ATLAS TRANSLATES

Even though the sun wasn’t intense, sweat had formed on Luo Lingyu’s forehead.

Her mind was blank for a long while, with a buzzing in her ears.

It wasn’t until Zhou Yangling’s cold hand gripped her wrist that Luo Lingyu came back to her senses. She turned her head and gave Zhou Yangling a dazed look.

Zhou Yangling was extremely worried about her: “What’s wrong? Is there a problem with your… fiancé? Should the young master and I accompany you?”

Zhou Yangling’s eyes held an indescribable look, as she had personally witnessed the strange atmosphere between Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun. If someone said there was nothing between those two, Zhou Yangling wouldn’t believe it. However, if Luo Lingyu and Lu Yun were truly in love, who was this person claiming to be Luo Lingyu’s fiancé? And why did Luo Lingyu look so flustered?

Luo Lingyu instinctively refused: “No need, Zhou Young Master. There might be some misunderstanding… I’ll go by myself.”

Her face alternated between pale and flushed. She couldn’t bear to have her private matters become public gossip under Zhou Yangling’s gentle gaze.

Moreover, today it wasn’t just Zhou Young Master and Prince Chen present — all the noble young men and ladies were in Zhou’s courtyard playing instruments and studying. She couldn’t let herself become the laughingstock of Jianye — she knew Fan Qingchen wouldn’t mind making their business public.

He never respected her.

He claimed to love her, but all he brought her was fear.

Luo Lingyu lowered her eyes and wiped her sweaty hands inside her sleeves. She composed herself and bid farewell to Prince Chen and Zhou Yangling, who both looked grave and seemed to want to say more. She turned and walked toward the oil-paper umbrella carriage waiting outside the alley, followed by her maid. Despite her fear and nervousness, her face remained beautifully composed, her walking posture graceful and enchanting, causing Qi Third Young Master, who had stepped out of Zhou’s courtyard, to stare in a daze.

At the entrance of the alley, besides Lu family’s ox cart, there was indeed another carriage waiting. As she stared at the additional carriage, a man’s chilling laugh came from inside: “Where are you going, sister?”

Like a voice from a nightmare… Luo Lingyu maintained her composure and replied softly: “Back to the Lu family, of course.”

The young man in the carriage continued to laugh in a way that made her skin crawl. He drew out an “Oh” and said lazily: “Then I’ll go with you to the Lu family. Sister, you’re unfamiliar with Jianye, so staying with relatives is fine. But now that I’m here, as your fiancé, I can’t bear to see you suffer any grievances. I’ve bought a house — let’s go to the Lu family to pack your belongings, and tonight you’ll come with me.”

Luo Lingyu bit the inside of her cheek until it hurt, using the pain to suppress her emotions. She reminded herself not to discuss the “fiancé” matter in public. Even if she was destined to lose face, she would do it at the Lu family home. Moreover, Lu Yun was at the Lu residence — she felt helpless but wanted to use the journey to the Lu house to buy time. She would rather die at the Lu residence than go with this man.

Luo Lingyu didn’t object, and the man in the carriage seemed to understand her perfectly. He laughed again and said: “Then come up into the carriage, sister. We’ll go to the Lu family together.”

Luo Lingyu refused: “There’s no need, sir. I have my own carriage…”

Fan Qingchen’s voice turned cold: “Are you forcing me to get out and make you?”

Luo Lingyu clenched her jaw and swallowed her anger. To the astonishment of her maid Lingyu, Luo Lingyu reddened and lifted her skirts to board the carriage. Her mind raced — she could pretend with normal people, but dealing with a madman… better to just go along with what the madman says. After all, she had her dignity to maintain.

Lingyu found their conversation strange. When the carriage door opened, she held her breath and peered inside, worried the man might be threatening her lady. What she saw was a tall young man sitting in the dark corner of the carriage, with fine features and a handsome face that would make anyone blush if they looked too long. If this was indeed her lady’s fiancé, his appearance certainly matched her lady’s beauty.

When the young man’s dark eyes looked her way, Lingyu’s heart jumped in fright. Before she could think further, Luo Lingyu’s slender form shifted, blocking her view of the man inside. After the carriage door closed, Lingyu still held her chest, certain that if her lady hadn’t blocked that gaze, the man’s eyes looked as if they wanted to kill her…

After boarding the carriage, Luo Lingyu sat as far as possible from the man, diagonal to him. As the carriage began moving with a creaking sound, Luo Lingyu pressed her back against the wall, watching him warily: “Lingyu is a maid given to me by the Lu family. If you harm her, the Lu family won’t be as easy to deal with as I am.”

Fan Qingchen paused, his eyes growing darker: “After half a year apart, the first thing you say to me is about a maid’s life and death. Didn’t I tell you that previous incident was an accident? Why haven’t you understood yet, Sister Luo?”

Luo Lingyu smiled faintly: “No. I was just saying something casual. Fan Young Master can do as he pleases.”

If she were truly a naive young lady, she might have believed his lies. An accident? The people around her, one by one, became his people, were monitored by him, followed his orders, and then were killed by him… This was an accident?

Fan Qingchen stared at her for a long time: “Sister Luo is still so insincere… Heh, so you left Nanyang and came to Jianye truly to avoid me? You convinced the Luo family to give you a chance, and then you ran to Jianye? If the Lu family hadn’t sent people to Nanyang to inquire about you, I really wouldn’t have known where you went.”

His tone was strange, his low voice carrying a frightening tremor, but his eyes were extremely bright: “It’s been half a year, Sister Luo, I was going mad… yet you seem completely unaffected… Which of the Lu family young masters do you fancy?”

Luo Lingyu immediately denied: “What? No one!”

Fan Qingchen’s flickering gaze moved to her, his smile light yet peculiar. After a moment he said: “…Whether you fancy anyone or not, let’s see when we get to the Lu family.”

He leaned slightly forward, and Luo Lingyu straightened her back and moved away. Fan Qingchen paused, his expression growing cold as he noticed her avoidant attitude. Even though she appeared to sit properly, her eyes darted about, never meeting his gaze, and she moved back whenever he moved… Fan Qingchen suppressed the shock and hatred in his chest and closed his eyes.

He thought he needed to stay calm, he couldn’t hurt her. She was already afraid of him… Fan Qingchen thought to himself, he was so good to her, why was she so afraid of him?

The Lu family was a great clan of Danyang, foremost among Jianye’s noble families, not to be offended… No matter, he had the marriage contract in hand, how could the Lu family possibly stop him for the sake of a mere cousin?

Let’s go to the Lu family and let Luo Lingyu see who truly cares for her, and who can’t be relied upon.

…

Lu Yun sat writing in his study.

With gauze covering his eyes, he could only dictate official business and hadn’t written for a long time. But after Luo Lingyu anxiously mentioned “Nanyang Fan family” several times in his ear, Lu Yun, after feeling annoyed several times, still decided to write this letter for her.

The Nanyang Fan family was certainly a great clan, and that Fan Young Master had even been betrothed to her, but the Lu family of Jianye held greater power.

Lu Yun would first write to ask them to break off the engagement, offering them some benefits to do so. Oh, if their attitude was uncertain, he could send some mediators to Nanyang…

It was just a beautiful young lady after all, the Fan family wouldn’t antagonize the Lu family over a mere girl.

As Lu Yun wrote the letter, a servant boy stood beside him grinding ink, and because Lu Yun couldn’t see, the boy had to remind him if characters were written crooked or wrong. After half an hour, Lu Yun finally finished writing the letter. Just as he was about to seal it after blowing on the ink to dry it, the bamboo blinds outside the study were struck with a pattering sound.

He didn’t allow others to enter the study while he was working, so the maid Jinxue anxiously paced outside: “Young Master, Young Master!”

Lu Yun’s voice was elegant with a hint of laziness as he hummed: “Hmm?”

Jinxue: “Third Young Master, something seems to have happened. Young Miss Huan’er came running over, saying her sister is in trouble and asking for Third Young Master’s help.”

Lu Yun frowned slightly, his voice neither warm nor cold, showing slight annoyance: “How does she keep getting into trouble? Why is she so prone to causing problems?”

Jinxue said worriedly: “This time… her fiancé has come to our manor in person, wanting to take the young miss away. The young miss didn’t even have time to speak, only hurriedly sent Hua’er to relay the message. I fear the young miss must be quite anxious right now.”

Jinxue tried hard to peer through the bamboo blinds to observe the young master inside. She was extremely puzzled and surprised. Hadn’t the young miss been flirting with their young master all along, things getting quite heated? She had thought their young master’s iron heart had finally been softened by the young lady, moved a bit, yet now where did this “fiancé” come from?

“Bang!”

A huge crash came from inside, along with the sound of porcelain being swept to the floor, seemingly like books and the tea tray and cups had all been knocked to the ground together. Jinxue fearfully hunched her shoulders, keeping her head down, not daring to look at Lu Yun’s expression even when she saw his robe sleeves appear in her view —

After being played with by a young lady like this, his expression must be extremely unpleasant, right?

…

Old Madam Lu was sitting with Lady Lu and several other women of the same generation in the pavilion at the center of the family’s lake, listening to young musicians play and sing.

Old Madam Lu swept her gaze over the circle of women, all family members, but not a single beautiful unmarried young girl among them. While other families’ beautiful young ladies went out socializing and playing, the old madam of the Lu family worried daily, urging the Lu family young masters to quickly have daughters, or inviting young female cousins to visit.

Facing a group of married women day after day, seeing them daily became tiresome, how dull.

Just as Old Madam Lu’s interest was waning, Lady Lu reported while coughing: “…In any case, Lady Luo has already decided to hold a banquet at home, and at that time there will be ladies coming. Taking this opportunity, I’ve decided to invite the young misses to stay over again. Having more girls in the household will make the atmosphere more lively.”

When Old Madam Lu heard it was “Luo Lingyu” holding the banquet, her feelings were complicated. She wanted to refuse Luo Lingyu’s involvement in their family affairs. But without Luo Lingyu, when the elders held banquets, they couldn’t invite young men and ladies… It was truly worrisome. Old Madam Lu tapped her walking stick and asked about Luo Lingyu: “Did she go out to play instead of taking care of Third Young Master?”

Lady Lu: “Hmm… Mother, do you find this inappropriate?”

Old Madam Lu was speechless. She wanted to say a few words about Luo Lingyu, about how she didn’t care about her grandson; but if Luo Lingyu spent all day running to the “Clear Courtyard” to find Third Young Master, Old Madam Lu wouldn’t be happy either.

Caught in this dilemma, Old Madam Lu didn’t know how to speak about Luo Lingyu, she could only sigh.

If not for Third Young Master’s attitude… actually, she quite liked this lively young lady, at least much better than her lifeless daughter-in-law, Lady Lu.

If Luo Lingyu’s family background could be better, she wouldn’t dislike her so much.

Just as they were discussing Luo Lingyu, across the lake, Luo Lingyu and her fiancé came to pay respects to the old madam. Old Madam Lu heard the servant’s announcement and was surprised to see a young couple enter the pavilion. The young lady maintained her usual graceful and charming demeanor, and this unfamiliar young man also had good looks and bearing.

Under Luo Lingyu’s reluctant introduction, Fan Qingchen greeted Old Madam Lu and the other ladies, introducing himself. When the ladies learned that Fan Qingchen was Luo Lingyu’s “fiancé” and that he wanted to take her away from the Lu family, Old Madam Lu was shocked: “What? Miss Luo’s heart belongs to another?”

So she wasn’t in love with her grandson?!

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Luo Lingyu was in a difficult position, as Fan Qingchen smilingly claimed to be her fiancé and even had a marriage contract as proof. She had thought the whole way but couldn’t figure out how to refute this. Before Old Madam Lu, Luo Lingyu could only say weakly: “Actually, I’d like to stay at the Lu family for a few more days…”

Fan Qingchen looked at her with loving, doting eyes: “How can Sister Luo be so inconsiderate? Alright, I know you respect your elders, but occasional visits are enough, don’t trouble the elders too much.”

His hand rested on Luo Lingyu’s shoulder, appearing casual but actually gripping her tightly, forcing her to follow his wishes. Sweat formed on Luo Lingyu’s forehead as she was pressured into silence.

She bit her lip, her eyes fixed, wanting to cry… Fan Qingchen put on an “at a loss with her” expression and said softly: “I know sister is overjoyed to see me, yet also reluctant to leave the old madam. How about this — tomorrow I’ll accompany you back here, what does the old madam think?”

Old Madam Lu and the others only felt something was strange, but couldn’t quite figure out what, so they could only smile and nod.

Immediately, Fan Qingchen didn’t give Luo Lingyu any chance to speak, forcefully maintaining a smile while constantly talking with Lady Lu and the others, concernedly asking about Luo Lingyu’s daily life.

He showed such care for the young lady that Lady Lu and the others reduced their doubts and discomfort. Lady Lu looked at Luo Lingyu, regretful that she and their Third Young Master weren’t meant to be, and smiled: “…Young Master Fan is truly good to Miss Luo. You two are like immortal lovers, have you thought about when to marry?”

Fan Qingchen’s eyebrows lifted, he most enjoyed such topics and naturally discussed it more earnestly.

Luo Lingyu was pressed down by his hand on her shoulder, struggling to break free but unwilling to lose face, her complexion snow-white, her lips bitten blood-red.

She felt humiliated, unwilling, and desperate. Luo Lingyu continued to struggle: “Madam, hasn’t my aunt returned?”

Lady Lu: “Your aunt went to visit a master at the temple outside the city, I’m afraid she won’t return today…”

Fan Qingchen quickly said: “We can visit your aunt another day, Sister Luo.”

He completely refused to let Luo Lingyu stay here one more day.

Lady Lu frowned, looking at the two of them, feeling their attitudes were somewhat strange. Fan Qingchen gradually grew impatient, knowing Luo Lingyu just wanted to drag out the time, to let people notice something was wrong. He didn’t wish to stay long at the Lu family.

As long as Luo Lingyu left the Lu family, she alone couldn’t break free from his grasp… Just as they were in this tug-of-war, they heard the voices of maids and servants from the water behind them: “Old Madam, Ladies, Young Miss, we pay our respects!”

Fan Qingchen turned his head, joining everyone in looking outside the lakeside pavilion — A gentle breeze rustled the lotus leaves. Among the emerald lake waters, a small pleasure boat glided slowly forward. The boatman rowed the oars while a beautiful maid and a young servant boy stood on the boat. The maid and servant boy at the bow immediately bowed and greeted the masters in the lake pavilion in clear voices. But everyone’s gaze passed over the maid and servant boy to fall on the young master standing before them.

His light robe and loose sash moved gently in the wind. The young master stood at the bow, fair-faced with a jade crown, tall as a pine tree. His eyes were covered with light gauze, with a few strands of black hair blown across his face by the wind.

Gliding across the water, as if walking on clear lotus leaves.

His bearing was lofty and otherworldly, like smoke drifting under the moon, as ethereal as an immortal.

With such grace, the ladies in the pavilion, though they had seen him many times, still couldn’t help but sigh: Third Young Master was still so handsome.

Lady Lu felt uncomfortable inside: Fortunately her son wasn’t here, otherwise he would again be overshadowed by Third Young Master.

Just one look at this young master, and Fan Qingchen’s heart skipped a beat, with an instinctive feeling: This must be the Lu family’s Third Young Master, Lu Yun.

The people in the pavilion waited for the boat to dock. Lu Yun on the boat turned his face toward Luo Lingyu’s direction. Though they knew his eyes were covered with gauze and he couldn’t see anything, the young lady under Fan Qingchen’s hand trembled. While Fan Qingchen was stunned, Luo Lingyu somehow found the courage to suddenly break free from her fiancé, quickly stepping forward with joy to call out: “Third Cousin, why did you come?”

Fan Qingchen pressed against her back, laughing in surprise and lowering his voice as if whispering in her ear: “Sister Luo, I misjudged you… Your taste is so low, to actually like this blind man?”

Luo Lingyu: “…”

Lu Yun’s arrival had given her courage. She had been afraid of Fan Qingchen earlier, not daring to say anything. But now that Lu Yun had “looked over,” Luo Lingyu felt emboldened by his presence, and deliberately said with seeming sincerity: “Third Cousin is the most handsome and graceful young master even with blind eyes. I just love blind men.”

Fan Qingchen was choked speechless: “…”

And she had already stepped forward to welcome that “blind man.”