"What to do When the Pretty Woman I Kissed is My Best Friend's Professor" - Chapter 119

Yan He never received a reply from Shen Jinrong. She left her laptop and the documents she had received at home, changed her clothes, and picked up the Italian sausages she had bought, preparing to go out.

Just as she opened the door, Ms. He returned. Seeing that she was about to leave again, Ms. He casually asked, “Going out again?”

“Going to deliver something to someone,” Yan He held up the bag in her hand.

The bag was not transparent. He You glanced at it, not caring what was inside. She nodded and asked, “Are you eating dinner tonight? Your dad is coming too.”

Yan He agreed: “Sure. I’ll be back quickly after dropping this off. Where are we eating?”

He You replied, “We’ll eat right here at home.” She thought for a moment, looked at Yan He, and asked, “When are you returning from your external assignment?”

Yan He thought for a bit: “I’m not sure, maybe half a month? Maybe a month.” They didn’t have a fixed return date, it would depend on the situation.

Ms. He spoke lightly: “Then when you return, pick a weekday, and we’ll take care of something.”

Yan He was surprised: “Take care of what?”

Ms. He gestured towards the house and smiled sweetly: “Your dad and I discussed it. This apartment is for you.”

Standing in front of the bus stop downstairs, Yan He, who inexplicably owned an apartment now, waited for the bus. She blinked, looked back at the apartment she had lived in for many years, and then looked at the bus driving towards her, suddenly feeling strange.

The bus quickly arrived. Yan He swiped her card and got on. Sitting by the window, she couldn’t help but look back in the direction of her home. Ms. He’s words from moments ago surfaced in her mind: “Your father and I have a total of three apartments. They count as marital property. We each get one, and the remaining one is yours.” Ms. He smiled gently: “We thought that you’re grown up now, and having your own place is very important.”

Yan He rubbed her face.

She pulled the bag of sausages next to her slightly higher and watched the scenery outside the window constantly change, finally getting off at the stop near Granny Shen’s community.

Before coming, Yan He had hesitated about whether to come. She was worried about running into Shen Jinrong here, and she felt guilty for the things she had just said. If she did run into Shen Jinrong, what should she say?

Even though she hesitated and walked slowly, she still arrived at the entrance of Granny Shen’s community. The security guard standing duty at the gate was still the young man from last time. Yan He found him familiar, but before she could think of what to say, a voice came from behind her: “Hey? I remember you. Are you here to see Elder Sister Shen?” The grandmother behind her, whose hair was streaked with grey, smiled when Yan He turned around: “I knew it! You looked familiar. I saw you last time when you went grocery shopping with Elder Sister Shen! You’re the one—ah! The quick-to-help little girl, right?”

Yan He remembered her. She quickly said, “Hello, Grandma!” She couldn’t recall the grandmother’s name, so she simply used that address.

“My memory is pretty good, isn’t it?” The grandmother smiled kindly. Seeing the things in Yan He’s hand, she looked a little knowing: “Are you here to visit Elder Sister Shen?”

Yan He nodded, her smile a bit stiff: “Yes, is Granny Shen home?”

At the mention of this, the grandmother’s expression became somewhat subtle. She pursed her lips, seemingly debating whether to share someone else’s family matter with Yan He, but ultimately, she didn’t say.

“Elder Sister Shen isn’t home lately,” she said, her smile fading a little: “Maybe you should come back later?”

Yan He looked troubled: “If I come back later, it might have to be after the New Year. I’m about to go on an external assignment, so I might not have enough time.”

Seeing her distress, the elderly woman said, “How about this! If you trust me, give me the items, and I’ll pass them on to her when she returns!”

Yan He’s eyes lit up, but she still hesitated: “Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you…”

“Aiya, no trouble at all, no trouble!” The elderly woman smiled warmly: “You are a kind child. What’s this compared to that! Give it to me. I’ll give it to Elder Sister Shen when she comes back.”

Yan He thanked her repeatedly and handed the sausages to the grandmother. When she left, the grandmother was still standing at the entrance waving at her.

Yan He walked a few steps, feeling thankful that she had met a kind grandmother today. But—where did Granny Shen go? She didn’t go out to travel too, did she?

She didn’t think much about it and got on the bus heading home.

This was the first meal the three of them had together since she learned her parents were divorcing. Yan He found the atmosphere a bit awkward. She glanced at Mr. Yan, then at Ms. He, hesitating to speak.

Ms. He ate her meal unhurriedly. Noticing Yan He’s look, she raised an eyebrow: “Say what you need to say.”

Yan He pursed her lips: “It’s just… I’m going on an external assignment.”

Mr. Yan “hm’d” and also looked up at her. Both of them were waiting for Yan He to continue.

Yan He was nervous under their gaze. She picked at her rice for a couple of bites before suppressing the tension in her heart: “It might be about a month.”

Ms. He: “Oh.”

“Take good care of yourselves while I’m away,” Yan He said, plucking up her courage to finish the sentence. Then, she lowered her head to eat. She dared not look at the expressions of Ms. He and Mr. Yan; she rarely expressed affection to her family.

But when she didn’t hear any movement from her parents, she secretly looked up and met their complicated but gentle gazes.

“Yan He, I’ve always wanted to tell you…” Yan Guangming began: “You’ve grown up now. Although Mom and Dad are separated, we still love you.”

He You rolled her eyes: “Your words are so sappy. Even if you don’t say that, our Yan He knows, right!” She winked at Yan He. Yan He subconsciously nodded along.

He You gave Yan Guangming a challenging raised eyebrow, indicating: See? Our daughter is that great!

After a few exchanges, the initially tense and awkward atmosphere dispersed. Yan He let out a long breath, feeling much more relaxed.

“Actually, it’s fine that you two are divorcing,” Yan He mumbled: “Anyway, I’m the one who always gets criticized in the end.” Her parents had certainly teamed up to lecture her frequently since she was little.

He You scooped a large portion of tomato and scrambled eggs onto her plate, urging her, “Enough, enough. Eat your food, my little ancestor.”

Yan He seemed to think she hadn’t believed her, and quickly added, “I’m serious. Actually, your divorce… I was just struggling to accept it for a while, that’s all.”

Yan Guangming laughed and joked with her: “Wasn’t it an excuse to run off and play?”

Yan He raised her voice: “Of course not!”

After a few more words, they continued eating. When they were almost finished, Yan He lowered her eyes and suddenly asked, “Dad, Mom, if I fell in love with a girl, would you object?”

He You and Yan Guangming were momentarily taken aback. They exchanged glances and saw surprise in each other’s eyes—but it was only momentary. Soon, both their expressions returned to normal.

He You recalled the conversation she had with Yan He during the New Year. She understood somewhat, glanced at Yan Guangming, who was still slightly spaced out, and spoke: “No.”

Yan He looked expectantly at Yan Guangming.

Yan Guangming was stunned for a moment before snapping back to attention. He met the eyes of his ex-wife and daughter, awkwardly cleared his throat, and then slowly said, “I won’t object.”

“It doesn’t matter to Mom and Dad whether you like a boy or a girl. Gender won’t stop love,” He You sighed: “But you need to know that society might not be very lenient towards you right now.”

Yan Guangming also frowned: “Yes, we don’t object, but Yan He, have you thought it through yourself?”

Yan He asked herself the same question in her heart: Have you thought it through?

She raised her eyes, meeting her parents’ worried gazes, and then she heard her own firm voice: “I have thought it through.”

Ms. He let out a laugh: “Alright, alright, why so serious while eating.” She looked at Yan He: “As long as you’ve considered it clearly yourself.”

Mr. Yan also smiled easily: “Yes. As long as it’s a person you choose yourself, and you like them. We won’t be an obstacle for you.”

Yan He felt relieved. Before she could speak, she heard Ms. He’s teasing, playful remark: “Since you’re saying this, our Yan He must have someone she likes, huh?”

She put her arm around Yan He’s shoulder, looking gossipy: “Who is it? A classmate? A friend? Have I met her?”

Yan He couldn’t help but think of the time Shen Jinrong drove her home and was seen by the gossipy old men and women at the entrance. She smiled uncomfortably, trying her best to avoid her parents’ prying eyes.

“Well… maybe… I don’t know if you’ve met her,” Yan He stammered: “If we end up together later, I will bring her to meet you.”

Even though the beginning of her statement was a bit halting, Yan He said the last sentence with extreme conviction.

Ms. He raised an eyebrow, her tone somehow sounding a little disappointed: “Ah… so you’re not together yet?”

Yan He opened her mouth, unsure how to respond to her mother’s disappointed look.

“She… not yet, I guess.” Thinking of what she had said to Shen Jinrong earlier in the day, her mood became much lower.

She shouldn’t have said those things to her older sister. What was she thinking at the time, saying that—”you just want someone to love you”? How could she have said that?

Yan He sighed silently. Mr. Yan then said, “Hmm… even if you haven’t succeeded in pursuing her, just take it slow! Does the girl like you?”

Yan He hesitated again: “She…” Yan He’s eyes darted around: “I think she likes me. It’s just that recently… something might have happened…”

Before she could finish her sentence, the phone on the table vibrated. All three of their phones were on the table, and for a moment, they couldn’t distinguish whose it was.

Yan He picked up her phone and saw the two large characters “Older Sister” clearly displayed on the screen.

Her hand started trembling again.