ATLAS TRANSLATES

As soon as Xu You finished speaking.

Xie Ci stood there dumbfounded for two seconds. After understanding her meaning, he felt his heart melt.

His mind felt like pop rocks fizzing and melting, his bones trembled slightly, and his fingers unconsciously curled.

There was wind, and the night was cool.

The riverbank was brilliantly lit, the crowds’ cheers were endless, and fireworks exploded one after another in the starlit night sky.

Xie Ci’s face moved close to Xu You’s ear, one arm around her back, pulling her entirely into his embrace. His fingers tightened as he asked word by word: “Does this mean you’re saying yes to me?”

His hot breath fell on her ear, making her heart flutter.

Before she could say anything, Xie Ci said directly: “If you regret it, I’ll jump into the river right now.”

Xu You’s forehead rested on Xie Ci’s shoulder. After a long while, she gently wrapped her arms around his waist and quietly replied: “I understand, I won’t let you jump into the river.”

—

When he walked her home, he never let go of her hand.

A short ten-minute walk somehow stretched into an hour. Or more accurately, was dragged out into an hour by Xie Ci alone.

Along the way, he acted like he was addicted to kissing, stopping every few steps to lean in and kiss Xu You.

He looked at her dozens of times per minute – directly, sideways, or with casual glances.

Then he couldn’t suppress his desire to be close to her, kissing her earlobe, her face, the corner of her lips, her eyes.

Passersby occasionally cast examining glances at the two, whispering who knows what. Being watched by people in public made Xu You very uncomfortable. She really couldn’t take it anymore and stepped to the side, creating distance from Xie Ci, “Why do you keep doing this? Can’t you just walk properly?”

The winter night was deep, with a biting cold.

The streetlight was right overhead, casting orange-yellow light down as the wind blew the tree shadows.

“Are you angry?” He touched his neck, asking uncertainly.

“No.” Xu You paused before continuing, “But sometimes, could you show a little more restraint?”

Xie Ci raised an eyebrow, “Restraint what?”

“You… just…”

Xu You frowned slightly, finding it difficult to say.

She couldn’t continue.

How could she say this directly…

Should she just plainly tell him to stop kissing her so much?

She rarely put much thought into how to get along with someone. But some of his behaviors were really hard for her to get used to, especially since they had just confirmed their relationship. Xu You felt that doing such intimate things in public wasn’t appropriate.

Xie Ci leaned against the nearby lamppost, his lips curving slightly upward, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness, “If you want me to show restraint, then don’t tempt me.”

From this angle, Xu You could see his dark eyes, set against pale shadows, with long, slightly upturned corners. She was puzzled, “I’m not tempting you.”

He was completely unreasonable, pinching her chin between his thumb and forefinger: “Your words tempt me, your breathing tempts me.”

“……”

“Don’t you know, even one look from you now makes me feel like you’re seducing me.”

In the heavy cold of the deep night, Xu You’s black hair lay scattered on her shoulders. Her skin was fair and delicate, her eyes dark and moist.

As Xie Ci looked at her, he couldn’t help but lean down again, kissing beside her nose, below her eyes.

His warm lips touched that patch of skin.

She pushed his face away, turned and walked away, ignoring the amused laughter behind her.

Home was not far ahead.

Xu You stopped, about to turn and tell Xie Ci to go home early. She suddenly felt someone hug her from behind, his arms locking around her waist.

Being so tall, he leaned down to her ear and asked softly: “Want to hang out tomorrow?”

“I need to stay home tomorrow.”

Xie Ci was instantly dissatisfied: “Damn, what for?”

“Homework,” she said calmly.

“……”

Xu You smiled helplessly, turned around, raised her hand to his forehead, and pushed gently, “Go home quickly, final exams are coming up, I really need to review.”

“No.” Xie Ci pulled down her arm, pinched one of her cheeks, and sucked slightly at her softly pouting lips, “I’ll be so lonely by myself, are you really going to do homework all day?”

“How could you be lonely? You have so many people to hang out with.”

“No good, I only want to hang out with my girlfriend now, I’m not interested in anyone else.”

“Whatever you say.”

Xu You tried to leave, but Xie Ci pulled her aside and pushed her against the wall. His hand rested on the wall by her shoulder.

“What are you doing?!” She was blocked from leaving and looked up to pretend to be angry at him.

But they were too close together, pressed tight with barely space to breathe.

Xu You felt a bit shy and awkward. She raised her hand between their chests, trying to create some distance, turning her head slightly as she dared not look directly into his eyes, “Move aside, I really need to go home.”

“Wait.”

He suddenly grabbed her wrist. Xie Ci pulled her into his arms, lowered his head and clung to her again, “Let me kiss you a bit more, wasn’t enough earlier.”

—

When she woke up the next day it was already two or three in the afternoon. Light snow was falling outside the window, covering the neighborhood in white.

The heating was on in the house, making it nice and warm.

Xu You’s head was still a bit fuzzy, having just woken up and feeling listless. She yawned, casually turned off the humidifier, got dressed and opened her door, shuffling in slippers to the living room. Her parents weren’t home. Chen Xiuyun had made porridge and left it on the dining table with a note telling her to heat up the dishes herself.

The microwave light glowed dimly as it turned with the food. Xu You stared blankly at the rotating timer. She suddenly remembered putting her phone on silent before going to bed last night.

She ran back to her room, took out her phone from her jacket, and checked if there were any messages.

Casually scrolling through, they were all from Xie Ci.

Missed calls and many text messages.

Xu You couldn’t be bothered to reply, sighing slightly as she put the phone aside.

This person really had too much free time.

After eating, Xu You sat down at her desk to study. With final exams approaching, the workload for each subject had increased. In just the few days of New Year’s holiday, they had been given quite a few miscellaneous test papers.

Xu You was very focused when doing anything, easily becoming absorbed. This was true for studying too, so time passed without her noticing. She finished her biology test paper and then took out math exercises to work on.

Just as she finished the fourth problem, her phone rang again.

She didn’t need to look to know who it was.

Xu You stopped writing and rubbed her sore neck. It was a good time for a break anyway.

She picked up the phone, “Hello… Xie Ci.”

“Damn, what are you doing? Finally willing to answer my call.”

There were children’s voices in the background, making noise about something.

Xie Ci cleared his throat and said to someone beside him: “Go play somewhere else, don’t bother me.”

Hearing the laughing and noisy background, Xu You asked: “Where are you?”

She was a bit thirsty and got up to get some water.

Xie Ci said: “At home.”

“Why is it so noisy?” Various voices and laughter were mixed together.

He made an “mm” sound and said: “We have visitors.”

Xu You then realized it was New Year’s Day, probably a family gathering or something. She made an “oh” sound and asked, “All relatives?”

“Yeah, I’m bored to death…”

He had just finished speaking when he suddenly yelled: “Ow damn, Xie Haixin don’t climb on me.”

Xie Haixin held her homework, looking at him eagerly: “Brother, what are you doing?”

Xie Ci pulled his cousin’s hand away, saying impatiently: “Talking to my girlfriend.”

“Wow! Girlfriend!”

Xie Haixin’s eyes lit up, “Is it the sister you told me about, the one with even better grades than me?”

“Yes yes yes, adults are talking, kids shouldn’t listen.”

“But you said she would help me with homework!” Xie Haixin persisted.

Xie Ci had forgotten about this. Earlier when he passed by and saw his cousin struggling with homework in her room, he had casually boasted, “Oh ho, studying so hard at such a young age, almost catching up to your sister-in-law. When there’s time, I’ll have her help you with homework.”

Kids these days mature early and understand everything. Xie Haixin pouted: “Brother, you’re lying, your grades are so bad.”

Xie Ci was just too bored, actually leaning against the doorframe chatting with his cousin: “So what if my grades are bad? You’re only in second grade and dare to look down on your brother?”

“Good students won’t like you.”

“Hey, you little brat, isn’t your brother handsome?”

To be honest, Xie Ci had a straight, elegant nose, was tall and slim, with fair skin, and his handsome face had captured many girls’ hearts.

So Xie Haixin thought her brother was handsome, but was too embarrassed to say so. Instead, she stubbornly said: “The girls in my class don’t like boys with bad grades. Students with good grades should be with other students with good grades.”

“So materialistic?” Xie Ci couldn’t help but laugh, deliberately teasing her, “But the girls in my class all love boys with bad grades.”

Talk about karma. Just now, when he finally could talk to his girlfriend for a bit, he was interrupted by his cousin’s persistent pestering.

“What’s wrong?” Xu You asked softly from the other end.

Xie Ci restrained his cousin who was trying to grab the phone, turned over and said: “My sister wants you to help her with homework.”

“Ah?” She made an “oh” sound and laughed, “Sure, give her the phone.”

Xie Haixin finally got her wish and took the phone, putting it to her ear. The child was quite polite, starting with a soft: “Hello, sister.”

“Don’t call her sister, call her sister-in-law,” Xie Ci interrupted from the side.

But no one paid attention to him.

Xu You gave a soft “mm” and said kindly: “Hello, what do you need sister to teach you?”

“Teach me math, sister teach me math, I can’t do it!”

Xu You took a sip of warm water, picked up her pen, “Okay, tell sister the problems.”

Xie Haixin seriously read out the problems while she looked down and wrote on scratch paper.

There weren’t many problems, and they were quite simple. Xu You was very patient, explaining everything to Xie Haixin step by step without getting annoyed.

“Sister, you’re so smart,” Xie Haixin said after finally finishing the problems she struggled with most, following the guidance of that gentle sister on the phone.

Though… these were second-grade math problems…

Xu You asked: “Why don’t you let your brother teach you?”

“Brother’s grades are bad, and his temper is bad too. Heart doesn’t want him to teach.”

Xu You laughed out loud.

Xie Ci was listening on the side and wanted to hit someone. He gritted his teeth and pinched Xie Haixin’s chubby face, “What nonsense are you saying?”

Maybe it was Xu You’s nature that naturally attracted children. Xie Haixin sat on the sofa, swinging her legs, unable to resist chatting more with Xu You, her little mouth going on: “Sister, you’re amazing, just like me, I’m amazing too.”

Xu You pretended to be very surprised, laughing along: “Really?”

“Really.”

The siblings sat on the living room sofa. Xie Haixin had grabbed the phone to chat with Xu You, so Xie Ci could only press the remote control listlessly, his elbow propped on the sofa armrest, constantly changing channels.