her bag. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. It was from Han Yueyue. Five minutes later, the two of them met in the hallway on the first floor.

“Let’s go for a late-night snack tonight!” Han Yueyue said, carrying her heavy bag. Her small body looked so sad under the weight. Ye Li, on the other hand, looked much more relaxed. Her bag only had her summer homework in it. She didn’t even bring one textbook.

“Is it just the two of us?”

“Of course not!” Han Yueyue’s oval face broke into a mischievous smile. “My sister, Qin Shu, is coming. And guess who else?”

“Qin Shu is back in Jingchuan?” Ye Li asked, glancing at her. They walked out of the building and into the scorching sun. The July heat was so strong it could melt a person.

After Qin Shu confessed to her on Ye Li’s 16th birthday, the two of them had a few months of awkwardness. It wasn’t until Qin Shu graduated that she reached out to Ye Li. The three of them had dinner together, and the ice was broken. Ye Li wasn’t the kind of person to hold grudges. You could even say she was a little simple-minded. Since the other person didn’t mind, she didn’t see a reason to either. After last summer, Qin Shu went to college in another city, and they had even less contact.

“She came back at the end of June. College students get out early. We’re the ones who have to suffer and stay in school until today,” Han Yueyue said, then added, “Guess who else, Ye Li?”

“I can’t. I’ll just find out tonight,” Ye Li said indifferently, her hand over her forehead to block the sun.

“Ugh!” Han Yueyue, who was walking beside her, suddenly sighed loudly. “I’m so jealous of your chill personality, Ye Li.”

Ye Li: “…” She was just too lazy to guess.

The two of them stopped at the school gate.

“I’m going home now. See you tonight!” Han Yueyue waved at her.

Ye Li lazily waved back. “Remember to send me the address.”

After she took a few steps, her phone vibrated. Already? she thought. She opened it. It wasn’t Han Yueyue.

[Lu Zhiyun: Did you get out of school, Xiaoli? We’re eating at Tang Qianxia’s house tonight. We need to talk about some things. Do you want me to pick you up, or can you come on your own?]

Ye Li was about to reply that she could go herself since it wasn’t far. But she received another message. She quickly went back to read it.

[Han Yueyue: See you at eight sharp! / Address]

It was almost 6 p.m. The timing was perfect. Ye Li had to reply to Auntie Lu, [I can’t go to Auntie Tang’s house tonight. My classmates and I are having dinner. I might be back a little late.]

[Lu Zhiyun: Okay. Be careful, and let me know if you need anything.]

Tang Qianxia pulled open the balcony door, and the cold air from the living room rushed out. “Well? When is she coming?” she asked.

Lu Zhiyun hid her disappointment and put away her phone. She smiled. “Xiaoli said she’s having dinner with her classmates tonight, so she can’t make it.”

“That’s fine. She’ll find out what it is tomorrow. Or you can just tell her when you get home tonight,” Tang Qianxia said, then asked nervously, “Dinner with classmates so late? Is it with a boy?”

Lu Zhiyun: “?”

“Wait, I remember you told me before that girls have also liked Ye Li. Oh my god, this girl is so good-looking that I’m worried about her,” Tang Qianxia said to herself.

Lu Zhiyun smiled helplessly. “Xiaoli won’t fall in love.”

“How can you be so sure?” Tang Qianxia teased, crossing her arms.

Lu Zhiyun wasn’t sure. It was just a feeling. She shook her head and said, “She won’t.” The woman patted Tang Qianxia’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s go inside. It’s hot out here, isn’t it?” Tang Qianxia turned and closed the glass door. She looked at her younger daughter, who was playing on the carpet, and said, “As it turns out, women’s intuition can be wrong!” She had only wanted a one-night stand, but she ended up getting pregnant and marrying someone.

Since Ye Li wasn’t going to Auntie Tang’s, she decided to kill the remaining two hours at an internet cafe. There were a lot of them near the school. Since it was summer vacation, the school wouldn’t come to catch anyone. So, a lot of high schoolers were there. Ye Li found a seat. She didn’t like playing video games or watching TV shows, so she just found a highly-rated movie to watch. By the time the movie was over, it was time for her to leave. The guys around her were all playing games. They were so loud that she could hear them through her headphones. Some of the boys even started smoking. The air became thick with smoke.

Ye Li subconsciously held her hand to her nose and frowned. She kept looking at the time. Finally, at 7:30, the movie hadn’t even ended, but she couldn’t take it anymore. She ran out of the internet cafe and took a deep breath of fresh air. She smelled her clothes. They smelled like tobacco. She felt like she had been marinated in it. But it was too late to go back and change. It was also a hassle, so Ye Li just walked to a bus stop and got on the bus.

They were meeting at a popular food street called “Someone’s King of Shrimp and Crab.” “Someone” was the boss’s name.

“Ye Li!” she heard Han Yueyue’s voice from a distance. She had her hair in two pigtails and ran toward her. In the night, she looked like a little sheep in her white polo shirt and school uniform.

“Is this the place?” Ye Li asked, looking at the sign.

“Yeah.” Han Yueyue was a little out of breath. “My sister and they will be here soon. She just messaged me and said there was some traffic. She told us to find a place to sit first.”

At 8 p.m., the restaurant was full. The boss gave them an outdoor table. The summer night was hot. The boss even had a giant fan blowing on them to make them feel a little better. There was a lot of noise, but no one seemed to mind.

Ye Li was on her phone when a hand patted her shoulder. She looked up and saw Qin Shu. It had been a while since she had seen her. Qin Shu looked even better now that she was in college. Her hair was a light brown, and she had on a lot of makeup. Her outfit was daring—a halter top and low-rise jeans. She looked stunning.

“Hey,” Ye Li said. She looked at the girl Qin Shu was holding hands with.

Qin Shu smiled and introduced her. “This is my girlfriend, A-Lian.”

“Hi,” Ye Li said politely.

“Hi,” A-Lian said. She was also very pretty. She had an innocent look and light makeup. She was wearing a white dress, like a lotus flower that grows in the mud without being stained. After greeting Ye Li, she looked at her for a few seconds and then looked at Qin Shu.

“So this is the mysterious person you wanted me to guess?” Ye Li asked Han Yueyue with a smile.

“What do you think? Isn’t my sister’s girlfriend pretty?” Han Yueyue asked.

“She’s very pretty,” Ye Li said, looking away from Han Yueyue. She had thought it was a big deal.

“Are you smoking now?” Qin Shu, who was sitting next to Ye Li, suddenly asked.

Ye Li was a little surprised. She grabbed her collar and smelled it. “The smell didn’t go away? No. I was at an internet cafe before I came here. The smell stuck to me.”

“Okay, okay, let’s order. The boss will think we’re just taking up a seat,” Han Yueyue said, opening the menu. “Can you eat spicy food, A-Lian?” Han Yueyue asked.

“She and I like the same things. You can just order for us,” Qin Shu said with a slight smile.

“What about you, Ye Li? Is there anything you want to eat?” Han Yueyue asked.

Ye Li was bored, playing with the disposable chopsticks on the table. “You can order. I’ll eat anything.”

After they ordered, Han Yueyue frowned. “I need to go to the bathroom. Does anyone want to come with me?”

“I… I’ll go with you,” A-Lian said softly.

After they had walked for a bit, A-Lian couldn’t help but ask, “Is that girl Ye Li?”

Han Yueyue was a little surprised. “You know her, A-Lian?”

The girl smiled and shook her head. “I just met her today. She’s so beautiful. I’ve heard your sister mention her before.” She and Qin Shu had only been together for less than three months, but in that short time, Qin Shu had mentioned Ye Li’s name so many times that she couldn’t help but be curious.

“Let me tell you a secret. Ye Li is a campus beauty at our school. But she’s so low-key. She doesn’t participate in any social events. But in the past two years, a lot of people from our school and other schools have tried to get her to date them. But she rejected all of them,” Han Yueyue said like a fan.

A-Lian lowered her eyes and asked almost instinctively, “Did… Qin Shu likes her, too?” Han Yueyue was stumped. Should she say yes or no? Saying yes would affect her and her sister’s relationship. But saying no would be a lie. While she was hesitating, A-Lian had already guessed. She said, a little disappointed, “So Qin Shu liked Ye Li, too.” Han Yueyue gasped and covered her mouth. “A-Lian, I didn’t say anything. I didn’t say anything at all.”

…

Watching the two of them walk away, Qin Shu looked at Ye Li and started a conversation as usual. “How’s school? Are you nervous?”

“I’m the same as always. I’m just not the type to do well in school,” Ye Li said, shrugging.

“What university are you planning to go to next year? Have you considered our school?” Qin Shu asked.

“I haven’t thought that far ahead. I’ll just go with the flow. I’ll go to whatever school wants me, not the other way around,” Ye Li said with a smile.

Qin Shu smiled faintly, revealing her dimples. “If it were my sister, she would have a list of famous universities for you in one minute.”

“Hahaha, that’s so her,” Ye Li said, laughing at the thought.

When Han Yueyue and A-Lian came back, they saw the two of them at the table, laughing. Usually, it wouldn’t have meant anything, but today… Han Yueyue couldn’t help but glance at the girl beside her. A-Lian tried to stay calm, but her fingers were clenched under the table.

After about an hour of eating and talking, Ye Li’s phone received a message from Auntie Lu.

[Lu Zhiyun: I’m about to leave Tang Qianxia’s. Do you want me to pick you up?]

Ye Li glanced at the table. Dinner was almost over. She typed a reply.

[Ye Li: Yes. I’m done eating here, too. / Address]

Qin Shu had a little to drink and was a little buzzed. She saw Ye Li on her phone and asked, “Do you want to go sing karaoke later?”

“No, someone is coming to pick me up,” Ye Li said, shaking her phone.

“Is it your Auntie Lu?” Han Yueyue asked curiously.

“Yeah,” Ye Li said, nodding.

About fifteen minutes later, a red MINI pulled over and stopped. Lu Zhiyun put on the handbrake but didn’t turn off the engine. She opened the door and got out. She looked up and saw Ye Li running toward her. Lu Zhiyun walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for her. When she looked up again, she noticed the girl who had confessed to Ye Li that year sitting at a table in the outdoor dining area. A flicker of unease flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly gone.

Ye Li ran over, said a quick hello, and got into the passenger seat. A faint smell of tobacco came from the girl, and Lu Zhiyun’s nose caught it. Han Yueyue’s table also saw the scene by the street. A-Lian, who had been quiet, couldn’t help but ask, “Is that Ye Li’s aunt? She looks so young.”

She was also very beautiful, a kind of beauty that was so stunning it couldn’t be hidden by the night.

“I don’t think she’s that old. She should be around 33 this year? I remember she’s only fifteen years older than Ye Li,” Han Yueyue said with a smile. “She’s a real beauty.”

Qin Shu didn’t say anything. She glanced at the street, and a faint hint of coldness flashed in her eyes.