ATLAS TRANSLATES

The Lu family’s relationships were both simple and complex.

The simple part was just like a cliché drama plot. They say movies and TV dramas come from life but are meant to be more dramatic than real life. Sometimes though, melodramas might not even match up to reality.

The year Lu Jiaheng took his high school entrance exams, Lu Hongsheng sponsored a university student.

The girl was studious, had excellent grades, attended a prestigious university, and was quiet and pretty. Unfortunately, her family was poor. Lu Hongsheng sponsored her, let her live with them, and had her tutor Lu Jiaheng.

Lu Jiaheng hadn’t been an easy child to get along with, especially during his rebellious teenage years.

At first, he had no good feelings toward his part-time tutor, but as they spent time together, he found her quiet presence wasn’t unpleasant.

They coexisted peacefully for a long time. With only four or five years between them, they were both teacher and friend, seeing each other daily. As they grew familiar, their relationship could even be called quite good.

Later, Lu Jiaheng’s mother passed away. The sponsored student and part-time tutor cried like a wilting flower, so pitiful it would move anyone to sympathy, as if the person lying there was her own mother or mother-in-law.

Then, Lu Jiaheng took a break from school. Before the hundred-day memorial of his mother’s death, the part-time tutor was pregnant, the child eight weeks along.

Eight weeks.

His mother’s body wasn’t yet cold, and he already had an eight-week-old half-sibling.

While she had been kneeling and crying sincerely at his mother’s funeral.

Before the hundred-day memorial of the previous mistress had passed, the Lu family’s new mistress was already openly sleeping in her bed.

Lu Jiaheng couldn’t understand what Lu Hongsheng had that was worth a girl close to his own age, with unlimited future potential, scheming so hard to climb into his bed.

Besides a presentable appearance and money.

She would have been better off trying to seduce him instead.

If it was money she wanted, he had that too.

For the first time, the sixteen-year-old boy truly realized that in the face of desire and money, people could really lose all conscience and humanity.

From then on, Lu Jiaheng lived quite recklessly.

The Lu patriarch had been strict and decisive in his younger years, but in his later years became very laid-back. His son had narrow vision and mediocre abilities. The old man had even prepared for the possibility that Jing Heng wouldn’t carry the Lu name or would go bankrupt within ten years.

Unexpectedly, Lu Jiaheng suddenly seemed like a different person, actively proposing to join the company.

The Lu patriarch was very curious about this mysterious young girl who had suddenly appeared and transformed his grandson from a good-for-nothing playboy who only knew about stocks and having fun into his current self.

Far away in southern China, Chu Zhi sneezed three times.

Right after the second day of the Lunar New Year, Chu Zhi couldn’t wait to start subtly asking her parents when they would go home.

She only saw her grandparents a few times a year and didn’t dare appear too eager in front of them, afraid of hurting the elderly’s feelings. But everyone could see how restless she was.

Grandfather Chu smiled: “Our little princess must be homesick.”

Grandmother Chu smiled: “What homesickness? Our Xiao Zhi is a young lady now, who knows if she’s missing home or that young man?”

Father Chu also smiled, naively believing: “Impossible, Mom, Chu Zhi said she doesn’t have a boyfriend.”

“…”

Chu Zhi lowered her head guiltily, feeling very sorry toward her father.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Chu Zhi and her parents returned to the capital.

The young girl woke up early, spent the whole morning on a plane, but still seemed energetic and not tired at all after landing. After going home and dropping off their things, she didn’t even change clothes before saying she was going out with friends and running off again.

It happened to be Saturday. Chu Zhi ran up the stairs and pressed Lu Jiaheng’s doorbell.

After waiting for quite a while, no one came to open the door.

Chu Zhi stood at the door, took out her phone just as she was about to call him, when the door opened from inside.

Lu Jiaheng stood at the door, looking at her somewhat startled.

He wore a light-colored sweater and casual pants, with frameless glasses perched on his high nose bridge. His peach blossom eyes were hidden behind the lenses, losing some of their flirtatiousness and gaining a touch of nobility.

However, Chu Zhi’s attention was clearly not on this. She had noticed he looked thinner in video calls, but seeing him in person now, he was even thinner than in the videos.

Chu Zhi’s lips drooped as she thought about him eating instant noodles in the office on New Year’s Eve, about how he had said things weren’t good with his father, how his mother was gone, about that slap and his complicated family conflicts.

Chu Zhi’s nose stung again. She quickly stepped forward, arms opening to wrap around his waist, head buried in his chest.

The small person in his arms held his waist tightly. Lu Jiaheng instinctively held her, looking down with some surprise: “When did you get back?”

Chu Zhi pressed her nose against his soft sweater and sniffed, taking in his familiar scent, answering indirectly: “Lu Jiaheng, I missed you so much.”

Lu Jiaheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his heart melting.

“While I was away, did you have any constipation?” Chu Zhi continued.

Lu Jiaheng: “…”

Chu Zhi lifted her head, arms still wrapped around his waist, chin tilted up, expression serious: “Tell me the truth.”

“…”

Lu Jiaheng expressionlessly pressed her head back into his chest: “How did you become so naughty over the New Year?”

Chu Zhi didn’t struggle, instead snuggling closer like a puppy, nose nuzzling against him. He laughed and rubbed her head: “What are you doing?”

Chu Zhi continued nuzzling: “Smelling your scent.”

Lu Jiaheng raised an eyebrow: “What do I smell like?”

“Like Lu Jiaheng.”

“What does Lu Jiaheng smell like?”

“Just Lu Jiaheng smell, ah you’re so annoying.”

The two stood pressed together at the doorway, like two silly people endlessly going back and forth about smells. Lu Jiaheng laughed softly, half-dragging half-carrying her inside before closing the door.

Chu Zhi lifted her head again, about to speak, when she froze.

Behind Lu Jiaheng, an elderly man stood in the living room with his hands behind his back, watching them.

Chu Zhi stiffened.

The old man wore a light-colored Tang suit made of clearly expensive fabric with elegant embroidered patterns.

He looked energetic and robust. At this moment he was expressionlessly watching her, his sharp gaze examining her like an X-ray, scanning her up and down, left and right.

Chu Zhi let go and tried to step back, but Lu Jiaheng still held her tightly.

She didn’t dare make a sound, quietly poking his hard abs.

Lu Jiaheng finally reacted, slowly releasing her and turning around to calmly introduce: “My grandfather.”

Then turning back, he looked at the old man: “Your grandson’s wife.”

Chu Zhi: “…”

Chu Zhi: “????”

Chu Zhi: “?!?!?!”

Chu Zhi wanted to turn around, open the door, and run away immediately.

Her eyes were wide open, her whole body trembling with nervousness from head to toe.

Lu Jiaheng noticed and gently took her cold hand.

Chu Zhi swallowed and suddenly bowed low like a spring being pressed down: “Hello, Grandfather.”

“…”

Lu Jiaheng pulled her up by her shoulders, leaning down to whisper in her ear: “Don’t be nervous.”

His voice was gentle and deep, like a pebble slowly sinking to the bottom of water.

Chu Zhi quietly adjusted her breathing, her nervous emotions gradually calming down.

She secretly glanced at Grandfather Lu, who was also looking at her.

His gaze was somewhat strange, profound, complex, and hesitant.

After a long while, the old man turned his head and looked at Lu Jiaheng: “Is she of legal age?”

Chu Zhi: “…”

Lu Jiaheng: “…”

Chu Zhi hadn’t expected that the first words from the first elder of Lu Jiaheng’s family she met would be this.

She had only been of legal age for less than a month, so it wasn’t exactly wrong.

Moreover, when he had kissed her, she had indeed been underage.

Furthermore, she had just been clingy with him in front of the elder for so long.

Chu Zhi recalled what she had just said and done, feeling somewhat devastated, her ears reddening as she lowered her head in embarrassment.

Seeing this, the Lu patriarch thought his guess was correct. He looked at his grandson with a complex expression, saying nothing.

Lu Jiaheng’s mouth twitched at that look: “She’s of legal age.”

The Lu patriarch seemed to sigh in relief, muttering: “Being of age is good, being of age is fine…”

Lu Jiaheng: “…”

Chu Zhi hadn’t expected to meet family right after returning, and of such high rank as the grandfather.

She hadn’t made any preparations at all before being pulled into the study by Grandfather Lu.

At first, Lu Jiaheng pressed his lips together and held onto her, looking very seriously at the old man, clearly disagreeing: “Whatever you want to say can be said here.”

The Lu patriarch said leisurely: “What’s this, afraid I’ll scare your little girlfriend?”

Lu Jiaheng curved his lips perfunctorily, without much smile: “Yes, she’s fragile and delicate, needs careful protection.”

Chu Zhi blushed, squeezing the tip of his index finger reassuringly.

He frowned.

Chu Zhi looked up at him, blinking.

Only then did he reluctantly let go, stepping back with folded arms: “Ten minutes.”

Chu Zhi actually felt quite uncertain herself, her heart racing. She felt her behavior earlier had been so frivolous, clinging to his grandson and not letting go. Grandfather Lu’s first impression of her must be very, very bad.

The young girl’s face was pale as she followed the old man inside, looking like she was about to be sentenced to death.

The Lu patriarch was used to being in charge, his whole being carrying an air of authority. Even though his expression looked very zen-like, it couldn’t hide the pressure he exuded.

Chu Zhi felt like a thousand little people were clawing at her heart as she anxiously twisted her fingers while waiting.

The old man didn’t speak either, standing by the window with his hands behind his back, watching her.

The X-ray beams scanned back and forth across her body and face, as if she were carrying some virus, where even the air and breath could be infectious, needing layer upon layer of repeated disinfection before anyone could approach or speak to her.

They stood face to face, small eyes staring at old eyes for ten minutes. Chu Zhi went from initially breaking out in cold sweat to eventually starting to zone out.

It was a bit like that game played with children when young – one, two, three, four, we’re all wooden people, no one is allowed to move.

She rubbed the carpet with her toes, waited another two minutes, and finally couldn’t stand it anymore. Biting her lip with a righteous expression, she raised her head.

Chu Zhi closed her eyes resignedly, scrunching up her small face pitifully, her voice sounding like she was about to cry: “Grandfather, just give it to me straight! I won’t break up with Lu Jiaheng anyway!”

The Lu patriarch: “…”

In the end, Grandfather Lu didn’t say anything, but smiled instead.

The old man closed his eyes, looking somewhat helpless as he waved at her, sighing: “Go on, young lady.”

Even after Grandfather Lu had left, Chu Zhi couldn’t understand why she had been called in just to stare at each other for ten minutes.

She followed Lu Jiaheng to see Grandfather Lu off. As soon as he left, Lu Jiaheng closed the door with a snap and pressed his lips together: “What did the old man say to you?”

Chu Zhi had meant to say that he hadn’t said anything.

She lifted her head to look at his slightly downturned lips.

He seemed somewhat tense, as if worried about something.

Chu Zhi didn’t speak.

The quieter she was, the more uneasy Lu Jiaheng became.

Chu Zhi bit her lip, took a deep breath, and tentatively asked: “Are you going abroad?”

Lu Jiaheng froze.

Chu Zhi slowly continued: “Are you going abroad for graduate school? How many years will it take? Is it hard to get in? Will you still study finance?”

Throughout her life, Chu Zhi had rarely lied.

Except when Father Chu asked about boyfriends, in such special circumstances.

She felt somewhat guilty and had a sense of wrongdoing.

So she played a small trick.

Knowing Lu Jiaheng would misunderstand that Grandfather Lu had told her, she directly asked him these questions, trying to reduce her guilt a little through this method.

Lu Jiaheng looked down at her, his eyes deep and unreadable.

After a while, he asked softly: “Do you want me to go?”

“Do you want to go?” Chu Zhi asked back.

“Do you want me to go?” he repeated.

Chu Zhi paused.

She remembered how Grandfather Lu had slowly closed his eyes in the study earlier.

The white-haired but youthful-faced old man clearly looked like an unsheathed sword – sharp and unbreakable.

But in that moment, there was a kind of weariness between his brows.

At that time, he clearly had something he wanted to tell her.

But what did he want to say?

She couldn’t guess.

Chu Zhi lowered her eyelashes slightly, waited for a while, then slowly shook her head: “I don’t want you to. I want you to stay with me.”

Her voice was soft and clear, carrying her characteristic gentle temperament, falling word by word like seeds into his heart, then sprouting and blooming into flowers.

Lu Jiaheng’s eyes flickered, but he said nothing.

Chu Zhi frowned slightly and looked up, “But I’m an adult now, and adults can’t be so selfish, can’t just think about their own happiness.”

Her deer-like eyes were black and bright as she quietly looked at him: “I want you to stay with me always, but I also want you to become a better person.”