ATLAS TRANSLATES

A week ago, their previously quiet university class group chat suddenly became active again. Someone had started reminiscing, which led to a suggestion: “We haven’t seen each other in so long, why don’t we meet up at our alma mater?” This suggestion immediately received an overwhelming response. Everyone was enthusiastic, raising both hands and feet in agreement. The few who said they were too busy with work were quickly drowned out by other replies.

The group discussed everything from accommodation and food to activities and games. The class monitor roughly planned it all, and after getting approval from most people, began counting who would attend. During those days, the group chat messages never stopped.

Chen Jinyao had glanced at it initially but later muted the chat. She wasn’t the original Chen Jinyao and felt no connection to these classmates. Several others also stayed quiet like quails, either truly missing the messages or, like her, using silence to politely decline the reunion.

After muting the messages, Chen Jinyao quickly forgot about it. She hadn’t expected the class monitor to call her personally.

As she walked past Yan Cheng with her phone, she glanced down at him. After she mentioned “university classmate” and deliberately added “male classmate,” Yan Cheng had furrowed his brows in deep thought. She squinted, trying to guess what he was thinking. Knowing Yan Cheng, she figured his imagination had probably run wild. Thinking this, Chen Jinyao couldn’t hide her smile. While Yan’s mother wasn’t looking their way, she reached out and gently patted Yan Cheng’s cheeks.

“…” Yan Cheng paused briefly, then took the chance to grab her hand and squeeze it.

Their mother-in-law missed these small gestures. When she finally looked back in their direction, Yan Cheng was lazily leaning back on the sofa, letting Chen Jinyao go answer her phone.

Seeing Chen Jinyao leave, Mother Yan finally released her long-held words. She walked over to sit beside Yan Cheng, pinched his arm, and said without preamble: “Yan Xiao Liu, let me tell you, don’t get too cocky just because Yaoyao protects you.”

This accusation came out of nowhere and was too unfair. Yan Cheng suddenly turned to look at his mother, completely confused: “No, Mom, don’t make false accusations.”

Mother Yan: “What false accusations? Look at yourself. This isn’t your usual style of dress, all polished up and shiny. Don’t think your mother doesn’t understand men’s little tricks – aren’t you just trying to attract attention?”

Yan Cheng: “…”

Mother Yan: “Let me tell you…”

Before she could finish, Yan Cheng interrupted her with raised hands and a helpless expression: “What are you imagining? Don’t you know your son’s character? I dress well because I want to look good for someone I care about, understand?”

This response left Mother Yan speechless. She turned to look at Chen Jinyao leaning against the wall making her phone call, watched for a while, then turned back to stare at Yan Cheng with surprised eyes. “You mean, with Yaoyao…???”

“Mm.” Yan Cheng lazily drooped his eyes, randomly pressing buttons on the remote control, “I like her.”

“…” Mother Yan stared at him in disbelief, silent for a moment, “Then before…” She was so surprised she didn’t know how to phrase it, thinking it best not to mention the previous matter with Zhou Xue.

Yan Cheng: “Before? Oh, I know what I’m doing, don’t worry about it.”

“Hey, child, how can you call this needless worry!” Middle-aged women’s gossip hearts are far more exaggerated than you might imagine. She pressed her lips together and asked again: “When did this happen?”

“Mom also thinks you’ve calmed down after marriage and hoped you’d come to your senses and have a stable marriage life with Yaoyao, but I really didn’t expect…” Mother Yan’s eyes gleamed with excitement, “So, Xiao Liu, you’ve been so quiet about this, when exactly did it happen?”

One time wasn’t enough; she had to ask twice.

Yan Cheng narrowed his eyes, looking elsewhere, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

When did he start liking her? If he really thought about it, he couldn’t say for sure. Initially, being with Chen Jinyao was just comfortable. His feelings for her probably developed during their daily interactions. It came silently, and by the time you noticed it, it had already become intimate. Love, after all, was like spring rain, moistening things silently.

So, he couldn’t pinpoint when. He just knew he was particularly happy when he was with her.

Seeing he wouldn’t answer, Mother Yan didn’t press further. She smiled and patted her son’s shoulder: “It’s good that you like her, it’s good. This means your father didn’t play matchmaker in vain.”

She paused, then continued meaningfully: “Mom’s experienced in these matters and can tell you some things. Feelings in arranged marriages develop slower than in love marriages. Some couples who marry through matchmaking might never develop feelings their whole lives. Although arranging your marriage with Yaoyao was somewhat forced by circumstances, as parents, we naturally hope for our children’s happiness. Don’t dwell on your past anymore. Once you’re sure, live well with Yaoyao, treat her well. Our Yan family men must cherish their wives.”

The smell of soup being made in the kitchen had wafted into the living room. Yan Cheng wrinkled his nose, his Adam’s apple bobbing, “I know all this.”

He wasn’t a child anymore; how could he not understand these principles?

After this conversation, silence fell. In a sense, Yan Cheng considered Mother Yan part of his team. He could boldly share his true feelings with her, completely confident she would keep his secrets. This confidence came from his past experience.

Yan Cheng suddenly remembered what his second brother had said and connected it with Mother Yan’s current attitude. He raised his eyebrows happily as if discovering new land, then glanced at Mother Yan with a half-smile: “Second brother said you’d be a terrible mother-in-law.”

His expression seemed to say “I really can’t believe you’d say such things” in a provocative way.

“…” Hearing this, Mother Yan was silent for two seconds, then gritted her teeth and cursed “that little brat” before straightening her posture and sitting up properly: “I’m a reasonable person, and I have eyes. My attitude, whether I become a good or bad mother-in-law, depends on what kind of women you boys marry.”

Yan Cheng was amazed by his mother’s eloquence: “…”

The heart-to-heart chat between mother and son was quite pleasant. Mother Yan felt particularly relieved at this moment. Earlier, she had wanted to talk about them having children soon, feeling some pressure about it, but now that pressure had greatly decreased. She felt she could bring up this topic more smoothly at the dinner table later.

However, not even a minute later, Mother Yan frowned again. Love needs to be mutual to bring joy, and she wasn’t sure about Jinyao’s feelings toward her son… But seeing how Jinyao protected Yan Cheng, it didn’t seem like she had no feelings for him.

Mother Yan let out a breath, feeling relieved. Little did she know, Yan Cheng wasn’t just born from her womb – he was like a tapeworm that knew her inside out. The words she was holding back were casually revealed by Yan Cheng in the next moment.

Yan Cheng: “Mom, don’t bring up what you were talking about on the phone later.”

Yan Cheng: “We have our own plans. We recently discussed it – I’m quitting smoking, and I’ve got her exercising with me. We’re preparing.”

Preparing for what? Mother Yan immediately understood. But now that it was out in the open, she felt embarrassed and couldn’t help but blame him for not explaining clearly on the phone. She had forgotten that she hadn’t given him a chance to speak at all.

“Alright, alright, Mom won’t say anything. You two decide for yourselves.” Having received this assurance, she knew she should know when to step back.

Mother Yan: “It’s just that everyone else is holding grandchildren, and I’m anxious too.”

Yan Cheng slightly narrowed his eyes, “Why compare with others? If you think about it, you have many children, so you’ll definitely have more grandchildren later.”

“They’ll all be calling you grandmother and great-aunt in a circle.”

“But these things can’t be rushed. If you’re really bored, just get a dog or cat to keep you company.”

Speaking of this, he suddenly frowned. Although he had filled the cat’s food bowl before leaving, he was still a bit worried that Du Ni might starve.

Mother Yan: “…”

With that, this topic was considered closed.

After answering the phone, she immediately heard a clear male voice, with a slight laugh that could tickle one’s ears: “Class Rep, you really became a missing person right after graduation, huh?” The tone was quite familiar.

Chen Jinyao paused, feeling a bit awkward: “Been busy with work.”

The original Chen Jinyao was actually an exceptionally outstanding girl. However, no matter how outstanding, it couldn’t prevent her from becoming humble after falling in love with someone, blindly pursuing and easily losing herself. When she finally gave up the pursuit and stopped, looking back, she would find that her lost self was right behind her, always following, waiting for her to hold its hand again. People who shine will never be covered by temporary darkness – it’s like the principle that gold will always glitter.

What covers one’s own light is always self-imposed degradation.

The original Chen Jinyao later chose to attend university in the South. To avoid falling into a cycle of missing someone or overthinking, she didn’t relax after starting university. She kept studying hard, participating in school activities, serving as the class representative, and winning scholarships every year.

Love can easily make people blind. Chen Jinyao narrowed her eyes, watching Mrs. Zhao bring out the dishes, and sighed slightly.

“Next month is our class reunion. No matter how busy you are, Class Rep, you should make some time, right? Everyone’s been tagging you in the group, but you haven’t responded, so they sent me to contact you.”

“…” Chen Jinyao frowned, too embarrassed to know how to answer. After a while, she said: “I’ll really need to check my schedule.”

The class monitor, carrying out others’ requests, had to keep trying: “It’s rare to get together! Besides, as our class representative, you often helped everyone during university. Everyone wants to personally toast you in thanks.”

Chen Jinyao was speechless. After a while, she stopped leaning against the wall and slowly walked back to the living room, “Okay, I’ll try my best to make time.”

“Great, great, ah, I still need to call others who haven’t responded to the group messages.” The class monitor sighed, feeling nostalgic, “This group is still the same as before – whenever there’s something important, some people are always quiet as chickens.”

Chen Jinyao had nothing more to say: “Okay, I’ll hang up then.” She paused, then asked: “Can we bring family members?”

Class Monitor: “…”

Even after dinner, Mother Yan never showed that hesitant expression again. Because of this, Chen Jinyao silently questioned Yan Cheng with her eyes.

Yan Cheng smiled and leaned close to her ear: “I told her everything.”

“Oh.” She lowered her eyes, composing her expression.

Afterward, Chen Jinyao followed Mother Yan into the kitchen to cut fruit. The distance between the kitchen and living room was enough for Mother Yan to share secrets.

While cutting watermelon and arranging it on plates, Mother Yan’s eyes sparkled with scattered starlight. She kept smiling secretly until Chen Jinyao was completely confused. Then Mother Yan finally contained her expression and pulled Chen Jinyao aside to say: “That rascal Yan Cheng told me while you were on the phone that he really likes you.”

Chen Jinyao: “…”

Mother Yan: “He was so sweet-talking, almost praised you to the skies in front of me.”

A few seconds later.

Chen Jinyao understood Mother Yan’s intention in saying this. It seemed the meaning wasn’t in the words themselves. But doing this, as a mother, was also normal.

She smiled, “I’m his wife, of course he has to like me.” She paused, then said seriously: “I really like him too.”

We’re both moving forward on the path of mutual love, supporting and exploring together. And ahead, the sunlight is shining.