ATLAS TRANSLATES

The man pursed his lips, tightening his jaw. His left elbow rested beside her waist as he leaned over her. His back was slightly hunched, creating a small distance between them. In the silence, his narrowed eyes seemed to flash with a deep, meaningful light. When he stared down at her, it was as if he were a predator sizing up its prey. Of course, this imagery was particularly fitting—if he didn’t have an expression that screamed, “I don’t care, I want to have a baby with you right now.”

The main lights dimmed, replaced by a soft, hazy yellow glow.

“This won’t solve the root problem,” Chen Jinyao gasped lightly, her breath catching as she adjusted to Yan Cheng’s movements. Her slender, fair legs wrapped around his waist, her hips slightly lifted. Her long dress slid down to her knees as if on its own accord. Sensing that Yan Cheng’s hand had found its way to a sensitive spot, she hissed, sucking in a sharp breath and biting her lip. She shot him an angry glare. “You need to address the root cause first.”

“What if I can’t fix the root cause? What if you run away with the ball one day?” She reached out, patted his face, and teased with a half-smile.

Under the amber light, her playful reproach was particularly captivating.

However, Yan Cheng remained expressionless, his demeanor more like that of a predator ready to consume her whole.

The most terrifying thing was his deliberate, slow touch through the thin fabric. The featherlight strokes drove her to the brink of madness, her body responding instinctively beyond her control. Chen Jinyao instinctively grabbed his arm, her nails leaving faint red marks as she scratched him out of frustration.

“And you still haven’t quit smoking,” she accused.

Although their relationship wasn’t fully stable after they started discussing things openly, she wasn’t opposed to the idea of having a child. However, she didn’t think it should happen on a whim.

“You haven’t quit smoking. What if it affects the baby?” she pressed.

Yan Cheng faltered, momentarily speechless. “….”

This was a battle of reason within an intimate atmosphere.

Unlike the cliché of “quarrel in bed, reconcile in bed,” this was different. Physical intimacy might release pent-up desire and temporarily smooth over some emotions, but it did little to resolve underlying issues. Indulgence without emotional connection was fleeting, lacking any meaningful impact.

Since both of them understood this, resolving the issue became easier.

Yan Cheng wasn’t unreasonable. After furrowing his brow in thought, he quickly agreed with her concerns. “You’re right.”

Although he said this in a serious tone, he didn’t stop his actions. Ignoring his earlier posture, he leaned in, capturing her lips in a soft, biting kiss. His tongue teased and entwined with hers, drawing her into a deeper entanglement. When he finally released her, he rested his forehead against hers, locking eyes with her from a heart-throbbing distance. His dark pupils seemed even deeper now, so black they could consume her entirely.

Besides this, Chen Jinyao was acutely aware of the firm, throbbing presence pressing against her thigh. It pulsed insistently, as if crying out, yet remained just that—an unfulfilled promise.

“….”

Chen Jinyao felt the air conditioning was utterly useless. The heat in her cheeks betrayed just how flushed she had become.

The sensual tension overwhelmed her senses, leaving her helpless.

At this moment, she came to a realization: she couldn’t afford to indulge in petty whims anymore.

Things will work themselves out when the time comes… she thought, before her musings were interrupted.

Yan Cheng’s voice cut through the haze. “So, how do we address the root problem?”

Caught off guard, Chen Jinyao blinked, momentarily at a loss. She turned her head, avoiding his gaze. Her eyes fixed on the faintly swaying curtains, her mind clouded. Then, a sudden thought sprouted, unbidden, as if watered by the hazy moonlight.

“Let’s talk,” she suggested.

Yan Cheng stilled, no longer moving. He lay quietly on top of her, seemingly taking a mid-game break. When she didn’t say anything further, he took the lead. His tone turned unusually serious.

“What should we talk about?” Chen Jinyao reflexively asked.

Yan Cheng grabbed her hand, his fingers playing with hers. After a long pause, he arched his brow and slowly said, “Love.”

“……………”

Yan Cheng fell silent for a few seconds. Despite his body’s heated state, he managed to maintain clear, logical thinking. With a calm voice, he began analyzing. “I’ve thought about it carefully. Your lack of security stems from the fact that we didn’t have any emotional foundation when we got married.”

When he spoke earnestly, he sounded like a relationship expert, hitting the nail on the head with every point.

“You know what this means, don’t you? It means that even if you feel the slightest affection for me, you’ll overthink it. You’ll worry about whether I’ll reciprocate, and whether expressing your feelings will leave you vulnerable.”

Chen Jinyao gulped, stunned by his analysis.

“See? I was right,” Yan Cheng declared confidently, his expression saying ‘I knew it.’

“Let’s clear the air tonight. We can’t keep going on like this,” he added.

Chen Jinyao nodded. “But are you sure this is the right way to talk?”

She shifted slightly, causing his eyes to darken. Taking the hint, his strong arms locked firmly around her waist, pinning her down to stop her from making any reckless moves. Surrounding her like an unyielding mountain, Yan Cheng resisted temptation. After a moment of silence, he countered, “I’m afraid you’ll cry.”

“…Cry so much you won’t hear a word I’m saying.”

Chen Jinyao could hear the undertones in his words. “….”

Suppressing her embarrassment, she managed to roll her eyes at him.

After a while, they returned to the topic at hand.

Lowering his lashes, Yan Cheng collected his thoughts. He spoke softly. “You overthink things too much. I should’ve guided you properly the first time you felt anxious.”

“Anxious?” Chen Jinyao lifted her head in protest.

But her defiance was short-lived. He effortlessly pinned her back down, his cold gaze sweeping over her as if to question, “Wasn’t it?”

“Do you remember how we came to an agreement before we got married? Do you remember the terms and the handshake we made to seal it?” His pressing tone, like layers of waves, gradually surged forward, fanning the flames.

Chen Jinyao blinked innocently, hoping to douse the fire with her charm. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.

She tried to regain control of the conversation. Reflecting on her earlier words at the door, she bit her lip. Realizing what she was about to confess, her gaze began to shift evasively. “I just had a dream.”

Yan Cheng raised an eyebrow. “A dream?”

“Mm.” Chen Jinyao nodded. After coughing lightly, she explained, “I dreamed you ended up living happily ever after with someone else.”

Yan Cheng: “………………………”

After two seconds of contemplation, he concluded, “Chen Jinyao, there’s something wrong with your brain, isn’t there?”

This proved that even when voicing one’s insecurities tactfully, it didn’t guarantee a comforting response. Instead, it might earn a baffled look from the other party, as if they were gazing at an idiot.

Chen Jinyao instinctively clutched her chest, feeling an inexplicable pang. Yet, oddly, she felt a sense of relief.

She reached out, wrapping her arms around Yan Cheng’s neck. Tugging his head down slightly, she tilted her own up to plant a light kiss on the corner of his lips. “Be honest. Do you think I’m being unreasonable?”

In truth, Chen Jinyao already knew the answer.

Yan Cheng’s gaze remained steady, showing no fluctuation. He smiled faintly, as if humoring her nonsense. “Not really.”

He added, “And you’re even sillier than I thought. Don’t you know that dreams are often the opposite of reality?”

Chen Jinyao narrowed her eyes. At that moment, she really wanted to kick him out of bed.

—

Once in the bathroom, the mist from the hot water quickly filled the space. The atmosphere was warm and intimate, with the sound of water droplets falling adding a soft rhythm to their proximity. Chen Jinyao tried to adjust her position but was immediately stopped by Yan Cheng, who sternly warned her with a low voice, “Don’t move.”

It was impossible to tell if it was because of the temperature or something else entirely, but her cheeks were flushed red. She quietly clung to his shoulders, not daring to meet his eyes. “Why are you like this…”

Yan Cheng chuckled lightly. His deep voice carried a hint of mischief. “Like what?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she simply turned her head, her gaze falling on the fogged-up glass. Her reflection was blurry, but the faint outline of their entwined figures made her heart race uncontrollably.

In an attempt to change the subject, she muttered, “Didn’t you say you wanted to have a serious talk?”

The man raised his eyebrows, the corner of his lips curling up. “Are we not talking seriously right now?”

Chen Jinyao fell silent. She had nothing to counter with.

The water cascaded over their bodies, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between the heat of the steam and their own rising temperatures. Yan Cheng’s gaze softened slightly as he observed her expression—half shy, half annoyed. He reached out to wipe away a bead of water that clung to her cheek. “Don’t overthink things,” he said in a low tone, “I meant what I said earlier. From now on, we’ll try to treat this as a proper relationship.”

Her lips twitched, but before she could reply, he added with a rare touch of seriousness, “I’ll take care of everything. You just need to trust me.”

The words struck a chord deep within her. Chen Jinyao blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in his tone. For a moment, her chaotic thoughts quieted, replaced by an unfamiliar sense of security.

But, true to her nature, she couldn’t resist poking at him. “Are you saying this because you feel guilty about something?”

Yan Cheng didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered, “I’m saying it because I don’t want you to keep thinking about nonsense, like that ridiculous dream you mentioned.”

Her face turned even redder. She opened her mouth to argue, but he silenced her with a brief, teasing kiss before stepping back to grab a towel. Wrapping it around her, he picked her up effortlessly and carried her out of the bathroom.

“Wait, I can walk!” she protested weakly, her voice muffled against his chest.

Yan Cheng glanced down at her with a smirk. “You’ve already proven you can’t be trusted on your own.”

Her eyes widened in indignation, but she couldn’t come up with a proper rebuttal. Instead, she resorted to glaring at him, a faint pout forming on her lips.

Once they were back in the bedroom, he carefully set her down on the bed and began to dry her hair with gentle movements. The playful atmosphere from earlier had faded slightly, replaced by a quieter, more tender mood.

“Yan Cheng,” she called out softly after a while.

“Hmm?” He didn’t pause his movements, his fingers deftly running through her damp locks.

“Do you really think we can do this?” she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

His hands stilled for a moment. Then, he placed the towel aside and tilted her chin up so she was forced to meet his gaze. “I’ve never been more certain about anything,” he replied, his tone firm and unwavering.

Chen Jinyao stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. It was rare for him to be so serious, and she found herself unable to look away.

“From now on,” he continued, “no more running away, no more overthinking. Let’s face everything together.”

She didn’t respond immediately, but the corners of her lips curved upward ever so slightly. For the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could make this work.