ATLAS TRANSLATES

The living room was dimly lit, with only the white light from the floor fishing lamp beside the sofa. The kitchen light was still on, shining through the simple lined soft partition to illuminate half the space at the other end of the living room.

His breathing was just inches away, his exhales wrapping around her like mist through the soft sofa cushions, seemingly burning hot, making one instinctively want to retreat.

Even the air felt scorching.

Tao Zhi thought the heating in Jiang Qi Huai’s new home was far too generous compared to his old apartment building.

Her fingertips fidgeted with the lace trim of the cushion, chin pressed into it, watching his eyelashes so close to her.

His eyelashes weren’t actually longer than hers, but they were thick and dense. Back in school, they often made her heart itch with the urge to pluck a few to examine.

After staring for a while, she hurriedly looked away. He kept his head down as she buried her mouth into the cushion, saying softly, “You’re really not being sincere.”

Jiang Qi Huai gently rubbed the fingertip he held in his hand, humbly asking, “What would count as sincere?”

The gentle pressure kneading her fingertip made Tao Zhi’s whole body tingle, instantly wiping her mind clean of whatever she was going to say.

Acting as if he hadn’t noticed, Jiang Qi Huai said very patiently, “It’s fine if you can’t accept it now. I’ll wait as long as you need.”

As he spoke, he continued methodically kneading her fingertip.

A girl’s hand was different from a man’s. Though it looked thin and bony, it felt as soft as dough when held, making one reluctant to let go.

Just like her whole being.

Jiang Qi Huai couldn’t help but remember the warmth from long ago when he held her in his arms.

Soft and warm, as if just holding her lightly, or even just looking at her, was enough to completely fill that dark, empty hole in his heart.

Tao Zhi finally couldn’t help but try to pull her hand away. She licked her lips, pulled the cushion up higher to cover most of her face, leaving only her eyes visible as she looked at him: “Don’t wait.”

Jiang Qi Huai paused, looking at her.

Tao Zhi blinked, her voice muffled behind the cushion: “There’s nothing worth waiting for.”

Jiang Qi Huai’s breath caught.

He remained motionless for a while, seeming somewhat surprised, slowly processing the meaning of her words. After a long moment, he finally spoke: “I thought I’d have to chase you for years.”

Tao Zhi had long lost patience with his wooden-headed nature. She nodded, saying very seriously, “If you want to chase me for a few more years, I suppose I could play along.”

Jiang Qi Huai lowered his eyes and chuckled: “Too late.”

He suddenly raised his hand and yanked away the cushion that had been in their way for so long, tossing it to the floor, then pulled her other hand back slightly.

Tao Zhi’s arm was pulled forward, bringing half her body with it. Her forehead bumped into his collarbone, and before she could straighten up, he gently gripped her nape and tilted her head up.

Jiang Qi Huai’s fingers on the back of her neck slowly lifted, his fingertips trailing across the delicate skin of her throat, threading through her hair to cradle the back of her head. Tao Zhi’s head tilted back slightly, not even having time to blink, just watching his lowered eyelashes draw closer.

Her lips were gently caught between his teeth, his tongue tenderly and meticulously licking along the seam of her lips, like a patient wolf tapping at a wooden door, waiting for the white rabbit inside to open up.

It was completely different from his first tentative butterfly kiss – this was deep and lingering.

Tao Zhi obediently parted her lips slightly, and the man’s palm pressed firmly against the back of her head, making a grand entrance.

He held her hand with their fingers intertwined, his palm burning hot, fingertips pressing firmly into her soft hand.

Tao Zhi couldn’t help letting out a soft whimper from her throat.

That sound acted like a catalyst, continuously provoking that taut thread of reason in his mind that was about to snap.

Jiang Qi Huai bent his long legs slightly, his knee pressing into the sofa cushion as he leaned forward, pressing her entire body into the sofa.

He lifted their interlocked hands, pinning them above her head against the soft sofa.

The force was too strong, and Tao Zhi’s fingers slipped from between his, struggling slightly unable to help herself.

Jiang Qi Huai noticed and stopped, carefully withdrawing from the territory he had just invaded, lifting his head.

He was somewhat concerned that his actions might have been too sudden, worried that she might not like it.

The tip of her tongue still held the faint aching sensation of being gently pulled and curled, the man’s breath scorching hot so close to her. Tao Zhi was red from her ear tips to the roots of her ears. She unconsciously swallowed, lying flat on the sofa looking up at him, and asked seriously, “Are you sure you don’t have a fever? It could be contagious.”

Her voice was sweet, carrying traces of breathlessness and slight hoarseness.

Jiang Qi Huai lowered his head again, burying it in the crook of her neck, letting out a muffled laugh.

Tao Zhi caught her breath, her fingertips clutching the fabric of his shirt at his back, saying dissatisfied: “What are you laughing at?”

He didn’t answer, his breath against her ear gradually slowing down.

The man was so big pressing down on her, looking lean but when his weight came down you could feel how heavy his frame was. Tao Zhi pulled at him trying to lift him up, complaining softly: “Don’t crush me, you’re so heavy.”

Jiang Qi Huai rolled off, but the sofa was narrow to begin with, with two cushions taking up space behind them. He reached out to grab those cushions and threw them all on the floor, then lay on his side and pulled her back into his arms.

Tao Zhi was held like a doll in his arms, fidgeting restlessly. She raised her hand to pinch his upturned nose tip, then poked his lips.

Her cool fingers poked at the corner of his mouth. Jiang Qi Huai turned his head and caught her fingertip between his teeth, biting gently: “Don’t move, let me hold you for a while.”

Tao Zhi pouted: “Why suddenly want to hold me for a while?”

Why aren’t we kissing anymore?

Was just one kiss enough?

Just that little kiss was enough?

While she was absent-mindedly thinking like a female hooligan, she heard Jiang Qi Huai say slowly: “Getting reacquainted with you.”

Tao Zhi froze for a moment, looking up.

Jiang Qi Huai held her with his eyes closed, his features relaxed, finally looking at ease.

Even if she didn’t say it and he didn’t mention it, there was still a long span of time and distance between them. Even blood relatives would not suddenly become close again after years apart, let alone other relationships.

Tao Zhi pressed against his chest to create some distance, lowering her eyes to ask: “Have I changed a lot?”

“Hmm?” Jiang Qi Huai reached out to hook her head and rub it, then pressed it back down. When he spoke, his Adam’s apple vibrated slightly, tickling her a bit. His voice was deep, carrying a rare relaxed laziness, “No, still my Zhi Zhi.”

Tao Zhi blinked blankly, then the corners of her pressed lips slowly curved up just a little.

Even though they had both walked lonely paths for such a long time, Jiang Qi Huai was still Jiang Qi Huai.

He was still the flourishing youth who made her heart skip a beat when she saw him again.

He was still the Jiang that she wanted to write down stroke by stroke in her notebook as Zhi Zhi’s Jiang.

Tao Zhi had always felt there was an irreparable regret between them because they had missed each other’s best years.

But in this moment, she suddenly realized that defining the best time shouldn’t be judged by age.

Your teens can be the best time, your twenties can be too, and if you meet the most worthwhile things to do and the person you love most at thirty, then thirty is the best age.

It’s not about meeting you in my best years, but rather that from the day I met you, every day of the rest of my life will be the best time of my life.

Jiang Qi Huai did seem very tired lately. Tao Zhi had only been lost in thought on the sofa for a moment without speaking when she came back to her senses to find his breathing had become even and steady beside her ear.

Tao Zhi nuzzled her head against his embrace and called softly: “Jiang Qi Huai?”

No response.

Tao Zhi carefully turned over in his arms and lay on her back for about ten minutes, not falling asleep and starting to feel a bit bored.

She hesitated whether to wake him up, turning her head carefully, tilting her chin up, trying to scoot down a bit to get up.

But just as she was slowly inching down, Jiang Qi Huai’s breathing lightened and he opened his eyes.

Feeling his arms empty, he looked down.

Tao Zhi was kneeling on the carpet, leaning against the edge of the sofa, looking at him: “You fell asleep so fast, was I even quiet for five minutes?”

Jiang Qi Huai’s gaze lowered, looking at her for several seconds, as if confirming she was still there, before slowly propping himself up against the sofa cushion to sit up.

One arm rested on his knee while he extended the other hand toward her.

His voice was hoarse, carrying lingering drowsiness: “Is the floor cold?”

“You’ve become stupid after just ten minutes of sleep, there’s floor heating,” Tao Zhi patted the fluffy carpet, then paused and said, “It’s getting late.”

Jiang Qi Huai looked up at the clock hanging above the bookshelf: “Mm.”

Tao Zhi glanced at him: “I should go home.”

Jiang Qi Huai’s gaze lowered.

His eyes still held traces of not fully dispersed sleepiness, corners slightly drooping, seemingly slow to react. He looked at her for a while before asking softly: “Still want to eat chicken wings?”

Tao Zhi looked at him in disbelief: “Why are you so obsessed with chicken wings?”

“Because you like them,” Jiang Qi Huai said plainly.

Suddenly, a wave of warmth washed over Tao Zhi’s heart, and her fingers twitched, unable to resist wanting to stand up.

“Besides, I already took them out to thaw,” Jiang Qi Huai continued.

“…”

Tao Zhi’s hand that was about to reach out to him withdrew. She sat back down on the carpet, expressionless as she said: “Freeze them back, I’m going home.”

Jiang Qi Huai made a sound of acknowledgment and stood up: “I’ll take you.”

While he went back to the bedroom to change clothes, Tao Zhi stuffed two more strawberries in her mouth, then went to the kitchen to throw the half-thawed bag of chicken wings back in the freezer.

Jiang Qi Huai came out after changing, just as she was reaching for her coat at the entrance.

Tao Zhi put on her coat and opened the door, standing in the doorway first. She had left in a hurry earlier and wasn’t wearing a scarf. Jiang Qi Huai glanced over, casually pulled a scarf down from the rack by the door.

He grabbed one end of the scarf, passed it behind her neck over her long hair and pulled it through from the other end, then tugged both ends forward and leaned down to kiss her.

The security door was open, she was standing outside, and he just brazenly and openly did this.

Tao Zhi uncomfortably touched her lips with the back of her hand, saying softly: “Never ending with you, are there cameras here?”

Jiang Qi Huai nodded, lifting his chin toward a small surveillance camera in the corner of the ceiling: “Yes.”

Tao Zhi followed his direction to look, then instantly pulled his scarf up to cover her face, keeping her head down and walking toward the elevator without looking up.

Jiang Qi Huai’s place wasn’t particularly close to Tao Zhi’s home, but fortunately there wasn’t much traffic at this hour, making it quite a bit faster than when she came.

She hadn’t driven her car back, leaving it temporarily in his parking lot. Jiang Qi Huai drove her home, not even using navigation, familiar with the roads like a taxi driver.

When the car stopped outside her building, Tao Zhi jumped out, then watched as he got out from the driver’s seat, closed the door and locked the car, heading straight into the complex: “Come on, I’ll walk you up.”

Tao Zhi followed closely behind him.

The winter night wind was cold enough to cut to the bone. Tao Zhi kept her head down, almost pressing it against the back of the person in front of her, sticking to him like a shadow to let him block the wind.

It wasn’t until they entered the building that she finally peeked out. Jiang Qi Huai turned his head to look at the scarf pulled up to her forehead: “Is it really that cold?”

“It wasn’t really this cold before,” Tao Zhi walked into the elevator and pressed her floor, explaining knowingly, “But scientific research shows that girls with boyfriends can’t handle even a little bit of cold.”

Jiang Qi Huai looked at her serious and earnest expression and laughed softly.

The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Tao Zhi went out first and walked to her door, turning around at the entrance and pointing at the door: “I’m going in?”

Jiang Qi Huai looked at her: “Mm.”

Tao Zhi turned around, somewhat reluctantly pressing the keypad. Because she had been outside for so long, her fingers were a bit stiff, slowly pressing only four numbers when the door was suddenly pulled open from inside.

Ji Fan stood casually in the doorway, raising his voice to lecture her: “What time is it? What time are you getting back? Do you have any sense of time?” He looked confused, “What were you doing out so late? I asked Fu Xi Ling but she just hemmed and hawed and wouldn’t tell me.”

Tao Zhi looked at him, getting over her shock at his loud voice and becoming confused herself: “Why are you at my place so late at night?”

Ji Fan’s expression froze for a moment, then he looked away somewhat guiltily: “I was just checking on you, haven’t seen you for several days—”

He stopped mid-sentence as his gaze drifted behind Tao Zhi, his voice cutting off abruptly.

His guilty expression slowly disappeared, replaced by one of disbelief and anger.

Tao Zhi turned around to see that Jiang Qi Huai hadn’t left yet. She pulled him over by his sleeve, cleared her throat and said seriously: “You probably haven’t met—”

Ji Fan finally snapped out of his shock and anger, shouting to interrupt her: “Like hell I haven’t met him!”

Tao Zhi remained completely unfazed, saying leisurely: “This is, as you first saw him, your sister’s boyfriend.”

As she spoke, she tugged hard on Jiang Qi Huai’s coat sleeve.

With such a clear hint from her, Jiang Qi Huai sighed. He cooperatively nodded to Ji Fan, saying emotionlessly: “Nice to meet you.”

Ji Fan was provoked into a rage by their perfect coordination, losing all semblance of composure: “Nice to meet my ass!”

Even though this person was behaving atrociously with terrible manners, Tao Zhi remained completely unaffected. She raised her hand to smack the back of the young man’s head: “Why are you using such foul language? Address him properly.”

“Address him what? Brother or brother-in-law?” Ji Fan looked at Jiang Qi Huai with a furious sneer, then raised his hand to point at him and said: “You dog!”