ATLAS TRANSLATES

I cried for a long time. My body felt tired, but it couldn’t overcome the emptiness and confusion in my heart. I had finally cut ties with the past completely. My heart felt like it had fought a big battle. After crying, my palms were surprisingly sweaty.

I really wanted to see Fu Junyan…

I carelessly put on a thin coat, pulled up the hood, and put on a mask. I tried to blend in with the crowd as much as possible. Then I carefully went downstairs, avoiding people.

But Fu Junyan’s room was still empty at this time. I went to his desk and looked through it, quickly finding his filming schedule. As expected, Fu Junyan had outdoor scenes to shoot last night and several scenes to film in the studio early this morning. After seeing this, I didn’t think too much and headed straight to their studio after leaving the hotel.

When I snuck into their film crew, they were busy. I hid behind some staff members in charge of the set, partially blocked by some prop boxes, with only half of my hat showing. No one noticed me, this person who had suddenly sneaked in. The funniest thing was that not far behind me, several male staff members were commenting on the actresses in our two dramas. They talked about their figures, looks, temperament, and popularity in such bold terms that it left me stunned.

I was dumbfounded as I listened. When I heard one man say, “That Gu Xiao’ai has a really nice butt,” I first wanted to slap him unconscious. Then I wondered if I should feel my own to see if it’s really that nice. I also thought about how they would react if I suddenly took off my hat and mask, stood in front of them, and just silently looked down on them. Would it scare them to death?

The scene they were filming now was one where the female lead was desperately chasing after the male lead. The street lights were dimly lit, and on the empty street, a tall and handsome figure came walking from far away. He walked very fast, with firm and steady steps. A moment later, a girl in a long white dress came running behind the man. She gazed at the man’s back with sorrowful eyes, calling out as she chased after him. When the man heard the calls behind him, his dark eyes flickered, but his face remained expressionless as he continued walking, his pace quickening. However, his palm slowly clenched into a fist. Then with a “thud,” the girl behind him fell heavily to the ground because she was running too fast. The man paused, finally turning back reluctantly. And that side profile was stunning, otherworldly.

“Ji’er, your expression is wrong. Don’t raise your right eyebrow so much when you call out!” First NG. “Ji’er, you’re running too fast.” Second NG. “Ji’er, you’re not falling correctly. Pay attention to the camera.” Third NG.

Although I really liked Fu Junyan’s heart-melting smile when he turned around, such a simple scene shouldn’t be done over and over like this…

I heard a few people behind me quietly discussing how Ji Jie’er had been off her game lately, often causing NGs and delaying the schedule. Thinking about it, I felt there were reasons for this. Recently she had been attacked from all sides, with past incidents of bullying newcomers being dug up one after another. Some of Fu Junyan’s fans also didn’t like her, saying she had no acting skills. Ruofan jie had also gained some popularity over the years, and after people saw that show, they knew the two sides didn’t get along. As a result, fans from both sides started fighting again. Her gentle and pure image had taken a big hit because of this, and things weren’t going smoothly for her. It was understandable that she would frequently NG and be distracted, not in the right state of mind. However, their director was really good-tempered, calling for NGs so gently and calmly. Fu Junyan was also very patient, having to be an unconditional practice partner like this… I sighed in my heart.

Unexpectedly, Fu Junyan suddenly raised his hand at this moment, shaking his head at the stylist who was about to come forward to fix his hair. He turned his head to glance at Ji Jie’er, who was already touching up her makeup on the spot, his eyes carrying a cold and distant look. He turned and said a few words to the director, then walked out of the set. My heart skipped a beat, thinking he was walking towards me, but I saw him sit down on a chair on the opposite side. He was completely silent, as if he had clearly drawn himself into another world. He bent down to take out a thermos from behind the chair, tilted his chin up gracefully, and took a sip in a very refined manner. That upward curve, the exquisite lines, was sexy and perfect. And that sense of restrained beauty made one want to reach out and gently caress it. My face, as I watched, suddenly became a bit red.

What am I thinking about…ah!? How long has it been since I’ve seen Fu Junyan working? I thought to myself, unable to resist secretly watching him from this side. He was serious and focused when working. Just now, Ji Jie’er had NG’d three times, repeating the same performance three times. But not him – although he used the same script for three consecutive times, he employed three different methods of expression. Each of his performances, though seemingly the same, had innovations and differences. Each time was more in-depth than the last, with every performance being praiseworthy and remarkable.

I couldn’t help but recall what someone had said before: Fu Junyan could act in the oldest type of silent black and white films. This wasn’t because of his handsome and beautiful looks, nor because of his transcendent temperament, but because his whole body was filled with acting. Even if he didn’t speak, you could understand him, yet you truly couldn’t understand him. Fu Junyan was just like that, unfathomable, touching people’s hearts, yet very enchanting.

I secretly watched him like this from the corner, the corners of my mouth unconsciously lifting into a smile from time to time. Thinking that staying here too long and being discovered wouldn’t be good, dressed like this, I looked more like I was here to spy than to visit the set. I couldn’t help but laugh at my own thoughts. After glancing at Fu Junyan one more time, I turned and quietly slipped past the crowd, sneaking out again.

At this time, the sky was just beginning to brighten. I stood alone on the empty street, and opposite me, an old woman happened to be walking by. Her legs seemed to be not very good, her steps trembling as she walked, but each step was steady and grounded. The old lady was carrying a bag of youtiao and soy milk, her steps a bit hurried, but her eyes showed a calm and satisfied expression. I looked up at the gradually brightening sky, as if the primordial chaos was just clearing, with sunlight slowly spreading across the earth. The street lights were still on, but in the gradually clearing sky, they no longer seemed so important. I took a deep breath, and my heart also gradually became clear and open.

But at this moment, my palm suddenly felt a warmth. I was startled and quickly tried to withdraw my hand, but a force firmly pulled me from behind. I was so scared that I gasped. Thief? Pervert? Creepy uncle? A thousand thoughts tumbled through my mind. I gathered my courage and turned back in surprise, only to meet Fu Junyan’s gentle gaze. Instantly, all the fear and alarm in my heart vanished, and I no longer struggled or used force with my hand. I just dumbly looked down at our intertwined hands, feeling a faint satisfaction in my heart, and undisguised joy.

He had noticed me! He had come after me! “Ah! Why are you here?” I asked in confusion, my eyes involuntarily widening.

Fu Junyan’s attractive lips curved upwards slightly, and he asked me in return: “Hey, why are you here?” His tone was as if he had just happened to run into me and was greeting me warmly.

I felt flustered under his bright gaze, remembering how just a short while ago, I had been blushing and feeling lustful thoughts while watching his slightly raised neck. My face grew hot with embarrassment, and I shyly averted my eyes.

His large hand enveloped mine, warm and comforting. He held my hand as he walked to my side, turning his head slightly to look at me with my mask and hat on, and chuckled softly again. Fu Junyan seemed to be in a very good mood at this moment. He gently stroked the back of my hand with his thumb, ticklish, as if brushing against my heart. I looked at his high nose bridge and delicate lips, listening as he softly said to me with a doting and cherishing tone: “Why are your eyes a bit red? Couldn’t sleep? Or did someone bully our little pufferfish?” His tone was serious, his gaze focused.

I looked into his clear and bright eyes, feeling as if he could see right through me. But I just shook my head lightly, my other hand also hugging his arm as I said coquettishly: “I wasn’t bullied.” As I said this, I looked up at him shyly.

“Are you hungry?” he asked, reaching out to touch my face through the mask.

I patted my stomach and quickly nodded.

“Let’s go eat something,” he smiled and asked me, “Why were you staring at that old lady just now?”

“I was wondering if the old lady got up so early to buy breakfast for her husband, or if she was worried about her children and preparing breakfast early,” I said. I simply pulled down my mask and pouted at Fu Junyan, sighing, “Actually, I’ve never really had soy milk and youtiao…”

Hearing this, his steps faltered for a moment, and he looked at me deeply. He reached out a hand to brush away the loose hair on my forehead before continuing to pull me forward.

He led me around a long alley, not back to the hotel, nor towards the streets we usually went to, but through many winding small paths. Just as my confusion was growing, I saw a row of neat storefronts ahead, but they were all closed. However, a bit further ahead at the corner of the street, a dim yellow light was on, and outside that shop, a few wooden tables and stools were scattered about. On a well-set-up cart were a frying pot and many condiments. A man was busy at the frying pot, while a woman was kneading dough nearby. One look and you could tell they were a married couple.

As we approached, the sizzling sound of oil became clear in our ears. I was stunned, letting Fu Junyan pull me to the wooden table farthest from the cart. He let go of my hand and pulled out a stool for me to sit down. I really couldn’t come to my senses…

Then I heard him sit down across from me, his posture elegant, his tone calm as he said, “Boss, two bowls of soy milk, four youtiao.” My heart instantly tightened, feeling nothing but shock…

I just stared at him blankly. The wooden table in front of me had dents of various sizes. After years of use, dust had settled in them and couldn’t be wiped clean. The table surface was also a bit greasy. The boss’s wife came over and wiped for a long time, but it didn’t seem to get much cleaner.

I looked at the table almost stupidly, then at the calm and composed Fu Junyan across from me. My heart was pounding, and I didn’t know where to put my hands. Soon, the boss’s wife brought the soy milk and youtiao to the table. Fu Junyan looked up at me, then reached out to bring a bowl of soy milk in front of me. He then took a pair of disposable chopsticks from a plastic bucket nearby, opened them, rubbed the two chopsticks together to make sure there were no splinters, and then handed them to me. But I didn’t take them, still just staring at him blankly.

Seeing my expression, he smiled knowingly, placed the chopsticks across my bowl, and then lowered his head, picked up his bowl, and took a small sip of soy milk. Then he looked up and said to me, “It tastes very good, you should try it too.” This was just an ordinary sentence, but at this moment, it made a wave of emotion surge in my heart.

Street food stalls are always a bit dirty. The white porcelain bowl in his hand even had some wear and tear at the edges, with a small chip harshly imprinted on the rim of the bowl. I looked at the greasy table surface in front of me and the worn, uneven stool under my feet. But Fu Junyan’s posture remained elegant, his whole aura gentle, still like a spring breeze. I looked up at his eyes, bright and clear despite staying up all night. A ray of sunlight happened to fall on the top of his head, making his whole person shine.

I couldn’t help but tear up. I just stupidly reached out and tightly gripped his hand, choking up after a while before saying, “You don’t have to accommodate me like this, I was just saying…”

Fu Junyan, ah, the young master Fu Junyan who is as beautiful as the wind and moon in everyone’s heart. He has always been serious and responsible in his work. If not for me, how could he have walked out in the middle of filming? And how could he be sitting here? Although actors sometimes have slovenly images of eating boxed meals while hiding in the corners of the set, at least Fu Junyan would sit in a quiet corner, with a clean chair and clean utensils. Such a man is truly a gift from the creator, he deserves the best…

Moreover, Fu Junyan has a mild case of obsessive-compulsive disorder about cleanliness. But, but for me… I looked again at the greasy table surface and the damaged porcelain bowl under his slender fingers, and couldn’t help but want to cry again…

But he calmly picked up a youtiao and took another bite, calm and quiet, showing no signs of discomfort or reluctance. He tapped my forehead with his finger, smiling warmly and saying, “Silly pufferfish, what are you thinking about? If you don’t eat soon, it will get cold.” Then he seriously and gently told me, “It really tastes good, very authentic.”

I nodded, suppressing all my emotions and learning from him, picked up the porcelain bowl and took a sip from the rim. The warm, thick soy flavor warmed my taste buds, slowly dispelling the faint dampness of this morning. My heart swelled, filled with an indescribable warmth and gentleness.

After we finished eating, he got up and went to another table to get some napkins, folded them neatly before handing them to me. I smiled with curved eyes, wiped my mouth and walked to his side. The two of us walked side by side in the morning light, in perfect harmony.

“Fu Junyan, how long did you follow me just now?” I asked.

He smiled, tilted his head to look at me, then continued to look at the road ahead. I was about to lose hope when he finally said, “I saw you as soon as you entered the set. Only a silly pufferfish would hide behind prop boxes, covering herself up tightly with a hat and mask, like a little thief. I knew at a glance it was someone up to no good.”

“I wasn’t up to no good!” I pouted, remembering that I did have some thoughts about his good looks, and felt a bit guilty. But I still raised my hand slightly, waving my fist aimlessly in the air, arguing, “I just wanted to go see you!”

“Oh!” He gave me a meaningful look, “So you were up to no good with me.”

I stopped in my tracks, puffing out my cheeks like a bun and turning my head away, speechless.

“You!” He laughed, helping me pull up my hat that was about to fall off, then looked at his watch before taking my hand and saying, “Alright, let me take you back. An’an should be waking up.” I nodded to him, and the two of us just held hands, walking in perfect harmony and silence.

On the way back, I always felt that the road had become so short, so short…

Finally, we reached the back door of the hotel. Fu Junyan gently let go of my hand. He nodded to me with a slight smile. And I waved to him.

But after I turned around and walked just a few steps, at the turn of the spiral staircase, when I saw Fu Junyan just gazing at me in the morning sun, his spine straight as a rod, his long eyelashes casting faint shadows on his face, his beautiful lips slightly pursed, his expression quiet and soft. It was as if he, alone, had passed through thousands of years, just waiting for me like that, watching me, hopeless yet persistent, never decaying.

At that moment, something suddenly burst forth in my chest. I stopped in my tracks, turned around and ran wildly towards him. I recklessly threw myself into his arms without a care. Fu Junyan reacted extremely quickly, opening his arms to embrace me. His chest trembled as I crashed into him, but he didn’t move a single step. He just sighed softly and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his embrace.

Fu Junyan’s warmth seeped through his clothes onto my face. I vaguely felt his steady, strong heartbeat. His hand gently patted my back, as if comforting a child. His beautiful, delicate chin rested on my shoulder, and I heard him slowly say to me, “Xiao’ai, I’m very happy. Because when you’re unhappy, you remember to come find me…” It seemed he was always so clear and transparent about me. Hearing his words, my heart trembled, feeling happy but also inexplicably guilty.

His warm breath tickled my ear, making me involuntarily shrink back a little. But Fu Junyan used some force, holding me tightly in his arms, then he said again, “Gu Baobei, this time, I saw you at first glance.” I looked up, meeting the complex expression in his eyes, but the next moment he slightly curved his lips, gently patted me and pointed to the stairway, saying, “Be good, go back now, An’an is waiting for you.”

At that moment, the tears I had been holding back several times finally burst forth because of these few sentences and a warm look from him. I thought, how could I not love this man who is so understanding and protective of me? He is warm to me, his arms are like the sky, and I instinctively know that he truly loves me, truly loves An’an. The hand he stretches out in front of us can block all disasters and hardships, making me willing to live and die with him.

I remembered in my previous life when my friend asked me, “Baobei, what kind of man do you want to find?” At that time, I had already lost love and was alone. I said dejectedly, “The person you need to find in life, you should know as soon as you see him, because when you meet him, you meet stability and see hope. The man you love should have a foundation and depth. Being with him, you will not fear gains and losses, only feel that life is vigorous and full of hope for the future.” Even now, I still remember the deep sense of loss in my heart when I said those words. But today I thought, I have met him, met such a man who gives me hope and stability, who is excellent and wonderful…

I slightly curved my lips, took hold of his hand that he hadn’t yet withdrawn, such a beautiful and slender hand. I said, looking up into his eyes, like a devout prayer, opening my mouth very seriously word by word: “Fu Junyan, I have said goodbye to the past. I’m actually a silly child, who will become obsessed if I’m serious. But I’m willing to have this kind of sickness for you. I will love you, love you very, very much. Please don’t let me down.”

Then, Fu Junyan trembled, but reached out and tightly grasped my hand in return. I nodded to him, not waiting for him to say anything, finally ran away with a red face and tears of happiness.