"What to do When the Pretty Woman I Kissed is My Best Friend's Professor" - Chapter 130

The long-haul flight was protracted and exhausting. Yan He hadn’t slept well the previous night, and now, amidst the subtle turbulence of the plane, she was drowsy. She called a flight attendant for earplugs and an eye mask, and only then did she feel a little better.

Time seemed to stand still in that dark and silent space. With nothing to serve as a medium for time’s progression, she seemed to lose all sense of it. But now, she could truly focus her thoughts on Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen). Without external distractions or random information, she could truly and wholly possess her in that moment.

—Even if only in fantasy.

Some people liken love to a luxury item; others compare it to an indispensable part of life. Everyone has a different definition of love in their heart. For Yan He, Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen) was her love.

She often thought about how lucky she had to be to meet Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen), and how fortunate to be with her. To attribute everything only to fate would be a little unfair to herself.

After putting on the earplugs, the roar of the plane was greatly reduced, but it still persisted. Her seatbelt was fastened across her waist, making her feel as if she was isolated in this tiny, safe space, allowing her to fully recall her beloved.

What should she do after landing? First, call her parents, then call Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen) to tell her she was back—or should she go straight to her? What time would the plane land?

Yan He silently calculated in her heart that it would be around seven or eight in the morning. Would Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen) be awake by then? Or would she already be getting ready for school?

As soon as Yan He imagined the scene of their reunion, her heart began to pound wildly. Even before they met, she had silently envisioned everything that would happen and all the dialogue they would have after meeting—she would give Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen) a hug and tell her how much she missed her. What about Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen)? What would she say? Would she say she missed me, too?

If the cabin lights were on at that moment, Yao Yao (Teacher Yao), who was sitting next to Yan He, would probably see her crimson ears. However, since the lights were off, Yan He’s shyness, along with her little secret thoughts, remained hidden in the darkness.

She couldn’t help but recall that night in Bolzano. At the time, she was so dizzy after confessing her feelings that she completely forgot to check if Santa Claus had put a gift in the stocking hanging by her bed. But at that moment, none of that mattered. She had already received the most important gift of her life.

Between waking and sleeping, Yan He vaguely thought she saw Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen)—the image before her eyes grew clearer and clearer. At first, it was just a back view, an outline, and then, the person walked closer to her, and the face became increasingly distinct.

It was Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen).

She was wearing a loose-fitting bathrobe, just like that night, with her delicate collarbone exposed, making Yan He want to rush forward and cover her bare skin with clothes.

Then, the person she deeply loved stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her neck. A sweet fragrance wafted over, an unfamiliar yet familiar scent. Shen Jinrong’s (Professor Shen’s) two perfumes had mixed in her memory, becoming a mysterious and enchanting aroma at that moment.

Afterward, her lover’s lips pressed against hers, and the warm breath created when she spoke gently struck her ear. She heard Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen) softly say next to her ear: “Welcome home…”

In the next second, Yan He saw a red bow appear on Shen Jinrong’s (Professor Shen’s) neck, as if inviting her to unwrap this gift.

While Yan He was momentarily stunned, Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen) took Yan He’s hand and gently placed it on the bow beside her neck. She winked at her, and the mole at the corner of her eye was so red it seemed about to bleed.

She said, “Yan He, welcome home.”

“I am your gift.”

Perhaps her eyes were too clear, or perhaps the seductive meaning in her words was too strong. Yan He broke out in a sweat and suddenly awoke.

She opened her eyes, and the darkness was blocked by the eye mask. She took off the eye mask and realized that the sky outside the window had begun to faintly lighten.

She glanced at the display screen on the seatback in front of her, which showed that there were two hours left until they reached the Capital Airport. The display screen showed the plane’s current position, indicating they had covered the majority of the journey.

In other words—it was now approximately five o’clock in the morning, Beijing time.

Yan He let out a long breath, wiping the sweat that had just beaded on her forehead. The dream just now came too suddenly and too fiercely, leaving her a bit overwhelmed. When she came to her senses, she realized she was drenched in sweat.

She suddenly found that she couldn’t control her own brain—her mind was constantly replaying the scene from a moment ago, even autonomously using past memories to fill in the sights she hadn’t seen.

Yan He held her forehead, only hearing her own heavy breathing and heart pounding like a drum, beating rhythmically in her chest cavity.

Yan He didn’t know if it was her imagination, but she felt that the sky outside the window at that moment was incredibly beautiful—she had never seen such a beautiful sky before.

Although the sky was only faintly bright, she could already clearly see the layers of clouds beside her. Before her first flight, she had never known that clouds were separated into distinct layers.

Some clouds were right next to their plane, as if she could reach out and touch them, while others were far away, lurking below. She could even see the moon not far away. Flying high up, the moon looked bigger and clearer than when viewed from the ground. Without the obstruction of the clouds, the stars guarding the moon had all appeared.

Yan He blinked, feeling as though the stars were twinkling along with her.

From her position, she could see a red signal light on the plane’s wing, blinking on and off. Yan He couldn’t help but think of the time she had confidently pointed to the plane’s signal light and told Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen) that it was the Big Dipper or—the North Star.

She couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. One hand unconsciously stroked the aircraft’s window glass. The thick glass gave her a complete sense of security. It was cool to the touch, sending a shiver through her.

Even though she was already on the plane heading back to China, Yan He still felt a little unsettled. She thought that until her feet were truly on solid ground, her heart would probably remain suspended in mid-air.

Yan He stretched, put on her eye mask again, and leaned back against the seat, falling into a light sleep.

She woke up again when Yao Yao (Teacher Yao) patted her awake.

The sky was much brighter than when she had first woken up. The stars were almost gone, and the moon she had seen earlier had changed position.

The plane’s noise was too loud, and Yan He didn’t quite catch what Yao Yao (Teacher Yao) said. She smiled helplessly, leaned close to Yan He’s ear, and said loudly, “We’re almost there! We’ve started descending!”

Yan He held the earplugs in her hand and nodded. She checked her seatbelt again. Then she heard the captain announce: “We have now entered the airspace of our motherland.”

The people awake on the plane couldn’t help but let out a cheer.

How long had it been? How long since she had experienced this kind of atmosphere? Her world, her motherland, all returned to her the moment the plane landed, the instant the captain announced their entry into Chinese airspace. Beyond that, the one thing she could not yet voice was her longing for the beloved person in her heart.

Yan He leaned back against the seat and let out a long breath. The feeling of the plane descending was very similar to the feeling of an elevator going down. The sudden feeling of weightlessness made people dizzy. Every time the plane landed, Yan He still felt nervous. She tightly gripped the armrest beside her, and the veins on the back of her hand bulged from the exertion.

Yao Yao (Teacher Yao) glanced at her but didn’t say anything, her eyes half-closed, lost in thought.

—Only when the plane finally landed, Yan He retrieved her carry-on luggage, and stepped out of the cabin, did she feel the long-missed sensation of the motherland’s sunlight on her body. The sun in early February was not very dazzling. In fact, it was slightly dim because it was partially blocked by the clouds. Yan He looked up, squinting at the sun. The moment she stepped onto the soil of her motherland, she suddenly felt a sting in her nose.

Twenty minutes later, Yan He stood in the airport, at the exit gate. She pushed her luggage cart, passing various people holding signs with names written on them, watching their anxious, nervous, or worried expressions, suddenly feeling like she had returned from another world.

Yao Yao (Teacher Yao) and the others had already retrieved their luggage and left. Before leaving, Yao Yao (Teacher Yao) even asked Yan He: “Do you want a ride? My car is parked here.”

Yan He just shook her head: “It’s alright, Teacher Yao. Someone is coming to pick me up.”

Yao Yao (Teacher Yao) nodded and left with the other colleagues.

Who was coming to pick her up? Yan He gripped the handle of the luggage cart. She felt her palms were clammy, as if she could no longer hold the handle, and that the luggage cart would slip from her grasp and slide away to some unknown place the next moment.

Would Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen) be in that place?

She turned on her phone, and as soon as the signal connected, all sorts of messages flooded her phone. Yan He had to turn on silent mode.

Yan He didn’t look at the messages that had piled up for over a month. At that moment, her heart was surging. A rush of impulse swept through her, making her heart beat violently—should she call Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen)?

Just—a call. Even if she just dialed it and didn’t speak, just to listen to her breathing would be enough.

No! She was already back! She could go see her!

A smile gradually appeared on Yan He’s serious face. A surge of impulse swept through her heart, making it beat fiercely—she had to find her! She didn’t want to wait a second longer—she wanted to… see Shen Jinrong (Professor Shen) now.

She wanted to embrace her beloved.

Jie-jie (Sister/Elder Sister), wait for me.