"What to do When the Pretty Woman I Kissed is My Best Friend's Professor" - Chapter 70

It was three o’clock in the afternoon, Rome time, and the plane was preparing to land. Yan He and Shen Jinrong fastened their seatbelts again. Shen Jinrong once more held the child’s hand and asked her, “Are you nervous?”

Nervous? Nervous about what? What is there to be nervous about? Why does Elder Sister keep holding my hand!

Yan He’s mind was blank. The feeling of weightlessness as the plane began its descent always made her uncomfortable. The bold words she’d spoken earlier flashed through her mind—the child’s attempt to appear strong in front of her Elder Sister. But now, she didn’t want to pretend anymore. She gripped her Elder Sister’s hand tightly, leaned close to her, and said, “I’m nervous.”

“I’m so scared.”

The child’s palm was sweaty. Shen Jinrong understood her anxiety and offered comfort: “Elder Sister is here; don’t be afraid.”

Yan He let out a faint “hmph,” her voice trembling almost imperceptibly: “Is—is Elder Sister going to protect me?”

The two of them were reminded of their previous discussion about Sicily. Shen Jinrong was amused by her, and even amidst the turbulence and loud noise, her laugh reached Yan He’s ears. Yan He inexplicably felt a little weak. Just as she was about to say something, she felt her Elder Sister tickle her palm.

It was a tingling, itchy sensation, not in her palm, but a provocation in her heart.

“Alright,” Shen Jinrong wanted to use action to reassure the nervous child. Yan He was always stubborn and firm in front of her; rarely was she this soft and vulnerable. Soft—of course she was, but it was usually hidden beneath the child’s tough exterior.

Shen Jinrong knew, of course, that Yan He also wanted to protect her. She thought that perhaps there would never be another person so willing to give so much for her. Yan He always said she was lucky to have met Shen Jinrong, but Shen Jinrong felt that it was she herself who should feel lucky.

In the immense noise, Yan He did not wish to speak, nor did Shen Jinrong say anything more.

Yan He closed her eyes. She found that when she briefly lost her vision, everything around her slowly took shape in her mind. The original surrounding noise was infinitely magnified, as if she were right inside the airplane engine’s vortex.

Every time the plane landed before, she would think: If this plane were to suddenly vanish from the world, would I not even leave a trace of having existed? Empty—always empty.

On many trips, she never felt that one trip was different from the last; if she closed her eyes, being anywhere was the same.

But now, being with Shen Jinrong, she felt as if something truly was different from before. It was as if she had formed a bond with this world, a bond that pulled her, making her fall toward the center of the earth.

The warmth in her palm, and the sound of the person beside her breathing, although unheard, was definitely there.

This was her world.

Neither of them spoke, seemingly waiting for the plane to land, or perhaps just waiting for a chance to break the silence. Her ears felt uncomfortable, and Yan He swallowed hard again. She saw her Elder Sister’s profile, seeing that she was resting with her eyes closed.

If she ignored everything else, it was just like—the first time she met her, when she sat beside her. If she had to say what was different, Yan He thought, besides their seats being reversed, it was their state of mind.

At that time, all she could think about was—Should I strike up a conversation? Should I ask for her contact information? But now, she thought, she just wanted to have a coffee with her after they got off the plane.

During the flight, Yan He had closed the window shade because the sunlight outside was too harsh. Now, during the descent, she opened it again. She leaned close to the porthole, seeing the stacked, layered clouds, the plane’s shadow cast on the ground, and the runway of the Rome airport.

Her hand was unconsciously squeezed tight by her Elder Sister. Yan He snapped back to attention, only to see that Shen Jinrong had opened her eyes. The plane landed at that moment, making a violent sound as it met the ground.

Shen Jinrong turned to look at her: “We’ve arrived.”

“Mhm,” Yan He nodded, trying to look serious.

“Why so serious?” Shen Jinrong blinked, tidying herself up with her phone screen as a mirror.

The announcement “Benvenuti a Roma” came over the plane’s broadcast. Yan He seemed to just remember and asked, “Do you speak Italian?”

Her Elder Sister tilted her head, a hint of mischief in her smile: “No, I don’t.”

It was hard to say what Yan He was thinking when she heard this, but Shen Jinrong only saw the smile on her lips uncontrollably widen, giving her some grasp of the child’s thoughts.

The child must be planning to show off to me, right?

Shen Jinrong mischievously thought, It would be quite embarrassing for the child if she found out I could speak it, wouldn’t it?

The naive child, of course, did not notice the wicked Elder Sister’s mischievous smile.

“Rome is fine; many people speak English, but it’s different in other smaller places!” The child gesticulated wildly as she spoke of this, as if showing off how great she was to her Elder Sister, her tail practically wagging: “I can help Elder Sister communicate!”

Shen Jinrong nodded, pretending to be serious: “Mhm, I’ll have to trouble you then.”

The child straightened her back, feeling that she had been entrusted with a great responsibility.

“Are you hungry? Shall we eat something after we get off the plane?” Shen Jinrong asked her. The plane was still taxiing and should stop soon. The people beside them began to pack up, and fragmented conversations entered both their ears.

There was Chinese, English, and also Italian.

Once they stepped out of the cabin, it would be a completely new world! A world where—no one knew them!

Yan He’s heart couldn’t help but leap with joy.

Does that mean we can do whatever we want?

The child’s gaze was too scorching. Shen Jinrong flinched and turned her head slightly, as if knowing what she was thinking, and looked away, saying, “Don’t even think about it.”

Yan He secretly pouted.

The plane finally stopped. Yan He and Shen Jinrong gathered their belongings, preparing to leave. As they walked to the cabin door, they heard the flight attendant standing there suddenly say to Shen Jinrong, “Miss Shen?”

Yan He was the first to turn around.

Miss Shen? Do they know each other? Why does Elder Sister know people everywhere?

Shen Jinrong also responded with a smile: “Hello.”

“Wish you a pleasant journey!” The flight attendant said nothing more, smiled, and made a “please” gesture.

After stepping out, Shen Jinrong felt that the child beside her was in a bad mood. This was specifically evidenced by her tightly-clenched lips and the glances she kept shooting over.

Shen Jinrong hurried a few steps and actively took her hand, saying with a cheerful smile, “Are you jealous?”

Yan He’s eyes darted away, and she subconsciously refuted, “What are you talking about?” She paused, then added, “Am I the type of person who gets jealous?”

Shen Jinrong: Mhm, yes, quite a bit.

“I used to fly with their company often, and after a while, I got to know them.” Her Elder Sister stood with her on the escalator, hooked her little finger, and smiled sweetly, but still explained to the child: “It’s just a familiar face; I don’t even know her name.”

Yan He blinked, looking at her Elder Sister: “Is that so?”

Shen Jinrong nodded vigorously, as if to increase the credibility of her words through the action: “Really.”

The child was happy again. However… the happy child thought to herself, Am I too easily placated? But—but Elder Sister is holding my hand now; she definitely wouldn’t lie to me!

There were quite a few people on the plane, and it was only in the baggage claim area that the crowd thinned out. The two stood by the conveyor belt waiting for their luggage. After picking up their bags, they each pulled a suitcase forward.

Their suitcases weren’t large. Yan He turned to look at her Elder Sister: “I’ll take it.” Her suitcase was one size smaller than Shen Jinrong’s.

“No need, no need.”

But Yan He still took her suitcase, one in each hand, and turned to look at her: “Aren’t you going to walk?”

Shen Jinrong gave a helpless smile and followed her footsteps: “Walking, walking.”

Young people, how nice.

Professor Shen thought with emotion as she followed, the stamina is great.

After getting into the pre-booked car, both of them sighed in relief. The driver was an Italian grandpa, who chatted volubly with Yan He throughout the journey, and the two discussed interesting places to visit in Rome over the past few years.

Taking advantage of the two people’s conversation, Shen Jinrong gently rubbed Yan He’s arm, quietly asking her, “Does your arm hurt?”

Yan He’s face instantly flushed red, and her reply was hesitant, unlike her earlier voluble demeanor: “N-no, it doesn’t hurt…”

Her Elder Sister’s fingertips continued to gently rub her arm, her tone chiding: “Such a heavy suitcase, and you carried both of them. Are you showing off how strong you are?”

After she finished speaking, she slightly increased the pressure, pinching Yan He as a form of punishment.

Yan He pleaded with her: “I was wrong, I was wrong!” Then she pouted, looking pitifully at her Elder Sister: “But my stamina really is very good!”

Shen Jinrong thought of something, and her ears turned red. She immediately released her hand, pursed her lips, and looked out the window, lost in thought.

The grandpa driving the car noticed their interaction and asked Yan He something with a smile. Shen Jinrong didn’t catch it. But she clearly heard Yan He’s reply: “No, e’ la mia ragazza. (No, she is my girlfriend.)” The grandpa’s eyes widened in surprise, he said “Oh,” and then uttered many words of blessing and expressed his astonishment, also asking Yan He if same-sex marriage was legalized in China.

Girlfriend?

When the child said this, she seemed afraid Shen Jinrong would understand, secretly peeking over like a thief. Shen Jinrong pretended not to know, feigning ignorance, but on the side Yan He couldn’t see, her lips curved slightly upward.

Seeing that her Elder Sister hadn’t understood her words, Yan He breathed a sigh of relief, though she wasn’t sure if it was relief or disappointment. She composed herself and continued chatting with the grandpa.

Shen Jinrong lowered her eyes, watching the cars passing by outside the window, thinking, Then why don’t you actually confess?

Does she want Elder Sister to make the first move?

Professor Shen stared out the car window, sulking to herself. The child sensitively noticed her change in mood, quietly took her hand, and softly called out, “Elder Sister.”

It sounded like she had done something wrong.

Oh, calling me “Elder Sister,” are you? Where is the confidence you had when you introduced me as your girlfriend to the driver just now?

Shen Jinrong glanced at her.

“Let’s go eat after we settle in, I’m hungry.” The child held her hand and placed it on her own stomach. Yan He hadn’t zipped up her coat, and she was only wearing a thin hoodie underneath.

A little soft—and a little bit—hmm? Abs?