ATLAS TRANSLATES

After that drunken night and those words exchanged between Xu You and Xie Ci, they lost contact. Both wanted to give each other time to cool down.

The following week, Shen City had fierce rain for an entire week, finally clearing up on this day.

After receiving notice from her team, Xu You and Zhang Lili attended a press conference. It wasn’t long, basically just needing to record the proceedings before they could finish and head home.

The two walked out of the building, leaving the air conditioning behind as the heat rushed at them.

The sun was strong. Zhang Lili opened her umbrella, walking and chatting with Xu You as they headed to the parking lot.

“Who are you meeting this afternoon?”

“It’s not a meeting.” Xu You took her phone out of her bag, “Having dinner with a classmate.”

“University classmate?”

“No.”

“High school classmate?”

“Mm.”

Fu Xueli had come to Shen City to play and had contacted Xu You a few days ago, wanting to have a meal together.

These past few years, Xu You rarely attended high school reunions and hadn’t seen her old friends in a long time. So after thinking about it, she agreed.

Just as they entered the parking lot, suddenly, a thin, short middle-aged man ran over, grabbed my hand, and said: “Reporter Xu, do you remember me?”

“…..” Xu You was stunned by this sudden greeting. Looking at the man before her, she searched hard through her memories before uncertainly saying, “Are you Wang Jingyi’s father?”

“Yes, yes, yes, it’s me!” Wang’s father was very excited and grasped Xu You’s hand again, saying: “Thanks to your reporting, so many kind people helped us. My daughter is studying well at university, getting good grades.”

Xu You was very happy to hear this. Wang’s father invited Xu You to his home for a casual meal. Xu You politely declined. Wang’s father brought a snake-skin bag of oranges, insisting that Xu You take them.

She couldn’t refuse, so she found a plastic bag and took a few pounds of oranges.

“So how are you going? Did you drive?” Zhang Lili observed from the side, taking out her keys and unlocking her car with two beeps.

Xu You shook her head, “No need.”

Just as she finished speaking, a Range Rover parked beside them started honking its horn.

Xu You looked up at the sound. She saw a window roll down and Song Yifan excitedly calling out to her, “Xu You!”

Right after, Fu Xueli pushed open the door and stepped out, her red high heels touching the ground.

She had striking features, wearing a white chiffon dress, with wavy chestnut hair flowing down her body.

Before Xu You could react, her mouth slightly open, Fu Xueli came over and pulled her into an embrace.

Still holding the bag of oranges, she awkwardly hugged Fu Xueli back.

In the car, Song Yifan sat inside, thinking about how Xie Ci and Xu You had run into each other again, truly marveling at the wonder of fate.

These past few years, Song Yifan had achieved his childhood dream of becoming a pilot, and was taking advantage of his vacation to fly to Shen City to visit Xie Ci.

Watching the two women embrace outside, Song Yifan didn’t understand female friendship and deliberately asked Xie Ci in the front, “How about it, Ci, jealous?”

“What.”

“Don’t pretend with me, I know what you’re thinking.”

“…Oh.”

Xie Ci had opened his window, resting his elbow on it. He still had a cigarette between his fingers, his eyes watching Xu You. After a while, he took a drag, then slowly blew out smoke rings.

This time it was because of Fu Xueli that he had an excuse to speak to Xu You again. Xie Ci had brought along uninvolved people to pick her up, afraid things would be awkward between them.

Not far away, she slightly turned her face. Today she wore a white top with black pencil pants, her soft loose hair falling down.

Her face held a clean and gentle smile.

The car was quiet for a moment. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he undid a button on his shirt.

Silently watching, watching. Xie Ci really couldn’t take it anymore and leaned out the window to call out.

“You two, get in the car.”

Once in the car, Fu Xueli started complaining right away: “Xie Ci, after all these years, can’t you change your dog-like temper? You have zero patience.”

Song Yifan just laughed beside her.

Xie Ci maintained his silence. He looked straight ahead, propping his head up, fingers tapping the steering wheel.

At this moment, the passenger door was pulled open. His gaze couldn’t help but drift to the side.

Xu You opened the car door, her eyes unexpectedly meeting Xie Ci’s. She froze for a moment, quietly put her bag down, then sat down and pulled the door closed.

Her slender, straight legs naturally pressed together, wearing small white high-heeled sandals, showing a glimpse of her fair feet.

Xie Ci looked for two seconds, feeling his throat go dry. He coughed softly, then turned his eyes away, having to look away.

They hadn’t seen each other for quite a while.

Xie Ci turned his face to the side, both arms resting on the steering wheel, coughing while looking out the window. Someone’s reflection was faintly visible in the glass.

Xu You paid no attention, lowering her head to pull the seatbelt across and buckle it. From behind, Fu Xueli patted her shoulder and passed her a bottle of water.

Xu You took it, turning her head slightly with a light smile, “Thanks.”

“—You’re welcome.” Xie Ci turned his head, meeting her eyes, and quickly answered.

Fu Xueli: “…….”

He was trying to make conversation where there was none, and Song Yifan in the back couldn’t help but interject, “Hahahaha fuck, Xu You wasn’t talking to you.”

“I don’t think I was talking to you either.” Xie Ci retorted, then suddenly stepped on the gas and turned the steering wheel to make a turn.

“You’re really something.” Fu Xueli mocked him.

Xie Ci looked in the rearview mirror while moving the car, giving an indifferent smile.

The car got on the road during the afternoon time slot when traffic was sparse. They were lucky, hitting several green lights.

Xu You sat beside him, looking left and right for speed limit signs before hesitantly asking, “Xie Ci, aren’t you driving a bit fast?”

“Am I?”

Xie Ci glanced at her through the rearview mirror.

“I remember this road’s speed limit is 60 or 40?”

“Mm… and?”

“Then look at your dashboard.”

“……”

Xie Ci gave her a look, and though he didn’t say anything, his speed noticeably decreased.

Xu You rested her head on the backrest, turning slightly to chat with Fu Xueli in the back. They talked about their lives these past few years, how things were going, and various little life matters. Not having seen each other for so many years, there were some emotions and feelings that were hard to express.

Mostly Fu Xueli spoke, with Xu You quietly listening, occasionally responding with a word or two.

The sun visor was pulled down, with sunlight streaming in only outlining the lower half of her face.

From this angle, there was nothing blocking the view.

Xie Ci’s gaze slid over Xu You’s jawline. He secretly glanced a couple times, then paused.

No one paid attention to him.

Fu Xueli was enthusiastically talking when several unmistakable coughs rang out in the car. She paused to ask: “Xie Ci, is your throat very uncomfortable?”

Xu You also stopped talking to look at him.

“I’ve got a bit of a cold recently.” Xie Ci explained flatly.

—

The gathering was at a private restaurant that had everything for eating, drinking and entertainment, even including hot springs.

The interior was dim, with cobblestone floors, trees and grass planted on the sides, elaborate flower petals layered together, with clear water flowing gently.

They were led in by qipao-wearing waitresses, stopping at the door of a large private room called Hibiscus Pavilion.

Pushing open the door to enter, a large group was already seated, both men and women, engaged in lively conversation.

Not expecting so many people, Xu You was taken aback. She recognized some of them, while others looked unfamiliar.

Fu Xueli explained softly in her ear, “They’re all classmates we knew from the neighboring city, and since they happen to be in Shen City, we decided to get together.”

Several men saw them arrive and stood up smiling to greet them, “You finally made it.”

Someone recognized Xu You and called out excitedly: “Isn’t this our year’s top student? You never come to class reunions these past few years, we’ve almost forgotten what you look like.”

Xu You tried hard to recognize his face but found she couldn’t quite remember. She smiled apologetically, “Work has been quite busy these past few years.”

“What’s there to be busy about? Don’t wear yourself out when you’re so young.”

“Xie Ci.” Li Jieyi yawned and called out to him, “Get me a hotel room tonight, I don’t want to sleep at your place.”

Xie Ci glanced at him, casually tossing his car keys aside.

Xu You randomly chose a seat, and Xie Ci immediately pulled out the chair next to her and sat down.

Everyone exchanged glances. They’re still together…

Fu Xueli put her bag to the side and casually asked, “Has everyone ordered?”

“We’ve ordered, but take a look if you want anything else.” Li Xiaoqiang pushed the menu across the table.

While waiting for the food, everyone chatted.

Then someone seemed to remember something and turned to Fu Xueli, “By the way, where’s the class monitor? Why didn’t he come?”

Fu Xueli said, “Him? He’s on a business trip.”

That person sighed, “How many couples were there in our class back then? Now almost all of them have split up.”

“Fuck, can’t you talk properly?” Xu Xiaocheng pointed in Xie Ci’s direction, “There’s still one couple right there, isn’t there?”

Xie Ci couldn’t be bothered to respond.

Soon dishes started arriving one after another, and several bottles of baijiu were opened. The men drank alcohol while the women had soft drinks.

Li Xiaoqiang got up from his seat, going around pouring drinks, excitedly calling out: “Today we’re not leaving until we’re drunk!”

When he got to Xie Ci, Li Xiaoqiang excitedly rubbed his hands, “Brother Ci, you can’t escape today.”

He rested his hand on the chair back, saying nothing and not refusing. But Xu You kept watching the alcohol being poured into the glass.

She watched for a while before stopping him: “Aren’t you having a cold? Can you drink so much?”

After speaking she realized her behavior might have been inappropriate.

“Can’t drink?!”

Li Xiaoqiang who was pouring paused at their exchange, hesitating: “Xie Ci can’t drink… that’s… you must be joking.”

Xie Ci was very calm, “Who’s joking with you?”

Xu Xiaocheng snickered, directly exposing him, “Stop pretending Xie Ci, back when we used to eat out, who could outdrink you?”

This was true – when they used to party hard in the past, they’d mix white, yellow and red liquors. This proof of baijiu was nothing to them.

Hearing him bring up the past, Xie Ci smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

After several rounds of drinks, the table started making all kinds of jokes. All topics were open for discussion.

At these kinds of class reunions, people loved reminiscing about the past.

Xu Xiaocheng had been made to drink two cups and was drunk. He looked at Xie Ci through bleary eyes.

Everything seemed unchanged.

Ah, Xie Ci was still the same as before – wherever Xu You was, his eyes couldn’t move away.

That eagerness to stick together whenever they were together. After all these years, it remained just the same.

Li Jieyi was always the liveliest of the group, good at chatting and being funny, the backbone of every gathering, attracting most of the women’s attention. He went around toasting everyone, pulling people into conversations about everything under the sun. Everyone gave him face, making the atmosphere very lively.

When it came to Xie Ci, Li Jieyi said emotionally, “We’ve been brothers for so many years, with such deep feelings, bottoms up, no problem right?”

After speaking he drained his own cup in one go.

Xie Ci leisurely picked up his cup, took a small sip, then put it back on the table.

“Fuck, are you even a man?”

Li Jieyi exploded, “Just drinking that little bit, you can’t count as a man!”

He looked up expressionlessly, “Whether I’m a man or not doesn’t matter to you.”

Although Xie Ci hadn’t drunk much, the baijiu had hit him, not enough to make him drunk but enough to loosen him up, making his words more unrestrained.

Li Jieyi laughed in frustration and called out loudly to Song Yifan, “Hey, Blackie, look at Xie Ci, after all this time, he’s still got that infuriating attitude, I’ve really seen it now.”

His voice was quite loud, drawing everyone’s attention, so Li Jieyi directly switched targets and called out to Xu You: “Xu You, you’ll have to be more patient with Xie Ci in the future, really.”

“Huh?”

“Xie Ci’s finally been caught by you, back then who knows how many innocent girls’ hearts he broke.”

Xu You: “…….”

She didn’t know how to respond to this kind of talk.

“Are you about done?” Xie Ci couldn’t help saying, “Can you get lost?”

Li Jieyi persisted, “Think about it, how did you reject those girls back then?”

“Song Yifan, demonstrate it once.”

Bringing up this incident, Xu Xiaocheng also remembered – during school, they would occasionally bring this up for fun.

Even now thinking about it, it was still funny.

Song Yifan spoke very loudly, clearing his throat.

“Xie Ci, I’m xxx from class xx, I really like you, would you consider me?”

“You’re nice, but I’m too handsome, you’re not good enough for me.”

“Hahahahahahahahahaha.”

When he finished speaking, the whole table burst out laughing.

Even Xu You couldn’t help but smile, curving her lips. Seeing her smile, Xie Ci also laughed and cursed, “Get lost.”

“There’s more, there’s more.” Xu Xiaocheng remembered another funny incident, “Do you remember when Xie Ci suddenly told us a joke in class?”

At the mention, Song Yifan remembered and kept nodding, “Remember, remember, it truly ranked among the top three worst jokes of my life.”

“Right right right, and then every time after Xie Ci told it, the atmosphere would go cold.”

“I was afraid of the awkward silence so I deliberately laughed a couple times, and you know what he said?”

Song Yifan seriously repeated Xie Ci’s words, “Fuck, your laugh sounds so fake, laugh again properly for me.”

Then everyone at the table started laughing again.

Xie Ci couldn’t keep face anymore, “Are you done yet?”

Seeing he was really annoyed, Li Jieyi finally said, “Alright alright, we’ll stop.”

—

The eating, drinking and revelry was wrapping up.

Having spoken openly earlier about neither having let go of each other, now surrounded by old friends, exchanging drinks, much of the awkwardness and unfamiliarity had faded. Even if the alcohol didn’t intoxicate them, people had gotten a bit tipsy themselves.

Xie Ci propped his chin on one hand, lazily poking a steamed bun in front of him with his chopsticks. He glanced at the person beside him.

“—Xu You.” He called her.

Xu You turned her head, “Ah, what is it?”

Xie Ci smiled, gesturing at the bun in his hand. He said, “I’ll bite you a moon.”

Then he took a bite.

“How is it, does it look like one?”

Xu You laughed and shook her head.

“Isn’t it a moon?” Xie Ci kept asking.

Xu You guessed he must be a bit drunk, or maybe just acting silly. She sighed and played along, “Yes, it’s a moon.”

“Since I bit you a moon, don’t I get a reward?”

Xu You ignored him, pretending not to hear.

“Do I get one?”

This clingy behavior was something he’d probably only do when drunk.

“……”

“Getting a free show from me, there’s no one as unreasonable as you.”

“……”

“If you don’t say anything, I’m going to demonstrate biting a moon on your face.”

Xu You hurriedly swallowed her food, about to speak when she heard Xie Ci sigh softly, “Heh, I thought you had a good personality.”

Xu You glanced at him.

Xie Ci suddenly smiled.

His eyes, once full of arrogance and mischief, curved into gentle crescents, appearing even brighter under the lights, as if immersed in water’s gleam.

“Turns out, it really is good.”

“…Can you stop pretending to be drunk?” Xu You asked in a low voice, though her eyes were filled with laughter despite her words.

Xie Ci saw her smile and froze for a moment. Then a soft laugh escaped his throat.

“Xu You.”

At this reunion dinner, his voice was very low, his alcohol-tinged voice rough and husky.

“Can I pursue you again?”

She paused while drinking water, her eyes turning to him.

Xie Ci said: “I’m serious.”

Though drunk, his words were still clear, “Xu You, I was wrong about things before. Can you give me a chance to make it up to you for the rest of my life?”