"What to do When the Pretty Woman I Kissed is My Best Friend's Professor" - Chapter 18

Winter was the perfect time for hotpot. The two didn’t arrive particularly early and couldn’t snag one of the larger tables on the side, so they had to sit right in the middle of the hall.

“How was the interview today?” Yu Ke casually asked through the white mist rising from the hotpot. She was slightly annoyed that she had chosen hotpot; the mist was so thick she couldn’t clearly see Yan He sitting opposite her. “Professor Shen didn’t make things difficult for you, did she?”

The hall was bustling with noise, and Yan He hadn’t heard what she asked. Yu Ke repeated the question.

“Of course, she wouldn’t make things difficult for me; it went great,” Yan He replied, smiling, her tone hinting at pride when speaking of Shen Jinrong. When she talked about Elder Sister, she always carried a sense of proud confidence, as if Elder Sister’s excellence was a personal honor. But immediately afterward, she wondered if she should tell Yu Ke that she had fallen for Professor Shen.

Yan He was animated: “The interview went really smoothly today, and Professor Shen even treated me to coffee!” Though I ended up paying for her in the end, little Yan He thought smugly.

Yu Ke keenly picked up the excitement in Yan He’s tone. Yan He’s delight made her heart sink, but she didn’t want to believe Yan He had already found someone she liked. She regretted letting Yan He interview Shen Jinrong, but since the deed was done, Yu Ke could only probe: “So, what do you think of Professor Shen?”

Yan He started smiling foolishly again; just thinking of Shen Jinrong made her heart float in the air: “Professor Shen is super nice! Gentle, and easy to get along with!”

Yu Ke’s smile was strained: “Is that so?”

Yan He nodded vigorously, completely missing the forced quality of Yu Ke’s expression.

Yu Ke suddenly found the spicy broth too greasy and the clear broth flavorless. She didn’t really want to eat anymore, so she started making superficial conversation: “Well, that’s good.” She changed the subject: “Have you sorted out your internship?”

“I already have an offer to intern at CCTV; I just passed the interview,” Yan He shrugged. “I’ll probably go during the summer, so I need to finish my graduation thesis before then. I feel like my entire senior year is going to be hectic.”

“Are you planning to go to grad school?” Yu Ke asked: “I remember there are spots for guaranteed admission every year, and with your grades, you can definitely stay here for grad school.”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Yan He smiled. “That’s an August or September thing; I’ll see how it goes. Besides, you know our major relies on seniority. Whether I go to grad school or not isn’t that critical.”

Yu Ke nodded silently. Although she had only been separated from Yan He for less than a year, Yu Ke had a constant feeling that even when Yan He was sitting in front of her, she was still very far away. The mist between them seemed substantial, silently cutting them off, leaving no chance for closeness anymore.

It was peak dinner time. The two sat in the main hall, surrounded by steam and noise. Yet, even in such a chaotic environment, Yu Ke thought, Yan He remained composed and unperturbed. Sometimes Yu Ke wondered who Yan He would eventually meet—would that person finally draw her into the mundane world?

“Have you sorted out your internship?” Yan He picked up a piece of tripe, raising her eyes to ask Yu Ke.

Yu Ke snapped back to attention, stammering a little: “It’s… it’s fine. I’m interning at my dad’s company.”

Yan He didn’t ask further, nodded, and continued eating.

“What are your plans for the New Year?” Yu Ke’s eyes were hopeful. She asked, “If you’re free, should we go skiing at Changbai Mountain together?”

Yan He gently declined: “I can’t. I’m going to my Grandparents’ place for the New Year; I probably won’t have time.”

Yu Ke forced another smile. She said, “Then let’s hang out when you’re free!” Although she said this, Yu Ke knew in her heart that she probably wouldn’t have another chance to go out with Yan He. The person in front of her was just as she had been when they first met: she was the eternally bright youth, and Yu Ke was not.

“Okay,” Yan He narrowed her eyes and smiled. She suddenly looked up toward the window on the right. A familiar silhouette seemed to flash outside. She squinted, trying to get a better look, but the window was fogged up, and the surroundings were noisy. She couldn’t see clearly.

How could that be Elder Sister?

Impossible.

The hotpot restaurant Yu Ke chose was not far from Yan He’s home. After the meal, the two said goodbye at the entrance, and Yan He walked home leisurely, hands tucked in her pockets.

To keep Elder Sister’s scarf from smelling like hotpot, Yan He had put it in her backpack before entering the restaurant and hadn’t taken it out. Now walking outside, the biting wind scattered the faint blush on her face. Yan He clutched the straps of her backpack, hesitating for a long time, but ultimately didn’t take the scarf out.

It’s Elder Sister’s scarf. It has Elder Sister’s scent. It’s a souvenir Elder Sister left for me.

Yan He lowered her head, hugging the backpack containing Elder Sister’s scarf close to her chest. She thought of the room key placed next to the photo album on her desk, thinking maybe she should put them together.

She felt as if she hadn’t drunk any alcohol, yet she was acting drunk, her cheeks flushed, her steps slightly staggering—otherwise, why would Elder Sister be the only thing on her mind? Elder Sister smiling slightly, Elder Sister looking coolly composed, Elder Sister gently comforting her.

Elder Sister… why did you give me your scarf?

Yan He wandered to the entrance of her apartment complex and saw from afar that the lights in her home were off.

No one is home again…

Yan He let out a breath, watching the white mist appear in front of her and then gradually dissipate. She repeated this several times, finding joy in it, but suddenly felt her legs aching, so she simply sat down on the curb.

The coldness belatedly crept up, shooting from her tailbone to her spine. Yan He shivered violently. The smell of hotpot on her was still strong. Afraid of dirtying Elder Sister’s scarf, she dared not take it out and hugged her backpack tighter, as if holding a fragile treasure.

The streetlights were dim yellow, stretching her shadow long. Yan He stretched out her hand and waved it, watching her shadow expand and contract, and she laughed childishly.

The wind was not as fierce now; instead, it came in gusts, as if holding back its strength. It was nine o’clock. Occasionally, electric bicycles passed by, and bundled-up pedestrians hurried along.

Everyone is going home.

Everyone has someone waiting for them at home.

Yan He buried her face in her knees, letting out a long sigh.

“Little Yan?” Someone walked past behind her. Seeing Yan He sitting on the roadside, the person doubled back and called her name uncertainly: “Is that you?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Yan He looked up and saw Auntie Meng, her neighbor, wearing a bright red padded jacket and holding a fan used for square dancing. Yan He quickly stood up: “Auntie Meng!”

“Oh my! It really is you!” Auntie Meng walked over to her, patted her shoulder, and smiled: “You’ve grown taller, turning into a big girl now. Your parents said you were back, but I haven’t seen you.”

Yan He smiled, realizing her face was somewhat stiff from the cold: “I just got back a couple of days ago.”

“It’s good you’re back, it’s good you’re back,” Auntie Meng said kindly: “Why are you sitting on the roadside? Did you forget your key?”

Yan He scratched her head: “I have it. I just ate hotpot and wanted to air out the smell.”

“That’s good. Let’s walk back together, then? Don’t sit outside anymore; it’s quite cold. You don’t want to catch a cold!”

Yan He nodded and walked with Auntie Meng. Auntie Meng was an old neighbor of the Yan family. She had just retired two years ago and reigned supreme in the square dancing scene.

As they reached the door and Yan He opened it, Auntie Meng suddenly said casually: “Little Yan, your father and mother love you! You need to understand them and be good to them!”

Yan He’s mind was hazy. She was holding the key to open the door and didn’t take her words to heart, vaguely giving an affirmative response.

The house was cold and desolate.

Yan He closed the door, shutting out the corridor light.

She turned on the light, changed her clothes, and took a shower. Only then did she take Elder Sister’s scarf out of her backpack.

She buried her face in Elder Sister’s scarf, took a deep breath, and a sob escaped her nasal cavity.