ATLAS TRANSLATES

Jiang Qi Huai had never imagined that Tao Zhi would be so fixated on getting 700 points just because of his casual excuse for rejecting Li Shu Fei.

And she had been fixated on it for so long.

A total score of at least 700 had somehow become his basic requirement for choosing a partner in her mind.

Moreover, she seemed to think achieving this score was just a matter of time, completely confident in herself.

The wind gusted through the alley entrance. Jiang Qi Huai shifted to the side where the cold wind was blowing, shielding her entire body in front of him, and asked along with her previous question, “How many times do you plan to take the test?”

This question suddenly made things more concrete, limiting her opportunities. Tao Zhi thought seriously – there was definitely no hope for this midterm exam, and probably not even before the final exam.

Before her senior year, getting this score even once would have required burning incense and thanking her ancestors for their blessing.

Tao Zhi felt a bit uncertain. She looked away and said dryly, “Just… a few more times. Don’t ask too much.”

The young girl’s uncertainty made her eyeballs roll around, her thin eyelids and long eyelashes moving along with them. Jiang Qi Huai watched her with a deep gaze.

She was always like this.

Forward-charging, brilliant and passionate – if she liked someone, she would pursue them. If she said something, she would work hard to achieve it. Determined and without hesitation, as if nothing in this world could stop her footsteps in pursuing what she wanted.

They shouldn’t have been from the same world. They grew up day by day in different living environments, developing into two completely different personalities.

A vibrant rose cannot bloom in barren soil.

To Jiang Qi Huai, she was an extremely hot burst of light, abnormal and sudden, completely contradicting his plain life.

Yet it made one unable to resist wanting to catch that ray of light.

After Tao Zhi finished speaking, she secretly observed his reaction. After waiting for a moment and seeing Jiang Qi Huai still looking like he hadn’t processed it, she prepared to slip away before he came back to his senses.

She cleared her throat: “Anyway, I just came to let you know that before I get 700 points, you can’t like anyone else, okay?”

Tao Zhi turned around wanting to run as soon as she finished speaking.

She turned her head and had just taken a step when suddenly the boy behind her sighed, and she felt resistance as someone grabbed her backpack.

Jiang Qi Huai sighed: “You’re planning to walk to Second Medical University?”

Tao Zhi turned her head back: “Isn’t it just a ten-minute walk? I checked the map yesterday.”

Jiang Qi Huai glanced at her: “It’s ten minutes by car.”

“…”

Tao Zhi’s expression became a bit blank: “Ah, does it take very long to walk?”

“About half an hour,” Jiang Qi Huai walked outside, turning his head to see the girl trailing behind dejectedly. He couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly as he walked to the bicycle rack by the alley wall and turned around.

Tao Zhi had already obediently followed him over.

Jiang Qi Huai unlocked one of the bicycles, threw his backpack in the basket, pulled it out and asked her softly: “Do you know how to ride a bike?”

“Yes,” Tao Zhi lifted her head, looking at him somewhat shocked as she said, “Are you planning to have me give you a ride? Aren’t we getting something backwards here?”

Jiang Qi Huai pointed to another old bicycle beside them and said flatly: “I have two bikes.”

“Oh,” Tao Zhi’s expression instantly became peaceful as she went along smoothly, “Then I don’t know how to ride.”

Jiang Qi Huai: “…”

Tao Zhi’s fingers gripped tightly onto the back seat of his bicycle refusing to let go, sticking her head out and swaying it back and forth as she deliberately dragged out her words: “Your Highness, please give me a ride~”

“…”

Jiang Qi Huai clenched his jaw, his chin moving slightly: “Speak properly.”

He pushed the bicycle forward a bit, not bothering to unlock the other bike anymore.

Tao Zhi happily jumped onto the back seat. Her school uniform pants were very loose – she spread her long legs casually to step on both sides, holding onto the edge of the seat, and swung her legs: “Let’s go, let’s go!”

Jiang Qi Huai pushed the bike onto the road, then mounted it.

The sports meet started an hour earlier than morning self-study. There wasn’t much traffic in the early morning as they traveled along the bike lane on the road. Jiang Qi Huai rode very steadily – Tao Zhi didn’t even need to hold onto the seat with both hands.

The boy’s broad back formed a smooth arc, his loose school uniform jacket billowing in the wind, the soft fabric brushing against her nose tip carrying the clean and neat smell of laundry detergent.

With the wind brushing past her ears, Tao Zhi sat on the back swinging her legs, leaning forward slightly as her body gradually relaxed.

The bike had already entered Second Medical University’s campus. First Experimental High was already quite large, but it couldn’t compare to a university campus. Jiang Qi Huai seemed very familiar with the roads in the school – he didn’t even look at the signs by the road as the wheels rolled over orange-red fallen leaves while traveling through the tree-lined paths.

From time to time they could see students wearing experimental school uniforms walking towards the stadium direction in groups of two or three, chatting and laughing.

Not far ahead, Tao Zhi saw Li Shuang Jiang and the others.

Just as she was thinking about whether to say hello, Jiang Qi Huai’s voice came faintly from the front: “Hold on tight.”

His voice was from the front and not very loud – Tao Zhi didn’t hear clearly. She stuck her head out: “What?”

“There’s a downhill ahead,” Jiang Qi Huai said.

As soon as he finished speaking, the bike’s speed suddenly increased, sliding straight down the slope. Tao Zhi’s body in the back swayed sharply forward. Her scream was stuck in her throat, turning into a panicked whimper as her fingers instinctively wrapped around the front person’s jacket holding his waist, her nose tip pressed against his back as her whole body leaned against him.

The boy’s spine stiffened for a moment: “I already told you to hold on tight.”

“But I didn’t hear clearly!” Tao Zhi’s head was still pressed against his back, her voice muffled, “Speaking a bit louder would tire you out or something?”

Jiang Qi Huai let out a light laugh without saying anything.

The bicycle slid past the slope and became steady again. Tao Zhi belatedly started feeling a bit awkward.

She slowly withdrew her arms, her cold fingertips touching her burning earrings, pinching them slightly.

Li Shuang Jiang stood on the slope, watching the bicycle slowly pulling away in front, somewhat dazed: “Was that just… Huai ge and…?”

Jiang Zheng Xun nodded: “And our class monitor.”

Although Li Shuang Jiang was slow to react, he also started feeling something wasn’t quite right: “Why are they coming together again?”

Jiang Zheng Xun didn’t say anything, just looked at him.

“Why are you looking at me?” Li Shuang Jiang asked puzzled.

Jiang Zheng Xun: “I’m looking at an idiot.”

“You…” Li Shuang Jiang said indignantly, “I got 680 last time!”

Jiang Zheng Xun yawned and continued walking forward: “You could get 780 and still be an idiot.”

Li Shuang Jiang: “…”

When Tao Zhi arrived at the stadium, it was already getting lively inside.

The experimental school’s autumn sports meet only included first and second year high school students. The third years only had half a year left until college entrance exams and had stopped all recreational activities, being confined to school to focus on their studies.

The university stadium was one lap bigger than the experimental school’s. First and second years each occupied one side, while college student volunteers began setting up high jump and javelin throw events in the empty space in the middle. Students were moving back and forth on the track, and teachers on both bleachers were organizing their class students.

Tao Zhi jumped off the bicycle. Jiang Qi Huai locked the bike at the stadium entrance, and they both went in to find Class 1’s location.

Since Class 2-1 was first, their position was close to the bleachers. In front of the bleacher guardrail, Zhao Ming Qi and several boys were tying up banners and slogans – red backgrounds with yellow text fluttering in the wind.

Fu Xi Ling was on the bleachers dragging a large bag, going around giving out small clappers to people who came.

She was small, and that black bag was almost half her height and very heavy. The little girl was struggling to drag it forward. Ji Fan beside her who was playing with his phone looked up briefly, seeming unable to watch anymore as he got up and took the bag from her hands, lifting it effortlessly: “Alright, go play.”

With Fu Xi Ling free now, she saw Tao Zhi coming over and waved at her.

Tao Zhi also bounced around waving back at her across the field.

By the time everyone had arrived and finished lining up in formation, and school leaders began speaking on the main stage, the sun had finally peeked out from behind the clouds, spilling down a few rays of cold light.

The stadium was bustling – some were eating snacks while others went down to warm up for competitions. As vice class monitor, Tao Zhi wasn’t idle either. All the competition numbers for participating students were with her. She leaned back in the first row of the bleachers with the bag of number bibs on her lap, lazily calling out numbers: “Number 18, is number 18 here?”

Li Shuang Jiang poked his head out from behind: “Here, boss!”

Tao Zhi passed the number to him and threw him two safety pins: “Pin it yourself.”

While pinning his number, Li Shuang Jiang said: “Hey boss, how come you came with Huai ge today? Where’s Fan ge?”

Tao Zhi’s yawn got stuck halfway, her mouth hanging open frozen.

Ji Fan beside her was waving a colorful plastic clapper making crisp clapping sounds. He sneered: “How would Fan ge have any presence? Fan ge is just an insignificant bystander.”

Tao Zhi grabbed the clapper toy from his hand and smacked it on his head, putting aside the remaining number bibs: “Go hand out your stupid clappers.”

Ji Fan rolled his eyes and walked away.

The numbers were almost all handed out except for her own. Class 1 girls generally weren’t very good at sports, but Tao Zhi had been sweet-talked by Zhao Ming Qi into signing up for two events – the women’s 400 meters in the morning and a relay in the afternoon.

She was using safety pins to attach her number to her clothes with her head down when someone called her name from below the bleachers.

Tao Zhi looked up.

Jiang He Sheng was holding a form, wearing the Second Medical University volunteer uniform, and waved at her from below the bleachers.

The boy had broad shoulders and was tall – even the ugly orange volunteer uniform looked quite handsome on him. He usually wore light colors, so this was the first time Tao Zhi had seen him in bright colors, showing some youthful vigor unique to young people.

Tao Zhi stood up and ran to the guardrail, then down the stairs to him, finding it quite novel: “How come you’re also volunteering?”

“It’s mandatory for student council officers,” Jiang He Sheng said somewhat helplessly.

After several classes, the two had become familiar with each other. Tao Zhi smiled and gave him a thumbs up: “You actually look quite good in bright colors – more handsome than in a white shirt.”

“Zhi Zhi looks good in the school uniform too,” Jiang He Sheng glanced at the number on her clothes, “Going to compete?”

Tao Zhi nodded: “Women’s 400 meters, should be checking in soon.”

“I’m in charge of that area,” Jiang He Sheng raised his hand to pat her head, smiling gently, “Good luck.”

Several boys next to him also wearing orange volunteer uniforms made teasing “ooh ooh ooh” sounds.

For some reason, Tao Zhi suddenly felt guilty and unconsciously glanced towards the bleachers.

Jiang Qi Huai was standing up there, his emotionless gaze meeting hers.

The broadcast overhead came on, reminding women’s 400 meter participants to check in at the registration area.

Jiang He Sheng had already withdrawn his hand: “Shall we go together?”

Tao Zhi didn’t have time to think too much. She withdrew her gaze and nodded, following him forward.

Jiang Qi Huai just watched as the little girl walked beside the boy. They said something that made her laugh, her eyes curving along with the small arc of her smile, her side profile soft as a small fang showed at the corner of her lips.

He frowned slightly, then looked away.

The track was 400 meters per lap, and they needed to check in at the inner edge of the track.

Tao Zhi’s starting position was diagonally behind Class 1, with the finish line right below the bleachers.

After filling in her class and number at check-in, Tao Zhi stood at the starting position doing warm-up exercises.

She had taken off her jacket and was only wearing a sweater with the number pinned to it. From far away, she looked like a small white figure bouncing up and down on the red track stretching her legs.

Tao Zhi was in lane two closer to the inside, positioned slightly behind the outer lanes.

When the preparation gun sounded, Tao Zhi took a deep breath and closed her eyes to calm down.

Although she didn’t like running and had stopped exercising much as she grew older, she had already signed up.

Might as well get first place.

Just casually.

The second gunshot rang through the sky. The moment Tao Zhi heard it, her whole body burst forward. The cheering and shouting from various classes and the crisp rhythmic sounds of support props instantly drifted far away – only the whooshing of wind remained in Tao Zhi’s ears.

She stared steadily at the few people running in front of her, quickly closing the distance, then gradually passing them one by one until only one remained. The two were running almost side by side forward.

In the later middle section, Tao Zhi began to speed up.

The girl also started accelerating. Just as Tao Zhi pulled slightly ahead, she was caught up to again. The distance couldn’t be widened, and Tao Zhi frowned, feeling a bit annoyed.

All the way until the final sprint.

Tao Zhi gritted her teeth and ran forward with all her might. The girl beside her seemed to have used too much energy in the middle section and couldn’t maintain the speed.

Li Shuang Jiang hung over the bleacher railing roaring frantically: “Boss, go for it!! Fucking crush it!!!!”

With the finish line in sight, Tao Zhi didn’t hold back any strength, just focusing on that red line as she charged forward, pulling away from second place all the way to the finish.

Suddenly two girls walked across from the end of the finish line, chatting and passing through the middle, happening to walk onto her lane.

Tao Zhi’s speed was too fast to react and slow down. Just as she was about to crash into them, before she could even get a shout out, that girl was already right in front of her.

The girl finally turned her head and saw her. She stepped back twice but still couldn’t dodge. Tao Zhi ran straight into her as the two collided hard.

There was a muffled “bang”.

Tao Zhi’s whole body was knocked to the ground by the powerful impact. Just before falling, she quickly reacted by using her palms to brace against the ground, absorbing most of the force, but her tailbone still hurt piercingly and her ankle was burning with pain, making her vision go black.

There was chaos all around, with footsteps coming in waves. Tao Zhi’s ears were ringing as her vision gradually became clear.

Someone was gently holding her arm in front of her, with a clean scent and a cool voice: “Are you alright?”

Tao Zhi tried hard to blink and come back to her senses, her vision slowly focusing.

Jiang Qi Huai was kneeling in front of her, looking down at her with light-colored eyes filled with dark shadows.

He seemed to have just run down from the bleachers, still breathing slightly heavily.

Suddenly Tao Zhi felt even more pain, and even her personality became more delicate.

Her eyes misted over with tears as she pouted and said softly: “It hurts.”

Jiang Qi Huai’s fingers tightened then immediately loosened their grip. His lips were pressed tightly together as he asked hoarsely: “Where does it hurt?”

“Everything hurts,” Tao Zhi sniffled, raising her hand. Her palm was scraped and the wound was mixed with track fragments, bleeding slightly. She choked up and said in a spoiled tone, “My hand hurts, my ankle hurts, and my butt hurts too.”

Jiang Qi Huai moved down slightly, carefully lifting her ankle and using his fingertips to roll up the loose leg of her school uniform pants.

Tao Zhi instantly froze, tears held in her eyes immediately pushed back. She suddenly realized something and tried to pull back the foot he was holding.

Jiang Qi Huai looked up.

The little girl looked at him with wet eyes, pulling back her foot with a panicked expression, as if he had just done something very offensive.

Jiang Qi Huai took a deep breath: “Let me take a look.”

“No!” Tao Zhi refused very decisively.

The atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Tao Zhi didn’t know how to explain.

Because it was cold weather and she was always very sensitive to cold, she had worn thermal underwear.

Very, very ugly thermal underwear.

How could she let the person she liked see such ugly thermal underwear!!!

Especially since she had just confessed this morning.

A teenage girl’s inexplicable and incomprehensible self-esteem suddenly came online in a strange way. Tao Zhi deeply regretted not just buying a plain black pair. Instead, she had listened to Tao Xiu Ping saying this pair was warmer and thicker and bought this one.

If Jiang Qi Huai saw her wearing such horrifically ugly thermal underwear, she would rather die of pain on the spot.

Jiang Qi Huai didn’t know why she was suddenly so resistant. He patiently softened his tone: “I just want to check, then take you to the infirmary for treatment.”

Tao Zhi stubbornly hugged her leg, not moving, silently refusing.

As the two were at a stalemate, several volunteers had already run over from the starting point. Jiang He Sheng ran to Tao Zhi’s front and crouched down. He frowned, looking at Tao Zhi: “Where are you hurt? Did you hit your head? Did you twist your foot?”

Tao Zhi was looking at Jiang Qi Huai and hadn’t reacted yet. She slowly turned her head.

Without further ado, Jiang He Sheng grabbed her other foot and pulled up her pant leg to look at her ankle.

Tao Zhi was completely unprepared.

Under the cover of the school uniform pants, her thermal underwear was instantly exposed to all three people.

Very bright, eye-piercingly high-saturated pink thermal underwear, printed with large yellow and green flowers. At the leg part, a bright green rabbit stood on golden flowers grinning to show two long front teeth.

The colorful pattern dazzled in the sunlight, extremely eye-catching.

Jiang Qi Huai: “…”

Jiang He Sheng: “…”

“…”

Tao Zhi closed her eyes, her heart overwhelmed by despair.

In this instant.

She experienced heartbreak.

Her youth was completely over.