ATLAS TRANSLATES

In the story, when all the paths ahead were paved, Lu Shaoyou, the third son of the Lu family, finally married Mu Qingqing, the youngest daughter of the Mu family, after becoming the top imperial scholar.

On this day, the cotton roses in the garden bloomed lavishly like layered brocade curtains. It was the auspicious day for Lu Shaoyou to marry Mu Qingqing.

The wedding scene for Lu Shaoyou and Mu Qingqing wasn’t difficult to film. But brides in ancient times really had it tough. The heavy hairpins and pearls on my head felt like they would break my neck. As if that wasn’t enough, I had to crouch inside the narrow bridal sedan chair with a veil over my face. When the sedan chair was lifted, even on smooth roads it felt bumpy. The whole journey left me feeling stuffy and dizzy. The director was known for not using stand-ins, so even for shots where I wouldn’t be seen, I had to go through it all for the overall effect.

After filming the scene of the bridal procession through the streets, we finally arrived at the Lu family’s gate. In the script, Mu Qingqing was supposed to walk out of the sedan chair herself, but my legs had gone numb from sitting in there for so long and I couldn’t move. I felt like crying, because if we got stuck here, I’d have to go through it all over again…

While I was feeling sorry for myself, I suddenly felt a cool breeze. Fu Junyan, as if knowing my predicament, lifted the sedan curtain himself and bent down to carry me out. He held me in his arms and discreetly patted my back. Then, still carrying me, he stepped over the fire basin that Mu Qingqing was supposed to cross alone in the script, improvising the scene on the spot.

After this scene, the director didn’t object, but instead praised Fu Junyan for the good script change.

Fu Junyan just shook his head and calmly replied, “Xiao’ai’s legs were numb.” In an instant, all that was left were the director’s speechless expression and the envious screams from the crew.

As he spoke, Fu Junyan gently put me down from his arms, holding my hand as I touched the ground. He supported me as I tried to walk, using a tone like he was coaxing a child: “Walk a few steps and the numbness will go away, don’t be afraid.”

At that moment, I wanted to say I wasn’t afraid. But it was so warm that I didn’t say anything, just held his hand, wanting to be pampered like this forever. After all, what could be more blissful in this world than being protected so thoughtfully?

In the story, on that wedding night, Lu Shaoyou held Mu Qingqing’s hand and planted a loquat tree in the courtyard in front of their door.

Then, in the warm red silk bed curtains, with tender feelings, Lu Shaoyou and Mu Qingqing finally became a pair of love birds with entwined necks.

The next day, after the new bride paid respects to her husband’s family members with tea, Mu Qingqing returned to her room to rest again.

The sun was high in the sky when Lu Shaoyou came to wake Mu Qingqing with a good temper. He coaxed gently, “Qingqing, the sun is high, it’s time to get up.”

But Mu Qingqing wouldn’t comply. She looked at Lu Shaoyou, who was bright and clean, with half-closed eyes and said lazily, “I’m not getting up. Is it about to rain? Do you want me to fetch an umbrella for you again?” Her coquettish manner was very captivating; her words were complaining, but her eyes were smiling.

“How can you hold such a grudge?” Lu Shaoyou chuckled softly, his laugh dazzling and alluring.

Hearing this, Mu Qingqing patted the bed and stroked the ends of her hair, saying, “I’ve always been one to hold grudges. You silly boy, are you only realizing this now?” She covered her mouth and laughed, then blinked and said, “If you call me ‘ancestral grandmother’, I’ll get up.”

Lu Shaoyou was stunned when he heard this. He looked at her, slightly raising his eyelids, his eyes clear and rippling. His face actually showed hesitation. When Mu Qingqing saw that he was taking it seriously, she stopped her light laughter, afraid that this silly boy would really do it. She quickly reached out to cover his lips and said coyly, “Silly boy, even if you called me that, I still wouldn’t respond to you.” As she said this, she obediently got up, no longer teasing her husband.

At night, I privately asked Fu Junyan what he would do if I tormented him like this.

He smiled and said, “Actually, it wouldn’t be a problem to call you that. There’s no etiquette between lovers. Besides, Qingqing married Shaoyou.” He pointed at me and then at himself, winked and said, “After getting married and having children, continuing the family line, Qingqing would naturally become an ancestral grandmother.”

His words had a double meaning, as “Qingqing” also means “wife”. Hearing this, my cheeks instantly turned red.

Then he reached out his long arms to hold me, gently pinched my hand and caressed it. His warm fingertips lightly pressed my palm, easing my fatigue. He suddenly asked, “Baobei, do you want to be the ancestral grandmother of my Fu family and give An’an a little brother?”

I bit my lip and looked up at him, my eyes blinking, feeling extremely shy. I said in a super soft voice, “Fu Junyan, don’t say it out loud!”

“Mm, we should put it into action,” he said, affectionately kissing my eyebrows and holding me in his arms. The decision to add a new member to the family was made so casually, “Mm, let’s have a child to keep An’an company…”

Though his words seemed casual, I felt that this was his genuine wish.

He probably also wants a family member with a true blood connection, like a rope that gives him more attachment and strength to this world. That’s actually quite good.

In the story, Lu Shaoyou and Mu Qingqing were newlyweds, so naturally, they were often together. But soon, the imperial court appointed Lu Shaoyou to an official position, and his social obligations gradually increased.

Although Mu Qingqing was spoiled and stubborn, she was also well-mannered. She didn’t make a fuss, but cleverly came up with an idea. She scented many bookmarks with fragrance and wrote some love words for her husband on the bookmarks in small, delicate characters, adding some joy to their life.

Living under the same roof and being deeply in love, Mu Qingqing always calculated the time of Lu Shaoyou’s social engagements and secretly went to the study to do this elegant task. However, one day, Lu Shaoyou returned home early, and before she could give out the bookmarks she had made, he accidentally stumbled upon them. Seeing his wife with a pen in hand, her face shy and lovely, he was naturally curious and came forward to ask, “What is Qingqing doing?”

Mu Qingqing looked up in surprise, saw that Lu Shaoyou had returned, and immediately blushed. She covered the table with her hand, hiding the bookmarks she had already written, refusing to move. She said in embarrassment, “You silly boy, if it weren’t for your pitiful state, would you have come? Don’t look anymore.”

Seeing her like this, Lu Shaoyou let go, but his eyes were puzzled as he said, “Is Qingqing sick?”

Hearing this, Mu Qingqing stomped her foot and said urgently, “You silly boy, what nonsense are you talking about in broad daylight? I’m perfectly fine.”

Seeing her face getting more and more flushed as she spoke, Lu Shaoyou laughed lightly. He raised his sleeve and reached out to feel Mu Qingqing’s nose, his eyes clear and flowing like water. He slightly curved his lips and said, “Qingqing is indeed sick. Qingqing’s face is red and flushed, her breathing is unsteady. These are signs of missing her husband.”

“You, you…” Hearing this, Mu Qingqing widened her eyes, panicked and stomped her foot, her ears turning bright red. She covered her face with both hands, full of coquettishness.

At this moment, Lu Shaoyou clearly saw the fragrant bookmarks placed on the table. On them, in extremely soft and delicate characters, was written: “Holding your hand, I bear your worries. I wish to be like a bright candle, to be your light. Forever wearing this oath, to grow old with you.”

Lu Shaoyou read it slowly, feeling his eyes heat up. He looked deeply at Mu Qingqing with moved eyes, took the bookmark carefully and put it in his bosom, at the position of his heart. Covering his heart, it took him a long time to say each word with infinite affection: “My beloved wife is the same…”

When we acted out this scene, Fu Junyan’s gaze was so sincere and deep that even though in the script Mu Qingqing was supposed to give a coquettish smile, I was so moved by him that tears fell from my eyes…

On that day, it was Mu Qingqing’s birthday. The young wife coquettishly asked her husband to give her a unique gift in the world.

So, Lu Shaoyou, who had been prepared, brought back an ingeniously crafted step-bed. Mu Qingqing was initially delighted, but upon seeing the step-bed, she felt both embarrassed and annoyed. Holding a handkerchief to cover her mouth, she could only mumble for a long time, “You silly boy.” She blushed immediately and couldn’t say anything else.

After the young couple laughed and teased for a while, they finally embraced and sat down in front of the bed. Only then did Mu Qingqing follow Lu Shaoyou’s deeply smiling eyes to look at the headboard of the step-bed. There, carved in small gold-filled characters, were five simple yet profound words: “Love Qing for fifty years.”

Mu Qingqing was first overjoyed, extremely touched, but her clever eyes turned, and she pouted in her husband’s arms, saying, “You silly boy, don’t you know how to say something nice? Would it have been too much trouble to carve that you’ll love me for a lifetime? You even put a time limit on it…” As she spoke, her fist hitting Lu Shaoyou’s chest was soft and powerless.

Due to the reasons of renting locations and scenery, the promotional video took more than a month to shoot. When all my scenes were finished, Fu Junyan still had a few scenes to shoot. These days, I didn’t follow Fu Junyan to the set, but instead found an ice skating coach to teach me some pair skating moves in preparation for the final competition of “Ice Dance Miracle”. When Fu Junyan went to film, he left his phone with me. I took the opportunity to browse through his contact list. Most of his contacts were foreigners, and notably, there were very few women… The pufferfish was very happy about this…

That day, I was still curled up in the hotel having a lazy lie-in when Wanwan, the makeup artist from the crew, called me. She said they had made some minor changes to the plot and hoped I could come to the set to film an additional scene. Speaking of Wanwan, she’s a very interesting girl. Even though she’s Fu Junyan’s makeup artist, she always likes to come over and chat with me. For example, she would hold a newspaper and ask me with a puzzled look, “Why is it that whenever there’s news saying you and the young master are a couple, all sorts of rumors denying it immediately appear? I’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Or after fangirling over Fu Junyan, she would come to me to apologize, narrowing her crescent eyes and saying, “Xiao’ai, Xiao’ai, today the young master said thank you to me! I’m so happy! But don’t worry, I will resolutely protect you two!” In short, even Fu Junyan says she’s very cute.

I naturally got up obediently and took a taxi to Ouyang Garden where the crew was located. After entering Ouyang Garden, I got lost in a daze and ended up encountering a group of sharp-eyed tourists. This group was entirely composed of trendy young people. I was pulled to take photos and sign autographs, and they kept asking, “Xiao’ai, are you really a couple with Young Master Junyan?” “Are you dating?” “Are you two really together? I’m dying of curiosity!” I just kept smiling, not saying anything. I wanted to slip away while the crowd wasn’t too large yet…

Later, a little girl pulled at me, giggling and asking, “Pufferfish sister, where’s your young master?” Then a little boy said, “If the pufferfish is here, the young master must be nearby too…” Embarrassing… In my mind, I imagined Fu Junyan opening a pufferfish restaurant…

After taking many detours, I finally found the crew’s filming location at the Cang Shu Lou (Hidden Book Tower) in the West Garden of Ouyang Garden. When I arrived at the scene, I didn’t see Fu Junyan, and the director wasn’t there either. Only a few cameramen and assistants were wandering around leisurely, casually setting up equipment, not seeming to be in a hurry.

Wanwan, wearing silver half-frame glasses, was playing with a makeup brush nearby. I called her name softly, and she looked up and saw me. Her thin lips curved into a smile, and she quickly ran over to me, pulling me to sit on a chair to the side. Grabbing my hand, she started chattering, telling me that Fu Junyan was still rushing to finish a scene at the Shuang Zhao Lou (Double Reflection Tower) in the East Garden, and that he would come over with the director after finishing. She told me to wait a bit.

She kept holding my hand and smiling, saying, “Xiao’ai, wait a bit, okay? The makeup artist will come to change your makeup later, okay.” Then she pointed to a laptop open on a makeshift table nearby and said, “Xiao’ai, are you bored? Why don’t you play with my computer for a while!” I glanced at the silver-white computer, thinking of the daily newspaper reports about Fu Junyan and me, some discussing rumors, some coming out to deny rumors… My little heart fluttered, and I firmly shook my head. I reached out to remove a yellow leaf that had fallen on Wanwan’s hair and asked, “Wanwan, where’s the revised script? Let me take a look at it first.” But Wanwan shook her head slowly, spreading her hands towards me and saying hesitantly, “The director will bring it over later…”

I nodded, sighed lightly, and puffed out my cheeks, tilting my head to look at the trees to the side, feeling very bored…

At this moment, Wanwan suddenly propped her chin on her hand and looked at me, tilting her face up and asking, “Xiao’ai, are you very bored? Then let me ask you something! Do you know what the meaning of ‘Ou Garden’ is?”

I rubbed my nose, looking at her slightly dimpled cheeks, feeling frustrated… Is it called ‘Ou Garden’ because many lotus flowers are planted here, so it will produce lotus roots? I exhaled and honestly shook my head at her.

Seeing me shake my head, Wanwan smiled mysteriously, suddenly looking at me with admiration and longing, saying, “On the way here this morning, I was sitting in the back seat and overheard the young master talking to the director! The young master said ‘Ou Garden’, where ‘ou’ means ‘couple’, implying ‘husband and wife living in seclusion together, whistling and reciting poetry until old age.’ Xiao’ai, it’s really so blissful!” I nodded, also feeling a warm current pass through my chest, but why did this girl keep staring at me with starry eyes while saying it was so blissful…!!!!

We didn’t wait long before Fu Junyan and the director arrived. What surprised me was that Fu Junyan wasn’t dressed in ancient costume today, and I couldn’t quite figure out why. At this time, the director was already waving at me, his expression the gentlest it had been in days. He smiled so broadly it seemed like flowers could be pinched from his face, grinning as he said, “Xiao’ai, come, you two rehearse first.” As he spoke, he took out the revised script from his briefcase and handed it to me.

I took it and glanced at it. This scene was very short, with few lines. Then he handed Fu Junyan a rouge box. I leaned over, holding Fu Junyan’s arm to take a peek. He tapped my nose and pulled back his hand, asking, “Have you eaten? Did you drink the milk I left warming in the pot?” I smiled and nodded obediently. He affectionately stroked my hair.

One day, Lu Shaoyou bought a box of rouge for his wife. They say women dress up for those they love, so Mu Qingqing was naturally delighted when she saw it. She held it in her hand, smiling faintly as she played with it, her eyes bright.

I noticed that the prop rouge box was indeed a fine piece. It was made of extremely precious huanghuali wood, with the words “Lasting as the Sun and Moon” inlaid on the lid using filigree technique. The font was an ancient small seal script, full of antique charm. The craftsmanship was exquisite and the design elegant. I was truly pleased with it.

Usually, when we rehearse, the director doesn’t say much. But this time he interrupted me, saying, “Xiao’ai, when you receive the rouge box, you should open it and look inside.”

I nodded and pouted at Fu Junyan. He reached out to smooth the loose hair on my forehead, slightly bowing his head. He paused for a moment, then looked up with a warm smile, instantly creating a warm atmosphere.

Following the director’s instructions, this time I took the rouge box, cradled it, looked at it, and playfully scolded, “Silly boy!” After stroking the five characters “Lasting as the Sun and Moon” with my thumb, I carefully opened the lid. According to the script, I was supposed to dip my finger in the rouge and then teasingly touch Fu Junyan’s lips with my fingertip. But I froze, holding the open rouge box and staring blankly, unable to continue acting. Because inside the rouge box was a sparkling diamond ring.

I was stunned for a few seconds before slowly looking up at Fu Junyan. The soft sunlight from the window shone on him, his smile warm and sincere, the deep affection in his eyes almost melting me. Then he said, “Gu Baobei, let’s get married…” It was like a spell, so abrupt yet so natural…

I had no idea how to respond. The sunlight was too warm, his smile too beautiful, his words too sweet. I slightly narrowed my eyes, just staring at him foolishly, feeling my heart beating so fast, and the weight in my hand feeling so heavy…

Fu Junyan didn’t wait for my answer. He just soothingly took my hand, as if afraid of frightening me, and carefully took the rouge box from my hand. Then, very gently, almost reverently, he took out the ring and softly slipped it onto my ring finger. I heard him say, his voice so warm, like a vow, “Gu Baobei, marry me, or let me marry you.”

His voice was like a gentle breeze, enveloping me. My heart suddenly calmed down, but tears started falling uncontrollably. Through my tear-blurred vision, he held me in his arms. I couldn’t hear what the people around us were saying, I only felt Fu Junyan gently patting my back, comforting me over and over again: “Silly pufferfish, my darling, don’t cry.” And in my heart, only one voice kept echoing: Fu Junyan, Fu Junyan, Fu Junyan…