ATLAS TRANSLATES

Tao Zhi never expected to get caught making a video call with her boyfriend whom she had only confirmed her relationship with an hour ago.

She had never stayed in a dormitory before, but Song Jiang had experience living in one. During middle school, due to fighting and skipping classes, causing a lot of trouble, Song Grandfather issued an order and sent him to a very strictly managed boarding school for two semesters. It yielded no results, so they had no choice but to bring him back.

According to Song Jiang, the interactions between dormmates were very cold. Everyone had their own things to do, and in the dorm, they just did their own thing. Apart from necessary communication and occasional chats, others wouldn’t care about what their roommates were doing.

Jiang Qi Huai had only been there for a week, yet he seemed to have already become familiar with his roommates.

With that terrible personality of his.

When she first knew him for a week, they were mortal enemies who wouldn’t even exchange half a sentence more than necessary.

And who makes video calls in the dorm without wearing earphones!

That means everything she said must have been heard by his roommates.

Tao Zhi rolled over, lying dejectedly face-up on the couch, sighing somewhat sadly.

Never mind, it couldn’t be more embarrassing than the ugly thermal pants at the sports meet. Besides, she probably wouldn’t have any chance to interact with his roommates in the future.

Her boyfriend was now at Experimental High!

Her boyfriend.

Thinking of these three words, Tao Zhi became happy again. Her phone vibrated underneath her, and she picked it up to take a look.

[A Secret]: Why did you hang up?

Thinking about how his roommates might be teasing her on the other end, Tao Zhi felt her ears starting to burn. She angrily typed back.

[Grape Branch]: Good night!!

She mercifully took a step back, but unexpectedly, Jiang Qi Huai became even more energetic.

[A Secret]: So cold.

[A Secret]: Don’t want to chat more?

Tao Zhi: “…”

Tao Zhi opened the emoji menu, carefully selected for quite a while, and clicked on a cat emoji sticker she had stolen from Fu Xi Ling.

[Grape Branch]: [Falling Cat.jpg]

[Grape Branch]: Don’t want to disturb your studies, do well in your exam!

After sending the message, she held her arm high up, staring at Jiang Qi Huai’s chat window on WeChat for a while, pressing her lips together, unable to hold back her smile.

She slowly clicked back into his WeChat again, changed his contact name, then after hesitating for a moment, still pinned their chat to the top.

Let it be at the top.

Someone as good as him deserved to occupy the top position in both her WeChat and her life.

Jiang Qi Huai finished his competition exam and came to school as usual the next day.

Li Shuang Jiang had heard the news the day before and specially used his pocket money to order an urgent banner from the copy shop next to school.

Early in the morning, as soon as Tao Zhi entered the classroom, she saw several people busily fussing around in front of the blackboard. She walked over and stretched her neck to look: “What are you guys doing now?”

Li Shuang Jiang turned around with a mysterious expression, grinning: “Finding some fun for our boring school life.”

Zhao Ming Qi said solemnly: “No matter how harsh our living conditions are, as long as we’re alive, we can’t forget these four words — seize the moment for joy.”

They kept busy until early self-study began.

The banner was hung above the blackboard, tied up and rolled together with a rope, not yet unfurled. The long roll and its black, white, and vermillion borders almost merged into one, making it impossible to see what was written.

The first class was Wang Er’s mathematics.

Tao Zhi could now barely keep up with the pace of the class. Once she could understand the lecture content, class became much more interesting.

Like a sponge that had been dried in the sunlight for a long time, she eagerly absorbed the moisture and quickly expanded.

On the podium, Wang Er finished going through yesterday’s homework papers and began preparing the new content for this class.

He stood on the platform opening his book, dragging his voice: “Come on, everyone open your books to page fifty-six. This lesson I’ll take you through something interesting.”

The students below lackadaisically opened their books. Wang Er turned around to look for the triangle ruler.

The huge wooden triangle ruler used for teaching wasn’t on the desk today but was hung beside the blackboard, with a rope tied at the top in an easily undone knot.

While reaching up to undo the slip knot, Wang Er said: “Who tied my triangle ruler here? Huh? Don’t you have anything better to do all day, even making a fuss about a broken ruler—”

His words stopped halfway.

The knot came undone, and without the weight of the triangle ruler at the bottom, the thin rope shot upward. The circles of rope binding the banner above uncoiled like a little snake, then with a “whoosh,” the entire banner dropped down, unfurling in front of the whole class.

Wang Er happened to be standing right under the banner and was directly covered head to face.

The bright red banner had yellow characters, with a covered Wang Er in the middle, his upper body making a bulge, but it didn’t prevent everyone from clearly seeing the words.

—Warmly celebrating the glorious return of our Experimental High elite student Jiang.

—Our excitement overflows and can only be expressed through this magnificent declaration.

There was also a line on the far right.

—Jiang Qi Huai is awesome.

After two seconds of silence, the classroom erupted in unified laughter.

Seeing the plan successfully executed, Zhao Ming Qi suddenly slapped his desk and stood up excitedly: “Yeah!”

Tao Zhi watched in amazement. She thought she had been quite mischievous as a delinquent girl for many years, but she hadn’t imagined there was such a fearless way to be naughty.

“…”

Wang Er slowly raised his hand, grabbed the edge of the banner and lifted it up, crawling out from underneath.

When he emerged, Zhao Ming Qi and Li Shuang Jiang were high-fiving each other across several rows of seats.

Wang Er first looked back at the words above, and whether from being too angry or what, he actually smiled. He turned his face and expressionlessly pointed at Zhao Ming Qi: “Zhao Ming Qi, Li Shuang Jiang, you two get out first, I’ll deal with you slowly after class.”

“…”

It was indeed a magnificent declaration.

Tao Zhi didn’t know what they were trying to achieve with this.

Li Shuang Jiang and Zhao Ming Qi were sent out by Wang Er for the entire class. Even from a floor away, you could seemingly hear Wang Er’s furious roars. It wasn’t until class was almost over that the two returned.

Speaking of severity, this wasn’t too serious, and the nature wasn’t particularly malicious. When Wang Er went to tell on them to Wang Zhe Zi, even Wang Zhe Zi had to hold back his laughter for quite a while before maintaining his stern face.

In the end, they each had to write a 500-word self-criticism and copy math formulas as punishment.

Li Shuang Jiang wasn’t very skilled at writing self-criticisms. During self-study, he humbly turned around to consult the professional, Tao Zhi.

“This is simple,” Tao Zhi leaned against the wall, lazily twirling her pen. “First state what you did, then say you won’t do it again, and that’s it. It’s only 500 words, not even as long as a Chinese exam essay.”

Li Shuang Jiang frowned, still not quite getting it: “Please elaborate.”

Tao Zhi patiently said: “During math class, I hung up a banner. Due to Teacher Wang’s carelessness—”

“Wait,” Li Shuang Jiang took out a notebook and started taking notes with his pen. “Please speak slower.”

“Due to Teacher Wang’s carelessness, he unwittingly untied the rope holding the banner, causing it to fall on his head in front of the whole class, becoming everyone’s source of amusement and creating a big mistake,” Tao Zhi guided him hands-on. “Then just add some remorse at the end, like hoping Teacher Wang will be more careful in the future to prevent such incidents from happening again.”

Li Shuang Jiang looked at the draft he had written following Tao Zhi’s words and finally understood. He sincerely said: “Boss, you’re just hoping I die quickly.”

Tao Zhi blinked her eyes innocently.

Li Shuang Jiang remembered Tao Zhi’s previous self-criticism speech in front of the whole school when she hit someone, and realized asking her how to write this was beyond stupid. He turned his head and looked at Jiang Qi Huai beside him: “But anyway, why is Huai Ge sitting in the front now?”

Before this self-study period, Tao Zhi had already switched seats with Fu Xi Ling and Jiang Qi Huai. She sat in Fu Xi Ling’s spot by the wall, while Jiang Qi Huai sat in her place.

When Li Shuang Jiang asked this, Tao Zhi felt a bit guilty. She waved the test paper in her hand: “Class monitor is helping me with problems.”

Li Shuang Jiang understood and nodded, turning back around to continue pondering his self-criticism.

Tao Zhi breathed a sigh of relief, turned her head, and saw Jiang Qi Huai looking at her.

She pretended to be calm: “Why are you looking at me? Look at the problems.”

Jiang Qi Huai obediently went back to looking at the problems.

Tao Zhi’s gaze fell on the test paper, carefully glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

The feeling of sitting in front and back rows was completely different from being deskmates, and he was sitting behind her.

Tao Zhi couldn’t even see him, but constantly turning around would be a bit weird.

If he sat next to her, she wouldn’t need to turn her head; just slightly turning her eyes to the side would let her see his profile.

But this way, her eyes were quite tired too.

As Tao Zhi looked, unconsciously her head also turned a bit more, watching his side profile.

From the side, his eyelashes were also very long, densely covering downward, his nose bridge straight, jaw line clear and angular, Adam’s apple sharp, protruding in a small point.

Tao Zhi unconsciously touched her own neck, it was something she didn’t have.

Wanted to touch it, wonder what it felt like.

She stared at his Adam’s apple in a daze until it lightly rolled, and Jiang Qi Huai suddenly spoke: “Why are you looking at me? Look at the problems.”

Tao Zhi suddenly came back to her senses. She felt like a female hooligan and quickly withdrew her gaze, continuing to look at the problems.

She was somewhat absent-minded, staring at the problems for a long while without writing anything, her mind full of his Adam’s apple. While spacing out, a hand suddenly appeared in her vision.

Jiang Qi Huai pulled her test paper over, glanced at the problem, and started writing the solution process.

Tao Zhi watched him write unhurriedly, suddenly remembering: “Your Highness, are you still tutoring in our neighborhood from before?”

Jiang Qi Huai didn’t stop writing: “Mm.”

“This Saturday?”

“Mm.”

Tao Zhi thought for a moment and asked him: “Then what time do you finish?”

“Eleven thirty.”

Tao Zhi calculated, Jiang He Sheng’s class would finish around twelve, the timing seemed about right.

She glanced at Li Shuang Jiang and his deskmate in front, both busy writing, probably not paying attention to the voices behind.

She lay on the desk and said quietly: “Then after you finish, want to come to my house?”

Jiang Qi Huai’s pen paused, and he turned to look at her.

Tao Zhi was afraid he would think she had some improper intentions, quickly said: “Come tutor me, I feel like my grade improvement speed still isn’t good enough.”

Jiang Qi Huai mercilessly exposed her: “If your grade improvement speed isn’t good enough, then there’s no such thing as good enough.”

Tao Zhi kept a straight face and righteously said: “I just have high standards for myself.”

Jiang Qi Huai looked at her without speaking.

Tao Zhi felt uncertain under his stare again, she looked away and urged: “Is it okay or not?”

Jiang Qi Huai curved his lips: “Okay.”

After arranging for Jiang Qi Huai to come over, on Saturday, Tao Zhi didn’t sleep in and naturally woke up after seven.

Jiang He Sheng would come at ten for class. She got up and took a shower, then started tidying her room.

Compared to Jiang Qi Huai, her room was really messy.

There were so many things it couldn’t all fit, the bookshelf beside her desk was full of comics, with small figurines messily arranged on the side, a TV in the corner, next to it was her gaming console shelf, and another wooden shelf beside that was full of CDs and movie discs.

Clothes were piled on the sofa, the blanket wasn’t folded, and plush toys were scattered all over the bed, taking up about half the space. Snacks were piled on the carpet.

Tao Zhi didn’t know where to start. After thinking for a bit, she simply picked up all the dolls from the bed and floor, along with the snacks and clothes, and stuffed them all messily into the wardrobe beside her desk.

After stuffing everything in and closing the door, the world became peaceful.

She satisfactorily patted her hands, then smoothed out the blanket on the bed, threw away the trash, and waited for Jiang Qi Huai to come see the princess’s clean room.

Jiang He Sheng arrived punctually at ten o’clock and finished class before twelve.

Tao Zhi walked him to the compound gate but didn’t go back in, directly waiting at the gate for Jiang Qi Huai.

The weather was gloomy, with the sun that only appeared briefly at noon poking its head out. Tao Zhi walked in circles at the gate while waiting, and after a short while, she saw him coming.

Tao Zhi waved at him.

Jiang Qi Huai walked over, and she pushed open the gate to lead the way: “How come you finished class even later than me?”

Jiang Qi Huai: “I sent you a WeChat message.”

Tao Zhi turned her head in surprise: “Oh?”

“Wasn’t it you who said,” Jiang Qi Huai lowered his head, “that I should report everything to you from now on.”

Indeed, she had said that.

Just didn’t expect he would take it to heart.

Tao Zhi didn’t speak, happily pushing open the door.

In the kitchen, Auntie Zhang was preparing lunch and hadn’t noticed the movement on this side. Tao Zhi got slippers for Jiang Qi Huai, then stood at the stairs waving at him, indicating him to follow her.

She quietly led him upstairs and into her bedroom.

Jiang Qi Huai looked at her, finding it somewhat amusing: “Why are you acting like a thief?”

“If Auntie Zhang knows, she’ll tell my dad,” Tao Zhi said softly, “My dad talks a lot, he’ll definitely pull you aside to ask all sorts of questions.”

As she spoke, she closed the door, and after finishing, suddenly realized why she was being so careful.

They were dating while still in school!

Jiang Qi Huai was now in her bedroom as her boyfriend.

And he had snuck in.

She just stood there leaning against the door, her expression changing every few moments. Jiang Qi Huai took off his jacket and draped it over the sofa armrest, turned around: “What are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking,” Tao Zhi said slowly, “Your Highness, we’re dating while still in school.”

“Yes, we are,” Jiang Qi Huai said, “So what?”

Tao Zhi seriously repeated: “We’re dating while we’re still students.”

“It’s not like you haven’t dated before,” Jiang Qi Huai glanced at her, “Didn’t you have quite a few ex-boyfriends?”

Tao Zhi was stumped for a moment: “Not that many, just one.”

“Not that many, just one.”

Jiang Qi Huai nodded: “And he still can’t forget you.”

Tao Zhi’s voice was weak, not very confident as she said: “…That has nothing to do with me.”

Jiang Qi Huai: “You heartless girl.”

“…”

Tao Zhi couldn’t refute, silently looking at him with a gloomy expression.

Afraid she might explode if he teased her more, Jiang Qi Huai stopped talking and scanned her room, surprisingly finding it quite neat.

She didn’t seem like someone who enjoyed tidying rooms. Jiang Qi Huai had actually prepared himself to help her pick up mess.

Her desk was spread with test papers and exercises, some completed, some partially marked in red pen. From the looks of it, she had just been studying.

As for that red pen handwriting, without thinking he knew whose it was – her senior tutor.

Jiang Qi Huai propped both hands on the desk, silently moving his gaze away without speaking.

Turning his head, he found Tao Zhi had somehow already come close.

The soft carpet absorbed her footsteps, she approached soundlessly, standing just behind his side stretching her head to look over, almost bumping into him.

He was slightly bent down, and the girl’s lips grazed his cheek imperceptibly as they brushed past, the touch soft and cool.

Jiang Qi Huai froze.

Tao Zhi also went still, taking several seconds to realize what had just happened, then completely froze in place.

Jiang Qi Huai looked at her, expressionless but with a deep light in his eyes.

Tao Zhi held her breath, pressing her lips together.

The wall clock’s second hand slowly ticked forward, making barely audible clicking sounds. The bedroom was quiet, her body pressed against Jiang Qi Huai’s arm, breathing gentle, as some awkward yet ambiguous atmosphere gradually spread.

Just as Tao Zhi was wracking her brains thinking if she should say something, suddenly two knocks came from the door.

“Zhi Zhi,” Tao Xiu Ping’s voice came from outside, “Are you done with class?”

Tao Zhi’s eyelid twitched violently, her mind instantly going blank. She panicked for a moment, instinctively jumping back a step.

Jiang Qi Huai didn’t move, just looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

Tao Zhi cleared her throat, quickly raising her voice a bit: “Y-yes!”

Tao Xiu Ping: “Can Dad come in?”

“No!” Tao Zhi immediately shouted.

Tao Xiu Ping was silent for a moment, seeming to sense something was wrong: “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Tao Zhi suddenly felt like she was caught having an affair in her bedroom by her parents. She glanced at the culprit still looking leisurely by the desk, and was so scared she started sweating.

Tao Xiu Ping was still patiently negotiating at the door: “Talk to Dad about it? Who upset you? Did something make you unhappy? Did you not do well on a test?”

Tao Zhi didn’t know what to say, silently mouthing to Jiang Qi Huai: What should we do?

Jiang Qi Huai looked at her composedly: What do you mean what should we do?

“…”

Tao Zhi was so anxious she was getting heartburn. Could this person not have some awareness about dating while in school!

After no sound came from the room for a while, Tao Xiu Ping frowned, somewhat worried: “Zhi Zhi, Dad’s coming in.”

As his words fell, the unlocked doorknob was gently turned.

Tao Zhi’s mind went blank. She frantically reached out one hand to grab Jiang Qi Huai while using her other hand to pull open the wardrobe door and directly shoved him into the closet.

Jiang Qi Huai didn’t react in time, still maintaining a completely stunned expression as she gave him a hard push to the stomach.

He let out a muffled grunt and stepped back, his foot catching on the bottom edge of the wardrobe. Losing his balance, he fell straight backward, head plunging into the rows of hanging clothes.

Tao Zhi slammed the wardrobe door with a “bang.”

The bedroom door was pushed open almost simultaneously as Tao Xiu Ping walked in and looked around.

Tao Zhi stood in front of the wardrobe, both hands propped against the doors, head covered in sweat.

Tao Xiu Ping stared blankly: “What are you doing in here? You’re sweating so much.”

Tao Zhi let out a long breath, nervously licking her lips: “I’m exercising.”

Tao Xiu Ping looked at her puzzled: “Why are you leaning against the wardrobe while exercising?”

Tao Zhi’s palms pressed hard against the wardrobe doors, her straight arms suddenly bent, folding down along with her whole body leaning forward.

She pressed her face against the wardrobe door with a serious expression, voice tight as she said: “I’m… doing push-ups.”