ATLAS TRANSLATES

Everything seemed just like it was before.

His presence, his scent, his warmth.

In their fortress from their teenage years, filled with memories, they kissed without desire.

When Jiang Qi Huai straightened up, Tao Zhi’s gaze was a bit unfocused. She sat on the desk nearby, leaning against the wall to catch her breath.

The bedroom was quiet. She licked her slightly numb lips and turned to look at the photo on the wall, asking curiously, “When did you take this photo?”

“I didn’t take it,” Jiang Qi Huai said.

Tao Zhi: “Huh?”

Jiang Qi Huai was brief: “Li Shuang Jiang.”

Tao Zhi let out another “Huh.”

This photo was indeed taken from the front, with Jiang Qi Huai sitting behind her. If he had taken it, he would only have captured the back of her head.

“When did Li Shuang Jiang take this?” Tao Zhi asked suspiciously. “Why would he take photos of me for no reason?”

After what happened with Jiang He Sheng, she still had some psychological trauma. As she spoke, she suddenly seemed to think of something and said in horror, “He didn’t have a secret crush on me before, did he?”

“…”

Jiang Qi Huai’s eyelid twitched, and his fingers itched to knock her head.

Thinking this, he did just that.

Tao Zhi’s forehead was knocked by him, she yelped, covering her head and looking up at him angrily: “Why did you hit me again!”

“I’m playing whack-a-mole,” Jiang Qi Huai said expressionlessly.

Tao Zhi narrowed her eyes: “Classmate Jiang, you don’t want a girlfriend anymore, right?”

Jiang Qi Huai paused, choosing between admitting his own thoughts and letting Tao Zhi misunderstand that Li Shuang Jiang once had a crush on her. He found the latter more annoying.

He hesitated, lowered his eyes, and said calmly: “I asked him to take it.”

Tao Zhi blinked: “When?”

“During training camp.”

Tao Zhi recalled his winter training camp for the Math Olympiad in his second year of high school.

She smiled and dragged out her words: “Oh, that’s when I confessed to you.”

“So you liked me even back then?” Tao Zhi said contentedly, leisurely. “Some people pretend to be indifferent on the surface, but actually get their classmates to secretly take photos of me.”

Jiang Qi Huai looked at her smug expression without saying anything.

“Seems like the photos I sent you before of your girlfriend weren’t enough,” Tao Zhi sat on the desk, chin slightly raised, reaching up to grab her hair and strike a pose. “Come on.”

Jiang Qi Huai raised his eyebrows in question.

“Take out your phone, open the camera,” Tao Zhi said with dignity, “Today I’ll satisfy you and let you take as many as you want.”

“…”

Since it was still early, they didn’t rush to leave and stayed in the old house for a while.

Like a child who just got a new toy, Tao Zhi excitedly went everywhere, looking around before getting a small basin from the bathroom to wipe the tables, then running to water each pothos plant by the living room balcony windows.

She spun around like a top, and Jiang Qi Huai didn’t stop her, just leaning against the wall watching her.

Tao Zhi used a small cup to fetch water and came back to water the plants, running back and forth several times. She finally realized belatedly, holding the water cup as she walked over, somewhat worried: “Jiang Qi Huai, did I water them too much? Will the roots rot if they get too much water?”

“They won’t,” Jiang Qi Huai said lazily, “They like water.”

Tao Zhi still frowned, pointing at a cactus sitting on the floor by the window: “I forgot about it when I was watering and watered it too. Should we change the soil?”

“Just keep watering,” Jiang Qi Huai was happy to watch her fuss around, saying without blinking: “Just pretend it’s an aquatic cactus.”

Tao Zhi gave him an exasperated look, then bounced back to crouch beside the cactus by the window to change its soil.

By the time she finally finished, changing to dry, fluffy new soil, it was almost ten o’clock.

Jiang Qi Huai swept the wet soil into a bag beside her: “It’s actually fine to water it a bit more occasionally, just don’t water it again after this.”

Tao Zhi held her arms up high, her hands dirty with soil, and even her nose tip had a small spot of black dirt, looking messy but cute.

“I want to try to make everything as good as possible,” she crouched on the ground looking up at him, saying seriously, “This place is very important to me too.”

This place witnessed my timidity, and also saw my solitary courage.

It was also where I accidentally discovered the small crack in your mask while wracking my brains trying to enter your world, letting light shine through.

When Jiang Qi Huai sent Tao Zhi home it was already close to eleven. After being busy all day, once the earlier excitement wore off, she belatedly felt so tired she could barely keep her eyes open.

After quickly taking a shower, she fell asleep within seconds of lying in bed, not even getting to see Jiang Qi Huai’s message about arriving home.

The following week, she sent the finished back cover shots to “SINGO,” and received a series of exaggerated compliments from the young master and the editorial department. Tao Zhi accepted them all gracefully.

The deputy editor-in-chief messaged her crying and venting, sincerely sobbing that she had saved the editorial department’s life, saying this was the March issue with the latest final shot deadline since she started working there.

As the New Year approached, almost everyone at the studio became lazy. Xu Sui Nian wasn’t local and was preparing to return to his hometown early this year. Before leaving, he briefed Tao Zhi about partnership matters and the photography exhibition in early spring, and also gossiped about her relationship progress with Jiang Qi Huai.

When he asked too much, Tao Zhi really couldn’t take it anymore and directly pushed him out while dragging his suitcase: “Can you stop asking about everything like some gay bestie? Do I need to tell you about his family background going back three generations too? Hurry up and go, aren’t you worried about missing your flight?”

Her words reminded Xu Sui Nian, who turned his head while being pushed out and asked: “You make a good point, so what does his grandfather do?”

Tao Zhi smiled and pushed him out of the studio door, waving at him through the glass: “See you next year!”

New Year came late this year, not until late February, with Chinese New Year’s Eve approaching.

Jiang Qi Huai hadn’t taken any days off before the New Year, only getting off on New Year’s Eve. That afternoon, he picked up Tao Zhi from her home and they went to the Tao family’s old house together.

Tao Xiu Ping had given the house helper time off to go home for the New Year early, so they had to handle the New Year’s Eve dinner and dumplings themselves. When Tao Zhi and Jiang Qi Huai arrived, Tao Xiu Ping was dragging Ji Fan, who had just woken up confused after sleeping until noon, into the kitchen to prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner.

He had bought a bunch of ingredients early in the morning. He was in charge of the main dishes while Ji Fan handled the fresh ingredients. As soon as they entered, they saw Ji Fan wearing an apron and gloves, chasing crabs that were crawling all over the floor.

Six or seven crabs were jumping around actively, scuttling sideways from the kitchen doorway across the dining room to the entrance, their sharp claws climbing up the New Year goods and supplements that Jiang Qi Huai had brought.

Jiang Qi Huai put the things down, pinched a crab’s bottom to pick it up, walked to the kitchen and threw it in the water bucket: “I’ll do it.”

Tao Zhi watched in shock as Ji Fan chased several crabs around the house like he was in a play: “What did you do to make them all escape?”

“I forgot to put the lid on the steamer when I put them in,” Ji Fan said, “Who knew they could climb out of such a tall steamer?”

As he spoke, he threw the last crab into the bucket. Jiang Qi Huai carried the bucket to the kitchen to rinse them and put them back in the pot.

“I suddenly realized Jiang Qi Huai is quite useful,” Ji Fan said while typing rapidly on his phone without looking up.

Tao Zhi let out a cold laugh: “At least more useful than you,” she turned her head and glanced at his phone screen, “Who are you chatting with so happily?”

As soon as her gaze swept over, Ji Fan quickly locked his screen with a “click” and turned his head to say unhappily: “Can’t I have any privacy?”

He moved quickly, but Tao Zhi still caught a glimpse of the cat emoji that flashed across his phone screen.

“Question.” She raised her hand high with a serious face.

Ji Fan lowered his head to look at his phone again: “Ask.”

Tao Zhi: “When are you planning to pursue our cute Ling Ling?”

“I pursue…” Ji Fan’s expression froze for two seconds, then changed from blank to shocked, and finally became inexplicably agitated.

He suddenly stepped back half a step and said with a red face: “When did I say I was going to pursue her?!”

“Then what are you doing here endlessly every day?” Tao Zhi raised her chin toward his phone, “Just chatting for fun? Not planning to take responsibility?”

Ji Fan silently glared at her for a long while with a red face, then his shoulders slumped and he suddenly deflated: “If pursuing would work I wouldn’t say anything, but she doesn’t like me.”

“She said before that she likes gentle people.” He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, pointing at himself and asking, “Look at me, do I seem even remotely gentle?”

Tao Zhi seriously looked him up and down, nodded and agreed: “Can’t see any gentleness or softness, but you are quite greasy.”

“What the hell?” Ji Fan ran his fingers through his hair again, “I just washed my hair this morning.”

“I’m not saying your hair is greasy,” Tao Zhi said sincerely, “If you’d just change those raggedy clothes you wear and use fewer colors so you don’t look like a big butterfly, she might not look down on you even after graduating college.”

“What do you know about fashion.” Ji Fan said defiantly.

Tao Zhi: “What do you know about women.”

Ji Fan felt his aesthetic taste had been insulted and didn’t want to talk to Tao Zhi anymore, preferring to stay in the same kitchen with the disliked Jiang Qi Huai to prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner.

Tao Zhi sat alone on the couch playing on her phone and eating fruit, also feeling bored, so she ran to the kitchen to watch the men busy at work.

It was Tao Xiu Ping’s first time seeing Jiang Qi Huai in the kitchen, and he was surprised that he could cook. After the surprise, he was content to let him take charge.

Tao Zhi ran to his side with a grape in her mouth, watching him methodically put various washed and cut ingredients into the pot, and mumbled: “I feel like bringing you home for New Year’s was like getting a free chef.”

“Free doesn’t work,” Jiang Qi Huai said calmly, “Remember to pay up.”

Tao Zhi threw away the grape skin: “Why are you so concerned about money now?”

“Because I’m short on money,” Jiang Qi Huai said while lifting the clay pot lid and poking the beef inside with chopsticks, “I still owe my girlfriend a palace.”

Tao Zhi turned her head to look — on the other side of the kitchen, Tao Xiu Ping was leaning against the island directing Ji Fan to wash vegetables, not paying attention to their conversation.

“That girlfriend said she doesn’t need a palace anymore,” Tao Zhi said softly.

Jiang Qi Huai turned his head to look at her.

“How can I propose to a princess without a palace?” he said unhurriedly.

Tao Zhi almost choked on the grape she had just swallowed.

She stared at him blankly, then her ears slowly turned red.

Tao Zhi raised her hand to pinch her warm ear, lowered her head and mumbled: “I’m going to watch TV.”

Then she shuffled out of the kitchen in small steps.

Jiang Qi Huai turned back to look at her hurriedly retreating figure.

Running away in panic.

He lowered his head and laughed.

This New Year’s Eve dinner was done properly, with Jiang Qi Huai cooking, Ji Fan helping, and Tao Xiu Ping happy to take it easy, just standing on the side moving his lips as the general commander.

After dinner, everyone sat on the couch watching the Spring Festival Gala, mostly with Jiang Qi Huai and Tao Xiu Ping listening to Tao Zhi and Ji Fan bickering beside them.

Tao Xiu Ping turned his head to look at Jiang Qi Huai: “Are these two annoying?”

Jiang Qi Huai: “No.”

“These two troublemakers have always been like this. Although it can be a bit annoying sometimes, it’s lively,” Tao Xiu Ping said flatly, “You’ll get used to it.”

Jiang Qi Huai smiled and said softly: “This is good.”

This was probably the New Year’s Eve that felt most like a new year to him.

The warm and bright living room, the two of them arguing like children, the bustling New Year’s Eve dinner, Tao Zhi clumsily learning to wrap dumplings with flour all over her hands beside him, but when they cooked them all the dumplings leaked, becoming a pot of meat soup with noodle pieces.

He looked at the little girl who was pouting unhappily and fighting back after being mercilessly mocked by Ji Fan, his cold gaze unconsciously softening.

This was probably what he had always longed for, the best scene.

There couldn’t be anything better than this.

After the New Year, Jiang Qi Huai had a week off.

Tao Zhi was free for all of February, and Jiang Qi Huai rarely stayed home to cuddle with her for a few days. Most of the time it was quite peaceful, with the two of them nestled on the couch doing their own things, until the eighth day when work officially resumed.

It wasn’t as busy after the New Year, so Tao Zhi would drag him to clean up the old house in the small alley every few days. She replaced some appliances that were really too old to use anymore, and would crouch in front of the pothos plants to look at them and water them when she had nothing else to do.

On the Lantern Festival, Tao Zhi and Jiang Qi Huai got up early and drove to the cemetery in the suburbs.

In the early winter morning when the sky was just beginning to brighten, Tao Zhi followed beside Jiang Qi Huai, stepping on the blue-gray stone steps forward, until they reached Jiang Qing He’s grave.

It had snowed last night, and a thin layer of snow had fallen on the old man’s tombstone. Jiang Qi Huai raised his hand and gently brushed away the accumulated snow. Tao Zhi went over and crouched down, raising her hand to gently wipe the gray-white photograph with her fingertips.

Tao Zhi crouched down: “Grandpa Jiang, Ah Huai and I have come to see you.”

“I never knew you lived here. I ate so many meals at your place but never came to visit you all these years,” she said softly, “Ah Huai is doing very well now, you raised him to be an excellent person, you can rest well now. Come visit sometimes, chat with my mom, she knows everything and can play chess with you too.”

After many years, Grandpa Jiang looked at her kindly again.

As if smiling and telling her something.

Tao Zhi smiled, her eyes curving slightly: “You worked hard for so many years, from now on it’s my turn to take over. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of him and stay with him forever.”

The cemetery was solemn and quiet. After Tao Zhi finished speaking, she waited a moment and turned her head.

Jiang Qi Huai stood behind her without saying anything. Tao Zhi lifted her face, blinked and said: “Grandpa Jiang said he’s entrusting you to me, and if you bully me, he’ll let me hit you.”

Jiang Qi Huai let out a soft laugh and reached out his hand to her: “Mm.”

Tao Zhi took his hand and stood up.

The two of them put down the bouquet and kept the old man company for a while before continuing forward.

Ji Jin’s grave was not far ahead.

Whenever Tao Zhi came with Ji Fan, they would both be silent, not wanting to expose their sentimental emotions to each other. But whenever they came alone, Ji Fan would cry, and Tao Zhi would talk a lot with Ji Jin.

She would tell her about things that happened at school, new friends she made, a really good hotpot restaurant she found, and a small award she recently won for work she submitted overseas.

She would say that old Tao was very quiet before, but lately he’s slowly starting to become that lively old man again, and he even started watching dating reality shows. She would say that Ji Fan has had a crush on a girl for many years but never dared to pursue her.

She would also tell her that she no longer blamed her for what happened when she was little. Although it still hurt sometimes being the less favored child, and her choice back then still made her sad, she didn’t blame her.

She would be sad, but not resentful.

When Tao Zhi was young, she was indeed closer to her mother, but the love and care Tao Xiu Ping gave her had a deeper impact. Having regrets or resentment towards Ji Jin would be like erasing and denying all the love her father had given her over the years.

Sometimes, she would even be grateful for Ji Jin’s choice.

Letting Tao Xiu Ping watch her grow up, while she accompanied him as he grew old.

Tao Zhi stood at Ji Jin’s tombstone for a long time, until she finished saying everything she wanted to say. Then she turned around and gently tugged at Jiang Qi Huai’s finger: “Let’s go, it’s so cold.”

Jiang Qi Huai looked at her reddened eyes, held her hand in return and put it in his coat pocket.

Tao Zhi’s cold fingers nestled into his palm, gradually warming up. Her mood brightened, and she suddenly realized she hadn’t told Ji Jin about Jiang Qi Huai.

She turned her head and said hesitantly: “I just forgot to tell my mom about you.”

Jiang Qi Huai’s expression was calm, seeming unconcerned: “It’s fine, I already spoke with auntie.”

Tao Zhi turned her head and smiled: “Did you chat with her?”

“Mm.”

“What did you talk about?” she asked curiously.

Jiang Qi Huai didn’t speak.

He held her hand as they walked forward on the stone path covered with thin snow. Not until they reached the last step did Tao Zhi hear him say softly: “I said, I have a girl I want to marry.”

Tao Zhi froze for a moment, looking at him.

Jiang Qi Huai squeezed her fingers and lowered his eyes: “I don’t know if she would accept me as her son-in-law.”

His expression was very faint, with ice-carved cold eyebrows, but his gaze became gentle at this moment: “And I’m very grateful to her for bringing my Zhi Zhi into this world.”

And for being so fortunate to let him meet her.

From now on, he would guard her forever.

Watch her laugh when she’s happy, accompany her crying when she’s sad.

Spend every future day with her, crossing over mountains and valleys, traversing chasms, walking hand in hand, lighting up the path ahead.