ATLAS TRANSLATES

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

Zhao Binlin and Xi Gaoyuan exchanged glances, both somewhat surprised and mostly confused.

Ji Chiyang was stunned and quite embarrassed. He gave a look to the person beside him, “What’s going on?” That person mouthed back, “I don’t know either.” He had known Jiang Wen since middle school and they would exchange greetings, but they were never close.

In their eyes, Jiang Wen was somewhat aloof. Even when they occasionally hung out together, he spoke very little and rarely participated in their conversations. Few people dared to joke with him.

They all knew he came from an influential background and more or less hoped to build connections with him. So when Ji Chiyang was publicly embarrassed like this, he could only try to smooth things over with casual laughter to ease the tension.

Zhao Binlin cleared his throat, dramatically clutching his chest, “This is what it looks like when Ji gets rejected on the spot, ah.” Ji Chiyang immediately played along, “Just kidding, so she’s your girlfriend. My apologies for the offense.” Everyone burst into laughter.

On their way back to class, Xi Gaoyuan secretly observed Jiang Wen for a while. Unable to contain himself any longer, he asked, “Did you really fall for her? The popular girl – if we’re brothers, why keep it from us? That’s not cool.”

Jiang Wen didn’t respond, remaining silent with no reaction for a long while.

As they walked into the hallway, Zhao Binlin persisted, pushing his arm, “Is it true?”

Annoyed, he replied impatiently, “No.”

Zhao Binlin stared at him intently, “Then why did you say those things earlier?”

Jiang Wen responded coldly, “Just saying.”

“Bullshit, do you think I’m stupid? Feng Ning seems to like you too. If you like her, why hesitate? I think she’s pretty great, at least your sister likes her.”

“She has a boyfriend.”

Zhao Binlin stopped in his tracks, hesitating, “How do you know?” “I’ve seen them,” Jiang Wen said vaguely.

Suddenly enlightened, Zhao Binlin blurted out: “Why are you bringing this up? I asked if you like her or not.”

Cheng Jiajia linked arms with Pei Shurou as they chatted happily. She mentioned casually, “My uncle owns a horse ranch in the western suburbs. It’s quite fun. If you’re free, I can arrange a time and we can go together, maybe invite some friends too.”

“Sure, I’ll invite Jiang Wen and others too,” Pei Shurou suddenly smiled, “Oh right, can you help me with something?”

Cheng Jiajia hummed in response, turning her head, “What is it?”

“Help me investigate someone.”

After this incident, Feng Ning became famous in their grade. Even students from second and third year came to see what she looked like. Some disapproved, thinking she was deliberately seeking attention.

“I really want to ask, where do you get the confidence to fool around in front of so many people, twisting your nonsensical theories?”

Feng Ning replied seriously, “Shuang Yao, I don’t like hearing that. I’m here to enlighten the masses.”

“You drama queen, you’re just showing off, enjoying the feeling of confusing others with your lectures, then feeling accomplished, right?”

Feng Ning remained composed, nodding slowly, “Indeed, I won’t deny I have a performer’s personality. I love being in the spotlight, it’s part of my genetic makeup. I’ve long accepted this about myself.”

Meng Taoyu looked at her with complete admiration, face flushed with excitement, “No, Feng Ning, you’re truly the most impressive, most unique person I’ve ever met. You know what? I really admire how you can do things without caring about others’ opinions. Like my grandfather says, you’re very open-minded.”

“It’s simple,” Feng Ning became serious, “Before you do something, ask yourself, ‘Why am I doing this?’ Then clearly answer yourself ‘I am doing this because…’ That’s all. Always maintain a dialogue with yourself, stay clear-headed, don’t deceive yourself indirectly. First, achieve this point.”

Shuang Yao looked at her unreasonable expression with genuine admiration. She had been by Feng Ning’s side since childhood, witnessing her arguing over fifty cents at the market in elementary school, eloquently discussing prejudice and inferiority theories when faced with those who mocked her family circumstances in middle school, and giving impromptu speeches at the flag-raising ceremony in high school. In this polite and restrained society, she was clearly both fake and authentic.

Feng Ning usually went running at the track around six or seven in the evening, then studied in the classroom until lights out. During this time, people would stop her daily asking for her contact information.

Today’s pursuer was particularly persistent, following her all the way to the classroom door.

She entered through the back door of the classroom and sat down at her desk.

The boy lounged against the windowsill chatting with her, his smile somewhat resembling a Taiwanese celebrity, “Sister, is it that hard to give out your contact info?”

“It’s not hard, but today’s quota is full.”

“What do you mean?” Feng Ning wiped her sweat, saying seriously, “I have a rule – I only give my contact information to five lucky people each day, then choose one to accept. If you want it, remember to come early tomorrow.”

The boy burst out laughing.

As they chatted, Jiang Wen tilted his head, making eye contact with the carefree boy for two seconds before calmly saying, “Close the window, you’re too noisy.” “……”

After the person left, Feng Ning suddenly burst out laughing, “You’re so funny, actually asking someone to close the window, how cool, are you a Buddha or something?”

She kept laughing with no one responding, so she added, “Such a strong smell of jealousy, so sour.”

Still no response.

Feng Ning’s eyelids drooped as she flipped through her books and workbooks with a crisp sound, saying brightly: “Is someone feeling provoked by me, secretly making me their goal? Studying in the classroom at this hour, when you’re usually not this diligent.”

This time he couldn’t bear it anymore and responded: “You’re really annoying.”

He seemed to have just showered, not wearing his school uniform but a loose low-neck dark blue t-shirt and light jeans, with a faint clean scent about him.

After saying this, silence suddenly fell. The classroom was nearly empty, with only the ticking of the wall clock audible.

Originally not wanting to pay any attention, his pencil moved across the paper, drawing a line, a circle, a dot. Pausing, Jiang Wen turned back, meeting her confident, smug expression.

They stared at each other silently, Feng Ning resting her chin on one hand, observing his reaction before laughing again, saying softly: “Lost your composure already?”

Jiang Wen realized he’d been played again, his face showing rare embarrassment as he tried to hide his anger. He rarely argued with others, but every time he encountered her, he felt on the edge of losing control.

He had deep fan-shaped double eyelids, and when angry his eyes became watery, with a light brown mole at the end of his eyebrow. His skin was so good it made girls his age jealous.

She suddenly became curious, “You haven’t actually fallen for me, have you?”

Jiang Wen’s face stiffened. He felt an inexplicable angry sense of violation, his expression turning cold as he said harshly: “Aren’t you being ridiculous? Make me like you? You’re not worthy.”

The words were harsh and unpleasant, his usual style. But Feng Ning had long seen through his surface toughness. She discovered that compared to pursuing him, annoying him seemed more fun.

So she remained unmoved, letting out a long “Oh,” and said, “You’d better not have any ideas about me. First, you’re not worthy either, and second, I already have someone I like.”

Jiang Wen’s pretense of coldness cracked slightly as he looked at her in disbelief. Feng Ning added: “It’s not you.”

His mind exploded.

Jiang Wen had never been in love, didn’t know what it felt like to love someone, much less what it felt like to be hurt.

Earlier, when she kept pestering him, the feeling was both annoying and addictive. Before he could fully sort out his emotions, he saw her being intimate with other boys. So later, Feng Ning’s continuous harassment seemed like calculated approaches to Jiang Wen.

He became increasingly annoyed and couldn’t calm down, until he lost control and hurt her with his words. When he finally calmed down, he couldn’t explain why he felt an inexplicable sense of loss. He also didn’t know why, despite so strongly disliking her fickleness, he was hopelessly attracted to her.

Finally, Jiang Wen gave in. He clenched his fists tightly. After forcing himself to relax, he calmly packed up his things on the desk and left.

The ceiling fan whirred above the classroom. After their argument, Feng Ning casually started doing problems, not even looking up as he left the classroom.

Outside, the night sky looked as if it had been splashed with dark blue ink. The day’s heat had disappeared, leaving coolness behind.

Before today, Jiang Wen’s emotions still retained some innocence. Now, he could clearly feel that this part of him had been shattered.

After finishing her math exercises.

Feng Ning’s expression remained neutral as she took out her phone and rapidly texted Shuang Yao: “Alright, I’m done playing with Jiang Wen.”

Shuang Yao: [Why? Weren’t you going to teach the little prince about love’s bitterness?]

Feng Ning: [He’s probably tasted enough bitterness, but I don’t want to completely destroy him, hehe xd]

Shuang Yao: [Don’t try to act innocent with me, you’re afraid you’ll fall for him while teasing him, right?]

Feng Ning shrugged, replying: “I’m not planning to date a young master like him. I’m busy! I need to work part-time, I need to study! No time for these romantic affairs.”

Putting away her phone, she opened another exercise book and began working with complete focus.

At that time, Feng Ning had predicted that Jiang Wen would fall for her within a month.

But she didn’t know that from their first rainy day meeting until tonight, she wasn’t just the beginning and end of some love story for him.

— This was the prologue to his lifelong devotion.