ATLAS TRANSLATES

During her senior year internship, Chu Zhi ultimately chose the company where Lu Jiaheng had previously interned.

Even though her father had repeatedly offered her opportunities to work at his company as a copywriter or planner to gain experience, Chu Zhi declined.

On her first day of internship, Chu Zhi wore gray-and-red heeled leather shoes and a long smoke-gray coat, choosing style over warmth as she shivered her way to work.

Standing beneath the massive “Jing Heng Group” office building, watching people come and go, Chu Zhi felt moved. The last time she came here to find Lu Jiaheng seemed recent, but so much time had passed. Now she was interning at the place where he once worked.

Chu Zhi felt like time had flowed backwards.

Among her fellow interns, she was the only undergraduate student. The others included graduates from prestigious overseas universities and master’s degree candidates. Their resumes were dazzling compared to hers. Chu Zhi felt she had lucked into Jing Heng and wondered how HR had chosen her.

Perhaps it was because of that highly regarded university advertising competition in her junior year where she had won a good ranking.

And Xiao Yi, as far as she knew, hadn’t won any awards.

Thinking of this, Chu Zhi felt pleased and wondered how he was doing at Zhuo Si.

Chu Zhi thought perhaps by graduation, she might receive a wedding invitation from Xiao Yi and Zhao Mei.

Sitting in the meeting room, she messaged her father: [Dad, how did I get into Jing Heng? Did you pull some strings?]

Her father replied immediately: [What strings? My daughter is so outstanding, of course you conquered Jing Heng with your ability and personal charm.]

Chu Zhi silently glanced at the dazzling resume corner of the intern brother sitting next to her, wondering if she should continue this self-deception like her father.

Chu Zhi sat in the meeting room, quietly texting her father: [Dad, but the other interns all have master’s and doctoral degrees, and I think one’s even from Cambridge.]

Her father proudly replied: [That means my daughter’s abilities are on par with master’s and doctoral students from Cambridge.]

Chu Zhi: “…”

She silently put away her phone.

Just then, the meeting room door opened. Chu Zhi and another marketing department intern were led away by their supervisor and shown to their desks.

The position was by the window, with the window on the right and an office in front, separated by transparent glass. The blinds weren’t drawn, and it looked similar to Lu Jiaheng’s old office.

A man sat at the large desk in the office, slightly tilted in his chair, wearing a white shirt and black trousers, his long legs stretched out, shiny leather shoes on his feet. His fashionable double-loop tie knot gave him an air of meticulous precision.

Chu Zhi’s gaze lingered on him for just three seconds before he looked up.

Their eyes met.

The man smiled and nodded slightly at her.

Chu Zhi suddenly felt caught and hastily put down her things, standing up quickly and giving a slight bow.

The movement was a bit dramatic in the quiet office, drawing sidelong glances from those nearby.

The man in the office looked startled, his smile widening.

Chu Zhi’s face flushed red with embarrassment, feeling like an idiot.

A slightly chubby man next to her chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a creak: “Little sister, here for an internship?”

Still red-faced and trying to hide in her cubicle, Chu Zhi turned and nodded obediently: “Graduating in a few months.”

“Which school?”

“A University.”

“Ah, a top student,” the man cheerfully leaned closer, “So, what do you think? Isn’t our director handsome? Got a crush yet? Want to pursue him?”

Chu Zhi blinked in surprise: “That was the director?”

The young girl’s clean, pretty face without makeup and her large deer-like eyes blinking at him made his heart melt, making him want to pat her head.

His long-dormant lolicon tendencies suddenly reactivated, and he almost clutched his heart crying out “so cute!”

His expression became fatherly as he secretly glanced at the office: “Yes, that’s Director Ye Kanning. Not yet thirty, our resident eye candy, single and eligible. If not a diamond bachelor, at least he’s gold-tier.”

Chu Zhi played along: “Wow.”

She was genuinely surprised. She’d thought anyone who could become a director at Jing Heng would be at least in their forties, if not balding.

Having found a relatively formal internship, Chu Zhi devoted all her enthusiasm, working from dawn till night, forgetting to eat and sleep.

Her home was quite far from Jing Heng. Without a driver’s license, she battled through rush hour crowds like a war-hardened general, squeezing onto packed subways with reckless abandon.

After a month, Chu Zhi felt she’d even developed muscles in her arms.

Her boss, the golden bachelor Director Ye Kanning, was gentle and easy-going. As a lowly intern, Chu Zhi rarely had direct interaction with him, though her desk directly faced his office. Sometimes when her eyes grew tired from writing, she’d look up and accidentally meet his gaze.

Until one time, when Chu Zhi helped her supervisor deliver some documents.

She knocked and walked in quietly, saying softly: “Director Ye?”

Ye Kanning looked up: “Yes?”

Chu Zhi handed over the folder, and he took it, lowering his head to open it.

As she was about to leave, Ye Kanning looked up again: “Your name is Chu Zhi?”

Called out by name, she felt like a child being addressed by their mother. She nibbled her teeth like a hamster and nodded.

Ye Kanning smiled: “Intern?”

Chu Zhi carefully nodded again, trying to recall if she’d done anything wrong in the past month.

The director said kindly: “How are you finding it recently? Managing the workload?”

“It’s okay.”

“Hard work? I notice you stay late every day.”

Chu Zhi scratched her chin: “It’s not too hard.”

Ye Kanning smiled: “When I first interned, I thought work was impossibly difficult. I understand. If you encounter any problems, feel free to ask colleagues, or you can ask me.”

Chu Zhi was surprised by this honor, nodding continuously like a pecking chick. She looked up, blinking her big eyes: “Then, Director Ye, I’ll head out now.”

Ye Kanning made an affirming sound, smiling slightly: “Go ahead.”

Like a mischievous student released from the principal’s office, Chu Zhi hurried out.

Just as she left the office, her phone vibrated with a message.

Her last conversation with Lu Jiaheng had been two weeks ago, when he asked about her internship. Chu Zhi had excitedly told him everything, including how she specifically chose his former internship company.

Lu Jiaheng had strangely fallen silent then, not speaking, only making a soft sound of acknowledgment.

Chu Zhi hadn’t thought much of it at the time, eager to talk with him, but later realized his voice had seemed somewhat meaningful.

Now, his message came through, simply asking what she was doing.

Chu Zhi blinked, like a high school student secretly using their phone to avoid the teacher. She glanced furtively at the office direction, then at her supervisor, before turning away: [I’m at work.]

He replied quickly: [What time do you get off?]

Chu Zhi: [Wow.]

[Wow what?]

[My boyfriend is actually asking what time I get off work.]

After she sent that message, Lu Jiaheng went silent.

Chu Zhi’s lips drooped, cheeks puffed out like a little goldfish filled with air.

She made a soft “pff” sound, letting out a small huff before returning to her seat.

Although Ye Kanning had said to ask him about any problems, Chu Zhi definitely didn’t have the courage to do so. Her colleagues all looked busy, and she didn’t want to constantly bother them with questions.

Fortunately, she was a quick learner and had some previous internship experience. Although she worked a bit slower, she hadn’t encountered any insurmountable problems.

That evening at 6:30, Chu Zhi finally typed the last character, pushed away her keyboard with a groan, and collapsed in her chair.

Outside the window, the capital’s night sky was bright with lights, car taillights stretching into long red and yellow dragons.

Half the office lights were already off, with only a few people still working, their keyboards clicking softly and quickly at their computer screens.

Chu Zhi stood up to stretch, followed by a yawn, wiping tears from her eyes before grabbing her coat from the chair.

She casually looked up and noticed Ye Kanning’s office light was still on.

Chu Zhi hadn’t paid attention before, but remembering what he’d said to her today, she slowly realized something.

If he knew she left late, that meant he was still there every day when she left.

Chu Zhi thought it remarkable that Director Ye could maintain such thick hair and a healthy hairline despite working such long hours.

She gathered her things and put on her coat to leave. Passing the director’s office, Ye Kanning seemed to sense her presence and looked up, staring at her unblinkingly through the glass.

Chu Zhi froze, hesitating.

What was this?

What did this mean?

Was he expressing disapproval that she, an intern, was preparing to leave while he, the supervisor, was still working?

Or had his questions this morning been subtly expressing this message?

Chu Zhi stood there, face full of uncertainty, feeling her analysis made more and more sense, thinking how profound the workplace was!

But she had already put on her coat and everything, so now she was stuck between leaving and staying.

She adjusted her expression, calmly nodded to Ye Kanning, then turned and walked into the break room.

Five minutes later, Chu Zhi emerged with a cup of instant coffee, returned to her desk, solemnly took off her coat, and sat down.

Before sitting, she even gave him a determined look.

That look seemed full of burning fighting spirit and youthful passion, intensely conveying something to him.

Having specifically put on her coat and packed her bag only to go make coffee and return to continue overtime work.

Chu Zhi was moved by herself.

She collapsed limply on her desk, optimistically thinking this was good too, at least she’d avoid rush hour.

Chu Zhi was awakened by her phone ringing.

It was Mrs. Deng calling to ask when she’d be home.

Chu Zhi was still groggy, her face pressed against the desk, several blank A4 papers wrinkled beneath her face.

She answered, taking three seconds to realize where she was.

Looking at the clock, it was nearly 8 PM.

Chu Zhi quickly said a few words and hung up, sitting in her chair rubbing her eyes for a moment.

Her phone rang again – it was Lu Jiaheng.

It was morning where he was. Chu Zhi stood up, rubbed her sore neck from sleeping, and answered: “Hello—”

Just woken up, her voice was sticky sweet, the ending drawn out like she was being coy.

Lu Jiaheng’s end was quiet and spacious. After a pause, he spoke softly: “Are you home?”

“Not yet, I’m at the company, about to leave now,” Chu Zhi yawned, holding the phone with her shoulder as she put on her coat, “I fell asleep just now.”

“If you’re that tired, go home earlier.”

Chu Zhi thought to herself that she had planned to leave earlier but was deterred by her leader’s spine-chilling gaze.

She picked up her bag and walked out, just passing the director’s office.

Ye Kanning was still! not! gone!

Chu Zhi cleared her throat, righteously declaring: “Overtime is right and proper, I’m willing to dedicate my life to the company!”

Lu Jiaheng: “…”

The director’s office door wasn’t closed. After speaking, Chu Zhi secretly glanced at the boss’s expression.

He looked at her with a smile, so that should mean he was satisfied, right?

She sighed in relief and walked out.

On the other end of the phone, Lu Jiaheng was also laughing, his deep laughter threading into her ears, so pleasant that Chu Zhi wanted to stuff the phone into her ear.

She really hadn’t properly heard his voice for too long.

Walking out of the office, Chu Zhi quietly listened to him laugh.

After a while, she said softly: “Why are you so happy?”

Lu Jiaheng’s voice was filled with amusement: “Nothing, just thinking that Jing Heng’s boss must be very gratified to have an employee like you.”

“I’m not even an employee yet, I’m an intern. I still need to pass the assessment to be converted.”

But Lu Jiaheng seemed unconcerned: “My Chu Zhi is so amazing, what assessment couldn’t you pass?”

Chu Zhi said seriously: “Mr. Lu, my competitors all have better resumes than mine, and one is even from Cambridge.”

The company was mostly empty, the entire corridor deserted. Chu Zhi quickened her steps to the elevator, just about to press the button when someone grabbed her wrist from behind.

Chu Zhi was startled and cried out in surprise, stumbling backward unprepared and bumping hard into someone’s chest.

The person didn’t speak, just held her waist with one hand, half-embracing her.

The elevator door opened with a ding, and the man turned sideways, carrying her into the elevator.

Chu Zhi’s mind went blank for a moment.

Two seconds later, she reacted, struggling desperately like a rabbit caught by its ears, while shouting Lu Jiaheng’s name into the phone.

The elevator’s metal doors had frosted wave patterns, making it hard to see clearly, only showing the rough outline of the man behind her.

Lu Jiaheng remained silent on the other end.

No one had pressed a floor button, so the elevator just stayed there.

Chu Zhi’s heart was racing, nearly scared to tears, only feeling the man’s strong arms embracing her from behind, steady, not letting her move.

Her nose was filled with clean, crisp male hormones mixed with a hint of laundry detergent.

Familiar yet unique.

Chu Zhi froze, her eyes widening slightly.

Until two voices reached her ears simultaneously, one traveling through the phone lines, the other right next to her, breath warming her pale ear, “Don’t move,”

His voice was very soft, low and magnetic, familiar, his tone gentle and lazy, “Move again and I’ll touch you.”

“…”

“Strip and touch you.”