ATLAS TRANSLATES

In reality.

This thing Shu He only used once after buying it.

She was an adult woman with normal physiological needs.

But when using her hand, she could never quite reach satisfaction. During those times, she would think of Jing Yi, especially how he could always take her there.

That night, unable to find relief, she became increasingly frustrated and immediately ordered one.

After it arrived, she tried using it once. Because she didn’t feel comfortable inserting it, she only used it externally, but the effect was mediocre and nowhere near as… pleasurable as the advertisements claimed.

After that, she put it aside.

Later when moving, she casually placed it in a drawer and never took it out again.

Who knew he would find it.

Shu He didn’t know how to respond, holding the thing so openly felt embarrassing: “…Should I throw it away?”

Jing Yi seemed to hum softly, slowly approaching her and pretending: “That doesn’t seem right. Oh—”

He thought of something and hummed again: “If you throw it away, you can always buy a new one.”

“…..”

Shu He was speechless but somewhat amused: “How can you, a living person, be jealous of a toy?”

Jing Yi took the item from her hand with slight disdain, giving it a cursory glance: “I’m really throwing it away? You won’t blame me?”

Shu He could clearly see his desire to toss it immediately, so she nodded: “Mm, I don’t want it anymore.”

The little toy was mercilessly thrown into the garbage bin.

He followed closely behind her, thinking of when they were most infatuated with each other. It wasn’t when they first started dating, but rather the period after their first time together.

Before that, he could sense Shu He still had some reservations toward him. Even when holding hands, she seemed stiff.

He was genuinely disappointed and questioned himself, wondering if Shu He regretted it… if she didn’t like him that much. But they had only been together for a few days…

Was he really that bad?

On that night when they finally crossed the boundary, heavy rain poured outside while they couldn’t get enough of each other in the hotel. Heartbeats, sweat, bodies—like two parched fish, burning intensely, desperately needing each other’s warmth.

They were so passionate that they stayed in the hotel for three days without leaving.

But Jing Yi still felt insecure then, because he didn’t know whether Shu He truly liked him, or just liked his body… or perhaps just enjoyed their physical connection.

Perhaps due to his insecurity, during those days, he devoted himself completely to pleasing her, willing to be her toy, finding what she liked and catering to her every desire.

From initially not knowing what to do, they gradually learned each other’s every move.

For instance, when she climaxed, she would grab his hair, pulling so hard it hurt his scalp, yet felt good.

Besides being inside her, when he tasted her, he wasn’t completely gentle either.

He would assertively part her, like savoring a smooth, sweet pudding, slowly tasting around until Shu He would nervously call his name, knowing he was about to devour her completely.

After each session, she would lazily rest against his chest, her fingertips unconsciously tracing his Adam’s apple, moving downward to linger on his chest.

This was her way of showing contentment after being satisfied.

Though Shu He experienced the pleasure of such activities, after three days, she seriously said: “Let’s abstain for a month, okay?”

“…..”

The memory of that passionate time made Jing Yi’s mouth go dry and his body inexplicably warm. When Shu He turned around, she noticed his reddened earlobes and immediately went to him.

“What’s wrong? Are you feverish again?”

Jing Yi nodded guiltily.

Shu He became extremely concerned and stopped unpacking, urging him to wash up and rest.

She thought after sleeping all day, he wouldn’t be tired.

But once he embraced her, Jing Yi’s mind grew foggy, and he quickly fell asleep.

Because of his illness, Shu He was increasingly indulgent with him.

Occasionally when he secretly acted spoiled, she wasn’t annoyed and continued to accommodate him.

Xiang Lanye already knew they had reconciled, but seeing how she pampered him, she couldn’t help remarking: “Aren’t you afraid of spoiling him?”

Shu He smiled, “I just want to be good to him.”

“Being your boyfriend must be blissful,” Xiang Lanye sighed, taking a bite of the sweet peach mille-feuille and mumbling with satisfaction: “Being your good friend is also blissful.”

“Being able to eat what you make is truly blissful.” She was Shu He’s unconditional supporter, praising enthusiastically: “Shu He-he, knowing you is so fortunate.”

Her words made Shu He pause. Xiang Lanye noticed immediately and tilted her head: “What’s wrong?”

Shu He was silent for two seconds, then shook her head: “Actually, when I was little, I always thought I was an unlucky person.”

She used to wonder why she had to be born into such a family, why she was sickly from childhood, why her parents didn’t want her…

Later, she chose not to care about any of it, but no one had ever told her that knowing her was a fortunate thing.

Xiang Lanye put down her fork, her bright eyes round and earnest: “What are you saying? Don’t you remember? In our junior year, after our part-time job, the boss gave us two lottery tickets. I didn’t win anything, but you won five thousand yuan!”

“And if I hadn’t met a business-minded boss like you and invested, where would my annual dividends come from now?”

“And also—”

She counted on her fingers all the good things that happened after meeting Shu He. After speaking until her throat was dry, she concluded righteously: “Shu He-he, you’re super amazing, you know?”

Shu He had only been feeling sentimental momentarily, but now her heart softened at her friend’s words. She nodded good-naturedly: “Yes, yes, yes, I was wrong. I won’t think like that again.”

Xiang Lanye looked pleased, like a teacher with a promising student. Shu He suddenly propped her chin: “Speaking of investments, I should thank you too. Otherwise, I would have had to apply for entrepreneurship subsidies back then.”

At this mention, Xiang Lanye suddenly put down her fork, looking honest: “Shu Shu, I need to confess something.”

Shu He looked at her puzzled as Xiang Lanye blinked her clear apricot eyes and admitted: “Actually, the initial investment wasn’t my money, it was Jing Yi’s.”

Shu He’s heart skipped a beat as Xiang Lanye continued: “You know, my money was either spent or used for celebrity merchandise, I barely had any left.”

“After he found me, he specifically instructed me not to tell you, just to cooperate with you using my name.”

Shu He was stunned for a long time. She had refused his investment back then, thinking he had given up, never imagining he would approach Xiang Lanye…

“I asked him at the time,” Xiang Lanye vividly remembered the scene. “I said—aren’t you afraid I’ll run off with your money? Guess what he said?”

Shu He instinctively shook her head, staring at her in a daze.

“He said, Shu He doesn’t make friends easily. Anyone she trusts must be someone she believes in. I’m just trusting her judgment.”

Xiang Lanye continued with mixed feelings: “At that moment, I was happy for you but also speechless. I thought I’d hear some compliments about me.”

Instead, all he talked about was Shu He.

Shu He laughed at her playful glare, lost in thought. Xiang Lanye suddenly suggested: “Why don’t you stop giving me dividends this year? Give them to Jing Yi instead.”

Surprised at the sudden suggestion, Shu He shook her head: “No need, you’ve helped me a lot over the years.”

“As for Jing Yi…” She thought for a moment, then smiled and shook her head without saying more.

……

That evening when returning home, Shu He was still absentmindedly thinking about Xiang Lanye’s words.

She hadn’t thought deeply about it before, truly believing it was Xiang Lanye’s money…

“You’re back.”

He wore dark green silk pajamas that accentuated his fair skin. The collar was slightly open, faintly revealing his pale collarbone.

He hugged her clingingly, and Shu He noticed the dark bite mark on his throat.

She chose to pretend not to see it and changed the subject: “Why did you change into another set?”

“Isn’t that what they’re bought for?” he quietly defended.

Currently, he desperately needed things that confirmed his status, like a boy newly in love. He had bought many couples’ items.

Just for autumn couples’ pajamas… he bought twenty sets at once.

When Shu He unpacked the deliveries, she really wanted to smack this spendthrift.

He defended himself stubbornly: “One set per day, not too many.”

“…..”

Besides pajamas, there were various other couple items—cups, bowls—as if only this way could he feel secure.

But Shu He indulged him. Before her shower, he would thoughtfully lay out today’s pajamas… always matching his own.

Jing Yi seemed to sense her mood wasn’t great today. “What’s wrong? Was the shop busy?”

Shu He shook her head, nestling into his embrace, then holding his face to examine it carefully.

Jing Yi didn’t resist as she squeezed his face, like a docile puppy, even leaning in closer.

“Didn’t you say you weren’t keeping any more secrets from me?”

He blinked and nodded: “Mm.”

Shu He tapped his nose: “Liar.”

Jing Yi was genuinely confused, unable to recall anything. Shu He wrapped her arms around his neck: “Still a rich idiot with more money than sense.”

“……”

“I really don’t remember anything else.” He nuzzled her nose coaxingly, almost kissing her: “What else did I do wrong, sister? Tell me…”

Again with the act of spoiled affection, and Shu He was completely captivated.

She leaned back slightly, trying to look serious: “In college, you gave money to Lanye for investment?”

He blinked, slowly remembering: “Mm.”

Seeing his innocent expression, Shu He irritably squeezed his face: “I told you not to invest… you really, do you have too much money?”

He clearly didn’t want to explain, just acting spoiled and unreasonable, nuzzling and kissing her like a puppy.

Shu He felt ticklish from his warm breath and couldn’t help laughing: “You’re so annoying!”

How many couples fight over money, yet this fool just quietly gave her money.

Jing Yi bit her lip, his hair messed up by her, but he didn’t care.

“I follow all your instructions now.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

“Then get off me first.”

“…..”

Shu He poked his bobbing Adam’s apple, her smile deepening in her clear eyes: “What happened to being obedient?”

“……”

He simply played dead, dropping his head into the crook of her neck, motionless.

But Shu He wouldn’t let him off. Her fingers slowly wandered downward, while she said seriously: “If I were a scammer, I would have swindled everything from you by now.”

He mumbled something, and it took her a while to translate—

“I would give you all my possessions; you don’t need to swindle.”

“……”

Shu He was speechless and ruffled his head hard: “Then you’d have nothing left!”

“Having you is enough.”

“…..”

In the past, Shu He might have teased him, saying a man with nothing wasn’t acceptable, but wondered if he would become dejected and hurt… thinking about it, she decided against it.

Her momentary distraction gave him an opportunity. He pressed forward and kissed her, turning the tables: “You promised you would never leave me, right? Would you… would you abandon me?”

“…..”

Suddenly she was the one being questioned. Only after repeating several times that she wouldn’t leave did he reluctantly let her go. Shu He couldn’t help biting him: “Silly! Fool!”

……

On Sunday, Shu He had to return to Litang unexpectedly.

Needless to say, Jing Yi followed her like a shadow.

Because it was sudden, they hadn’t had time to arrange for housekeeping at their old place, so they checked into a hotel.

After arriving, Jing Yi contacted the cleaning service while Shu He went to handle business at the shop.

The landlord had suddenly notified them to move out, saying the government planned to demolish and renovate the area, so they couldn’t continue operating.

The store manager wasn’t sure what to do and urgently sought her out.

This shop was her first after graduation, requiring a lot of effort, and the nearby students were loyal customers. She couldn’t just give up.

The landlord was reasonable enough to compensate them for breach of contract since the lease hadn’t expired, but now she needed to find a new location.

She asked Qin Tao if she would continue as manager after finding a new place. The young woman thought about it: “Sister Shu He, let me think about it.”

Finding a new shop, renovating, and reopening would take at least two months, so Shu He didn’t press her.

After rushing over by driving for several hours and then being busy until afternoon, Shu He was exhausted.

On her phone, Jing Yi had just messaged: [When are you coming back? Should I pick you up?]

The fatigue dissipated slightly. She replied: [No need, I’m on my way back.]

As the car approached the hotel, she saw a crowd of people at the entrance. Vaguely, the orange sunset seemed tainted by smoke. Several fire trucks with sirens were parked nearby. She suddenly had a bad feeling, quickly parked and ran over. The crowd was packed, chaotic discussions flooding in—

“How did it suddenly catch fire?”

“Who knows? Luckily I ran fast, but I heard the elevator on that floor broke down, and some people couldn’t escape.”

“No way? Which floor?”

“Can’t they use the fire exit?”

“Come on, man, can you outrun a fire?”

“I think it’s the twelfth floor.”

Shu He’s blood seemed to run cold. Her hands and feet went ice-cold. The chaotic noise buzzed around her. She felt like someone was strangling her, unable to speak, only desperately pushing through the crowd.

Some people cursed at being shoved, but she heard nothing. Her face was pale—their room was on the twelfth floor… Jing Yi was waiting for her.

His leg still wasn’t fully functional, he couldn’t even run…

What if… what if… Jing Yi…

Shu He’s eyes turned red and wet. When she tried to run in, staff members stopped her. A woman tried to soothe her gently, but she couldn’t hear anything.

“My boyfriend is still inside!”

All of Shu He’s defenses completely collapsed until a familiar voice came from the left—

“Shu He?”

Jing Yi wore the black hooded sweatshirt from earlier, holding something in his right hand. His steps were irregular but hurried. Shu He froze for only a moment before running and crashing into his arms.

Her falling heart shattered all her strength. She embraced him with all her might. The fear made her tremble continuously. The usually composed person now completely broke down, her voice shaking, tears soaking his clothes.

“I thought you were inside.”

“Jing Yi… I thought you were inside…”

She cried uncontrollably. Jing Yi’s heart seemed to be struck by her collision, now beating unusually heavily.

He comfortingly held her tight, telling her again and again: “I’m here, I’m here.”

…..

After the firefighters left, everyone waited in the lobby for the hotel staff to arrange accommodations.

Shu He seemed to still be in shock, constantly holding his hand.

The fire started because parents had left their child alone in the room. Bored, the child played with the father’s lighter and accidentally ignited something.

Besides their room and two adjacent rooms, other rooms weren’t affected by the fire. Some people were just making a scene and exaggerating.

The hotel thoughtfully provided new rooms and compensation for guests on the same floor. Shu He and Jing Yi hadn’t unpacked their things yet. When they entered the new room and the door closed, she urgently stood on tiptoe to kiss him.

Jing Yi instinctively staggered back a few steps, but quickly took control, intensifying the kiss as their irregular breathing intertwined.

Their heartbeats remained unsettled long after the passionate kiss, seemingly growing increasingly agitated.

Disordered steps moved inward. They fell onto the sofa. Luggage was left by the door, and what Jing Yi had bought dropped to the floor. Shu He’s eyes were tinged red, perhaps from desire, appearing alluring at this moment. The intense longing made her throat dry. She tugged at his fully-covered black sweatshirt: “Do you want to?”