Chapter 184: The Flow of Time on the Other Side Part 1
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
When Tang En stepped on the floor of the terminal building of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in Sichuan, he was somewhat moved. No matter what skin color he was on the outside now, he was still made in China on the inside. At this moment... could he also be considered as returning to his hometown?
This feeling was truly inexplicable. After the mysterious transmigration, he used a brand-new identity to return to Chengdu, Sichuan, China in 2004. When he was chatting with a pretty stewardess on the plane, with a proficient and completely unaccented Mandarin, it caught the attention of many passengers on the plane. Even Shania, who was sitting next to him, looked at Twain with an expression of astonishment and admiration. After all, she did not think that Twain could speak fluent Mandarin.
Tang En was secretly pleased. I haven't even started speaking in my fluent Sichuan dialect!
Coming out of the airport, Twain pulled along the similarly striking Shania to the cab stand, in order to wait in line for a cab. Next to them, an airport staff suggested to them, in stumbling English, to take the airport bus instead. Twain politely declined his kind suggestion in Mandarin, and headed straight to a cab.
Every time he had taken the airport bus, he did not know which places the bus would go. Hence, it was much more convenient to take a cab, state a destination, and go straight to it.
Seeing that they were not only foreigners, but were an older person and a younger person, a man and a woman, and even a beauty at that ... The cab driver was full of warmth towards them, and helped them put their luggage in the trunk. The airport staff member, who had advised them to take the airport bus, registered Twain's destination of their trip, and then waved them off.
"Shifu, Sichuan Hotel." Twain spoke confidently, as if he was familiar with the area. But, in fact, he knew very little of the hotels in Chengdu. In the vicinity of Chunxi Road, where he shopped and watched pretty girls, he would always see the Sichuan Hotel, and would even flag down cabs there. It was one of the few hotels that he had any impression of.
When he heard Twain state the destination in Mandarin, the cab driver looked back at him in surprise. Twain smiled at him, then opened his mouth to say something that made the driver even more shocked, "I'm also from Sichuan. Drive, Shifu." He now spoke with a Sichuanese accent.
The driver dumbly turned his head back, then dutifully started the car. Pleased with himself, Twain turned to Shania, and gave her a wink.
Although she did not understand what Twain had said just now, Shania could still comprehend a little from the driver's face, and his subsequent reaction, to understand enough. She buried her face in her Totoro soft toy, which was always with her, and giggled.
It was a smooth ride along the way, perhaps because Twain had immediately shown his hand to curb the driver. There were no detours, and no taking of the long route. When they reached their destination, the price on the meter was reasonable. Twain paid the fare, and also gave a tip. Then Twain alighted the cab with Shania. Immediately, there was a bell boy there to help them with their luggage and lead the way.
To tell the truth ... If it weren't for the bell boy's cues, Tang En would not have known where to go. He had not been to the hotel before, and as such, would not know where to go to book rooms, or any other procedure.
The bell boy took them to the front desk, and Twain gave the customary, usual tip. He then looked at the front desk service staff, smiling warmly, and started to worry, wondering in his mind about how he should book the rooms.
He was a man, and Shania was a female. Males and females were quite different. They should book two rooms. But... why did he feel somewhat reluctant to go according to this plan? For two people to stay in two standard rooms, it feels empty and cheerless, plus, it's extravagant and expensive ... and, if something happens, it's inconvenient to have to go out and look for each other.
Seeing that Twain still had not spoken, the front desk service lady asked in English, "What can I do for you, sir?"
Twain frowned, "You can speak Mandarin, as I can understand it."
Seeing the pretty lady's expression, Shania buried her face in her Totoro soft toy, and laughed. Shania's giggle reminded Twain that he was being a little impolite. So, he immediately smiled at the lady, and said, "Sorry. I can speak and understand Mandarin, so it's not a problem at all. Well, I would like to book ..."
Perhaps she was charmed by the adorable Shania, or she wanted to please the foreign guests, but the young front desk lady looked at Shania, and smiled, saying, "It's okay, sir. Is this your daughter? She's really beautiful! Would you like to book a room for the both of you?"
This was a timely question, and Twain went along with it, agreeing readily, "Yes, one room ... We need a room." He looked back at Shania. She had no interest in the conversation, especially since she did not understand Mandarin. She was just looking around curiously, watching people coming and going in the lobby. Most people were yellow-skinned and black-haired Chinese. Apart from the different skin tones, she felt that these people were similar to her.
Although she was part-Chinese, she did not understand their language at all, so it was like they were from two completely different worlds. When she saw how Twain was communicating fluently in Mandarin with the other people, Shania frowned. She also wanted to learn Mandarin, so at least she would not have a feeling of being excluded at this time.
After Twain finished paying at the front desk, the attendant took them to their room. Shania did not raise any objections to the arrangement of sharing a room. Twain was still a little nervous, however. He only gradually felt more at ease, when he saw that Shania did not have any reaction to it.
To tell the truth, although Shania was still a child, besides having a small chest, she looked no different from other twenty-something year old girls in other aspects. When Shania was staying at his place, they would not be sleeping in the same room... But now at the hotel ...
He gave the attendant a tip, and sent away the young lad, who had showed a keen interest in Shania. Twain pointed to the bathroom, "You can use the shower first, Shania."
Shania went ahead. Later, Tang En listened to the sound of water coming from the bathroom, and his thoughts gradually drifted.
To be honest, he did not quite understand why Shania liked to hang out with him. She had just arrived in England, after briefly visited her auntie in Newcastle first, and had then come to Nottingham to look for him.
Tang En admitted that he was also delighted the moment he saw her. There was something likeable about this child, although he could not specifically explain why. Anyhow, when he was hanging out with Shania, he did not feel bothered. Instead, he was rather comfortable. If he was not in a good mood, he could not help but have a smile on his face, when he looked at the vivacious Shania. She had a joyful spirit, and maybe that was the reason.
"I'm done, Uncle Tony!" Shania walked out of the bathroom, as she dried her hair with a towel. Tang En glanced at her, and suddenly, everything swam before his eyes.
She was wearing a yellow strappy camisole top, which showed her collarbones and slender delicate neck ... and she paired it with a very short pair of jeans, which was an outfit that was a bit too revealing for the situation, Tang En felt, his heartbeat quickening as he thought of this.