ATLAS TRANSLATES

Gu Baobei and Fu Junyan went together to pick up An’an from kindergarten. Baobei was surprised to find Xiao Qi by the little child’s side. Baobei had been so careful to keep An’an’s kindergarten location a secret that only a few people knew, so how did Fu Junyan find out so quickly right after returning? It was too uncanny…

Fu Junyan turned his head to look at Baobei’s expression becoming strange and inscrutable. He reached out and tapped her head.

“What wild thoughts are you having?”

“How is Xiao Qi by An’an’s side? The speed is too…” It was too bizarre…

“It really is a bit like the advertisement we’re going to film. Xiao Qi can identify his master by scent.” Hearing this, Baobei was stumped. In the ad, he was going to play a prince who recognizes the mermaid by her scent. By comparing the prince to a dog, he was comparing himself to a dog. Fu Junyan and a dog, Prince Junyan and a dog… Baobei’s brain waves began vibrating intensely.

Fu Junyan tilted his head to glance at Baobei, smiled, and just continued, “When I was driving by here this morning, Xiao Qi kept barking nonstop. My assistant couldn’t get him to calm down. Then we saw the kindergarten children playing hide-and-seek on the lawn, and An’an was among them.” Well, that was just fate…

Xiao Qi once again lived together with them, along with Fu Junyan. He seemed to know that it was already hard enough for Baobei to take care of little An’an alone, and adding Xiao Qi would drive her crazy. Especially one afternoon, after finishing a photo shoot for the advertisement, when Fu Junyan sent Baobei home. As soon as she opened the door, Xiao Qi pounced wildly. If Fu Junyan hadn’t been behind her to catch her, she would have suffered a terrible fall again.

Then, after Baobei caught her breath and stood up, she saw Fu Junyan pick up Xiao Qi who was licking her messily. He hung the dog up and made it stand in the corner. Xiao Qi really did stand obediently in the corner, tongue hanging out, not daring to move. It was the first time Baobei discovered that Fu Junyan also had a childish side. She saw him turn around, extend a slender finger, and poke Xiao Qi’s head, scolding, “Look how shameless you are, you perverted dog!” Xiao Qi even cooperatively barked once in response. Fu Junyan glared at the dog angrily, before turning back to Baobei with a calm and unruffled expression.

Seeing this, Baobei sat on the sofa holding her stomach and laughing loudly. She casually grabbed some cookies from the coffee table and munched on them merrily.

Then she saw Fu Junyan watching her, eyes full of laughter. He said, “Silly Baobei, don’t eat dog food…”

Baobei froze. She looked down at the bone-shaped dog biscuits in her hand. Realizing belatedly, she jumped up in agitation and yelled, “Gu An’an! Who told you to put Xiao Qi’s biscuits on the table?”

The next day, Baobei was awakened by a series of noises outside the door. Yawning, she opened the bedroom door to look. There, Fu Junyan stood elegantly, nodding to her in a gentlemanly and polite manner. He said, “Xiao’ai, we’re neighbors now.” The peerless Prince Junyan in everyone’s eyes had moved in across from her? In that moment, a thought sprang up in Baobei’s mind. She would never be unable to find him again. Look, he was right by her side…

Then Baobei wrote on Weibo: “This morning, I got a new neighbor.”

Very quickly, all sorts of replies appeared under that Weibo post. Fu Junyan actually replied to her as well. He wrote just two words: “Congratulations.” Baobei instantly felt this was absurd. This guy had some nerve…

When shooting the perfume advertisement, as Baobei was helplessly flailing around in her mermaid costume with a tail, unable to move, Fu Junyan decisively picked her up from the trailer. He carried her all the way to the reef rocks by the sea. The “demon director” whistled, and Baobei glared at Fu Junyan in annoyance.

The mermaid saved the prince. She exchanged with the witch, and could no longer speak. But she gained legs, and stayed by the prince’s side day after day. Unless the prince recognized her, she would turn into sea foam, unable to reincarnate for eternity.

Finally, that night arrived. Under the moonlight, she gazed at the prince longingly. She leaned down and gently kissed the sleeping prince, and glistening teardrops fell onto his face.

Tears of the sea, loving you with all my might…

The mermaid sat on the reef gazing at the ocean. Her legs slowly transformed back into a fishtail. When the first rays of dawn shone upon her, she would turn into foam, never to see the sunlight, the azure waves, and her beloved prince again.

The sun rose gradually. She looked back towards the palace, smiling with relief.

Finally, she turned her head and closed her eyes, humming the song of the love she didn’t have a chance to sing to the prince.

Then she heard a voice. He said, “Are you going to leave me, beautiful princess? Are you willing to stay for me?”

Her prince recognized her scent, finding her amidst the multitude…

Rays of love, a love that never loses its way…

A few days after the advertisement shooting finished, a massive poster was quickly put up in Central Square. In the morning light, the prince leaned down to kiss the mermaid’s lips. Time stood still, as if frozen in the golden sunlight, filled with warm and sweet love. Due to the backlighting and post-production effects, their faces were obscured in the poster. Everything looked unbelievably beautiful.

Below was written a sentence: “Who is the prince and mermaid in your heart?”

Baobei hid in the trailer, looking at the dazzling poster. She really felt the “demon director’s” skill was impressive. She couldn’t help nudging Fu Junyan beside her, “Fu Junyan! Isn’t this too incredible? Obviously sand got in my eye and you blew it away for me, how did he manage to make it look so romantic and affectionate? It’s unbelievable!”

He smiled and glanced indifferently out the car window, only calmly saying, “It is shot quite well.” Then he turned to ask Baobei, “Are you hungry? You didn’t have time to eat this morning as we rushed to send An’an.”

Baobei rubbed her belly, indeed feeling a bit hungry. She looked at him, blinking, and nodded vigorously.

Hearing this, he reached into the backseat, pulled out a paper bag and handed it to her. Baobei saw it was a pre-packed ham sandwich and warm soy milk. She took it, smiled at him happily, her heart filled with joy.

Online, people began guessing who the prince and princess were. The official website launched a public guessing contest, with the advertising company giving gifts to the first hundred netizens who guessed correctly. The prizes were our autographed photos and a set of the “Tears of the Sea” and “Rays of Love” perfumes.

For this, Fu Junyan and I each needed to sign 100 photos in advance to give to the advertising company. So, I laid on the desk signing with a long face. Seeing Fu Junyan sign over seventy without his hand shaking at all, I felt a bit glum. His handwriting was extremely good-looking, bold and refined. The three characters “Fu Junyan” were written with such grace and spirit.

I stopped signing out of boredom, rested my chin in my hands and asked him, “Fu Junyan, do you know calligraphy?”

He nodded and paused his pen to ask me, “Tired?”

I nodded pitifully. He looked at me, reached out to take a photo I had already signed. He glanced at it, then in front of me casually took another sheet of paper and wrote a few strokes, handing it to me. “Xiao’ai, see if it looks similar?”

When I was little, Dad taught me calligraphy. To help me write well, Dad made small cards that I could tuck in my pocket. For characters I couldn’t write well, he had me carry the cards with me. When I had time, I would take them out to look at repeatedly and practice writing over and over. This way, slowly my writing would improve. So later on, I could fill a whole room with my calligraphy cards. I was always very proud, feeling I wrote extremely well. At least with the strict practice regimen I had since childhood, it would take several years of effort for others to reach my level.

I didn’t sign my name illegibly like other celebrities. I neatly wrote the three characters “Gu Baobei” in regular script. But Fu Junyan not only imitated my handwriting, he even copied my brushstrokes perfectly.

“Similar…” I was jealous. Pouting, I asked, “Fu Junyan, is there anything you can’t do?”

He seemed to ponder seriously before saying to me, “Give birth.”

I was stumped. Puffing my cheeks, I glared at him. He reached out to tuck my hair behind my ear and patted my head. Then he said, “Alright, silly pufferfish, I’ll sign for you.”

I obediently smiled at him and pushed all the photos to him. I laid on the table, head tilted, admiring him. Such a wonderful man, such a wonderful man…

The online guesses about who the prince and mermaid were were really all over the place. I nearly spit out my food laughing several times. Seeing me hugging the computer giggling foolishly, Fu Junyan said, “You might as well go watch Pororo with An’an.” I waved my hand, “You don’t understand the joy of being the only sober one among the drunk…”

I bit my finger, reading through the netizens’ various speculations. Those who guessed the mermaid was me were few and far between. I instantly felt both amused and sad. This feeling was really hard to describe…

Someone commented: “It’s stunning, who are they? Someone who can edit images, restore it, restore it!”

Until I saw someone say: “Is it Ji Jie’er? Hasn’t she always had a pure and innocent image? It’s probably her.”

“No, no, her hair isn’t that long! Her height doesn’t match either!”

“They probably hired some famous model! That figure!”

“Please reveal it! Who is this?”

“I think it looks like that newly debuted Gu Baobei, so goddess-like…”

“Nonsense, this is a daughter of the sea!”

“Isn’t a daughter of the sea a goddess?”

“Your goddess flops around the streets with a fishtail?” Alright! I touched my nose. I had flopped around the streets with a fishtail, even hung from Central Plaza swaying in the wind…

But, Ji Jie’er… After being reborn for so long, I had forgotten about her. In my previous life, relying on “Regretful Love”, I was nominated for Best New Actress and Best Actress at the Golden Dragon Awards. Among the Best Actress competitors was her. In the end, she won Best Actress.

Who knows how Ji Jie’er found out, but during the initial judging process, I had lost to her by just two votes. So in my past life after the Golden Dragon Awards ceremony, she liked to go against me at every turn. The dramas we later filmed together were often compared.

Just like every animal has a natural enemy, humans are no exception, and I’m no exception either. In my previous life, she was my nemesis in the entertainment industry.

In my past life, all the way until my contract dispute with Xu Mei and break-up with Jay later on, Ji Jie’er never passed up a chance to attack me. She always maintained a pure and innocent public image, but her conduct in private was not innocent at all. She once made her assistant wash her shorts in cold water while wearing pajamas in the dead of winter. Quite evil. And she always liked to act delicate and frail, sucking up to popular male celebrities. Calling them big brother this and that… In my previous life, Xu Mei also told me she once saw Ji Jie’er sitting on a director’s lap kissing him. That director was fifty-something years old.

I shuddered in disgust, suddenly feeling a bit conflicted. I couldn’t help saying, “Which eye did you use to see that I’m like her?”

Fu Junyan, who had been sitting at the desk, heard this and put down the documents in his hands. He raised his eyes to look at me, his expression amused.

Then he asked, “What’s wrong?”

I pouted, hugged a throw pillow, put the computer aside and looked up to ask, “Fu Junyan, I’m so annoyed! The netizens are blind, actually saying the mermaid is Ji Jie’er! How am I like her?”

“You’re not alike,” he nodded and added, “But the company gave me a role to pair up with her in the next drama.”

“Ah?” I froze and asked, “What drama?”

“The specific name hasn’t been decided yet. The story of a bodyguard and rich lady falling in love, but the bodyguard is an undercover agent.”

I looked at him in surprise. Fu Junyan didn’t film this kind of drama in his previous life. But this seemed to be the butterfly effect. In my past life, Gu Baobei didn’t know Fu Junyan either, right? Thinking this way made me feel more at ease. I smiled and said, “So she’s playing the pure, kind-hearted, pitiable delicate lady again?”

Fu Junyan nodded. I raised my brows and asked him, “Do you think Ji Jie’er is prettier or am I prettier?”

He shook his head and resumed looking at the documents in his hands. He just said, “There’s no comparison.”

I touched my nose, feeling I had embarrassed myself…

Fang Dingyue recognized me at a glance. The first thing he said when he called me was: “Xiao’ai the mermaid.” I covered my mouth and giggled, couldn’t help but praise him, “Dingyue! You have great eye! I’ve been lurking for a long time and not a single person guessed right! What’s with that?”

“The moment I drove to Central Square and saw it, I knew it was you. But that man is Fu Junyan?”

“Dingyue! You really have amazing eye, you even recognized him?”

“He’s back?”

I glanced at Fu Junyan at the desk and thought for a bit before saying, “Seems so…”

The other end fell silent for a moment before saying, “Xiao’ai, do you know why they can’t guess it’s you?”

“Why?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Are you cold or what?”

“So cold!”

Later, Fang Dingyue posted on Weibo: “Talked to the mermaid on the phone. The mermaid is very sad no one recognized her. I also forgot to tell her the poster was beautiful.”

After that, Jay also called. He said, “Xiao’ai, I guessed it might be you but wasn’t too sure! If I knew earlier you were the co-star, I would have taken that perfume advertisement.”

“What?”

“The advertiser originally approached me, but somehow it didn’t pan out. If I knew the partner was you, I definitely would have accepted!”

I was startled, my heart filled with complex emotions. After a pause, I just said, “It’s fine, there will be plenty of chances in the future.”

Because of Fang Dingyue’s reveal, gradually more people began speculating the mermaid was me. The reason was very simple. We were both newcomers and he had only acted with me before. I was so conflicted…

Finally, a week later, the massive poster in Central Square was switched out. Two new giant posters were hung up in succession.

Moonlight streamed through the window lattice. The woman gazed at the sleeping prince, full of tender affection. A glistening teardrop rolled down her cheek. Tears of the sea, loving you with all my might…

On the beach, the prince looked at the beautiful and exquisite back view on the reef, enraptured. Facing the first rays of dawn, the prince’s refined profile, traces of tears in his eyes. Rays of love, a love that never loses its way…

The day the posters were released, pre-orders for this perfume began in major department stores. By nightfall, it was already sold out in many places, becoming a sought-after item.

This coincided with the finale of “Regretful Love”. The ratings that night were through the roof. Even the TV station called to share the good news. Wan Qing said, “Xiao’ai, regardless of whether you can win an award at the Golden Dragon Awards this time, judging from this momentum, you’ve already become an unstoppable top actress in the entertainment industry.”

Also on the day of the “Regretful Love” finale broadcast, in a certain university dorm, the female students collectively stayed up all night. The lights stayed on as heaven-shaking, earth-shattering sobs were heard. Online, a joint petition began to demand a sequel. Because we basically did our own instrumental accompaniment and singing, some even wanted the production team to hold a concert. Others wanted the original cast to film a movie version. Starting that day, the entrance of our agency was constantly surrounded by fans. Because of this, I immediately patted my chest, feeling that my decision to never go to the company was so wise.

After that, various TV stations began broadcasting “Regretful Love” on rotation. Because there were too many stations airing this drama, nearly every time I turned on the TV, I saw my own face. It was awkward and embarrassing. My Weibo was also flooded with messages, especially when the finale aired. All sorts of people began a mass offensive, repeatedly asking me:

“Why can’t Gu Xinyao be with Kimura Jin?”

“Why can’t Gu Xinyao be with Xiao Moxiao?”

“Why did Gu Xinyao and Mo Qian have to die?”

“Did Gu Xinyao ever love so-and-so?”

I thought for a long time and finally posted the same reply as in my previous life: “If all else fails, just go with one woman, multiple men…”

Then the fans exploded…

Later, when Fu Junyan saw that Weibo post of mine that was reposted tens of thousands of times, he poked my forehead and said, “Messing around!”

Then major newspapers also began matching us up. The gossip was flying so much that even my cousin called to ask, “Xiao’ai, you have to tell me, who exactly is my official brother-in-law? Whoever snatches my little sister away, I’m going to suppress him for a few days for fun.”

Actually, those rumors were really exaggerated. For example, Fang Dingyue smiled at me at some promotional event and the reporters snapped pictures. Then they wrote about how we had a meeting of the eyes filled with deep affection… Especially that Apple Daily article “Who Will Win Gu Baobei’s Heart?” made me quite melancholy. The article enumerated my relationships with Fang Dingyue, Jay, and Fu Junyan. The final conclusion was like this: “Gu Baobei loves her brother dearly. Winning her brother’s heart is the key to winning Gu Baobei.” It even attached the photo from last time when Fang Dingyue took me and An’an to the aquarium, saying, “Based on the current situation, Fang Dingyue has a slight edge. Fu Junyan is indifferent to the beauty. Jay needs to work harder.”

I was stumped. Looking at Fu Junyan who had practically moved in, then turning to see Gu An holding onto Xiao Qi rolling on the floor refusing to let go, I felt the one who had most won over An’an’s heart was Xiao Qi…

In my previous life, “Regretful Love” was popular, but it didn’t blow up to this extent…

The perfume ad featuring me and Fu Junyan hadn’t aired on TV yet, but with the reveal of our true identities, online discussion about us filming the advertisement together began heating up. Especially the CP fans who shipped Xiao Moxiao and Gu Xinyao were full of anticipation for this advertisement. Seeing their surging comments and discussion, even I got excited…

I sat on the sofa, watching the clock, waiting for the advertisement’s first broadcast. That “demon director” was really demonic. Neither I nor Fu Junyan got to see a single photo negative or sample video from start to finish.

That day, Fu Junyan wore a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing his nice-looking wrists. Even though he had just walked out of the kitchen full of cooking fumes, he was spotlessly clean. He wiped his hands, then picked up An’an’s milk bottle and walked over to us.

Little An’an was sitting right next to me. The little fellow who had been looking forward to drinking milk saw Fu Junyan walking over. He immediately pounced forward to take the milk bottle from his hand. Then he lay down sideways on Xiao Qi’s back and started sucking on the bottle and drinking. Little An’an took a few gulps, mouth gurgling. Then the silly boy looked up at Fu Junyan standing to the side, scooted his little butt, and pointed to the empty spot he just made. He clapped his little hands and said, “Brother-in-law sit! Watch sister! Watch sister!”

Brother-in-law?! I was shocked silly. Looking at Fu Junyan’s matter-of-fact expression, I secretly thought that in the future when he tells An’an stories, I must stand guard on the side. I can’t let him freely brainwash the child…

As the first broadcast time approached, I worriedly asked Fu Junyan, “What if I’m filmed to look like an ugly monster?”

He shook his head and stated confidently, “You won’t.”

I muttered, “Heaven knows!” My heart began feeling apprehensive again. Part of this advertisement used close-up shots. If the camera is too close, it’s easy for people to look fat. If the angle isn’t handled well, it’s also easy to make people look bad. But the demon director passed it in one take several times. I really found it quite uncanny. But I could only console myself afterwards that with the demon director’s reputation in the industry, he was even able to capture the moment Fu Junyan blew the sand from the corner of my eye, and filmed it so beautifully. He shouldn’t uglify me too much.

Finally the advertisement aired. It was three minutes and two seconds long. After it finished, little An’an’s mouth had already formed an O shape. The little guy looked at me, then at Fu Junyan. Drool flowed from his mouth. I also stared at the TV screen, shocked and unable to recover my senses.

At this moment, Fu Junyan suddenly turned his head and looked at me thoughtfully. He said, “Xiao’ai, have I never complimented you before?”

Hearing his words, my mind felt stuck, and I continued spacing out.

Then he pulled me into his arms and whispered in my ear, “Silly Baobei, I seem to have never said it. You are truly beautiful…”

Oh! my god!