ATLAS TRANSLATES

After accompanying Xiang Lanye to handle the matter, twenty minutes had passed for Shu He.

When the two returned to the restaurant, the food they had ordered before going downstairs was just ready.

Xiang Lanye was actually Shu He’s senior from university. They met while working part-time during college, and later she introduced Shu He to other jobs, which made their relationship grow closer.

After graduation, Shu He opened her first coffee shop in Litang, and Xiang Lanye invested in it without hesitation.

This time, when she returned to Qingyu to open a second shop, besides Shu He’s parents, Xiang Lanye was the happiest.

Xiang Lanye now worked as a screenwriter at a media company, being squeezed dry every day with resentment comparable to a vengeful spirit. She ate while continuously complaining.

“But I remember, didn’t your company’s short drama become popular recently?”

Shu He wasn’t drinking alcohol. She rested her chin on her hand, watching the person in front of her.

Xiang Lanye nodded, “When I think about getting a bonus, it seems I can endure it after all.”

Shu He’s lips curved slightly: “That’s what you deserve.”

“That’s right!” Thinking of the bonus, Xiang Lanye wasn’t annoyed anymore. She brought up another topic, “The OST for our drama became popular too. You know how hard it is to buy Qi Shan Jing’s songs, but in the end, this song was given to Chen Yang.”

Speaking of which, people who listen to songs rarely pay attention to composers or lyricists.

Initially, a singer who performed Qi Shan Jing’s song suddenly became popular. After that, more and more singers wanted to buy Qi Shan Jing’s songs.

Indeed, Qi Shan Jing had only written four songs in total, but these four songs directly dominated various music charts.

Some people said good songs still depended on the singers.

But actually, for a perfect song, lyrics and melody were equally important.

Recently, no one expected Qi Shan Jing would give his song to such an unknown singer.

Even though Xiang Lanye was an insider at the company, she wasn’t clear about the reason, but they certainly got lucky—a drama with a good OST was an infinite bonus.

Just like earlier when they were in the elevator, they saw people watching their short drama.

After chatting for quite a while, the piano melody suddenly changed. The restaurant lights flickered, and the atmosphere seemed to be tinged with romance from the surrounding roses.

Someone was proposing.

Xiang Lanye looked back and immediately became interested.

“That’s this song!”

This OST was circulating on short video platforms, mainly used for romantic scenes like proposals.

Xiang Lanye sighed, “Qi Shan Jing must be a very romantic and happy person. Four songs in total, representing the meanings of secret crush, confession, passionate love, and proposal.”

Shu He paused. She looked toward the proposal scene in the distance, her thoughts involuntarily carried away by the music—

Due to family reasons, she had some aversion to marriage.

But back then, fragments of sunlight fell on him. The young man smiled freely and boldly, his dark eyes looking at her were especially beautiful and bright.

“Shu He, when I graduate, let’s get married.”

“But you’ll only be 21 when you graduate.”

Not even the legal age.

She pretended not to agree, and he broke the rules by coming over to kiss her.

“Then when I turn 22, we’ll get married.”

His hands seemed to want to embed her into his embrace, stroking her beautiful shoulder blades, his breathing disordered, stealing her breath inch by inch, repeating her name over and over—

“Let’s get married.”

“I really want to marry you.”

Back then, she truly, truly wanted to spend the rest of her life with him.

But after graduation, he disappeared.

She couldn’t find him anymore.

—

“Shu Shu?”

Xiang Lanye’s voice brought her back to reality.

“What’s wrong?”

Shu He shook her head. She lost interest and withdrew her gaze. Xiang Lanye continued talking to her while repeatedly glancing at the couple behind them.

The woman tearfully accepted the proposal, and congratulatory cheers immediately filled the restaurant.

Xiang Lanye was full of envy. Shu He joked, “Why don’t you hurry up and find someone too?”

She shook her head vigorously.

Xiang Lanye said she wanted to date, but when it came to actually taking that step and meeting someone, it was extremely difficult for her.

She had been on blind dates before, but whenever she interacted with those men, she felt completely uncomfortable.

As they were chatting, a restaurant staff member came over to give them roses.

It was from the man who had successfully proposed, giving everyone flowers. Shu He and Xiang Lanye thanked him, and receiving the flowers improved their mood a bit.

But the two people in a private room on the second floor of the restaurant weren’t doing so well.

Liang Xu had used a lot of persuasion to trick him out, but this person was stubborn. After seeing his ex-girlfriend earlier, he had returned to his lifeless state.

But there was nothing he could do; this important figure was someone he truly couldn’t offend.

The commotion from downstairs faintly reached them. He opened the door to watch the excitement for a while. He was quite happy when he heard that song, but when he saw the woman sitting by the window, he became even happier.

“As long as you promise to give me a song, I’ll let you see Shu He right now.”

He lifted his eyelids without much emotion, his dark eyes staring at him heavily, without any ripples, as if the person with red-rimmed eyes in front of the elevator half an hour ago wasn’t him.

Liang Xu had no choice and simply pointed outside: “She’s downstairs.”

He thought this person would continue to be sullen like before, but he saw that his pale face showed no change in emotion. Only his finger pressed a button on the armrest, and the wheelchair slowly moved forward.

The restaurant lights focused on the main couple, romantic music played, but Jing Yi’s gaze only fell on the profile of the woman by the window.

Shu He was undoubtedly beautiful.

But not in that extremely gorgeous way that would stun people at first glance.

Her chestnut-colored, slightly curled long hair fell on her shoulders. Under her soft eyebrows, her amber eyes had a subtle upward curve at the corners. She rested her chin on one hand, her red lips like flower petals with a faint translucent luster, listening attentively to the person in front of her.

Her first impression was that of gentleness.

But in reality, Shu He had a cold personality, seemingly permeated with a sense of detachment and guardedness from deep within her bones.

She rarely showed intimacy with people, and her every smile and frown was always faint.

But when she was dating him before, they were intimate and affectionate. Her fingertips inserted into his black hair, carrying unconscious infatuation, her beautiful light-colored eyes full of him.

Liang Xu followed him out. He saw the man sitting in the wheelchair, seemingly unaffected by the excitement below, his entire being shrouded in dim light, his gaze silently fixed in one direction, as if wrapped in a vague loneliness.

He felt both pity for Jing Yi and couldn’t help provoking him: “What are you doing sneaking looks from here? If you have the courage, go down and find her directly, get back together with her.”

But unfortunately, his provocation had no effect at all.

He remained like a dead, still lake, sinking alone for years, as if no one could save him.

Only daring to hide in a corner, silently watching that person.

After Liang Xu asked for the fifty-sixth time why he gave the song to Chen Yang, he finally spoke.

“His voice is suitable.”

“That’s it?”

Liang Xu was somewhat incredulous. Jing Yi took a sip of water, his hoarse voice simply giving an “mm.”

During university, Liang Xu had signed Jing Yi.

At the beginning, Jing Yi sang all his own songs.

But a year ago, he began to retreat behind the scenes, focusing on being a creator, writing songs for other singers.

Undeniably, Jing Yi was talented, and his songs were valuable.

His only requirement was that who got the songs was decided by him, and the price was negotiated by the company.

In these two years, he had only released four songs in total. The first three were given to some very popular professional singers. The fourth, “Understanding,” was given to the not-so-famous Chen Yang, which left the company boss, Liang Xu, truly confused.

Although this song became popular because of the short drama, Liang Xu felt it was too risky, as they couldn’t always gamble with songs.

But Jing Yi never thought it was a gamble.

He was sometimes really stubborn. Liang Xu couldn’t persuade him and had to accept it.

If he said so, then so be it.

As long as they could make money, it was fine.

The door of the private room was knocked twice, and a waiter came in with flowers.

Upon learning the reason, Liang Xu pointed to the person opposite him and politely declined: “I’m sorry, we have someone with a pollen allergy here. Thank you.”

Jing Yi’s gaze didn’t soften at all. After the meal, Liang Xu was taking him back when they encountered two familiar figures.

Those two didn’t seem to notice them. After getting into the car, the red sports car smoothly slid out of the parking spot—

“Follow them.”

He suddenly spoke. Liang Xu was stunned: “Follow them for what?”

Jing Yi didn’t answer his question. His eyes fixed tightly on that red sports car, his cold, sunken voice stubbornly said: “Follow them.”

“I really give up on you.”

Despite saying this, Liang Xu still stepped on the accelerator.

It was his first time doing something like following someone, and he felt increasingly guilty and uncomfortable.

“Good thing I didn’t drink today… What are you thinking? Stalking is too dark, can’t you just appear in front of her properly?”

Jing Yi’s face showed no ripples, as if annoyed by his chatter, he retorted: “What do you know?”

“Right, I don’t understand.” Liang Xu’s hand tapped the steering wheel, his tone carrying a subtle hint of showing off: “I’ve never broken up with anyone, and my girlfriend and I are getting married this year.”

“I really don’t understand you people with cliff-edge breakups.”

When they broke up back then, he didn’t know the specific reason.

Just the day before, he had told him about traveling with Shu He after graduation.

The young man’s lips curved slightly, from head to toe, even his hair strands swayed with arcs of love.

But later when he found Jing Yi, he had almost become a different person. That willful and bright person seemed to have only a shell left, his voice terribly hoarse: “I… broke up with Shu He.”

“Nobody wants me anymore.”

Even now, Liang Xu still remembered what he looked like then.

Extremely pitiful, like an abandoned puppy, lying there, having lost all hope for life.

His appearance made Liang Xu think Shu He had dumped him.

But Jing Yi said that wasn’t the case.

So until now, even though he considered himself to be on good terms with this guy, he had only vaguely guessed the reason for their breakup but never received a definite answer.

Liang Xu cautiously followed the red sports car. This was his first time following someone, something that a person with high moral standards like him couldn’t do. He glanced at the expressionless person beside him and couldn’t help but grumble inwardly.

In just two years, he had transformed from an annoyingly bright and cheerful guy into a gloomy little pervert, both sneaking looks and stalking.

Forget about getting back together; it would be strange if Shu He wasn’t scared to death.

The Shu He driving ahead indeed noticed their car.

With her good memory, she recognized it as Liang Xu’s, but she wasn’t frightened as he might have thought.

Xiang Lanye had been drinking, so after reaching the community, she let Shu He take the car back, “I’ll come get it back after some time.”

“Alright, remember to drink something to sober up when you get home.”

“Got it.”

After she went inside, Shu He stepped on the accelerator again.

The red car drove out of the community. In the rearview mirror, she saw that black car following again.

Shu He calmly withdrew her gaze and drove back to her community without any obstacles. Liang Xu’s car didn’t follow anymore.

—

“Which perfume brand has fig notes?”

In the car, he suddenly spoke. Liang Xu responded with a “What?”

“Fig? There are quite a few, right?”

Jing Yi lowered his eyelashes, “Maybe with a hint of fruit peel freshness too.”

His description was so abstract, and Liang Xu wasn’t very knowledgeable about perfumes. He thought for a moment: “I’m not sure either, I’ll ask my wife when I get back.”

Jing Yi ignored the somewhat jarring term in his mouth, and he gave an “mm”: “Buy them all for me.”

“Every brand?”

“Yes.”

Liang Xu’s face screamed “Are you crazy?” But then, as if remembering something, he lightly mocked: “Don’t tell me Shu He changed her perfume, and now you want to buy the same one?”

The man silently turned his head away, his sharp profile somewhat cold.

Liang Xu curled his lips, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the steering wheel: “I don’t know why I never realized before how pretentious and weird you are.”

Not seeing each other for two years, and not even giving a proper greeting.

Yet sneakily wanting to buy the same perfume as her.

“But do you really remember what perfume she used before?”

Liang Xu was still curious. He had never separated from his wife, so it was hard to imagine – after breaking up for two years, could one still remember the other’s scent?

He thought Jing Yi wouldn’t answer, but surprisingly, he gave an “mm.”

What he remembered wasn’t the perfume smell, but Shu He’s scent.

When they were dating, he always loved to hold her waist, rest his chin in the crook of her neck, smell the pleasant scent on her body, and then tease her.

After making love, their scents would intertwine, becoming indistinguishable.

Until now, his home was filled with dozens of bottles of the perfume she used to love, but none of them was her.

None of them was her.

[Proust Effect — refers to when a person smells a certain type of scent, it triggers memories related to that scent.]

When she passed by him, it was no longer that familiar scent.

At that moment, Jing Yi’s blood, which had been surging from their reunion, seemed to freeze. His heart cracked open with a dull pain, and feelings of grievance surged over him like a tidal wave, nearly drowning him.

He closed his eyes tightly, enduring the sourness rising in his chest.

Even her perfume had changed.

It was as if she had replaced everything related to him.

Not willing to spare even a trace of memory for him.