ATLAS TRANSLATES

Jiang Qi Huai discovered that Tao Zhi wasn’t so shy on WeChat.

He leaned back in his chair, eyes lowered as he stared at those few lines of text on his phone. Even through the screen, he could imagine what expression this bold girl must have right now.

Jiang Qi Huai felt he couldn’t just let her get away with this.

His fingers twirled the phone’s edge before grabbing it back, pausing for a few seconds to type: [Just photos?]

Tao Zhi replied instantly: [?]

Jiang Qi Huai continued: [Nothing in person?]

Tao Zhi: [??]

Jiang Qi Huai typed leisurely: [I’ll come over after work tonight.]

Zhi Zhi Grape: Bro, I’m at home right now, just forget it.

Jiang Qi Huai took a moment to process – when she said “home,” she probably meant the Tao family’s old house.

He glanced at her reply that was full of “admitting defeat,” put his phone on the table, and continued with his meeting.

Tao Zhi had only intended to tease Jiang Qi Huai a bit, waiting for him to either be cutting or silent so she could joke around more, but she hadn’t expected him to break through her bottom line so directly. She nearly choked on the preserved plum candy in her mouth.

She threw her phone on the bed, closed the small box of candy she had been hugging and put it aside, then rolled over to lie flat on the bed, thinking about picking up Jiang Qi Huai after work on Monday.

Some things she preferred to tell him in person rather than over WeChat.

However, her planned activities couldn’t be carried out. Not only was Jiang Qi Huai busy, but Tao Zhi herself also became continuously busy.

The cover photo for “SINGO” was even more demanding than she had imagined.

The guy with the perm seemed to have better attitude now, perhaps thanks to Jiang Qi Huai’s influence. Tao Zhi was having a fairly pleasant collaboration with him. She had selected several photos from different angles and poses that matched the March issue’s theme and the cover model’s makeup and aura, trying various post-processing effects, but still felt something was missing.

Commercial magazine covers were different from other types of photography. The photos Tao Zhi submitted to international photography competitions and exhibitions focused on content and technique, capturing vivid moments and instants. But what commercial magazines needed was an intense visual impact that would grab attention at first glance, possessing an aggressive energy that would make all similar magazines placed beside it instantly pale in comparison.

Both of them were busy with their own work, and hadn’t seen each other for nearly a week.

On Thursday evening, Tao Zhi finally adjusted the post-processing effects to her satisfaction and sent out all the finished photos.

She slid her chair back, raised both arms for a big stretch, yawned, then collapsed in her chair to space out for a while before picking up her phone to check the time.

Jiang Qi Huai had been working overtime every day recently. Tao Zhi had seen Lin Su Yan’s WeChat Moments cursing about the dog’s life of finance workers daily, and had even screenshot it to show Jiang Qi Huai, but the finance worker replied that he hadn’t seen it.

He had probably blocked all his colleagues, superiors and bosses, but forgot about Tao Zhi, the boss’s family member.

Seeing it was still early, Tao Zhi sat in her chair spinning around spacing out for a while before slowly grabbing her car keys and heading out.

The evening rush hour had already begun. It took Tao Zhi an hour to inch along with the snake-like traffic flow to reach Ruisheng’s office building. She parked in the underground parking lot, and thinking it was still early, was about to take out her phone to send Jiang Qi Huai a message.

But when she looked up, she happened to see him coming out of the elevator ahead.

Tao Zhi made a surprised sound and lightly tapped her horn twice.

Jiang Qi Huai turned his head and saw her car, and her little head poking out the window looking at him.

He walked over from a distance, reached the window and raised his hand, using one finger to gently push her head back into the car: “Why are you here?”

“Why are you getting off work so early?” Tao Zhi asked.

Jiang Qi Huai looked at her without saying anything.

Tao Zhi smiled at him: “Oh, did you miss me and plan to get off work early to find me?”

Jiang Qi Huai’s posture obviously froze for a moment, but his expression didn’t change at all. He paused before asking: “Want me to drive?”

“No need,” Tao Zhi wasn’t at all distracted by his clumsy attempt to change the subject. She persisted: “See, I came to find you just when you were thinking of me. Is this what they call telepathy?”

Jiang Qi Huai laughed softly, walked around the front of the car to get in the passenger seat, pulled the seatbelt over and clicked it in place, watching as she started the car.

Tao Zhi’s driving skills weren’t actually very good.

It wasn’t that she wasn’t familiar with driving, but rather that her driving style made people feel very unstable. She always liked to play heavy metal rock music as background music, and as she listened she couldn’t help swaying along. It would have been fine if it was just her body swaying, but her hands swayed too, making the steering wheel sway along with them.

Fu Xi Ling had once sat in her car for an hour and dry heaved for ten minutes after getting out.

Jiang Qi Huai seemed quite experienced though – even when Tao Zhi drove the car in a snake-like pattern, he remained completely unmoved and calm. He didn’t even ask where they were going, just sat there obediently, letting her drive wherever she wanted.

Tao Zhi turned the steering wheel onto the elevated highway, where traffic was lined up in rows slowly crawling forward. She turned her head slightly: “Why aren’t you asking where I’m taking you?”

Jiang Qi Huai raised his eyes slightly and said flatly: “You’re not going to sell me off.”

“…”

Tao Zhi was suddenly amazed by his perceptiveness.

She stopped behind the car in front, turned her head, blinked twice, and called out to him: “Boyfriend.”

Jiang Qi Huai raised his head at this form of address.

“Want to meet the parents?” Tao Zhi continued.

Jiang Qi Huai looked at her, his expression still calm and undisturbed, as if he had no reaction, except for his eyelashes trembling almost imperceptibly.

He unconsciously licked his lips and asked very slowly: “Now?”

Tao Zhi nodded and said: “Right now. I was originally planning to discuss it with you first, ask about your thoughts, then give my dad a heads up and set a date.”

Tao Zhi paused, then continued: “But I suddenly felt there was no need. It’s just family members meeting for a meal, I don’t want to make it too formal.”

Jiang Qi Huai felt like something gently plucked at his heartstrings.

“I haven’t prepared anything,” he said quietly.

Tao Zhi thought that they should indeed bring something, at least some fruit, so she nodded and said: “Then let’s stop by the supermarket to buy some things.”

The car arrived at the area of the Tao family’s old house. Jiang Qi Huai had tutored here for half a year during high school, so he was quite familiar with the area.

They first parked at the nearest large supermarket, then went upstairs.

The three-story supermarket had everything from fresh food to snacks to daily necessities. Jiang Qi Huai pushed the cart behind her, watching as Tao Zhi used “first visit gifts” as an excuse to frantically throw snacks into the shopping cart.

She threw in mostly chocolates, jellies, and soft candies, preferring high-sweetness yogurt. She only took two bags of potato chips and ate very few puffed snacks.

With the New Year approaching, gift boxes were neatly stacked on the central shelves of the supermarket. Jiang Qi Huai picked up several and put them in the cart, thinking he would bring more formal gifts next time he visited.

Tao Zhi came over hugging a bag of caramel cookies, secretly glancing at his expression as she threw them in the cart, and said quietly: “Is this too sudden?”

“Hmm?” Jiang Qi Huai’s gaze was still on the gift boxes on the shelf. “How is it sudden?”

“Well, I didn’t give you any advance notice,” Tao Zhi said. “If you don’t really like it, or feel you need to prepare, we can do it next time. I just had a sudden impulse today, actually hadn’t planned it.”

After she finished speaking, Jiang Qi Huai turned to look at her: “That won’t do.”

Tao Zhi paused: “What won’t do?”

“Sudden impulse,” Jiang Qi Huai raised his eyelids, looking at her sideways, and said softly, “Is that how you feel about me too?”

It took Tao Zhi several seconds to understand what he meant. She tilted her head back and said quickly: “Of course not, when I said sudden impulse I meant bringing you home today, when it comes to you—”

Halfway through her explanation, she saw the man’s silent smile and realized she’d been teased.

Tao Zhi immediately shut up, rolled her eyes dramatically at him, and couldn’t be bothered to deal with him anymore, waving her hand as she strode forward.

Seeing he had made her a bit bristly, Jiang Qi Huai laughed softly and pushed the cart behind her.

They bought a cart full of things. While queuing to check out, Tao Zhi casually looked through the items in the cart, when her gaze drifted to the items on the top two shelves of the nearby rack.

She had seen these things dozens of times before while shopping at supermarkets and never thought anything of it, but somehow this time was different. Tao Zhi inexplicably felt embarrassed.

She hurriedly, inexplicably guiltily moved her gaze away. Just as she turned her head to the side, someone suddenly gently grabbed the top of her head.

Tao Zhi instantly froze, like she had been caught doing something wrong. She unconsciously shrunk her shoulders slightly.

Jiang Qi Huai’s palm rested on her head, his voice coming from above: “I don’t dislike it.”

“…”

What do you like?! Don’t just like things randomly! I wasn’t looking at anything!

Tao Zhi became even more flustered.

Jiang Qi Huai continued: “But I really haven’t prepared this time, I’ll have to make up for it next time I visit.”

Tao Zhi paused, then dazedly raised her face, looking up at him from below.

Jiang Qi Huai lowered his eyes, his tone even, his voice very low: “I’m very happy that Zhi Zhi wants to bring me home.”

When Tao Zhi brought Jiang Qi Huai home, Tao Xiu Ping was in the living room doing swan arms along with a video on TV.

The two of them entered the door with their hands full of bags, only to see Tao Xiu Ping standing on a yoga mat with his back to the entrance, arms raised and stretched out, watching the TV in front of him.

The magnetic female voice from the TV was smooth and gentle: “Adjust your breathing, follow my rhythm together, come on, let’s count together — 1234, 2234.”

Tao Xiu Ping took a deep breath: “12…34…”

Tao Zhi: “…”

Jiang Qi Huai: “…”

Tao Zhi put her bags on the ground and walked over, tilting her head to look at him: “Dad, what are you doing?”

Tao Xiu Ping heard the voice and turned his head, somewhat surprised: “Oh, why are you back? I thought it was Xiao Fan.”

As he spoke, his gaze swept backward and saw Jiang Qi Huai standing behind.

Tao Xiu Ping almost choked on his saliva.

He was still maintaining the crane-like pose standing on one leg on the yoga mat, arms raised high like wings about to take flight. His already somewhat shaky balance was completely thrown off by the sudden situation. Tao Xiu Ping’s other foot landed, and he nearly lost his balance.

But he immediately adjusted his expression.

After all, as the gene provider of the neighborhood’s School Flower, Tao Xiu Ping was handsome, and after so many years in the business world, when he wasn’t smiling his face naturally carried the cold aura of someone in power.

He calmly looked at Jiang Qi Huai and said in a deep voice: “Xiao Jiang is here?”

Jiang Qi Huai nodded: “Sorry to intrude.”

The woman in the video on TV was still stretching her arms counting 1234, and Tao Xiu Ping didn’t turn it off, as if it was a completely normal and common thing for a man in his forties to be doing swan arms at home.

He even casually looked at Jiang Qi Huai, pointing at the TV and asking: “This, have you done it before?”

“No,” Jiang Qi Huai said evenly.

Tao Zhi suddenly had a slightly bad feeling. She stepped forward: “Dad—”

Tao Xiu Ping looked over, and father and daughter had several rounds of silent conversation through their eyes.

—Why did you suddenly bring someone home without telling me?

—Well, who knew you’d be doing this stuff alone at home?

—Who knew you’d bring someone home today?

—You might as well keep watching variety shows like usual.

Tao Xiu Ping turned his head, refusing to continue the eye communication with Tao Zhi.

Then, he beckoned to Jiang Qi Huai and said: “It’s okay if you don’t know how, this is simple, just follow along with the TV.”

He seemed determined not to be embarrassed alone tonight and was determined to drag Jiang Qi Huai, the culprit, down with him. He looked at him kindly and said: “Come, uncle will teach you.”

Jiang Qi Huai: “…”