ATLAS TRANSLATES

At this hour, the campus was nearly empty.

The air remained silent for a while, until the cat meowed twice more. Shu He came back to her senses and looked at him with extreme annoyance: “Are you sick in the head?”

She stood up, and the cat at her feet immediately rolled over.

“How did you know I was here?”

She pulled her scarf tighter. Jing Yi glanced at the little follower near her feet. Perhaps it was because she had scolded him, but his voice sounded somewhat muffled: “I went to the coffee shop first and saw the notice about today’s event posted at the entrance.”

Shu He slowed her pace slightly. After graduation, she had worked at a company for nearly half a year. Because she really disliked the feeling of being constrained, she chose to resign and decided to open a coffee shop instead.

She had thought about opening a coffee shop while at university. Back then, he wanted to invest, but she refused him.

It was their first somewhat unpleasant disagreement, or rather, he was unilaterally unhappy. “Why?” he had asked.

Shu He looked at him, rational and clear-headed: “When money gets involved in a relationship, things become complicated. Jing Yi, I don’t want that.”

He didn’t understand. “I’m not asking for anything in return. You don’t have to give me any dividends. Or is it that you don’t trust me?”

But she still shook her head. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just how things are.”

He didn’t accept her so-called “facts” at all, but in the end, he compromised.

Shu He was very submissive to him that day. His thrusts were somewhat rough, and in the midst of their passion, he made her turn her head to kiss him. “After you get your coffee shop, don’t forget about me.”

“Never stop wanting me.”

Shu He thought, that won’t happen. She had never considered that possibility.

At first, she had planned to apply for a startup fund.

But then Xiang Lanye actively approached her, wanting to partner with her to open the shop. They had met through part-time work. After talking at length, they finally reached an agreement and signed a contract.

From selecting the location to decorating, she was hands-on with everything, and Jing Yi had always accompanied her—until the opening day, when he didn’t show up.

Instead, she received nearly a thousand fresh flowers.

?Grand Opening! Congratulations, Boss Shu.

— From your most beloved boyfriend.?

Shu He had a bad feeling. Surely he hadn’t gone to hospital with allergies from delivering the flowers?

She called him several times with no answer. Finally, she found the address of the florist to inquire about his whereabouts.

The nearly thousand flowers were an order placed a week earlier. The florist had a deep impression, especially since she remembered that the young man who ordered them was wrapped up tightly from head to toe and even wore a mask—quite dramatic.

Out of curiosity, she asked a bit more and learned that the young man was allergic to pollen.

“Then why did he come to order in person?”

She only remembered the young man smiling and saying, “I want to do everything myself when it’s for her.”

He had apparently gone to several shops because few could fulfil an order for a thousand flowers in such a short time.

When Shu He left the flower shop, looking at the countless unanswered calls on her phone, the panic and bewilderment in her heart spread infinitely. She belatedly realised that Jing Yi had truly disappeared.

Where had he gone?

He had said he would be the first to appear, the first to congratulate her, and would be the shop’s first customer.

Was he angry? But she thought she had made amends.

How petty of him. Once she found him, she would coax him properly. She would do whatever it took to placate him.

But Shu He never imagined she wouldn’t be able to find him. No one could find him. He had completely and utterly vanished.

“Does it want to go home with you?”

His voice pulled her back from her thoughts. Shu He lowered her eyes and saw the ginger cat still following her.

Jing Yi looked at her expression: “Do you want to take it home?”

Shu He withdrew her gaze: “No.”

“It lives well here on campus, with so many people pampering it.”

“Hmm.” Jing Yi agreed with her words, then glanced at the clingy creature. Taking advantage of the fact that cats don’t understand human language, he openly criticised it: “It seems fatter than before. Must eat a lot.”

“Meow—”

“Being a big eater isn’t the problem,” Shu He said flatly. “The worry is that it might not actually want to come with me. If one day it decides the outside world is better and runs away, then it’s better not to keep it at all.”

As if to prove her point, Little Orange seemed to have grown tired of running. It plopped down on the spot, licking its paws and lazily yawning, swinging its tail as it watched them gradually walk away, never following them again.

Jing Yi didn’t know what the cat was thinking. Right now, he was like a tail she couldn’t shake off but didn’t care about.

He looked at her several times, hesitating: “Sister, are you going on blind dates?”

This question had clearly been bottled up for a long time.

Shu He put her hands in her coat pockets, her gaze meeting his, yet remaining completely still: “Yes.”

It was as if someone had suddenly squeezed his heart, making it hard to breathe. Yet there was also a hint of unwillingness: “Are you satisfied with him?”

Shu He thought for a moment: “He’s quite exceptional.”

He stared intently at her clear and beautiful profile, his fingertips digging into his palms. After holding back for a long while, he stiffly said: “Marriage is a tomb. You’re still young. Don’t do anything rash.”

Shu He looked at him with amusement: “I seem to recall someone who used to want to drag me into that tomb every day.”

Counting down the days, constantly talking about wanting to marry her, waiting until they reached the legal age to get married.

Meeting his dark eyes filled with grievance, Shu He suddenly became curious: “If I get married, will you come?”

Under her clear, calm gaze, his eyes gradually reddened, and he turned his head away: “Don’t make such assumptions. I can’t bear it.”

Shu He tugged at her lip. “If you can’t bear it, you can choose to leave, like you did before.”

“…I didn’t leave because I couldn’t bear it. I didn’t leave voluntarily.”

They reached a red light and stopped. Shu He asked: “Apart from the accident, was there any other reason you left?”

On the other side of the zebra crossing, there was a couple holding hands. Behind them came the tinkling of a bicycle bell. Jing Yi’s throat felt tight as he nodded, “Yes.”

Shu He stood beside him, her gaze lowered as it met his: “My lease expires in forty days.”

His heart skipped a beat. He understood she was reminding him that in forty days, if he still hadn’t told her the reason, then what was between them would be completely over.

She was a woman of her word.

He silently followed her back to the hotel. Shu He stopped and looked at him with resignation.

He raised his eyes in confusion, only to see her with her arms crossed: “Are you staying at this hotel too?”

“……”

It took him a moment to react. He looked down at his phone and saw that Yu Mo had sent him a message half an hour ago, asking when he would be back.

Yu Mo was the driver he had called in a hurry, and was probably still waiting in the car.

“I can stay here. Don’t worry about me,” he said.

“……”

Shu He was at a loss for words: “Who asked if you were staying?”

With that, she turned and left. Jing Yi didn’t follow her this time. After sending a message to Yu Mo, he waited for him to come over.

Shu He returned to her room. Just as she finished organising her things, her phone buzzed.

Shu Hua had hardly ever called her before, and she suddenly had a bad feeling.

“Hehe, Mum and I will be coming to see you tomorrow.”

Shu He frowned: “Why so sudden?”

“Your mum’s stomach condition has flared up. She’s in hospital now. The doctor says she should have surgery. Didn’t you say you know a very professional doctor? Since she needs surgery anyway, we thought we’d come to you.”

Shu He rubbed her brow: “I understand. I’ll call a car for you.”

“No need. You’re so busy. We’ll make our way there ourselves.”

After hanging up, Shu He immediately contacted Cheng Shu. Once everything was arranged, she opened the ticket booking app.

She only managed to get a ticket for tomorrow evening; all other times were sold out.

Shu He thought for a moment and switched to her alternate account: ?When are you going back tomorrow??

He replied quickly: ?Whatever you say.?

At this point, Shu He couldn’t worry about anything else: ?Can we leave in the morning? I have an urgent matter.?

Jing Yi: ?Okay.?

Shu He woke up very early the next day. After getting in the car, she first said to Yu Mo, who was driving: “I’m sorry for troubling you so early.”

“It’s fine. I’m just doing my job.”

After several meetings, Shu He had noticed that Yu Mo, despite his flamboyant red hair, was quite socially anxious.

She didn’t continue chatting with him. Turning her head, she met a pair of intent black eyes.

She paused slightly: “Thank you too.”

His pressed lips moved, and suddenly he took out an orange from the paper bag he was holding and began to peel it.

The orange peel came off easily. His slender fingers clung to a few strands, filling the car with a sweet and tangy fragrance.

Fearing car sickness, Shu He opened the window a crack. Suddenly, a round orange was placed in her hand.

He was slowly wiping his hands with a tissue. Seeing her look over, he paused: “Are you feeling unwell already?”

Perhaps because she hadn’t slept well yesterday, her complexion was a bit poor.

Shu He looked away, broke off a segment of orange and put it in her mouth. The tangy sweet juice burst in her mouth, filling her nose with a sweet aroma. She didn’t feel as uncomfortable anymore.

“Have you contacted the doctor?”

He watched her eating the orange and asked: “If not, I can ask Liang Xu. He should be able to arrange something.”

Shu He took the tissue he handed her. “No need. Cheng Shu has arranged it.”

“……”

The journey to Qing Yu took nearly two hours. He was unusually silent, yet occasionally peeled oranges for her.

Shu He felt quite full. “Stop peeling them.”

“…Oh.”

When they arrived at the hospital, Shu He was about to take her things, but Jing Yi stopped her: “Go see how your mother is first. The things can wait.”

Shu He didn’t insist. She hurriedly ran into the hospital and entered the lift, only to find he had followed her in.

“What are you doing here?”

She frowned. Jing Yi pressed his lips together, carefully: “I just want to accompany you. I won’t cause any trouble.”

Shu He sighed a bit helplessly. “Really, there’s no need.”

But he just looked at her stubbornly. The lift dinged, and someone walked in, noticing the wheelchair in the middle. That person couldn’t help but look at him twice, their gaze filled with undisguised pity.

When they reached their floor and both exited, Shu He looked at his legs: “You probably don’t like being scrutinised either.”

“I don’t mind.”

Shu He was about to say something else when someone called her from behind.

Yao Qing and Shu Hua were holding some papers. Shu He quickly walked over, her gaze pausing: “Tang Yun? How did you….”

Shu Hua explained, “Young Yun brought us here. We’re really grateful.”

Tang Yun maintained his gentlemanly, mild manner: “It’s nothing, Uncle. I happened to have some business to take care of here.”

Regardless, Shu He still thanked him.

Tang Yun’s gaze fell intentionally or unintentionally on the person behind her: “Is this your friend?”

Yao Qing and Shu Hua also looked at him. Jing Yi’s back stiffened. He clenched his fist, but hurried footsteps from behind interrupted his words.

“Sorry I’m late, Shu He.”

Cheng Shu walked in briskly. He approached Shu He, first nodding and introducing himself to Yao Qing and her husband, then meeting Tang Yun’s gaze before looking at the other man.

“How come Mr. Jing is here too?”

Jing Yi coldly returned his gaze. Shu He frowned and was the first to break this strange atmosphere: “Cheng Shu, let’s go inside and talk.”

“Alright.” He nodded, but suddenly changed the subject: “Mr. Jing and this gentleman—”

He didn’t know Tang Yun’s name. Shu He paused slightly, looking at him: “Tang Yun, thank you so much for today.”

Tang Yun didn’t put her in a difficult position. “I happen to have some business to attend to, so I’ll leave first. If there are any issues with your mother, feel free to contact me anytime.”

“Sure.”

After he left, Yao Qing’s gaze also fell on Jing Yi. She asked: “Hehe, who is this?”

Shu He suddenly met his quiet gaze. His dark eyes contained traces of light. Her eyelashes trembled as she looked away. “My flatmate.”

Shu Hua and his wife didn’t know she had already moved, let alone that she was sharing a flat with someone.

Jing Yi noticed the displeasure in Shu Hua’s gaze. His throat tightened and his heart pounded heavily as Shu He turned to Yao Qing and said: “Mum, you go in first. I’ll be right there.”

Cheng Shu walked behind the two. Before entering the office, his dark gaze swept over intentionally or unintentionally: “Shu He, come quickly.”

“Alright.”

Her parents had many questions, so it would be better if she were there to communicate.

After they all went in, Shu He turned around to see him looking up at her, his black and white eyes staring at her without blinking, his voice hiding a controlled tremor: “I’ll just wait for you here. I won’t disturb you, okay?”

Shu He’s heart felt as if it had been struck by something blunt. Her hesitation caused the pleading in his eyes to nearly collapse.

He never had any official status with her, yet Cheng Shu could be there, the blind date could bring her parents over, but he couldn’t.

The fear in his heart continued to spread, almost drowning him.

“Sister, I—”

“There’s no need.” Shu He cut off his words. Perhaps it was from eating the orange, but the sourness in her throat made it difficult to speak.

Her gaze lowered, seeing his emotions crumbling piece by piece: “Go back, or have Yu Mo come up to get you.”