ATLAS TRANSLATES

Lu Yun was a renowned nobleman from Jianye.

He was known for his exceptional demeanor and charm, attracting the admiration of countless women. People praised him as having the “grace of a jade figure.”

However, after a sudden misfortune, he fell from grace… and now, even a random woman looked down on him.

“Disgusting and filthy!” Luo Lingwei declared firmly, insisting on throwing the man they had rescued back into the water.

Lu Yun was in excruciating pain, barely conscious, and only vaguely aware of the heated argument about whether he should stay or go.

He struggled to open his eyes to see what was happening. When he did, he caught a glimpse of an ethereal beauty.

To others, he looked like a waterlogged, ragged, pale-faced man with seaweed-like hair, barely able to open his eyes… a sight terrifying enough to scare anyone.

Luo Lingwei covered her nose and mouth with her sleeve, taking several steps back. She showed utter disgust, afraid that her eyes would be tainted by the sight of him.

As they dragged him onto the boat, water dripped all over the deck, forming a small stream.

Luo Lingwei lifted her skirt and kept her distance, while the others on the boat were kind-hearted and gathered around to care for the rescued man. Luo Yunhuan crouched on the ground, holding the man and noticing the large, bleeding wound on his waist.

She felt his weak breath and pleaded, “Sister, he’s so pitiful. Let’s save him!”

Luo Lingwei: “No!”

Luo Yunhuan looked up, her eyes filled with tears, and cried out, “Sister!”

The maid Lingxi and the boatman also chimed in: “This gentleman is severely injured. He’s been in the water for who knows how long. If we don’t save him, he’ll die.”

Facing unanimous opposition, Luo Lingwei softened her tone slightly: “We’ll reach Jianye in two days. As a woman, having a man on the boat is inconvenient. If I save him and run into the Lu family after disembarking, how will I explain it?”

“Besides, his clothes are torn, and he’s injured. He’s probably not just poor but also involved in some criminal trouble. Such a dangerous person…”

The nine-year-old Luo Yunhuan hesitated for a moment: “…Then, let’s save him secretly and let him go quietly without anyone knowing… Sister, saving a life is worth more than building a seven-tiered pagoda.”

Luo Lingwei: “There are only a few of us on the boat, and we barely have enough food as it is. Saving a man means even less food for us…”

Luo Yunhuan swallowed hard, glancing longingly at the two fish that had spilled out of the fish basket. After a moment of struggle, she thought to herself that they had been surviving on vegetable soup anyway, so she could endure the hunger a little longer.

The little girl frowned pitifully and said, “Then I won’t eat. I’ll give my share to this big brother, okay?”

Luo Yunhuan played her trump card: “Sister, if someone had saved our parents back then, maybe they would still be alive!”

Luo Lingwei was stunned.

Her long lashes fluttered like wings, and her dark, beautiful eyes grew distant as she stared at her sister’s face.

She had retreated far from the injured man, not wanting to look at his filthy state.

But her sister’s words made her eyes dim, and her throat dried up, leaving her unable to argue.

Golden light reflected on the river, the moon dipped into the lake, and the red sun broke through the water.

With only two days left until they reached Jianye, the others on the boat were busy taking care of the rescued man. From beginning to end, Luo Lingwei didn’t spare him a single glance. She gave up the only bed in the cabin and moved to a corner, flipping through account books to calculate the daily expenses at the Lu family. The sound of her abacus clicking filled the air as the light from the water outside the green gauze window reflected on her face.

Lu Yun drifted in and out of consciousness. Even though the nine-year-old girl and the exhausted maid took care of him, the first thing he saw each time he woke was the beautiful woman sitting by the window.

After being bandaged, the rescued man continued to run a high fever, his lips cracked and his face pale.

Luo Yunhuan, with her kind heart, discussed with Lingxi how to care for the patient. Knowing her sister’s temperament, she didn’t bother her and patiently cared for the man like a pet, even wanting to change his rough, wet clothes for clean ones.

Unfortunately, they had no men’s robes on the boat, so they had to let it go.

After two days of tirelessly caring for the patient, on the night before they arrived in Jianye, both Lingxi and Luo Yunhuan were exhausted.

The patient slept peacefully, while the two girls dozed off by the bed, resting their heads on their arms.

Luo Yunhuan, who had given her share of food to the patient, was so hungry that her stomach growled. In her dreams, she feasted, her mouth full of the taste of delicious food. Lingxi, equally famished, lay by the bed, her face as pale as a vegetable.

The night wind blew, and the candles in the cabin went out. Outside, the boatman and his wife had also fallen asleep. In the deep night, only the sound of oars in the water could be heard. The moon hid behind the clouds, its light flickering and scattering on the water like shattered pieces. Through the window, the faint light fell on the bed.

Everyone was asleep. Luo Lingwei, in her wide-sleeved dress and silk belt, tiptoed around her sister and the maid sleeping by the bed.

She approached the bed, but the closer she got, the more she raised her sleeve to cover her nose and most of her face.

She nudged the man on the bed.

In the darkness, Luo Lingwei didn’t even look at him, just lightly poked him with her finger. Her touch was gentle, but the man on the bed suddenly stiffened and opened his cold eyes, looking at the beauty by his bedside.

The beauty, with her sleeve covering her face, casually glanced at him and signaled for him to follow her out of the cabin.

Lu Yun was known for his elegance and good looks. But in the dark of night, dressed in rags, and with the beautiful woman showing clear disgust, she didn’t even look at him. Lu Yun had never been treated with such disdain in his life.

Lu Yun had only ever experienced women passing him notes and asking for his attention.

Lu Yun pressed his hand against the severe wound on his lower back, silently frowning to suppress the pain. After lying on the boat for two days, he had regained some strength.

Luo Lingwei walked gracefully ahead of him, and his gaze swept over her neck, waist, and figure before he looked away and got out of bed.

His steps were heavy, but he followed her out.

After calling him out, the woman led him to the bow of the boat and pointed to the misty water. Still keeping a distance of three steps, her voice was light and pleasant, like the song of a lark: “Tomorrow at noon, we’ll arrive in Jianye. We’re already in the Chaogou waterway, not far from the main city. We could arrive at any moment.”

Unable to figure out her intentions, Lu Yun only observed her graceful figure. The woman spoke to the water, not even looking at him…

Lu Yun responded indifferently with a “Hmm”: And then? Surely she didn’t expect him to repay her by marrying her just because she saved him?

In this era, men and women mingled freely, and the customs were open.

Noblewomen were even more bold. But Lu Yun… was particularly, exceptionally, not interested in such things.

Lu Yun misunderstood.

Luo Lingwei’s voice was soft and gentle: “Sir, we are unmarried women heading to Jianye to seek refuge with relatives. It’s inconvenient for us to bring you along. If my relatives ask, I won’t know how to explain,” especially since he was a poor man with enemies.

Saving him would only bring trouble and wouldn’t help her future prospects. “Sir, let’s part ways here. Please disembark now.”

Lu Yun: “…”

Standing in the shadows of the moonlight, his clothes and face were hidden.

Luo Lingwei faced the clear lake, determined not to look at him, to show her disinterest in forming any connection with him.

She was afraid of seeing his face, afraid of accidentally meeting him in the future. The beauty didn’t even glance at him, eager to send him away… This was an unprecedented experience for him.

Lu Yun remained calm, his voice cold and frosty: “We’re still several miles from the dock. How do you expect me to disembark?”

Luo Lingwei: “Jump into the water and swim… You survived falling into the water before, so you must be a good swimmer. Jumping off the boat and swimming back to Jianye shouldn’t kill you. Sir, I have no choice. Please consider my reputation.”

…It wouldn’t kill him, but the two days of recovery would be wasted.

After a long silence, the beauty still didn’t turn around.

Lu Yun’s tone suddenly softened: “Are you sure about this, and you won’t regret it? If you’re in trouble, I can help. I have some influence in Jianye. Think carefully.”

Luo Lingwei didn’t believe him. She frowned, feeling that this poor man was trying to latch onto her. She was tense, her guard up like never before.

Lu Yun’s smile deepened.

Those who knew him well would recognize that he was acting unusually. But Luo Lingwei didn’t know this.

She felt his tone was flirtatious and ambiguous, that he was attracted to her beauty, and that he might be a scoundrel…

Fearing trouble, she moved even further away. She held a sharp golden hairpin in her sleeve, ready to stab him if he came closer!

But Lu Yun’s eyes lightly swept over her sleeve, lingering there for a while. He only smiled and asked, “May I know your name? When I return to Jianye, I will repay your kindness.”

The kindness of saving him, and the kindness of forcing him to jump into the water.

Luo Lingwei spoke quickly: “No need! I don’t expect anything in return. Even if we meet on the road in the future, please pretend you don’t know me!”

There was no movement behind her for a long time, but she felt a sharp, burning gaze on her back.

Luo Lingwei’s spine stiffened, and the muscles in her face tightened. She held her breath, her body trembling slightly… Suddenly, there was a soft “plop” behind her.

Luo Lingwei turned around sharply and saw a small splash of water outside the boat. The man was gone.

Exhausted, Luo Lingwei collapsed to the ground, clutching her chest and gasping for breath—she felt as if she had just escaped a wolf or a tiger. That man was extremely dangerous. Thankfully, she had gotten rid of him.

They would never have to meet again.

The next day at noon, the Lu family servants greeted them at the dock, welcoming the weary young mistress into the carriage.

The younger sister, listless, leaned against her sister’s arm as the maid Lingxi carried her into the carriage. Lingxi turned back and apologized, explaining that the journey had been difficult and the young lady was feeling unwell.

The servants smiled understandingly, then held their breath as a delicate hand reached out, and the stunning Luo family woman gracefully stepped out of the cabin.

At the Jianye dock in the southern kingdom, waterways stretched in all directions, and people bustled about, busy unloading goods and boarding boats. At the end of the imperial street, a group of young men rode in on horseback. “Giddy-up!”

“Qi San, today I’ll beat you!”

“Haha, don’t be so sure. Fifth Young Master is a better rider than you—”

The servants stepped aside as the young men galloped down the official road, their horses strong and adorned with tassels and fragrant ornaments. The young men were carefree and bold! A dozen horses held their heads high as the young men of Jianye slowed their pace and turned to look at the woman disembarking from the boat. Luo Lingwei surveyed the ancient southern city, her hair and clothes fluttering in the wind—

“What do you think of the lady?”

“A goddess!”

—

The author has something to say: Luo Lingwei is not a goddess; she’s a man-eating flower. Kind on the outside, black-hearted on the inside…