ATLAS TRANSLATES

As time passed, the plot of “Black Cinderella” slowly progressed.

Bai Yan remained silent. However, she gradually appeared in Bai Xiao’s life. She would work part-time at the Western restaurant that Bai Xiao and Han Zaijun often visited, appear on the top floor of Han’s company as a cleaner, and show up in front of them at any time, so unintentionally.

Although all of this was coincidental, or perhaps Bai Yan really wanted to see more of her Zaijun gege. However, all of this made Bai Xiao feel like she was sitting on pins and needles. Every time Bai Yan appeared, it seemed to Bai Xiao as if she was declaring who the real princess was. This made her so restless and anxious that she finally couldn’t bear it anymore. That day, Bai Xiao stopped Bai Yan, who had just arrived home, at the corner of the stairs. She asked her harshly, “Bai Yan, what do you want to do?”

Hearing this, Bai Yan paused her steps and glanced at Bai Xiao slightly. She slowly lowered her eyes, the corners of her mouth curling into a mocking, faint smile. That smile was very faint, very faint. If one wasn’t extremely close, it would be impossible to see clearly.

Bai Xiao felt a chill in her heart, feeling that Bai Yan was somehow different at this moment. Her increasingly beautiful appearance also made her avert her gaze. So she spoke even more impatiently, “I’m telling you! Bai Yan! You are the abandoned child of the Bai family! Father and brother don’t want you. You are a calamity! Don’t think your sarcastic attitude can scare anyone! No matter what you want to do! You listen carefully. I am already the princess of the Bai family. Big Brother Han is mine! Don’t even think about playing any tricks!” Bai Xiao was obviously agitated. She even forcefully grabbed Bai Yan’s arm, wanting to make her understand.

“Is that so?” Bai Yan only asked faintly. The smile at the corners of her mouth was extremely beautiful, enchanting and gorgeous. Then, she lowered her eyes and looked at the dark shadow at the edge of the door under the sunlight. Then, her face changed. She suddenly shook off Bai Xiao’s hand and let her body heavily tumble down the stairs. Then, so lightly, she suddenly called out slowly after the earth-shattering fall, “Sister!” It wasn’t a scream, nor a reproach, but a sigh. That voice was too fragile, and it suddenly pierced the hearts of everyone present.

Bai Yan was in pain, really in a lot of pain. Although she deliberately fell down the stairs, the feeling of weightlessness during the fall scared her. She just really wanted to know, if this woman who had taken everything from her so blatantly and obviously hurt her, would they still not spare her a glance?

Finally landing, she felt a heart-wrenching pain. Bai Yan struggled to get closer to her fallen backpack. Her doll was in there, all her strength. She tried her best to hold on to the last of her strength to not faint from the pain. Then she saw, as she had expected, Bai Zimo and Han Zaijun walked in from the door. However, Bai Zimo never looked at her. He just anxiously walked past her, even almost stepping on her arm. Her own brother! He completely and utterly ignored her, the injured person. He ran upstairs and anxiously hugged the unharmed girl, asking, “Xiao Xiao, are you okay?”

Then came Bai Xiao’s panicked voice. She heard her say, “It was her. She herself… Brother, it wasn’t me!”

“Brother…” Bai Yan also opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She only felt that she was gradually losing strength. She didn’t know why she wanted to cry. Why, when she saw her own brother step past her, she wanted to cry so much that she really did start crying. At this moment, she suddenly thought, what if she died? If she died? Would he still only say, “Xiao Xiao, don’t be afraid.” She really hated it… really hated it…

Then, she saw a pair of shiny black leather shoes enter her field of vision. That pair of strong and powerful hands picked her up. She was in so much pain, really in so much pain, but she clutched her backpack tightly and never let go. Slowly, her smile curled on her lips, but her eyes were empty, full of helplessness, sorrow, and mockery… In his arms, she only silently watched the man and woman high up on the stairs, moved her lips, and weakly called out again, “Brother…”

Bai Yan broke her right hand because of this accident. When the carefree Ah Mo rushed to the hospital later, she couldn’t help but hug her and cry out loud. Facing Han Zaijun, the only one in the ward, she opened her mouth and scolded, “Are you still human? What exactly do you want her to do? The year it happened, she was just a child who didn’t understand anything? Forcing her to have nothing is still not enough? Neglecting her for so many years, only letting her live in a place where even dogs wouldn’t live, and still wanting her to be grateful? Now you want to torment her again? Do you know how she has to study and work beyond her capacity every day? Now that she has broken her hand, it means she can’t work and has no money. She will have difficulties even eating and going to school. Do you know?”

Bai Yan was awakened by Ah Mo’s voice. She looked at the scene in the ward in astonishment. Ah Mo was shouting angrily to the side, while Han Zaijun stood motionless at the foot of the bed. She looked again, and there was no one else around. At this moment, Bai Yan’s eyes darkened. She called out softly, “Ah Mo.” Hearing this, Ah Mo stopped and turned to look at the conscious Bai Yan. She had run all the way to the hospital and was still panting heavily. She turned her head to look at Bai Yan. Bai Yan shook her head at her with bitterness in her eyes and said, “It wasn’t him. He saved me.” Her voice was very weak, clean and transparent.

As Bai Yan’s best friend, Ah Mo naturally understood Bai Yan’s meaning immediately and realized that she had wronged a good person. But in her heart, she had always believed that Han Zaijun, Bai Zimo, and Bai Xiao were in cahoots, so no matter what, he could be considered an accomplice. So Ah Mo snorted, glanced at Han Zaijun, and although there was no longer the initial hostility, she turned her head away, not exactly friendly either.

Bai Yan smiled helplessly. She looked around the ward she was in and sat up silently, thinking about how she had been so deluded. In the end, she was the one who suffered. Thinking about it, she bitterly smiled and reached out to remove the needle from her wrist. This action finally made the always silent Han Zaijun take a step forward and grab her hand tightly. He asked her in a deep voice, “What are you doing?”

Bai Yan was stunned and stared at her wrist held by Han Zaijun. She raised her head, smiled weakly, and said, “Zaijun ge, Yanyan can’t afford such an expensive ward now. If I don’t leave, the tuition I’ve painstakingly saved will be gone again. I can rest at home.” As she spoke, she took advantage of Han Zaijun’s distraction and unhesitatingly removed the needle. But this action was really too rushed. When the needle was suddenly pulled out, it splattered drops of blood. She let out an “ah” sound and sneaked a glance at Han Zaijun’s shirt stained with blood. She shrank back and said, “Sorry, I…”

“Enough.” Han Zaijun frowned but still didn’t mind. He rolled up his sleeves, looked down at her bleeding wrist, and pressed it with one hand. With the other hand, he quickly pressed the bell. Then, he turned his head, looked at Bai Yan seriously, and said, “You behave yourself and listen to me.”

Hearing this, Bai Yan was stunned at first. Then, her pale face suddenly lit up, and her beautiful smiling eyes slowly curved. At that moment, it was stunning and moving, even the world could lose its color. Bai Yan had always known that she was very beautiful. At the stairs, she didn’t even know herself at first why she let go and let herself fall like that. She was just suddenly very angry, very angry. At that time, she suddenly remembered the memories from many years ago. That year, Bai Xiao held her mother’s hand and appeared outside the archway in such a righteous manner. Then, she was driven out of the Bai family’s world, watching her step on her step by step, arrogantly acting as the Bai family’s princess, gradually eroding everything she had, everything… And now, that everything also included the man she had loved since childhood, Han Zaijun…

After a long time, Bai Yan finally said, her eyes brimming with tears. She said, “Zaijun ge, it’s been a long time since anyone has spoken to me like this…” She looked at the man’s features in front of her and slowly closed her eyes, saying, “You’re back. That’s great…” Then she clearly felt the cold hand holding hers suddenly tremble, almost imperceptibly.

Because it was Bai Xiao who pushed Bai Yan, no one from the Bai family mentioned this matter again. It was as if none of this had ever happened. Only Bai Yan’s suspended arm would occasionally sting some people’s eyes.

Disasters were not terrible for Bai Yan. It wasn’t that she wasn’t afraid, but because she was nearly numb. However, some happiness had quietly left traces of vitality in her life.

In front of Han Zaijun, Bai Yan was very obedient. And indeed, she was an obedient girl. If it weren’t for those days that followed, she would definitely have been the most gentle and beautiful princess in the world. Han Zaijun treated her very well. He would put aside his own work and personally transcribe reports for her. No matter how busy he was, he would stubbornly accompany her to follow-up appointments time and time again, supervising whether she had taken her medicine. He would also pull her out when she hid in the corner of the wall and secretly listened to him play the piano, just like when they were young, letting her openly sit beside him and listen.

And that day, as if under a spell, Bai Yan had the courage for the first time to take out her Barbie doll from her small backpack in front of others. And she hugged it like a child, tilting her head and looking at the prince playing the piano in front of her in a daze, happily and unknowingly shedding tears.

When Han Zaijun saw the girl sitting by the window, one hand in a thick plaster cast, the other hugging an old Barbie doll, crying foolishly with her shoulders trembling, his heart inexplicably ached. After such a long reunion, he called her for the first time, “Yanyan.”

Bai Yan was in a daze due to his call. She was stunned for a moment before tilting her head and smiling at him. She said, “Zaijun ge, when you were away, Yanyan played the piano. I always did…”

When I finished filming, it was already dark. I hurriedly walked towards Gu Xiao’an. Gu Xiao’an was sitting properly on a chair without moving. Xiao Qi was lying lazily at his feet, squinting and wagging his tail. Hearing the sound, he glanced at me and lazily laid back down.

I bent down and gently called out, “An’an!” Upon hearing this, the little bun Gu Xiao’an slightly frowned. His big black eyes suddenly looked at me very seriously. That expression was stern, but on An’an’s face, it was incredibly cute and funny. I tried hard not to laugh out loud and gently poked his chubby little face with my finger. His little eyebrows furrowed, but he still sat there without moving.

Only when I picked him up and held him in my arms did An’an rub his little head against my body and sniff like a puppy. Then he rubbed his own eyes, squinting and staring at me constantly. But then his expression suddenly turned pitiful. He softly said, “Sister, sleepy, An’an tired!” After saying that, the little guy lowered his head, leaned on my shoulder, and fell asleep again shortly after. I gently patted Gu Xiao’an’s back, thinking that tomorrow I should call Wan Qing back. Even if the crew has assistants, they can’t always watch An’an. I need someone to help me take care of the child at the same time.

Thinking about it, I got a little angry. It’s true that as my agent, Wan Qing has been doing her job too easily and comfortably. Although I’m also responsible, not wanting her to get too close, knowing about my relationship with Fu Junyan and interfering in my private life. But recently she has really been getting more and more out of line. She rarely comes to the set once every few months. Taking my nanny van, she disappears all day. One day, Sister Ruofan even pulled me aside and said that her agent saw my agent bringing artists to a show. I raised my eyebrows without saying anything, but in my heart, I had already guessed that Wan Qing was secretly taking on a few newcomers. Originally, I wanted to turn a blind eye and let her go, but now the crew is busy and no one has time to watch the child. The kindergarten hasn’t started yet, and I don’t want to leave An’an alone at home. It’s also a busy time for Fu Junyan. No matter what, it’s best to have the child by my side. Although it’s inconvenient to keep An’an with me, apart from filming, I can take care of him at other times. This way, I’m also at ease. After thinking about it, I decided to call Wan Qing and have her come back. She should at least do something and come to her senses.

That day, just to dispel the rumors, it was already causing a commotion. As expected, when the news came out, it was very aggressive. The scandal between Jay and me was no longer the focus. With such a strong contrast, everything else became trivial. Fu Junyan and Fang Dingyue appeared together, so the reporters described a very strong colleague love and comradeship between them. So, all that was left was the scandal between me and a multinational company CEO. I was very conflicted seeing the reporters display a big photo of my cousin kissing me. I really wanted to slap my cousin’s flirtatious mouth!

That day, when Shuang saw me staring at the newspaper for a long time without speaking, she also peeked over to take a look. She picked up a few other newspapers, flipped through them, and sighed with emotion, “As expected of paparazzi, their photography skills are so poor!” I glanced at the newspaper she was holding. This paper had the most exaggerated report and the most comprehensive photos. Looking at the name of the newspaper company, I was stunned. This was clearly the newspaper company our family had acquired. I was speechless. Looking at the striking headline again: “The Mo family CEO’s sole love is goddess Gu Baobei, rushing thousands of miles to protect his flower.” My cousin has been too idle lately, selling his own scandals…

Shuang was flipping through a stack of newspapers beside me, continuing to nitpick at the photos from various angles. Finally, she let out a long sigh. In the blink of an eye, she had already uploaded a photo to her Weibo. It was clearly the appearance of Mo Nuoyun kissing me. Very strangely, she actually made my cousin’s gaze look so affectionate, while my dumbfounded expression appeared incredibly shy. She even attached a sentence under the photo: “Paparazzi skills are lacking!” I instantly had the urge to cry a river, really wanting to throw Shuang into a septic tank. This person was adding fuel to the fire!

The only fortunate thing was that my scandal seemed to have diverted many people’s attention. The news about Jay also decreased accordingly. In my heart, I felt that this could be considered a blessing in disguise.

Wan Qing came to the set the next day. Of course, everyone had to save face because we still had to ask the little one a favor. I never thought about falling out with her. So I still politely thanked her several times and also stuffed a big red envelope for her. After that, she would take An’an when I was filming. Gu Xiao’an was also very cooperative. He knew when I had to work. At that time, An’an would sit quietly on the side with Xiao Qi. He was really a very well-behaved good child, which also made me feel that everything was quite harmonious.

Sister Ruofan’s mother actually came to the set. She made a lot of delicious food to visit the set. Everyone in the crew sighed that her cooking skills were really good. When the old lady saw me, she kept holding my hand and stroking it. That look of relief on her face was incredibly kind, but her first sentence shocked me. She said, “It’s a pity I don’t have a son anymore!” Those words were said with incomparable regret, and her eyes were sharp.

My whole body trembled. Then I saw her squint her eyes and continue smiling, saying, “Xiao’ai! Listen to auntie. When finding a man, you have to find someone like Fu Junyan. He’s called what, yes! Yes! Yes! A delicate man! Exuding an aura from the inside out, never falling behind no matter how many years!” After saying that, she looked disapprovingly at Fang Dingyue in the dressing room, pointed directly at Dingyue ge and said, “Don’t ever choose someone like him, as repressed as an ice cube. When dating, you’ll still feel that such a man has flavor, but after marriage, you’ll have enough hardship to endure. My old man is just like that! Hateful!” Then the old lady said, “Also that whatever CEO, he looks like a flirt at first glance, frivolous! Xiao’ai, don’t ever choose him. He looks unreliable at first glance, very ostentatious! Very ostentatious!”

Hearing that, I laughed. Trembling the corner of my lips, I felt this old lady was talented! My cousin is indeed very ostentatious! Very ostentatious!

Auntie is a very good person and also likes An’an very much. She hugged and kissed An’an. Later, she simply pushed Wan Qing aside and hugged An’an in the corner, playing with Xiao Qi like a child. After hearing that Xiao Qi was Fu Junyan’s dog, she actually stroked its fur as if worshipping a god. That expression was quite admiring and funny. Watching, I felt both relieved and amused. Everything related to Fu Junyan was elevated…

After this, auntie came to the set to report almost every day. Actually, I knew she saw that it wasn’t easy for me alone and wanted to help me take care of the child. I was grateful in my heart, really unable to repay her. Because I know, in this day and age, what’s lacking is not people to take care of children, but who is willing to sincerely take care of children. I’m really very lucky…

I made clarifications on the official website and Weibo, regarding my cousin and me. I said, “Nuoyun ge and I are just close friends and work partners, not lovers, and it’s impossible. Please be lenient with your words.” When stopped by reporters, I also invariably answered this sentence. After a long time, no one asked again.

As a result, the previously grief-stricken and distressed CP fans became happy. They started to arrange again whether I was a couple with Fu Junyan or with Fang Dingyue. It was so confusing, making me very melancholic. After the melancholy, it made me feel invigorated. I suddenly felt that I was the only sober one among the drunken crowd! As a result, when I told Fu Junyan, he turned his head and asked me, “How are you so silly?” That tone was incredibly serious, making me fall into an inexplicable fear that he would return me…

Brother Nuo’s text message also came quickly. He said, “Baby, you hurt brother’s heart!”

I smiled and replied with two words, “Stop it!”

He sent back a crying face. I laughed and tapped the screen a few times, replying, “Big brother, I love you! Really!”

Then he replied with a coquettish expression, “What’s the use of you loving me? We can’t get married anyway…” My whole body shuddered, remembering auntie’s words, unreliable, very ostentatious, very ostentatious…

“The Love Letter” finally aired. Surprisingly, the content unfavorable to Ji Jie’er wasn’t cut at all. Sister Ruofan smiled with her mouth curved, always having the taste of a villain succeeding in their scheme. It also caused Shuang to keep shouting beside her.

Even Gu Xiao’an changed his address to her, “Strange sister!” Later, it seemed that someone was manipulating behind the scenes. The NG video of Ji Jie’er deliberately slapping Sister Ruofan from many years ago was made public. Public opinion was in an uproar again. Plus, Sister Ruofan gradually gained popularity, and the fans on both sides were also in an irreconcilable fight. The forums and Tieba on both sides basically became unreadable.

We later quietly asked Sister Ruofan about the publicly released video. Sister Ruofan covered her face and said, “It wasn’t me! Who likes to disgrace others while disgracing themselves? Look how badly I was hit! Huh?” So I could only think that Ji Jie’er made too many enemies and was secretly smeared by someone…

Of course, the funniest follow-up was that a portion of Fu Junyan’s fan club started attacking Ji Jie’er, expressing through various comments that they couldn’t tolerate their noble, elegant, and immaculate Junyan gongzi collaborating with an artist with such poor conduct. Holding the computer, I looked at the various comments from fans and couldn’t help sighing, “Fu Junyan is a flower?” Loved by everyone, this is…

As a result, I turned my head and saw Fu Junyan turning his face to look at me. An’an in his arms also turned his head. Gu Xiao’an blinked his big eyes, then raised his head to look at Fu Junyan. His chubby little hand touched Fu Junyan’s face and said with a grin, “Brother-in-law! Flower!” I couldn’t hold back. Holding my stomach, I laughed and rolled around on the sofa. Fu Junyan turned his face to look at me helplessly, then lowered his head to look at Gu Xiao’an, whose little face was shining brightly. His eyes were full of doting and tolerant laughter.

Little Gu An’an laughed every day, still liking to hug a milk bottle. His whole body exuded the fragrance of milk, smelling especially comfortable and cute. He’s still so young, but he’s already very skilled at recognizing the five-line staff. When I was filming, the little guy would often sit on Xiao Qi’s back, holding a violin score, obediently memorizing the score and keeping the beat. When he kept the beat, his little hand would pat Xiao Qi’s body, and Xiao Qi would wag his tail following his beat. It made everyone who saw it very happy, and they all called him a little prodigy. But personally, I felt that little Gu An’an was smart in a very subtle way, without any particularly dazzling points…

Sometimes when Fu Junyan finished filming early, he would come over to hug An’an and go back to the hotel first. It caused everyone to greatly praise Fu Junyan for his upright conduct and for being a good man who helped the weak. I was very annoyed. Why did they never suspect he was my man? They only thought Gu Xiao’an’s shining points could attract everyone’s love.

Also because of this, often when I was exhausted from work and returned to the hotel, opening the door, I would see them, big and small, nestled under a blanket with their heads buried. Listening carefully, it was actually Fu Junyan telling An’an stories in fluent English. He spoke authentic British English, elegant, mellow, and pleasant to hear.

But Fu Junyan didn’t just tell stories. He would very patiently communicate with An’an, asking what An’an would do, what was the right thing to do, or perhaps this way would work. Until An’an fell asleep steadily in his arms, Fu Junyan would carefully get out of bed and tuck in the corners of the blanket for An’an. At that time, all my fatigue would miraculously be relieved because of this warm and touching scene. Sometimes, I would even walk up and hug him and An’an from behind, rubbing his neck with my face.

At first, Fu Junyan would pat my head with his other hand, gentle and tender. Then he asked, “Standing behind for so long, are you tired?”

At that time, I would reply to him in surprise, “Fu Junyan, you have eyes on your back!”

“I smelled your scent, the scent of the ocean.” He laughed and also rubbed against me.

But later, I rubbed against the story too much. At first, after coaxing An’an to sleep, he would reach out his hand to pull me into his arms and say, “Don’t foolishly stand for so long next time.”

After repeated ineffectiveness, now as soon as he hears me making a sound, he immediately stops, turns his head to hook his finger at me and says, “Come here, don’t stand.”

I would walk over to him, give him a smacking kiss, and say with a silly smile, “Sealed!” Then I would reach out and carefully stroke Gu Xiao’an, who was half-asleep in his arms. Everything was incredibly reassuring, overflowing with warmth.

Sometimes, I always have an illusion, feeling that An’an is the child of him and me. And I even feel that it’s not bad this way.