ATLAS TRANSLATES

It had been two weeks since their one-month wedding anniversary. The weather was getting warmer, but Liang Xu’s heart felt particularly cold.

Why would he know about Jing Yi and Shu He’s anniversary?

The reason was that on the night the concert ended, large screens in major shopping malls across the country were rolling with the message—

?Happy First Wedding Anniversary, I will always belong to you—Jing Yi?

Others didn’t know Jing Yi was Qi Shan Jing, they just thought it was some rich person showing off their love, but Liang Xu knew. And this rolling advertisement was even actively shared with him by someone at midnight—

Jing Yi: ?I’ve been married to my wife for a month, so happy.?

He even sent two cat emojis cuddling together, one labeled Jing Yi and one labeled Shu He.

Childish to the extreme.

The reason his heart felt cold was because when this new album came out, Jing Yi specifically told him that for the next year, he wouldn’t release any more songs.

He was taking a wedding vacation!

Liang Xu was truly speechless. A one-year wedding vacation? When he himself got married as the boss, he only took ten days off!!

Just who was the boss here??

This man was so righteous about it too, saying the wedding ceremony plus honeymoon still wasn’t enough for him.

But Jing Yi had no time to care about Liang Xu’s resentment, because Shu He had sent him to Li Tang, reasoning that she was too busy lately. The new shop had Qin Tao who lacked experience and couldn’t handle some things well, so she simply sent him over.

This meant the two would be in a long-distance relationship.

Shu He was extremely helpless, “It’s just for a few days.”

At the quickest, he could be back in two days.

The man pulled at his lips, gloomy and unhappy: “We’ve only been married for a few days, and you’re already sending your husband away.”

“……”

Shu He could only kiss and hug him to coax him: “Didn’t you say you wanted to help me do something?”

He turned his head away, ignoring her, looking stubborn and sulky.

But two seconds later, he reluctantly hugged her back, his head nuzzling against her neck like a spoiled child: “I just don’t want to be apart from you, and besides, your birthday is coming up.”

Shu He wanted him to lift his head, but he absolutely refused, being particularly clingy. Her heart softened, but she still didn’t compromise: “Isn’t your birthday coming too? How about I go there ahead of time?”

This birthday thing was really fate—their birthdays were just one day apart. Shu He’s was on June 3rd, Jing Yi’s on June 4th. When she first found out, she thought he was lying, but after seeing his ID card, it turned out to be true.

After much persuasion, he finally agreed.

The long-distance relationship quickly began.

When he arrived in Li Tang, he called Shu He, but she must have been busy as she didn’t answer. She only called back that evening.

He was staying in their previous apartment. In the video call, he chatted on and on, including mentioning the matter with the renovation workers.

Perhaps seeing that only young Qin Tao would go supervise every day, the renovation company was obviously neglectful, relying on their experience to be lazy with some things.

Qin Tao couldn’t argue with them, so she had to find her.

Shu He had given her a few days off, and when Jing Yi went there today, the renovation company people sheepishly abandoned their schemes.

Qin Tao even sent her a message: ?Sister Shu He, your husband looks really fierce with a cold face.?

Fierce? Cold face?

Shu He had never seen him with a cold face. She propped her chin up watching the person in the camera. Jing Yi felt a bit uncomfortable under her burning gaze. He cleared his throat, bringing his face close to the camera, “Why are you looking at me like that? Do you miss me?”

As he spoke, the corners of his lips curled up slightly.

“I heard you had a cold face today?”

He blinked, with an innocent look as if saying “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Shu He remembered that Xiang Lan Ye, as a screenwriter, had designed some cold-faced neck-grabbing spicy scenes. The female lead’s porcelain-white neck gripped by a hand with bulging veins, full of sexual tension. She originally didn’t go for this kind of thing, but strangely thought if it were Jing Yi…..

Soon, she threw this fantasy away.

Jing Yi was the type who would only act spoiled and clingy in bed, acting innocent while pitifully calling her “sister” and “wife,” while having mischievous thoughts and reaching her sensitive spots.

She really couldn’t imagine what he would be like with a cold face.

Shu He had originally planned to go to Li Tang on her birthday, but unexpectedly, Jing Yi returned just two days later.

Seeing her astonished expression, Jing Yi’s joyful expectant heart crashed. He glumly accused: “You don’t seem very happy? I knew long-distance wouldn’t work. We’ve only been married for two months, and after just a few days apart, this is how my wife treats me.”

“……”

He made it sound as if she had done something terrible.

But Shu He was indeed surprised, because the birthday surprise she had prepared for Jing Yi would only arrive that afternoon at the earliest.

She paused, awkwardly changing the subject: “Are you tired? I’ll get you a glass of water.”

His dark eyes stared at her reproachfully, making her feel guilty.

“Not tired, but my heart is cold.”

“……”

With his sudden return, Shu He didn’t know what to do with the gift, and had no way to hide it.

She looked distracted, and Jing Yi at first was just pretending to be hurt, but now his heart truly felt cold—she really… wasn’t happy at all.

Shu He completely failed to notice his silence. When it was time to get off work, the delivery man happened to call. She felt a bit helpless but had no other option.

Until they got home, the delivery man was waiting at the door. Jing Yi watched in confusion as Shu He went to open the door. When he saw what was being delivered, he belatedly realized something.

After the deliveryman left, Shu He pulled him to sit in front of the piano, “Try it, how is it?”

He looked at the brand new black and white piano but didn’t follow her suggestion. Instead, he raised his gaze and asked: “Why did you buy this?”

Shu He simply sat down beside him, not touching the piano either, smiling sweetly: “It’s a birthday gift.”

“I was planning to surprise you when you came back, who knew you’d return suddenly.”

Jing Yi’s heart softened like it had been gently pressed down. He still stared at her intently: “But why a piano?”

“Didn’t you say before?” She tilted her head, “That this brand of piano suits you better.”

The piano used to be a sharp knife edge for him, causing wounds from Ren Yin Yue’s scolding, his fingertips covered in blood as he played.

Now the piano was just a work necessity for him.

He had actually forgotten why he played the piano—perhaps he had become numb, or perhaps it was habit.

But Shu He still remembered at that concert, and when he proposed, how his fingertips moved nimbly over the black and white keys, his whole being extremely focused. The light fell on his well-defined features, and under the brilliant radiance, he was especially dazzling.

Shu He thought he probably liked playing the piano.

She smiled gently, “By giving this piano, I hope my Jing Yi can forever be a crystal prince.”

No longer broken shards, but a crystal prince who is cherished and favored.

The moment her words fell, his eyes suddenly reddened.

Shu He cupped his face before he could speak, “Little crybaby, going to cry again?”

The tears were forcibly held back, though his eyes remained a bit red, moist black orbs quietly watching her: “Shu He, you’re so good to me.”

“I’m your lover, aren’t I?”

She didn’t use the word “wife,” feeling that “lover” better suited their relationship.

Everything between her and Jing Yi was because she loved him.

And loving him meant wanting to be good to him, didn’t it?

Her hands moved up to circle his neck, pecking him lightly: “Do you like it?”

“Mmm.” His Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice low and slightly hoarse: “Why are you giving me a gift first? I’m behind you again.”

Her birthday was before his, after all.

Shu He couldn’t help but smile, “Who told you to come back suddenly.”

“……” He was speechless for a while, hanging his head as he hugged her, his chin nestled in the crook of her neck, both arms around her slender waist, his voice deflated: “I missed you.”

Shu He truly couldn’t resist when he acted spoiled. She ruffled his head, “So where’s my gift?”

He seemed to pause for a moment, and when he raised his head, he took out an exquisite box from his pocket.

It was a beautiful necklace with a delicate little lotus flower embedded in it, with a fine luster. Shu He liked it immensely at first sight.

But seeing the brand, she instinctively asked: “How come I’ve never seen this design before?”

This luxury brand was quite famous, but she had never seen this style.

“Custom made.” He gazed at her quietly, afraid she wouldn’t like it, “I drew it myself.”

Shu He didn’t know this brand offered such a service, but she expressed her appreciation generously: “This will become my favorite necklace.”

Because of her praise, the sour feeling in Jing Yi’s heart was quickly soothed. His lips curled up slightly as he asked her to scan the QR code at the bottom of the box.

Though Shu He didn’t know why, she did as he said.

“Ding—”

Vibrating sound waves appeared on the bright screen of her phone, along with the man’s low magnetic voice coming through the speaker. Accompanying it were brilliant fireworks filling the screen—

“Shu He, congratulations on growing a year older.”

When she was little, Shu He rarely celebrated her birthday. Shu Hua and the others seemed to think saying “happy birthday” was affected. Occasionally they would buy her a cake and consider that a birthday celebration, so she usually said it to herself: “Shu He, happy birthday.”

Let alone congratulations on growing a year older.

She still remembered her first earned money—she bought herself a beautiful birthday cake, lit the candles, and even invited Xiang Lan Ye for a meal.

That was her first properly celebrated birthday.

And on her twenty-eighth birthday, someone said to her: “Congratulations on growing a year older.”

Growing up had always been a lonely and cold word for her.

At this moment, colorful fireworks flashed across her clear pupils. It turned out that growing up could also be brilliant.

She felt she’d been infected by Jing Yi, starting to get teary-eyed for no reason. She restrained her choked voice and scolded him: “You make me sound like a child.”

Jing Yi cupped her face, gently kissing her moist eyes: “Shu He, thank you so much for loving me. Although I’m two years younger than you, I hope the one who is spoiled isn’t just me.”

So, I also want to try harder to love you, to spoil you.

Growing up alone must have been tiring.

But fortunately, we’ll be together in the future.

After not seeing each other for a few days, they were both a bit urgent tonight.

Shu He was directly carried by him to sit on the piano, her exposed skin against the cool keys, but since this was newly bought, she was still somewhat reluctant: “It will get dirty.”

Jing Yi paused, thought for a moment, and also couldn’t bear to soil the gift she had given him. The two stumbled back to the bedroom.

In the midst of passion, Shu He clearly forgot her surprised expression when he returned.

But he was still holding a grudge, moving slowly, as if wrapped in a layer of damp gauze. Shu He’s breathing was chaotic, her legs pressing him down in frustration.

“When I came back, you didn’t show any surprise at all.”

Unexpectedly, he was still complaining about this. Shu He felt extremely wronged, “No… it was just that you came back suddenly, and I hadn’t prepared your gift.”

Seeing that being gentle didn’t work, she tried being firm, threatening him without much intimidation: “Hurry up!”

He laughed quietly, very obediently following her words. Tasting the tender, juicy fruit flesh, sweet juice immediately flowed down.

Perhaps because of Ren Yin Yue’s harsh discipline, Jing Yi usually ate slowly and methodically, looking particularly pleasing to the eye.

But now, the pink fruit flesh was really too sweet, and he had thrown away all his manners.

….

After one round, the two were still quite enthusiastic. In a daze, she remembered what Qin Tao had said.

Cold face, grabbing necks…..

She actually found herself looking forward to it.

His breathing was very sensual, a low “hmm” with a hint of confusion, “Grab…neck?”

Shu He gradually adapted to taking him in again, her fingertips unconsciously digging into his shoulder: “Mm, want to try?”

He was silent for two seconds. Suddenly Shu He found herself being flipped over, and when she came to her senses, he was the one lying down. This sudden movement made her pause.

But before she could adjust, she was suddenly pulled by the hand, pressed against his neck where blue veins were bulging, his warm Adam’s apple sliding under her palm.

His voice was husky, blatantly tempting: “Sister, grab me.”

“……”

Shu He had originally wanted him to grab her, but…

He lay there, his body tense with desire, his dark eyes moist, looking so obedient and eager at her, without any cold face at all…

She couldn’t help but swallow her dry throat, feeling as if something was infinitely expanding, her whole being also yearning for something.

And so was he, inside her.

……

This was Shu He’s first time doing such a thing. The force of her grip on his neck gradually tightened, their hearts seeming to boil more and more, as if they would burst out of their chests the next second.

But until the end, she couldn’t bear to squeeze too hard. When she let go and kissed him again, the two embraced tightly.

…..

Including their birthdays, they stayed together for three days. On the fourth day, they finally went out together to visit Jing Lin’s grave.

It was drizzling that day. He crouched before the young man’s photo, opening a new cream cake. Beside it was a box of wedding candy.

Shu He stood beside him holding an umbrella. The drip-drop rain slid down the tilted angle, along the dark tombstone, but didn’t wet the cake.

“Brother, I’ve come to see you.”

“This year, I seem to have found new meaning in living.”

Shu He stood quietly beside him, listening to him chat.

After a long while, he stood up, his black eyes as if soaked by the rain, wet and a bit red.

He took Shu He’s hand, paused slightly, and softly said to the person in the photo: “Brother, this is my wife, Shu He.”

Besides Shu He, the only person Jing Yi couldn’t forget was Jing Lin.

He wanted to share all important things with him.

Brother, this time, I won’t forget you.

Jing Lin would always be his brother, and he would always be Jing Yi.

….

When leaving the cemetery, his eyes were still a bit red, yet he instinctively reached for the umbrella.

Shu He rarely didn’t agree. She continued holding the umbrella, raising her hand to touch his moist eyes. The dripping rain splashed her ankles, but she didn’t mind at all.

“From now on, I’ll hold the umbrella for you.”

He blinked, trying to hold back his tears, but his nose was still sour, his whole being somewhat uncomfortable.

He leaned forward to hug her, softly responding with a “mm.”

After a long while, Shu He held his hand, “Let’s go home.”

“….Okay.”

The renovation of the new shop was nearly complete. During this time, the two stayed in Li Tang, occasionally strolling around the university campus when free, like returning to their college days.

Shu He took the opportunity to change the shop’s logo. The original mint leaf was something she had casually drawn—back when she worked at a coffee shop, she had developed a liking for mint drinks, and had used it for a long time.

The new logo had crystalline raindrops hanging on a mint leaf, and beneath it, a sleeping little dog, not getting wet.

Jing Yi raised an eyebrow: “This little dog, it wouldn’t be me, would it?”

With curly hair too.

Shu He smiled sweetly: “So smart.”

He chuckled, “Then can I ask for some copyright fees?”

“……” Shu He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry—this man really thought of himself as a little dog. But she still cooperated and gave him a kiss.

The man touched his lips, drawling: “Boss Shu, you can’t brush people off like this.”

“……”

Seeing she wasn’t responding, Jing Yi clicked his tongue, saying either to her or to comfort himself: “Fine, I’ll collect it myself tonight.”

“……”

The official opening day was sunny, with many people attending.

Xiang Lan Ye, Liang Xu and Ni Sui, even Shu Hua and Yao Qing came. Even Cheng Shu and Tang Yun sent her WeChat messages wishing her a prosperous opening.

Jing Yi rarely didn’t get jealous. He appeared magnanimous, “Today is a good day, all blessings should be accepted.”

“Wishing you a prosperous opening, Shu Shu!!”

“May you become super rich in the future!”

Liang Xu was holding a big red envelope. After the well-wishes, he couldn’t help but complain: “Your husband urged us to come a week in advance, saying we needed to support you.”

Shu He laughed helplessly: “Thank you for making the special trip.”

“It’s nothing.” Ni Sui’s smile was very gentle, “We’re all friends.”

“Hey—where’s Jing Yi?” Liang Xu looked around. The person was here just now, but had disappeared: “If he doesn’t see me later, he might think I’m stingy and didn’t give a red envelope.”

Shu He didn’t know where he went either. She suddenly felt uneasy and called him. It took a while before he answered: “Where did you go?”

His voice was sometimes far, sometimes near, faintly coming through the receiver, as if right beside her, “I’m back—”

Shu He didn’t hang up. She avoided the crowd and walked out of the shop. At that moment, the bright sunshine fell on the tall man. In his hands, he was somehow holding a bouquet of flowers.

Shu He frowned, about to say something, but he spoke first: “They’re fake.”

Made from the same material as the ones used when he proposed.

Shu He relaxed a little. She saw his eyes filled with a shallow smile, his lips curving upward as he gave her the flowers: “There’s another bouquet at home, no need to make others envious.”

Without a doubt, it was another money bouquet.

Shu He held the flowers, smiling sweetly: “So you just went to buy flowers?”

In the golden sunlight, he made an “mm” sound, took her hand, and enunciated each word with a strange tenderness: “Wishing you a prosperous opening, Boss Shu.”

Shu He only discovered later that the opening day was the same day as when she opened the shop years ago.

At that time, they had been forced to break up. His unexpected departure left her completely unprepared.

She resented his broken promise, unwilling to stay in the apartment full of memories, standing alone in the sunlight yet as if in the cold of winter.

Like a destined cycle, going round and round, she had found him again.

And he embraced her with all his might.

This time, he didn’t break his promise.

On the day “Everyday” Coffee Shop (Li Tang branch) reopened, a letter was quietly slipped into the shop’s mailbox—

“Wishing you a prosperous opening, Boss Shu.

Also wishing you and the little dog eternal happiness, free from disasters and pain, peaceful and healthy, with nothing but favoritism.”

——January 29, 2025, best wishes from Ting Lu and all readers.

-The End-