Chapter 204: Impossible
Chapter 204: Impossible
The gondolier standing at the stern, a man named Loviso, was already over fifty years old, with both his hair and beard streaked white. Yet this was clearly the first time he had ever seen two women kissing beneath the Bridge of Sighs.
He stared blankly for a long while before suddenly bursting into loud laughter. Giving Elizabeth and Julia a thumbs-up, he simultaneously winked mischievously at Eric Williams and loudly said something else.
Although Eric could not understand the language, he could still guess that the old fellow was gloating. The man had obviously assumed Eric was trying to pursue one of the women, only to have the other “steal her away midway.” Eric could only twitch his lips awkwardly. With the language barrier, there was no way for him to explain things.
Still, the sight of the two women kissing beneath the Bridge of Sighs was undeniably beautiful. After laughing, Eric could not help raising his camera and snapping several photos to preserve the moment.
Julia widened her eyes as she felt Elizabeth wrapping an arm around her waist while those moist, soft red lips gently sucked at her own.
She remained frozen for over half a minute.
Only after hearing the shutter clicks from Eric’s camera did she suddenly come back to her senses. Flustered, she hurriedly pushed Elizabeth away and protested helplessly:
“Liz, y-you... how could you do that?!”
Seeing Julia’s flushed and bashful expression, Elizabeth could not help wrapping an arm around the woman’s waist again and loudly planting a kiss on Julia’s cheek before lifting her head arrogantly toward Eric.
“Eric, from now on Julia belongs to me. You’re not allowed to bully her anymore.”
“Liz, what nonsense are you talking about?”
Julia finally became anxious after hearing those words. Reaching out, she pinched Elizabeth’s waist, while Elizabeth immediately shrieked and retaliated.
The two instantly descended into playful chaos, causing the small gondola to sway from their horseplay. The old gondolier Loviso became so frightened that he hurriedly shouted for them to stop, only then causing Julia and Elizabeth to calm down.
The three spent the entire morning wandering along the Grand Canal.
After lunch, Eric asked a local guide for directions before taking a water bus directly to a fairly famous Venetian mask shop.
“I don’t like these things.”
The moment they stepped inside, Elizabeth looked at the countless masks hanging densely across the walls, ranging from simple to extravagant, and immediately made that comment.
“Why not?” Eric casually took down a golden mask without a mouth and examined it.
Following beside him, Elizabeth said, “I read about them before. Apparently these masks were originally worn by adulterous nobles and fugitives. They symbolize disguise and hypocrisy.”
“Oh? And you think that without these things, people don’t wear masks when interacting with each other?”
Eric casually replied as he put down the simple Bauta mask and picked up a white ghost mask painted with golden patterns. Pulling Julia beside him, he placed the mask over her face and began examining her from side to side.
Hearing Eric’s words, Elizabeth froze briefly before reflexively rebutting:
“T-There definitely are still masks, but at least they’re not displayed so nakedly.”
“You’re only struggling with the issue of truth and falsehood, but that’s actually hard to define clearly. Look, I’m not wearing a mask, but in reality, I am. And in order not to let others see through me, I won’t tell them whether I’m wearing one or not. But if someone actually puts on these masks, you can tell immediately. Oh, that guy’s wearing a mask.”
Eric continued while adjusting the mask on Julia’s face.
“If you think about it seriously, people who physically wear masks are actually more honest. Meanwhile, the people hiding their masks behind smiles are far more hypocritical.”
Elizabeth carefully considered Eric’s words.
Although she had to admit once again that his reasoning made sense, her mouth still refused to yield.
“Y-You’re just twisting concepts around.”
“Think whatever you want.”
Eric waved toward the owner waiting nearby.
“Excuse me, do you speak English?”
“Of course.” The mustached shop owner, a man in his forties, nodded and skillfully replied in English. “Sir, which one caught your eye?”
Eric glanced around the room.
“I want a full set, including hats and cloaks. But I don’t seem to see those here?”
“Follow me.”
The owner nodded and led Eric directly into a nearby room.
“Over here. Please take your time.”
After saying that, the owner did not enthusiastically introduce products. Instead, he voluntarily left the room and returned behind the counter.
Eric did not mind at all. In fact, he preferred this sort of environment where he could freely choose things himself.
Taking hats, cloaks, folding fans, and various small accessories, he began dressing Julia up as though she were a mannequin.
“Hey, you’re really rude. Did you even ask whether Julia was willing to let you mess around with her?”
Elizabeth immediately jumped out to voice her dissatisfaction again.
Wearing the mask, Julia quickly shook her head.
“I-It’s okay.”
Eric smugly raised his chin toward Elizabeth, angering the woman so much she stomped her feet. Glancing resentfully at the completely spineless Julia, she inwardly thought: You deserve to get bullied.
A short while later, after Eric’s styling, Julia was completely concealed beneath the mask and cloak.
A wide-brimmed white hat decorated with purple feathers rested atop her head. Below it was a purple cloak embroidered with luxurious golden patterns. A pale lavender scarf wrapped around her neck, while her hands, covered by black long gloves, held a purple silk folding fan.
“How is it?”
Pulling Julia before the dressing mirror, Eric asked.
“V-Very beautiful.”
Looking at herself through the mask in the mirror, Julia nodded softly.
Elizabeth also leaned over to look. Although her eyes clearly revealed interest, she still asked:
“Why purple?”
“Purple represents mystery. Don’t you think it matches the style of the masks perfectly?”
“I still think white looks prettier.”
Elizabeth pointed toward a white cloak hanging on a nearby rack.
Eric smiled.
“Then we’ll put together a white set later too.”
After saying that, Eric instructed Julia to remove the completed mask-and-cloak outfit so the shop owner could package it up. Then Eric spent another full hour assembling several more sets with completely different styles.
While helping him remove a hat from a display rack, Elizabeth asked:
“Why are you buying so many?”
“To give as gifts,” Eric replied. “Since I came all the way to Venice, I should bring some souvenirs back.”
A teasing smile appeared at the corner of Elizabeth’s lips.
“For women, right?”
Eric merely smiled without answering directly.
Seeing his tacit admission, Elizabeth’s movements briefly stiffened before she scornfully cursed:
“What a womanizing playboy.”
Meanwhile, hearing the conversation between Eric and Elizabeth, Julia—who had been standing between them wearing masks as the model—gradually lost the lively excitement in her eyes.
Only after putting together five complete sets did Eric finally step forward to pay.
After asking which currency Eric intended to use, the owner calculated the total before looking up with a smile.
“Altogether it comes to 2,200 US dollars, but I’ll charge you 2,000 instead.”
Already holding his wallet, Eric looked at the man curiously.
The owner voluntarily explained:
“I really liked what you said earlier about masks, so I’m giving you a discount.”
Eric smiled.
“Then thank you very much.”
Carrying several shopping bags, the group left the store.
Eric handed one bag to Julia, then checked another bag once more before giving it to Elizabeth.
“I’m not helping you carry your things.”
Elizabeth immediately shoved her hands into her jeans pockets and lifted her chin proudly.
“You said you liked the white set, didn’t you? This one’s for you. If you don’t want it, I’ll give it to Julia instead.”
“Hmph. It’d be a waste not to take it.”
Elizabeth instantly snatched the bag away.
Eric carried the remaining three bags and walked toward the water bus station first.
Following several steps behind him, Elizabeth leaned close to Julia.
“Julia, what does yours look like?”
Although Eric had not stated it directly, Julia already understood that the set in her hands was a gift from him.
After opening the package for a quick glance, she hugged it tightly against her chest and told Elizabeth:
“It’s the purple set from the beginning.”
Elizabeth curled her lips unhappily.
“Why are you hugging it so tightly? It’s not like I’m going to steal it from you.”
Julia quickened her pace and ran toward Eric without responding to Elizabeth’s teasing.
Elizabeth could only hurry after them.
“Eric, are you still going out tomorrow?” Elizabeth proactively asked once they boarded the boat.
Julia also raised her head expectantly toward Eric.
Eric shook his head.
“Tomorrow’s the opening ceremony. I probably won’t have time.”
“Then when are you going to make time to tell me about your movies?”
“I’m handling tens of millions every minute...”
Eric had barely put on an expression of difficulty before Elizabeth fiercely pinched his arm.
After the pinch, both Eric and Julia froze slightly before simultaneously looking toward Eric’s arm.
Eric only wore a black sleeveless T-shirt, so faint pinch marks appeared on his skin.
But that was not the important part.
The important thing was...
That sort of slightly intimate, somewhat coquettish action was usually something only couples would do.
Yet Elizabeth clearly had not realized any of this.
Seeing their expressions, she instead puffed her cheeks angrily.
“What? He deserved to get pinched. All he thinks about all day is making money. What a vulgar guy.”
After saying that, the woman angrily turned her head away, seemingly unwilling to pay Eric any more attention.
Meanwhile, Julia—who had originally felt a little sour inside—noticed Eric’s slightly awkward expression and lowered her head as well, a faint smile with unclear meaning appearing at the corner of her lips.
“Ohhh, my legs are so sore.”
After returning to the hotel on Lido Island, Elizabeth tossed aside the bag Eric gave her and collapsed directly onto the sofa.
Turning her head toward Julia, who entered afterward, she said:
“Julia, massage my legs for me, okay? I’ll do yours later. Otherwise your calves will definitely hurt tomorrow.”
“Sure.”
Julia sat down at the other end of the sofa, lifted Elizabeth’s legs onto her own thighs, and gently began massaging them.
Elizabeth comfortably hummed several times before muttering:
“No, I need to think of a way to make that guy spare some time for me. I refuse to just muddle through my thesis carelessly.”
While kneading Elizabeth’s calves, Julia thought for a moment before saying:
“Liz, you spent the whole day bickering with Eric. Have you ever considered another possibility?”
“Hm?” Elizabeth let out a confused sound without turning around.
Julia smiled.
“If you watch enough movies or television dramas, you’ll notice there’s a type of couple called ‘bickering lovers.’”
Elizabeth’s somewhat simple-minded little brain turned briefly.
Then, in the next instant, she suddenly sprang up from the sofa and wildly flailed her arms while standing on it.
“IMPOSSIBLE!”