ATLAS TRANSLATES

The next day, Shu He went to pick up Yao Qing from the hospital.

On the way home, Shu Hua casually mentioned: “Xiao Yun had something to do and couldn’t make it, otherwise he wanted to come see us off.”

Shu He pretended not to hear and sent a message to Jing Yi: [We’ll arrive in about twenty minutes. Just leave the door ajar.]

He replied quickly: [Okay.]

Perhaps because of yesterday’s heavy downpour, the air still felt stuffy and damp.

Yao Qing stepped into the lift and couldn’t help chatting with her: “Hehe, you haven’t really been sick in all these years, have you? Is it because your constitution improved as you grew up?”

“But the weather is so cool, you should still dress warmer.”

Shu He responded flatly. They soon reached their floor and stepped out of the lift to find the door already open with a small gap.

Once inside, they were greeted by a wonderful aroma.

Shu Hua and Yao Qing followed her gaze, “Hehe, didn’t you say we wouldn’t need to cook?”

Shu He was also surprised for a moment, then realised someone had cooked.

But where was he? She had thought he would come out to greet them.

“Didn’t you want to see my room?”

She showed the two to her room, and while they weren’t looking, sent Jing Yi a message: [Did you go out?]

Jing Yi: [I’m in my room.]

Shu He: [Then why aren’t you coming out?]

Jing Yi: [….Can I come out?]

Shu He oddly felt like she detected a pitiful tone in those few words. As her finger paused, thinking how to reply, Yao Qing’s voice pulled her back to reality.

“The place is quite nice.”

Shu He put away her phone and after showing them around, Shu Hua pointed at the closed bedroom door and quietly asked: “Is that your roommate’s room?”

She nodded, slowly remembering there were security cameras in the living room. She wondered if he was hiding in his room secretly watching them.

“Mum, Dad, stay for a meal before heading back.”

If they didn’t eat, he would probably be upset, and besides, they couldn’t waste the food.

The two looked at the five dishes and soup on the table, all looking and smelling delicious, and asked hesitantly: “Hehe, is your cooking this good?”

Shu He paused, then admitted honestly: “I didn’t make it. My roommate did.”

They were both surprised. Yao Qing looked toward the closed door and lowered her voice: “Why did your roommate specially cook for us?”

Shu He handed her the chopsticks and made up an answer: “He… just likes cooking.”

Shu Hua clearly misunderstood: “Is he a chef?”

Shu He responded vaguely, then heard them continue: “Is he home? Why isn’t he coming out to eat?”

“He’s… quite socially anxious, and besides, don’t you have prejudice against him?”

The couple exchanged glances. “It’s not prejudice exactly… we just think living with a man isn’t quite appropriate.”

“But still… Hehe, why don’t you ask him to come out? Otherwise it’s quite awkward.”

Shu He looked at them: “You’re not against him?”

Yao Qing nodded, “Ask him to join us.”

Shu He put down her chopsticks and went straight to knock on his door.

He slowly opened it a crack, showing half his face. His dark eyes looked at her quietly, appearing strangely nervous.

Shu He suddenly wanted to laugh but held back her smile, gesturing toward the dining table. “Come eat.”

After speaking, she turned around without waiting for his reaction.

Shu Hua was about to say something, since it was his cooking after all, yet Shu He’s attitude seemed so cold.

But before he could speak, they saw the man slowly walk out using a crutch.

“Uncle, Auntie,” he called softly.

“Oh—” Yao Qing and Shu Hua were about to stand up to help him, but Jing Yi had already slowly made his way over.

He sat beside Shu He but didn’t pick up his chopsticks right away. He sat formally, his handsome face without a trace of a smile, glancing unconsciously at the person beside him.

Shu He noticed his fingers fidgeting nervously.

Shu Hua always liked making conversation. He asked several questions, which Jing Yi answered honestly.

Eventually the atmosphere lightened. When seeing them off, Yao Qing quietly held her hand to speak.

“Your roommate doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

“…..”

Shu He felt somewhat helpless but didn’t argue.

After they left, she returned home to find him watching her expectantly.

“Have your father and mother left?”

She made a sound of agreement, and the man visibly relaxed, but quickly followed her like a puppy, casually asking: “What did your parents think of me?”

Shu He took out a yoghurt from the fridge, bit open a corner, and drank it slowly, her voice deliberately vague: “They said all men are no good and told me to stay away from you.”

“……”

He followed her dejectedly, his voice low: “I’m not that bad, am I?”

Shu He glanced at him and changed the subject. “Has anyone come to fix the door lock yet?”

Jing Yi’s heart skipped a beat, remembering Li Minyu’s message to him. He awkwardly touched his nose: “Maybe Li Auntie forgot.”

Shu He sat on the sofa and, still drinking her yoghurt, muttered: “We can’t always have you opening the door.”

“It’s fine.” He quietly sat down beside her, just as she received a reply from Li Minyu on her phone.

Li Minyu: [Ask Jing Yi, he should have a spare key.]

While envying Li Minyu for having her private WeChat, he also guiltily looked away.

After all, Li Minyu had already messaged him—the real owner of this house—but he had pretended not to see it.

Under her gaze, he reluctantly produced the spare key.

Shu He took the key with one hand, holding her empty yoghurt with the other, and questioned suspiciously: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

He mumbled: “I forgot.”

“I heard from Auntie that you gave her a shopping list,” she suddenly changed topics, catching him off guard. He hesitantly made a sound of agreement.

Shu He’s fingers toyed with the yoghurt packaging, her favourite brand.

“Why did you do that?”

“You like it, so I bought it.”

He seemed confused by her question, as if his actions were perfectly natural.

“What about you?”

“Hmm?”

“Everything you bought is what I like. What about what you like?”

He automatically replied: “I like you.”

“…..”

Shu He looked at him speechlessly. He belatedly realised what he’d said but continued without much thought: “I don’t have particular food preferences.”

Shu He stared at him for a long while, then lowered her gaze: “You’re lying.”

He liked sweet things.

Shu He had always known. Despite his height, he had an exceptional sweet tooth, especially for cream cakes.

Before, when they went on dates, they would always bring back a small cake.

Coming out after her shower, she would find him lazily curled up on the sofa eating cake, cream on his lips. Seeing her, he would casually look up, his wet tongue licking away the cream—a casual movement, but Shu He always thought he looked more tempting than the cake in his hand.

She would often pinch his abs, extremely envious: “How can you eat so many sweet things and not have an ounce of fat?”

His kiss would press down, lips and teeth mixing with the sweetness of cream until she felt dizzy. The hand wandering over her skin would burn: “Sister, your waist is very slim too.”

“I haven’t… eaten sweet things for a long time,” he calmly answered her question, quickly adding eagerly: “Except what you brought me before.”

Shu He tugged at her lip. “Anyway, you don’t need to buy specifically according to my preferences. I’ll buy my own things.”

She stood up to leave, but he instinctively grabbed her hand. Her sleeve slid up slightly, vaguely revealing some blue marks on her wrist.

“Are you going to the shop tomorrow?”

“No.”

Jing Yi had originally planned to go to her shop in the afternoon like before, but hearing her answer, his heart tightened: “Why not?”

Shu He didn’t know why she was explaining to him. “I’m going to Qingxu University for a lecture tomorrow.”

Hearing Qingxu University, his expression seemed to freeze: “…A lecture?”

“Yes.” Shu He removed his hand, but he followed her like a shadow: “What kind of lecture… can I come too?”

Shu He threw the yoghurt into the bin and looked at him helplessly: “What would you go for?”

His dark eyes stared at her unblinkingly, his tone slightly gentle but sounding somewhat pitiful: “Is that not allowed?”

“I’m going with Lan Ye, and besides.” She paused. “Cheng Shu will be there too. Are you sure you want to come along?”

Hearing Cheng Shu’s name, his heart twisted into a knot, but he nodded even more stubbornly: “I want to go.”

“……”

Shu He didn’t know why, but guessed if she refused, he’d probably cry again secretly. With this thought, she said somewhat impatiently: “Whatever you want.”

“But once we’re there, I won’t be watching over you all the time.”

“Hmm.” He nodded, his heart slightly relieved. “I’ll stay close to you.”

“……”

The next day, seeing him coming along, Xiang Lan Ye’s round eyes looked questioningly at Shu He.

Shu He fastened her seatbelt, ignoring the person behind her. “He insisted on coming. Couldn’t shake him off.”

“……”

At Qingxu University, the three followed the campus signs to the great hall. There were quite a few people. When Cheng Shu came out to meet them, he was also surprised to see Jing Yi.

“Mr. Jing is interested too?”

Jing Yi’s expression was cold as he gave him a light glance, then haughtily looked away.

“…..”

Xiang Lan Ye hooked arms with Shu He, whispering: “Rivals meeting face to face—so dramatic.”

“…..”

As they walked in, the crowd was thick. Cheng Shu looked at the man with the crutch and smiled just right: “Mr. Jing, let me help you. With so many people, if you fall, all the students will see.”

Jing Yi coldly brushed away his hand. “Not necessary.”

Cheng Shu wasn’t embarrassed by the rejection. He shrugged as Jing Yi slowly followed Shu He, lowering his eyes to say softly: “Sister, please walk slower. I can’t keep up.”

Shu He sighed inwardly and expressionlessly held his clothes, helping him keep up with her.

The great hall was buzzing with noise. They sat in the last row, and before Cheng Shu left, he leaned over to say a few words to her.

Jing Yi stared at him expressionlessly until he left, then couldn’t help snorting softly.

While listening to Xiang Lan Ye talk, Shu He casually scanned the room when she suddenly met an extremely cold gaze.

Those pitch-black eyes were like a bottomless abyss, filled with strange hatred and disgust that sent a chill down her spine.

Before Shu He could think more, thunderous applause erupted as the host appeared on stage. When she looked back, the person had vanished.

“What’s wrong?” Jing Yi quietly asked. Shu He pushed aside her confusion and shook her head.

During the lecture, Xiang Lan Ye filled several pages with notes.

Afterwards, she went to queue to ask the expert questions while Shu He and Jing Yi waited in the back row.

During this time, Jing Yi’s phone rang several times. Shu He glanced at him—cool white light fell on his high bridge nose as his eyelashes lowered, hiding unreadable darkness.

“Sister,” he suddenly spoke, his voice low and emotionless: “I need to step out for a bit.”

Shu He seemed to stare a hole through him. After two seconds of silence, she nodded in agreement.

The queue on stage was very long. Shu He grew tired of waiting and picked up her bag to go outside for some fresh air.

Not being familiar with the great hall, she couldn’t immediately find the main entrance.

As she was wondering whether to turn back, she spotted a familiar figure around the corner.

The man standing in front of Jing Yi wore a well-tailored scholarly suit and held some documents, looking like a university professor.

At that moment, he was saying something, but his unfathomable eyes revealed a chilling coldness that made one’s heart tremble.

Jing Yi stood before him with lowered eyes, his expression hidden in the dim light.

Shu He remembered—this man was the one who had stared at her before the lecture began.

As she frowned slightly, trying to guess who he might be, the man suddenly raised his hand—

“Slap!”

Shu He’s pupils contracted sharply. The sudden, forceful slap made Jing Yi stagger instantly. The crisp sound felt like it landed on her face too, leaving her ears ringing.