What's Wrong With Being Fifteen Years Older Than Me?! - Chapter 23.1

The car drove through the bustling city at night. A cycle of changing lights flashed across the windshield, making everything dizzying. The girl in the passenger seat subconsciously put her hand on her forehead, trying to block out the blinding neon lights.

Lu Zhiyun glanced at her. She didn’t ask what she was thinking. “What did you have for dinner, Xiaoli?” she asked, changing her tone to sound more natural.

“Spicy crab, salt and pepper mantis shrimp, and some kind of snails. I don’t know their names,” Ye Li listed. After she finished, she couldn’t help but smell her clothes. The annoying smell of smoke hadn’t gone away. She suddenly froze. She realized that Auntie Lu might have smelled the smoke on her, too. Almost instinctively, she said, “I was at an internet cafe after school. There were so many people smoking in there that my clothes smelled like smoke.”

Lu Zhiyun’s fingers on the steering wheel moved slightly. She was a little surprised. At the same time, her doubts were gone, and she felt relieved. “Just wash them with some fabric softener when you get home, and the smell will go away,” Lu Zhiyun replied.

“Oh, right, Auntie Lu, what were you guys talking about at Auntie Tang’s house tonight?” Ye Li asked, suddenly remembering.

The corners of the woman’s mouth lifted slightly. “I was about to tell you. I want to take you on a road trip this summer. You’re going to be a senior soon, and things will get busy. We should relax one last time before then. What do you think?”

“I don’t mind. Are Auntie Tang and her family coming with us?” Ye Li guessed.

“Yes, they want to come with us. I thought it would be more fun with more people.”

Ye Li: “When are we leaving?”

“Considering your precious and limited vacation, we’re planning to leave at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.”

“I’ll go home and pack right now!”

After arriving home, the girl eagerly took out her suitcase and laid it flat on the floor. As long as it wasn’t for school, she was always proactive. Who would ever say no to a trip?

Lu Zhiyun leaned against the door with a glass of water, quietly watching the busy Ye Li with a smile on her face. Ye Li was so focused on what she was doing that it took her a while to realize Auntie Lu was standing at the door. She froze awkwardly.

“I came to tell you that you only need to pack summer clothes. We’re going south on this road trip. I saw that you were so focused on packing that I didn’t want to interrupt.” The woman leaning on the door was graceful. Her plump and sexy lips were slightly raised. Her every expression was flirtatious without her even knowing it.

“Oh, I know.” The girl quickly lowered her head and fumbled with her hands in the suitcase, pretending to be busy.

“I’m going to go back to my room and get ready for my shower. You should get some rest early, too, Xiaoli.”

Ye Li didn’t look up again until she heard her footsteps leave the door. From where she was on the floor, she could only see a corner of the living room. The dark green side cabinet stood there quietly. The woman’s silhouette had already disappeared.

They were at a three-story bed and breakfast by the sea. Through the floor-to-ceiling window in the third-floor room, you could see the moon rising from the sea. If you listened closely, you could even hear the waves crashing. The moist sea breeze blew the pure white curtains, and the moonlight lit up the room.

The sound of the water in the bathroom finally stopped. The woman came out wrapped in a towel. Her wet feet touched the floor as she walked toward the bed.

“Xiaoli.” Her eyes were hazy. She took off her towel and climbed onto the bed.

Ye Li was sitting on the headboard of the bed, stunned. She couldn’t believe it. “Auntie Lu, you…”

The woman had already come close to her. She reached out her long, slender fingers and slowly stroked the girl’s cheek. Her soft voice kept stimulating her ears. “Don’t you like this, Xiaoli?” She slid her hand down. The woman took one of her hands and placed it on her warm skin, rubbing it along her waist. At the same time, the woman’s breathing became more and more hot.

“Auntie Lu, I…” Before Ye Li could finish, the woman held her face and kissed her. Her lips and tongue wandered around freely. Ye Li’s bl00d was boiling. It felt like she had been electrocuted. She couldn’t stop trembling. She finally couldn’t take it anymore and turned over, pinning her under her…

Just as she was about to go to the next step, she woke up. When she opened her eyes, Ye Li was awkwardly staring at the pig pillow she was hugging under her. What kind of ridiculous dream was that?! I dreamed that I was with Auntie Lu… It was too sinful! Just then, she heard Auntie Lu’s voice from outside the door.

“Xiaoli, it’s time to get up.”

“…I know,” Ye Li said, feeling her scalp tingle. She quickly got out of bed. She opened the door and saw no one. The girl quickly ran to the bathroom, where she ran into Auntie Lu coming out. Lu Zhiyun laughed. She moved out of the way. “You startled me, Xiaoli.”

Ye Li saw her face and couldn’t help but remember the dream. The memory was still so fresh. She instantly became flustered and lowered her head. She quickly walked past her. “I’m sorry,” she said awkwardly.

Lu Zhiyun, who was already outside the bathroom door, suddenly thought of something. She couldn’t help but turn around and ask, “What do you want for breakfast this morning, Xiaoli? Can I make pancakes?”

The girl had a mouthful of toothpaste foam. She said, “Anything is fine…”

Breakfast was simple pancakes with maple syrup, freshly squeezed orange juice, and scrambled eggs. Ye Li didn’t dare to look up the whole time she was eating. It was such a strange feeling. She needed some time for the effects of the dream to completely disappear from her brain.

Lu Zhiyun also noticed that something was off with her, but she couldn’t figure out why. But it was obvious that Ye Li had been avoiding her since she woke up this morning.

“Do you want another glass of orange juice, Xiaoli?” The woman’s soft voice floated from across the table. It sounded even more gentle and charming to Ye Li.

“No, I’m done eating. I’m going back to my room to check my luggage!” The girl grabbed her fork, put it down, and ran away from the table.

Lu Zhiyun: “…?” Xiaoli is so weird.

Twenty minutes later, Tang Qianxia and her family arrived downstairs. They drove a Toyota SUV. The spacious trunk was filled with all kinds of travel gear. Tang Qianxia’s husband was driving, and she was in the back with their daughter in a car seat. The two families met up downstairs and briefly discussed the itinerary for the first day. Then, they were ready to go.

Ye Li had already gotten into the passenger seat and was waiting. She hadn’t seen Auntie Lu get into the car yet. She saw that Auntie Tang and her family had already driven away. Just as she was thinking about getting out to look for her, the passenger door opened. Lu Zhiyun took a soft U-shaped pillow from the trunk and handed it to Ye Li. “It can get tiring on long trips. This will make you more comfortable.”

“Oh, thank you,” the girl said, startled, as she took it.

Then, the woman walked to the other side and opened the driver’s door, and got in. A fresh scent of mountain springs followed her. It was elegant and smelled good.

“Let me know if you feel uncomfortable on the way,” Lu Zhiyun said, looking up to remind her as she put the key in the ignition. She guessed that Xiaoli might have gotten her period and wasn’t feeling well, which was why she was acting strange this morning.

Their car started and quickly caught up with Tang Qianxia’s SUV. The two cars were a safe distance apart. It was a little after 8:30 a.m. The summer sun was already high in the sky and was getting hotter. The air conditioning in the car was already on, automatically blocking out the harsh heat from outside. After the car took a turn on the overpass, it was heading south. The golden sunlight was a little blinding as it came through the windshield.

Ye Li was bored, looking at the scenery outside the window, when she heard a sound from the side. She turned her head and saw Auntie Lu holding the steering wheel with one hand and casually putting on a pair of sunglasses with the other. The sunglasses with orange lenses on the woman’s small face made her skin look even fairer. Her nose was elegant and beautiful, adding a little tropical beach vibe to her look.

“Xiaoli.” She suddenly called her name. The girl flustered and looked away. “There’s a pair of sunglasses for you, too. You can put them on if the sun is too bright.”

“Oh.” Ye Li opened the glove compartment and saw a pair of sunglasses. She opened the case, and inside was a pair of black sunglasses. It was exactly her style. The girl didn’t hesitate and put them on. She instantly felt much more comfortable.

After driving for more than three hours, Ye Li couldn’t help but take a nap. When she woke up, they had already arrived at a rest stop on the highway. She got out of the car and stretched her arms. She didn’t see Auntie Lu anywhere. She only saw Tang Qianxia, who was with her daughter.

“Where are they?” the girl asked curiously.

“The two drivers went to the bathroom. We’ll wait here and then go in for lunch together,” Tang Qianxia said.

Ye Li nodded and didn’t say anything. She took out her phone and checked the time. Just then, Tang Qianxia seemed to remember something. She looked around and whispered, “Ye Li, tell me, are you dating anyone at school?”

“No…”

“Really?”

“Really.” Ye Li paused for a second and then asked, half-laughing and half-crying, “Why do you sound so disappointed, Auntie Tang?!”

“No, I’m not! I remember when I was your age, I had already dated two people. Is Lu Zhiyun keeping a close eye on you?”

“Auntie Lu… is fine,” the girl said awkwardly, picking at her fingers. She didn’t know why she was suddenly thinking about that ridiculous dream again.

After they had lunch and rested, they started driving again at 2 p.m. It was another three-hour drive. They got off the highway at 5:25 p.m. The sun in the west was still scorching. The green belts on the side of the road were wilting. The first destination was a city known for its beautiful nature. They drove for another ten minutes before arriving at the bed and breakfast they had booked. It was the peak of summer vacation, so hotels and bed and breakfasts in popular tourist cities were almost fully booked. Lu Zhiyun had booked the rooms a few days ago. The bed and breakfast had three floors. She booked a king-sized room and a twin room on the second floor. The king-sized room was for Tang Qianxia and her family, and she and Ye Li would share the twin room. After checking in, the owner gave them two key cards and kindly helped them with their luggage.

“Room reveal!” Tang Qianxia and her family’s room were next door. When she opened the door, she couldn’t help but compliment Lu Zhiyun. “Lu Zhiyun, this is a nice one.”

Lu Zhiyun smiled faintly. She dragged her luggage into her room. It was spacious and had a Nordic style, not much different from the pictures online.

“Which bed do you want, Xiaoli?”

“I can take either one.” It didn’t matter to Ye Li where she slept.

“Then you can take the one by the window.”

Just as they were deciding, Tang Qianxia’s voice came from the door. The woman leaned on the door and knocked on it with the back of her hand. “Beauties, let’s go out and get some food when you’re done unpacking. I can’t wait to try the local food here!”

The five of them left the bed and breakfast. It was getting dark. The last bit of sunlight was about to be covered by dark clouds. The evening breeze was hot and made them feel like they were being heated in a microwave.

“Ugh, why is it so hot? I have to have an ice-cold beer tonight. No one can stop me!” Tang Qianxia said, frustrated.

The restaurant they were going to was not far from the bed and breakfast. It was a few minutes away on foot. Luckily, the restaurant had air conditioning. The moment they stepped inside, they felt like all their pores were liberated.

“So, Lu Zhiyun, do you want some ice-cold beer?” Tang Qianxia asked, holding up the menu.

“I can have a little,” Lu Zhiyun said.

Tang Qianxia smiled slyly and asked, “What about you, Ye Li?”

Ye Li was about to answer when the woman beside her immediately rejected her for her. “Tang Qianxia, what you’re doing would be against the law in the US,” she said casually.

“This isn’t the US,” Tang Qianxia said, shrugging. “Okay, I’m just kidding. How could I encourage a… a little girl who is still six months away from becoming an adult to drink?”

“Auntie Tang, I’m five months away from becoming an adult,” Ye Li said, emphasizing it.

“Right, right. That’s pretty much the same,” Tang Qianxia said, handing the menu to the waiter behind her.

Lu Zhiyun realized what she had said and looked at the girl beside her. “Xiaoli, is your 18th birthday in five months?”

“Yes,” Ye Li nodded.

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