What's Wrong With Being Fifteen Years Older Than Me?! - Chapter 34
“Ye Li, look! Isn’t that your Aunt Lu?” Han Yueyue excitedly nudged the girl next to her.
“I see her,” Ye Li muttered through gritted teeth, trying not to show her excitement. But her heart was already beating a mile a minute.
The two girls walked with their suitcases toward Lu Zhiyun. After almost three months apart, Ye Li tried her best to control her pounding heart, but she overdid it. She appeared too calm, almost a little distant. “Aunt Lu,” she said simply.
“Hi, Aunt Lu!” Han Yueyue, on the other hand, was as excited as a school kid.
Lu Zhiyun smiled and nodded at Han Yueyue, then her gaze returned to Ye Li. She had noticed her right away; the girl was wearing makeup, which was something she had never done before, and it looked a little awkward on her.
With a hint of surprise in her smile, Lu Zhiyun said, “Let’s go get your checked bags first.”
The three of them walked toward the airport exit. Ye Li was in the middle, with Aunt Lu on one side and Han Yueyue on the other. Just as she was thinking of something to say, Lu Zhiyun looked at her with a concerned expression.
“Was the flight tiring?”
Ye Li quickly shook her head. “Not really.” She paused, then took a chance and asked, “Are you on your way home from work, Aunt Lu?”
A fond smile crossed Lu Zhiyun’s face before she could answer. Han Yueyue nudged Ye Li’s arm.
“The time in LA is 16 hours behind China. It’s Saturday here, and it was Saturday when we left. There’s no way it’s a weekday!” Han Yueyue’s detailed analysis made Ye Li feel like an idiot.
“Han Yueyue’s right. It’s Saturday. My day off.” Lu Zhiyun looked at Ye Li, her eyes crinkling with a gentle smile.
“Oh, I guess I got the days mixed up,” Ye Li said, gripping the handle of her suitcase, embarrassed. Her first words to Lu Zhiyun in months were a complete disaster, and it shattered her confidence.
They went to the baggage claim and waited for their suitcases, then walked toward the exit together.
“Have you two had dinner yet?” Lu Zhiyun pulled her car keys out of her purse.
Ye Li was about to answer when Han Yueyue, still high on excitement, beat her to it. “We had airplane food!”
“I figured,” Lu Zhiyun said, looking at her watch.
The watch was on her graceful, porcelain-like wrist, which looked as if it could snap easily. Her fingers were long and slender, clean and clear.
“It’s already past nine. Unlike China, not many restaurants are open this late. I was going to offer to take you guys for some fast food if you were hungry.”
Lu Zhiyun was talking, but Ye Li wasn’t listening. Her eyes had drifted from Lu Zhiyun’s left hand to her right, where she noticed the pearl and gold four-leaf clover bracelet she had given her. It was a pleasant surprise, and it filled her with a strange joy, like getting a subtle response from a secret crush.
Just as the two women in front of her were about to put their bags in the trunk, Ye Li seemed to snap out of her daze. “I’m a little hungry. Let’s get fast food.”
She wasn’t actually hungry; the airplane food, though bland, had been filling. But if she didn’t say yes, they would just go to a hotel. Ye Li wanted to spend more time with her.
Han Yueyue looked back at her in disbelief. “But Ye Li, you just said on the plane that you couldn’t eat another bite.”
“I guess I got hungry again,” Ye Li said, patting her stomach, her performance flawless.
Lu Zhiyun, who had just opened the car door, turned around and smiled. “Then we’ll find a fast-food place.”
As they got in the car, Han Yueyue was about to ask Ye Li if she wanted to sit in the back with her, but Ye Li had already walked around the car and gotten into the passenger seat without a second thought. Han Yueyue sighed to herself and got into the back seat alone.
The car pulled away from the brightly lit airport. With both hands on the steering wheel, Lu Zhiyun looked at the two girls. “You can stay at my place tonight. I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving you at a hotel.”
“Okay!” Ye Li was about to say yes, but Han Yueyue beat her to it. “Thank you so much, Aunt Lu! You’re the best!”
The girl in the passenger seat frowned. For the first time, she felt an impulse to tape Han Yueyue’s mouth shut.
Her gaze drifted back to Lu Zhiyun’s right hand on the steering wheel. The four-leaf clover bracelet was on her pale, delicate wrist, a work of art that was beautiful to look at. Ye Li’s lips curled into a tiny, almost imperceptible smile.
The streets of downtown Los Angeles were bustling with traffic. The colorful lights of the city mixed with the stars in the night sky, looking like a string of pearls. Han Yueyue was in the back, admiring the view, her eyes glued to the window.
Ye Li had no interest in the scenery. She was like a lovesick teenager, her mind racing with how to show her feelings. This wasn’t a simple boy-meets-girl or girl-meets-boy situation. There were no social cues or TV show plots to guide her. Ye Li, with zero dating experience, had no idea how to pursue a woman 15 years older than her.
She remembered what Tang Qianxia had told her the night before she left. “When you get to America, don’t be so blunt. You’ll scare Lu Zhiyun away.”
The thought made Ye Li even more anxious. She was so lost in her own world that she didn’t notice the car had stopped in front of a fast-food restaurant.
“Ye Li, what’s wrong? Get out of the car.” Han Yueyue, who had already gotten out, opened the passenger door for her.
Ye Li got out and looked around. It wasn’t one of the fast-food chains they had in China. America was known for its countless fast-food restaurants. They walked inside. Even though it was already September, the temperature in Los Angeles wasn’t that high, but the air conditioning in the restaurant was on full blast. Both girls shivered, their arms covered in goosebumps.
Lu Zhiyun, who was used to the cold, turned to Ye Li. “Want to try ordering yourself?”
Ye Li didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of the person she liked, and her English wasn’t that good. Just as she was about to say no, Han Yueyue stepped forward, raising her hand like an excited student. “Aunt Lu, can I do it?”
Lu Zhiyun smiled, surprised. “…Sure,” she said.
Han Yueyue was much more confident than Ye Li. Ye Li watched and listened quietly, secretly vowing to herself that the next time Lu Zhiyun asked her something like this, she wouldn’t back down.
They sat at a table by the window. The restaurant was full of people of all different races. “Now I understand the feeling of seeing people from your own country when you’re abroad,” Han Yueyue said, cupping her face and looking at an Asian couple at a table behind her.
“They might not be Chinese. They could be Japanese, Korean, or Southeast Asian,” Ye Li said, shrugging nonchalantly and taking a sip of her soda.
“They’re probably a Japanese couple.” Lu Zhiyun smiled, her eyes as clear as water, her lips curving into a beautiful, alluring smile.
Ye Li stared at her, mesmerized, forgetting to eat. Her French fry was still hovering over the ketchup.
“Ye Li,” Han Yueyue said, waving a hand in front of her face.
Lu Zhiyun heard her and looked over. Ye Li quickly looked away, caught in the act. She shoved the ketchup-covered French fry into her mouth. It was sour. She winced, then quickly recovered, her facial expressionless.
They weren’t very hungry, so they left the fast-food restaurant after less than half an hour. After putting away her credit card, Lu Zhiyun turned to Ye Li. “Did you get a Visa card? Did you exchange any cash beforehand?”
For a moment, Ye Li felt like she was back in the past, with Lu Zhiyun taking care of everything. But before she left, her father had made it clear that she wasn’t to bother her anymore. She had to handle her own business.
“I took care of everything back home,” Ye Li said, nodding. “I also exchanged some cash.”
“Okay. Get in the car. My apartment is close by.” Lu Zhiyun said, walking toward the driver’s side.
Ye Li subconsciously walked to the left side of the car, too. She didn’t realize her mistake until she bumped into Lu Zhiyun. The driver’s side was on the other side of the car, unlike in China.
“Xiaoli, the passenger seat is on the other side.” The woman laughed, her clear eyes crinkling, her voice soft and captivating.
Ye Li let go of the door handle in embarrassment and, a little disoriented by Lu Zhiyun’s perfume, walked to the other side of the car.
As she got in, she heard Han Yueyue lean forward and pat the back of her seat. “You need to get some sleep and get over the jet lag, Ye Li. You’ve been so out of it tonight.”
Ye Li rubbed her eyes. “I know. I’m not as energetic as you. You’re like a little Energizer Bunny.”
After about ten minutes, the car pulled into the underground garage of a high-end apartment building. As they rode the elevator up, Han Yueyue asked, “Aunt Lu, did you buy this place?”
“No, I’m renting. It’s more cost-effective to rent here, especially when you haven’t decided where to settle down,” Lu Zhiyun explained patiently.
Ye Li listened quietly, her eyes glued to the woman’s face. She hadn’t realized it before, but now that she knew how she felt, even hearing Lu Zhiyun talk was a treat. At times, she felt like a complete stalker.
They got off the elevator. The two girls had only brought a carry-on with their essentials for the night; the rest of their luggage was still in the car. Lu Zhiyun entered the code, and the girls followed her inside. It was a typical American two-bedroom apartment with an open kitchen.
“I’ve made up the guest room for you. I hope you two don’t mind sharing a bed tonight,” the woman said softly.
“Not at all!” Han Yueyue and Ye Li said at the same time.
Lu Zhiyun picked up on the subtle difference in their tones. “What were you going to say, Xiaoli?” she asked Ye Li.
“Huh? You don’t want to sleep with me, Ye Li?” Han Yueyue looked hurt.
“No, I was just going to ask if you have a hair dryer. I think mine is in my suitcase in the car.” Ye Li’s brain raced as she came up with an excuse, then she realized how silly the question was.
“Of course I do. It’s in the mirror cabinet in the bathroom,” Lu Zhiyun said with a smile, pointing. “Have a seat. I have something for you.”
As Lu Zhiyun walked into her room, Han Yueyue leaned over and whispered, “Your Aunt Lu is my role model. I want to be a strong and independent woman like her someday.”
Ye Li looked at Han Yueyue, who was half a head shorter than her, and felt a pang of anxiety. Was she really going to have to share a bed with her? In the past, she wouldn’t have cared, but now, the thought made her feel uncomfortable and strange.
Lu Zhiyun came back out with a phone card for each of them. “These are new phone cards. You can use them right away. I used my email when I got them, but you can change that later if you want.”
“Wow, thank you, Aunt Lu! You’re so thoughtful. Ye Li, you’re a good luck charm!” Han Yueyue said, taking the card happily.
“Thank you, Aunt Lu,” Ye Li said, though she wasn’t as bubbly as Han Yueyue; her gratitude was genuine.
“It’s getting late. Go get settled and take a shower. I still have one more day of the weekend, so I can take you to your school tomorrow.”
The two girls began to mess with their phones in the living room. As soon as Ye Li connected to the Wi-Fi, she got a message. Han Yueyue leaned over to look, and Ye Li quickly hid her phone.
“Ooooh, Ye Li has a secret! Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Stop it,” Ye Li said, giving her a look. Even though she knew Han Yueyue was joking, she held her phone close to her chest and moved away to check the message.
[Tang Qianxia: Did you meet up with Lu Zhiyun yet?]
[Ye Li: Yeah, I’m at her apartment with my friend.]
Ever since she had told Tang Qianxia her secret, Ye Li felt like they were in a conspiracy together. She had to be extra careful and paranoid now.
In her room, Lu Zhiyun, who was unpacking, paused as she heard the girls’ voices. Does Xiaoli have a boyfriend? A wave of panic washed over her, a reflex from six years of protecting the girl. Then she remembered that Xiaoli wasn’t her responsibility anymore. And besides, she was old enough to be in a relationship. The thought made her feel relieved and a little sad. She had to get used to living alone again.
“Ye Li, are you sure you don’t want to shower first? I’m going to go now.” Han Yueyue knelt and opened her suitcase.
“You go ahead. I’ll go later,” Ye Li said, her eyes glued to her phone.
[Tang Qianxia: So, did you tell her the thing yet?]
[Ye Li: No.]
[Tang Qianxia: Good. I was worried you’d be a little reckless and just blurt it all out.]
[Tang Qianxia: You need to take your time and plan this out.]
[Tang Qianxia: Wait, why do I feel like I’m a part of this now? /headpalm]
Ye Li laughed at Tang Qianxia’s reply. She looked up and saw Lu Zhiyun walking out of her room. Her smile froze.
“So, Xiaoli, do you really have a boyfriend?” Lu Zhiyun asked, walking over and sitting down next to her.
“No, I don’t! Aunt Tang was just… Han Yueyue was just saying things.” Ye Li blurted out, flustered.
“It’s okay. I’m not trying to interfere. You’re free to do whatever you want now, including dating,” Lu Zhiyun said, looking at her seriously. She smiled, then reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind Ye Li’s ear. “Our little Xiaoli has really grown up. You’re so beautiful now.”
Ye Li froze, her whole body stiff. She could still feel the touch of Lu Zhiyun’s fingers on her ear. A small jolt of electricity seemed to shoot through her body. “I… I guess so,” she said, her face burning, a blush creeping up her neck.
Lu Zhiyun didn’t notice. She just thought Ye Li was shy. “I was surprised when I found out you were studying abroad. I thought you hated me after your exam,” she said.
“I don’t hate you,” Ye Li said, her lips pursed. She looked away, then back at Lu Zhiyun, her voice firm. “I will never hate you.”
Lu Zhiyun’s eyes flickered, and she thought of a few things. They didn’t talk much longer; Han Yueyue came out of the bathroom.
“Okay, Xiaoli. Go take a shower and get some rest.” Lu Zhiyun stood up.
Ye Li looked at her and then at Han Yueyue, wondering how she could have showered so fast. She grabbed her clothes and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Standing in front of the mirror, she pulled out a dolphin necklace from under her shirt. It was the necklace Lu Zhiyun had given her for her 18th birthday. She ran her fingers over the dolphin, then thought of the bracelet Lu Zhiyun was still wearing. A small smile appeared on her face.
When Ye Li came out of the bathroom, Han Yueyue, who was in cartoon pajamas, waved her in. “Ye Li, come on in!”
Ye Li’s eyebrows furrowed, and she took a deep breath. She walked into the room, her face stern.
“I’m so excited! What should I do?” Han Yueyue asked.
“Go to sleep,” Ye Li said, sitting on the end of the bed.
“And I’m so nervous. We’re going to a new school tomorrow!”
“Just go to sleep,” Ye Li said, twitching her lips.
Han Yueyue calmed down and knelt on the bed. “Ye Li, why aren’t you getting into bed?”
“…” Ye Li gritted her teeth, then crawled into bed and turned her back to Han Yueyue. “Just turn off the light and go to sleep. I’m tired.”
Han Yueyue yawned, her voice like a small kitten, and turned off the light. She climbed into bed. Ye Li tried to stay on the very edge of the bed, forcing herself to fall asleep.
Just as the room fell silent, Han Yueyue whispered from behind her. “Ye Li, why are you sleeping so far away? You’re acting like the top in a novel who’s mad at the bottom, hahaha…”
“Stop it,” Ye Li said, her eyebrows furrowed.
Han Yueyue, half-asleep, said, “I like to hug people when I sleep. You don’t mind, do you?”
“…”
An hour later, Ye Li finally heard Han Yueyue’s breathing become steady. She quietly got up, grabbed her things, and left the room. She went to the living room and lay on the sofa. She looked at her phone and decided it was safe to go to sleep.
The temperature dropped at night, and Ye Li couldn’t get comfortable. She kept waking up and checking her phone, hoping it was morning but also hoping it wasn’t.
Lu Zhiyun came out of her room to use the bathroom. She noticed a small figure on the sofa in the dark and walked over. When she saw it was Ye Li, she went back to her room and got a thin blanket. As she gently covered the girl, Ye Li woke up. “Aunt Lu?” she mumbled.
Lu Zhiyun didn’t want to wake her, but now that she was awake… She looked at the closed door of the guest room, her eyebrows furrowed. “What are you doing out here? Come sleep in my room.”