What's Wrong With Being Fifteen Years Older Than Me?! - Chapter 42

“Are you serious or are you joking, Xiaoli? You used to hate it when I kissed your cheek,” Lu Zhiyun said, resting her chin on her hand. Her eyes were a little hazy, and her voice was as soft as a lamb’s from the alcohol.

“I’m… serious?” The answer came out of Ye Li’s throat without a second thought.

“Then I’m going to kiss you!” The woman’s eyes curved into crescents, and she leaned in.

Ye Li was so stunned that she didn’t dare to move. On one side, Lu Zhiyun’s face was getting closer, and the sweet, intoxicating scent of her perfume filled the air. On the other side, her friend and sister could come back at any moment. The forbidden feeling of the moment made the tension between them even more intense.

Ye Li swallowed, her throat a little dry. She stared at Lu Zhiyun, her hands gripping the tatami cushion. Her heart was beating like a drum.

Then, Lu Zhiyun smiled, cupped Ye Li’s face in her hands, and gently pressed her lips to Ye Li’s cheek. The moment the woman’s soft lips touched her skin, Ye Li felt like she was a boiling kettle. She looked calm on the outside, but on the inside, she was frantic. All she could hear was the pounding in her ears.

She actually kissed me, Ye Li thought. She must be really drunk. A million thoughts raced through her head, including some things she shouldn’t be thinking about right now.

The sound of footsteps came from outside the room. Ye Li, feeling guilty, quickly moved back, creating distance between them. Lu Zhiyun didn’t seem to care. She didn’t even seem to remember kissing Ye Li. She casually reached out and put a piece of fruit in her mouth.

For the rest of the meal, Ye Li couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss. She wasn’t paying attention to anything else. When it was all over and it was time to go home, Ye Li finally snapped out of it.

This was the first time Ye Li had ever seen Aunt Lu so drunk. By the time they were leaving, Lu Zhiyun could barely walk on her own. Of course, she was stubborn and insisted on walking by herself, shouting, “I can walk by myself! Look, I’m walking in a straight line!”

Ye Li and Lu Baozhu let go of her and watched as she stumbled in a zigzag line. Just as she was about to fall, they both rushed to her. Ye Li was faster and held her firmly by the arm, steadying her.

Lu Baozhu sighed in relief. “Thank goodness you’re here, Ye Li. My sister is so… Why does she always act like a three-year-old when she’s drunk?”

Ye Li was surprised to hear that from her sister. But she thought this side of Aunt Lu was cute and real. It was a side she rarely showed. Of course, she hoped Aunt Lu wouldn’t drink so much next time.

Shen Suhe came over after paying the bill. “If my sister finds out that you paid for dinner tonight, she’s going to nag me,” Lu Baozhu said. She knew how stubborn her sister was and had argued with Shen Suhe about paying, but she lost. Shen Suhe just smiled. “Don’t worry. Just tell her to contact me when she’s sober.”

Shen Suhe then asked, “You found your sister’s car keys, right?”

Lu Baozhu nodded, and the car keys dangled from her finger.

“Hey, Aunt Lu, where are you going?” The woman in Ye Li’s arms suddenly broke free and stumbled forward.

The three of them rushed to her and realized she was looking for her car. The woman in the honey-colored dress swayed between the cars in the parking lot. The night breeze blew through her hair, making for a beautiful scene. Ye Li imagined a painting in her head called “Lost in the Parking Lot,” and the main character was Aunt Lu.

“Your sister is really…” Shen Suhe smiled and shrugged at Lu Baozhu. She was about to go and stop the woman.

Ye Li couldn’t just stand there. She rushed in front of Shen Suhe and put her arm around Lu Zhiyun’s shoulder, as if she were protecting her favorite toy.

“Aunt Lu, your car is over there,” Ye Li said, pointing in a direction. She turned to a stunned Shen Suhe and smiled. “It’s okay. I’ll take care of her.”

Shen Suhe nodded politely, her smile unwavering. But in that moment, she sensed something else in the girl’s polite and distant eyes. Something like animosity.

Lu Baozhu caught up to them, a smile on her face. “Sister Suhe, we’re going to take my sister home now. She’s a little embarrassed.”

“N-no, she’s not,” Shen Suhe said, snapping out of her thoughts and giving her a genuine smile.

“Oh, right. Sister Suhe, you drank too. How are you getting home?” Lu Baozhu asked.

“I didn’t drive here. I’ll just get a taxi.” Shen Suhe looked at the two girls again, her eyes dark.

“Sister Suhe? Sister Suhe?” Lu Baozhu waved her hand in front of Shen Suhe’s face. Shen Suhe looked at her, smiled, and waved goodbye.

Since Lu Baozhu had the car keys, Ye Li waited by the car with Lu Zhiyun. Lu Baozhu rushed over and opened the passenger door.

“In her state, she can only sit in the back. Someone needs to watch her,” Ye Li said without using the title “Aunt Lu.” Deep down, she saw them as equals, not a senior and a junior.

“Oh, you’re right,” Lu Baozhu said.

With the help of the two girls, Lu Zhiyun was in the car. Ye Li quickly got in and stayed by her side.

“Seatbelts on? I’m going to start driving!” Lu Baozhu said from the driver’s seat. She stepped on the gas, but the car just made a loud noise. “Huh?” Lu Baozhu looked at the dashboard.

“Did you forget to release the handbrake?” Ye Li asked.

“Oh, right. I forgot again. My memory is so bad,” Lu Baozhu said, patting her forehead. Then she started driving.

Ye Li was speechless.

Lu Baozhu wasn’t a good driver. She braked so hard when she turned a corner that both of them in the back swayed to one side. Since Ye Li was on that side, Lu Zhiyun’s body was pressed against hers. Ye Li quickly put her elbow on the car door to keep her balance and to support Lu Zhiyun’s weight.

“I’m so sorry! I messed up,” Lu Baozhu said, looking in the rearview mirror. “Is my sister okay?” she asked guiltily.

“She’s fine. The seatbelt helped,” Ye Li said, looking at Lu Zhiyun. The smell of her perfume mixed with alcohol filled her nostrils, making her feel intoxicated.

“To be safe, can you hold on to my sister? I’m worried…” Lu Baozhu couldn’t finish her sentence.

Ye Li didn’t know how Lu Baozhu had guessed what she wanted to do. She was so happy but acted calm. “I know. Don’t worry,” she said.

She then put her hand out and held Lu Zhiyun’s hand. Doing something so openly that was so self-serving made her heart race.

The car drove through the streets of LA. The lights outside the car windows flashed by. Ye Li held the woman’s hand, a small smile on her lips.

When they got to the parking lot, the girls were in trouble again. Lu Zhiyun was so drunk that she was fast asleep. Even if they woke her up, she couldn’t walk on her own.

“What’s wrong with my sister? She’s never been this drunk,” Lu Baozhu said, putting her hands on her hips.

“Has she never been this drunk before?” Ye Li asked, curious.

Lu Baozhu shook her head. “Let’s try to lift her,” she said. They tried, but it was slow and uncomfortable for Lu Zhiyun.

“I’ll do it by myself,” Ye Li said. Lu Baozhu’s eyes widened. She watched as Ye Li crouched down and lifted her sister onto her back. “You’re so strong… Are you sure you’re a girl?” she asked, her mouth hanging open.

Ye Li, with Lu Zhiyun on her back, simply said, “Let’s go.” She walked toward the elevator.

Lu Baozhu quickly followed her. In the elevator, she kept looking at Ye Li. Ye Li didn’t seem tired at all.

“If you get tired, let me know,” Lu Baozhu said.

“I won’t. Your sister isn’t that heavy,” Ye Li said honestly. She could carry her for more than just the elevator ride.

Lu Baozhu bit her lip. She wasn’t an idiot. She could tell what was going on. She’s doing this to get in my sister’s good graces. But she was too shocked to say anything. Ye Li was doing everything she couldn’t.

“You’re not a very good sister,” Ye Li said, without thinking.

Lu Baozhu looked at her, a little confused. She just smiled. “I’m not as good as you.”

Ye Li wanted to say something else. Lu Baozhu was too nice. She was so easy to read. But her thoughts were interrupted when Lu Baozhu said, “You’re my sister’s friend. So, if I have a question… Can I ask you something?”

Ye Li smiled. “Of course. Anything.” This was a test. She had to pass it. Lu Baozhu was the sister of the person she liked. She had to make a good impression.

“If you ever need me, just let me know. I’ll be there,” Ye Li said.

“I’ll remember that!” Lu Baozhu said, smiling and nodding to herself.

When they got back to the apartment, Ye Li took care of Lu Zhiyun. She even helped her take off her makeup, wash her face, and put on moisturizer. Lu Baozhu was shocked. She thought they were just going to put her on the bed, and that was it. She realized she wasn’t as good a sister as Ye Li was.

When Ye Li was done, she saw Lu Baozhu looking at her. She felt a little shy. “I’ll let you take care of the rest. I’m going back to the guest room.”

Lu Baozhu was a little surprised. “Ye Li, you’ll be a great girlfriend one day,” she said, smiling.

Ye Li felt a little shy. She smiled and walked out of the room. After she left, Lu Baozhu closed the door and sat on the bed. She looked at her sleeping sister and thought about how much care Ye Li had taken of her. A small smile appeared on her lips.

Meanwhile, Alian was on the subway going back to her home in the Chinese neighborhood. It was more of a temporary home that the man had given her and her mother. He only came once a week and gave them a little money.

When she walked in, she saw her mother sitting at the table. She looked like she was waiting for her. “I’m back,” Alian said and went to her room, not wanting to talk to her.

“Why are you so late? Where were you? Who were you with?” her mother asked, her voice full of worry. Alian hated the sound of her voice. She stopped but didn’t answer.

“I heard that Hongzhi went to your school again. Don’t fight with him. Try to get along. It’s hard for your dad,” her mother said. Alian had heard this a million times. At first, she would argue, but now she just ignored it.

She turned around and asked coldly, “Anything else? If not, I’m going to my room.”

“This is America, not China. A girl shouldn’t come home so late.”

“I never wanted to come to America,” Alian said, and she went into her room and slammed the door shut.

A year ago, her mother insisted on coming to America with this man. Alian would have never come if she didn’t think her mother would be alone and unprotected. Part of her understood. Her father was a murderer, and her mother’s husband was a murderer. They couldn’t face anyone in their hometown. It just so happened that her mother reconnected with an old classmate who was also divorced and single. He promised to bring them to America. But the man never protected her mother, and her mother just took the abuse. Even the man’s son, who insulted her, was never punished. Alian realized that she was fighting a losing battle, and her mother wasn’t on her side. So she gave up. She even thought it would be better if she just died. Then she wouldn’t have to live like this.

But then someone came into her life. Someone she never expected. In the bathroom, Alian stood under the shower. She slowly lifted her arm and let the hot water run over it. She looked at the bruises on her arm. She couldn’t help but think about how the person noticed her bruises on the balcony of the dorm building. Alian took a deep breath and lowered her arm. She stepped forward and let the hot water hit her face. She closed her eyes.

Lu Zhiyun felt like she had been sleeping for a long time. When she woke up, she was alone. She could hear voices in the living room. Ye Li and Lu Baozhu were having breakfast. They didn’t want to wake her up, so they didn’t.

But then, the master bedroom door opened. Lu Zhiyun’s hair was a little messy, and her skin was smooth and pale. Even without makeup, she was still beautiful.

“Sister, you’re up? Why didn’t you sleep in?” Lu Baozhu asked, surprised.

“I couldn’t sleep. Did you two make breakfast?” Lu Zhiyun asked as she walked to the bathroom.

Ye Li was about to answer, but Lu Baozhu answered first. Ye Li made it. It tastes just like yours.”

The sound of running water came from the bathroom, and then Lu Zhiyun’s voice. “Xiaoli made it? She’s so good.”

Ye Li looked down at the table and smiled to herself. She suddenly stood up. “I’ll go get another plate and utensils.”

Lu Baozhu rested her chin in her hand and watched Ye Li. She thought about how well Ye Li was raised. She was so thoughtful and caring. She was beautiful and calm.

When Lu Zhiyun came back to the table, she was alone. Lu Baozhu had gone to her room to get ready. Ye Li was cleaning the apartment. She was mopping the floor, and Lu Zhiyun could see her working hard. She was happy and a little proud. She picked up a piece of French toast with condensed milk and was about to eat it when her memory of last night came flooding back.

Her hand froze. It’s a shame you’re so grown up now, Xiaoli. I can’t just kiss you anymore. She couldn’t believe she had said that. And she couldn’t believe what Xiaoli had said. You can kiss me. It’s fine.

And then she remembered that she had actually kissed her. Lu Zhiyun wanted to hide in a hole. She looked at Ye Li again, who was still mopping. You can kiss me. It’s fine, she heard again in her head. Lu Zhiyun was at a loss for words.