ATLAS TRANSLATES

A hundred days to recover from injuries – Xie Ci had been lying in the hospital bed for nearly a month. Though his right hand was stabbed by a knife, it didn’t hit any vital spots and was healing well. However, his leg was broken and wrapped in heavy plaster cast, propped up high.

Eating nothing but vegetables and rice porridge every day, unable to move much, his whole body felt sore.

“I’ve already arranged your school transfer paperwork, and hired a tutor. Take a year off to recover properly,” Xie Dongyun put down his newspaper and looked at Xie Ci who was eating an apple in bed.

“I don’t want a tutor, I want to go to school,” Xie Ci replied without hesitation.

“No!” Xie Dongyun frowned, not understanding why Xie Ci was so stubborn, and couldn’t help losing his temper at his son, “Stop being so willful! You never listen to what adults tell you, must something bad happen before you behave? If you hadn’t gone fighting with others, would you be lying here now? You got expelled from school, what right do you have to say no to me?!”

“You’re so annoying!” Xie Ci threw the remote control, “You’re just like my mom, just leave me alone!”

Both father and son were stubborn as mules. Only the assistant beside them wiped his cold sweat and tried to mediate, “Mr. Xie, Ah Ci is still sick, please talk to him nicely.”

Xie Dongyun took several deep breaths, “Fine, fine, just stay put. I’ll come see you again in a few days!”

Seeing his boss stand up, the assistant hurriedly followed, turning to instruct Xie Ci, “Ah Ci, if you need anything, tell the nurse or call me.”

After saying a lot, he finally left with Xie Dongyun.

After they left, the hospital room became quiet again. A chubby boy from the next bed wobbled down, “Big brother, why did you argue with your dad just now? You scared me so much hiccup, I didn’t dare say anything!”

This chubby boy was a temporary ‘neighbor’ who moved to the bed next to Xie Ci last week. When his parents weren’t around, he liked to come ask Xie Ci for snacks.

Xie Ci felt frustrated. He poked the chubby boy’s face and casually handed him a cookie, “Take whatever you want to eat, just don’t bother me.”

He was still angry.

“Oh okay.” The chubby boy lowered his head to carefully open the wrapper, bouncing back to his own bed, eating quickly but in small bites.

While eating, he secretly glanced at the big brother lying in the next bed.

That big brother had a bad temper, but he was very good-looking, no wonder so many people spoiled him.

— This was what he heard many nurse sisters whispering about.

When he grows up and loses weight, he must become this handsome too…

An apple, a banana, a few packets of cookies. Soon he was full, and the chubby boy rubbed his round belly.

Shortly after, the chubby boy’s grandmother came back from getting hot water.

“Little Fatty! Why are you always taking food from others!” Grandma Gong patted her grandson’s back, her voice scolding but her face showing an indulgent and kindly smile.

“Xie Ci, don’t keep giving him things to eat, children are greedy,” Grandma Gong smiled at Xie Ci.

Xie Ci was boredly flipping through the notebook Xu You left him. Hearing this, he looked up and made a sound, smiling carelessly, “It’s fine, I don’t like eating them anyway.”

“Xie Ci brother’s dad and friends are so nice!” Little Fatty said somewhat enviously.

They always bring lots of delicious things when they visit.

“Oh right, brother,” Little Fatty was lying on his bed doing homework, but got bored and tossed it aside, starting to feel restless again, “When is that sister coming to visit you?”

“What sister?” Xie Ci just asked before realizing himself.

Who else but Xu You?

He turned his head to examine Little Fatty suspiciously, “Why are you asking about her?”

Little Fatty patted the homework beside him, “Sister always teaches brother to study, Little Fatty wants that too.” He raised his arms, “Plus sister has such a nice temper!”

Damn.

Xie Ci almost laughed at this chubby kid’s words. He childishly replied, “I won’t let her teach you.”

Xu You usually came to visit him at the hospital on Saturday afternoons. Xie Ci would look forward to just that half day each week. But something must have happened this weekend – it was dinner time and she still hadn’t come.

Xie Ci was in a bad mood, checking his phone many times, but she didn’t reply to any messages.

The family of three in the next bed were all there now, with Little Fatty hanging on his father’s arm acting spoiled. The gentle and quiet mother, the kind and tolerant father, everyone chatting happily together. The scene was quite lively.

That warm atmosphere made one’s heart soften, but he wasn’t part of it.

Xie Ci was all alone on his side, and Little Fatty’s mom noticed. She always felt there was something oddly sad about this child, looking somewhat lonely.

So she tried to make conversation, “Xie Ci, why are you alone? Where are your mom and dad, why haven’t they come to see you?”

Xie Ci’s body stiffened. He slid down from his pillow, speaking in a voice devoid of emotion, “My parents split up long ago, they live their own lives and don’t care about me.”

“I’m sorry.” Little Fatty’s mom was extremely embarrassed and quickly apologized.

She wanted to say more, but Xie Ci said indifferently, “It’s fine.”

Then he turned over, resting his head on the pillow, not speaking anymore.

He had experienced this kind of thing too many times since childhood. If he got upset every time, he would have died long ago.

—

“Shh, keep it down.”

Though Xu You’s voice was very soft, it still woke up Xie Ci who had been sleeping lightly. When he opened his eyes, he saw this scene:

Xu You had her hair in a low ponytail. The air conditioning was on in the room, so she had taken off her coat and was wearing just a white long-sleeve shirt, sitting by his bed.

There was still steaming soy milk and buns on the bedside table. Xu You slowly opened the plastic bag, turning her head to smile and chat with Little Fatty.

Seeing Xie Ci awake, she put down what was in her hands, “You’re awake, want to eat something? I brought breakfast.”

Xie Ci was wearing blue and white striped hospital clothes, with obvious bloodshot eyes. His black short hair was messily standing up – clearly he hadn’t slept well last night.

When he saw Xu You, his first reaction was to look away, appearing very unhappy.

Xu You was puzzled, thought for a moment, then understood and explained, “Don’t be angry, I couldn’t come yesterday because we had school exams, only got off today.”

She felt both heartache and amusement.

“You didn’t answer my calls either,” Xie Ci finally turned his head back, still frowning as he questioned her.

His voice was very hoarse, probably from just waking up.

Xu You couldn’t be bothered to argue with him further. She took out a cup from the drawer, poured some warm water, and brought it to Xie Ci’s mouth, feeding him little by little.

After finishing a cup of water, Xie Ci’s anger had mostly dissipated.

While Xie Ci ate breakfast, Xu You sat beside him reading.

He had a strange habit of only washing up after finishing breakfast.

The first round of comprehensive review had recently ended, and the course pressure was very intense. Staying up late studying every night, Xu You hadn’t slept well for many days. Plus she came to accompany Xie Ci as soon as she got a break. She wasn’t in great spirits, with dark circles under her eyes if you looked carefully. She was also very tired.

Looking at the dense study materials, she glanced up to find Xie Ci staring at her.

Meeting Xu You’s gaze, Xie Ci immediately looked away.

She found it funny, “Just eat your breakfast properly, why do you keep looking at me?”

Xie Ci lost face and instinctively tried to show off, “I’m not allowed to look at you now? You’re not even as good-looking as me, why can’t I look?”

“……”

What kind of robber’s logic was this?

Seeing Xu You’s speechless expression, Xie Ci couldn’t help but curl up the corners of his mouth, looking smug like he had successfully bullied someone.

But in the next second, his smile froze.

Little Fatty suddenly called out loudly from beside them: “—Brother, do you like this sister? Your mood gets so much better when she comes!”

Hearing this, Xu You shook her head and laughed, looking at Little Fatty saying, “How old are you? How do you understand so much?”

Xie Ci threw down the bun in his hand, “You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting? She’s my girlfriend, if I don’t like her should I like you?”

In his heart, Xie Ci thought, I’m not going to say I’m very happy.

That wouldn’t be cool at all.

Though she knew Xie Ci was just joking with Little Fatty, Xu You still thought it was childish. He was so grown up already, why argue with a child?

“Oh right, I’m getting my cast removed today. Borrow a wheelchair, push me around the park downstairs later,” Xie Ci suddenly seemed to think of something and turned to tell Xu You.

She was surprised, “So soon?”

“You don’t want to?”

“No, it’s a bit cold outside today, I’m worried you’ll catch a cold in the wind.”

“If I don’t go for a walk today, I’m going to get moldy.”

Xu You laughed at that, “You’re not a puppy, why use the word ‘walk’ like that?”

Xie Ci reached out to pinch her face, “What, looking down on my poor grades?”

Moving hands in public like that, Xu You broke free from his grasp, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed, “No, I’ve been reviewing Chinese a lot lately, corrected you without thinking.”

The morning was windy and gloomy, but by afternoon the hospital garden was bright with sunshine.

Xu You pushed Xie Ci slowly along the path, enjoying the sun.

Too many things had happened lately, they hadn’t properly spent time together. Xu You was dazed for a moment, and when she came back to her senses, she realized Xie Ci had been watching her the whole time.

“What is it?” she asked.

Xie Ci jerked his head, “Let’s go sit on that bench up ahead.”

She was about to help him up, but Xie Ci blocked her. He hopped up himself, “I broke my leg, I’m not disabled.”

“Serves you right,” Xu You couldn’t help nagging, “You love fighting so much, couldn’t you run away? Why did you have to fight them head on?”

“What kind of man would I be if I ran?” Xie Ci grinned.

After the two sat side by side on the wooden bench, Xu You took a breath, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her body.

“Oh right, I forgot to tell you. My dad wants me to take a year off school,” Xie Ci brought this up to Xu You, trying to seem unconcerned.

Xu You nodded, “Then rest well, don’t go causing trouble again.”

“Then I’ll have to be your junior, damn,” Xie Ci was unhappy.

He was very seriously worried about this issue.

Xu You smiled and comforted him, “It’s fine, after senior finishes the college entrance exam, she’ll tutor junior for free.”

“Oh ho, now you’re taking advantage of me, Xu You?” Xie Ci suddenly leaned in close to her face, quickly kissing Xu You’s lips, “Then I’ll take advantage of you too.”

“…You’re ridiculous.” Xu You was always more shy than him, covering her mouth and glaring at him, “Stop scaring me suddenly like that.”

Xie Ci felt a bit contemptuous of himself.

At this moment when he should be properly apologizing to his girlfriend, he just thought Xu You looked so cute when she was angry.

He couldn’t control his wandering thoughts.

The two fooled around for a while, but Xu You was mindful of his condition and never pushed him away too hard.

“By the way, how’s your hand?” she moved back a bit to ask.

Xie Ci brushed it off, “Nothing serious.”

Seeing he didn’t want to continue talking about it, Xu You didn’t ask further. Being warmed by the sun made her drowsy, and her body relaxed.

Where they sat was very quiet, without many people. When the occasional breeze blew past, it wasn’t cold.

Without realizing it, she fell asleep.

The irregular honking of cars and the rustling of leaves mixed together, drifting far away with the wind.

When she woke up, the sky was a bit dark – she didn’t know how long she had slept. Xu You slowly opened her eyes, her neck sore.

She had been sleeping with her head on Xie Ci’s shoulder. Looking up, she met Xie Ci’s smiling eyes.

Realizing the situation, Xu You immediately sprang back, her face turning bright red.

Seeing her embarrassment, Xie Ci laughed even more happily, “Finally awake?”

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

“Why would I wake you? Not like you’d wake up anyway.”

Xu You: “……”

Knowing her pure nature that couldn’t handle teasing, Xie Ci held back his laughter, coughed once, and casually changed the subject.

Xu You bit her lip and helped massage his shoulder, “Are you stupid? I slept for so long, you should have just woken me up. Isn’t your shoulder sore?”

Seeing she was genuinely feeling guilty, Xie Ci said seriously, “Hey, listen to what you’re saying. Would a proper boyfriend wake you up? Do you think I could do that?”

“……”

Actually it wasn’t as uncomfortable as Xu You imagined. With her head resting on his shoulder, Xie Ci could look down and see her peaceful, quiet sleeping face. Suddenly everything else felt unimportant – it was both sour and sweet.

“Xu You, do you know what I was thinking just now?” Xie Ci suddenly spoke.

Xu You was still massaging his shoulder and made a sound of acknowledgment, “What?”

He held her chin, making her turn her head forward.

— Not far away there were black iron railings, and outside the park was a bus stop.

“Did you see the No. 3 bus that just passed?” he asked.

She was puzzled.

Xie Ci stretched lazily, his arm naturally wrapping around her shoulders. His tone was relaxed and natural, but not casual or frivolous.

“That’s the bus that goes to my home. While you were sleeping, four of them have passed by.”

“Each time one passed…”

He paused, leaning close to her ear, whispering very softly.

“—I wanted to wake you up and take you home.”