ATLAS TRANSLATES

“Who do I like?” Jiang Wen’s eyes were half-closed, his gaze still unfocused, drifting elsewhere as he gave a slight nod.

Feng Ning giggled mischievously and asked in return, “Then who do you like?”

“Who do you like?” He insisted on her answer.

“Me?” Feng Ning said with a smile, speaking unhurriedly, “I like the stars, I like the moon, I like the sun, I like the ocean, I like the beach, I like Nietzsche, I like Dazai Osamu, and I even like Guo Degang. How’s that, satisfied?”

Meng Hanmo passed by carrying two cases of beer. He wore a black tank top and a face mask, showing only his eyes. His neck and arms were covered in sweat. He glanced at Feng Ning, “What are you doing?”

Feng Ning turned her head, casually responding, “Just comforting a kid.”

“Your classmate?” Meng Hanmo leaned in for a look, nodding slightly, “Pretty handsome kid. Take your time comforting him.”

East Street night market was never particularly safe, and Jiang Wen in his flashy branded clothes, drunk out of his mind, was like a perfect target for pickpockets. Feng Ning finally took pity, went to the back kitchen to prepare a bowl of vegetable porridge to cool, and sat beside the target smoking a cigarette while waiting for Zhao Binlin.

As soon as she saw him, she put out her cigarette.

Zhao Binlin peeked at Jiang Wen, who was sprawled on the table, and chuckled, “Thanks, Feng Ning.”

Feng Ning gestured with her chin, “Here, make him drink the porridge. He’ll feel better after throwing up.”

“Got it.” Zhao Binlin held his breath, using all his strength to slip his arm under Jiang Wen’s armpit and finally got him upright. He widened his eyes in distress: “First time I’ve seen him drink this much. He’s dead weight, can’t even drag him. No good, I need to call Xi Gaoyuan too, I can’t handle this alone.”

A phone rang.

Jiang Wen’s head was still hanging down. Zhao Binlin struggled to fish out his phone from his back pocket, answering without checking the caller ID, shouting: “Hello, who is it? Young master’s busy here, what time do you think it is? If it’s nothing important, don’t call. That’s it, hanging up!”

After two or three seconds of silence, a familiar female voice came through: “I can’t get through to Xiao Wen’s phone, are you together?”

The next second, Zhao Binlin’s face changed slightly, frozen in place.

He drew in a sharp breath, quickly stammering an apologetic laugh, “Sister, Jiang sister, it’s you. Yes, Jiang Wen’s with me, we just finished having late-night snacks. Yes, we’re heading home soon. He and Xi Gaoyuan are both sleeping at my place tonight. Please don’t worry at all.”

The other end was decisive: “Give me your location, I’m coming to pick you up now.”

The call ended.

Zhao Binlin stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Wen’s shoulders with both hands, shaking him frantically, his face contorted, “Young master, Brother Wen, top student, wake up! I’m begging you, please wake up! Can you hear me? Your sister is coming! Remember Jiang Yuyun? She’s coming right now! If you don’t wake up, we’re both dead! Brother! Are you awake, brother?!”

Jiang Wen kept his eyes closed, motionless, his face pale, though his lips and the corners of his eyes were redder than usual.

Zhao Binlin was like an ant on a hot pan, picking up the porridge bowl and wailing: “Brother, dear brother, have a couple sips, will you wake up?”

Jiang Wen barely opened his eyes, mumbled “don’t bother me,” and waved his hand like swatting flies, knocking the whole bowl of porridge to the ground.

Feng Ning stood to the side, arms crossed, watching this farce with amusement, “What’s wrong, why so panicked?”

Zhao Binlin was really panicking, his face bitter, “His sister is coming, you don’t know how terrifying she is, universe-level terrifying. If his sister finds out we were messing around outside, we’re all done for.”

After all the fussing, he was still like a pile of mud.

“Move aside, watch me!” Feng Ning shouted, “Jiang Wen, if you don’t wake up, don’t blame me for being rough!”

He heard her voice and hazily lifted his head.

She reached out and slapped him hard across the face, “Awake yet?”

Feng Ning looked fierce, gripping his chin with one hand, lifting it up, and speaking word by word, “I’m Feng Ning, can you hear what I’m saying? You’re about to see your sister, so get your spirit up now, act normal, stop pretending to be crazy drunk, you hear me? Open your eyes, wide!”

Then she delivered another crisp slap.

The clear sharp sounds left Zhao Binlin stunned, temporarily speechless.

Seeing her about to deliver another slap, Zhao Binlin hurriedly rushed forward, supporting the tilting Jiang Wen, pleading: “Sister Ning, aren’t you being a bit too rough? Please be gentler, our young master has delicate skin, he can’t take this!”

Feng Ning ignored him, leaning down close to Jiang Wen’s face, “I’ll ask one more time, are you awake?”

Jiang Wen whimpered twice, his voice carrying a hint of grievance, “Stop hitting, it hurts.”

Seeing him finally open his eyes, Zhao Binlin was overjoyed.

Feng Ning nodded approvingly, “At least you know what’s good for you.” She picked up water from nearby and commanded: “Drink!”

Jiang Wen still looked dazed, tilting his head slightly, giving her a confused look before obediently drinking.

Zhao Binlin stood aside, wanting to speak but holding back, feeling both admiration and sorrow, thinking to himself, how could this brother of twelve years be so easily led around by a woman’s finger, without any hesitation. This differential treatment was truly heartbreaking, bros really weren’t reliable, truly not reliable…

A red Ferrari stopped by the street, immediately drawing attention.

Two people got out of the car, one tall and one small.

Jiang Yurong wore a white princess dress, broke free from her sister’s hand, and ran pitter-patter towards Zhao Binlin and the others, “Brother, where’s my brother?”

Zhao Binlin pinched her cheek, “How come you don’t call me brother when you see me? Have you no conscience?”

Jiang Yurong reluctantly mumbled, “Brother Binlin.” Then quickly circled around him, throwing herself into Jiang Wen’s embrace.

Jiang Wen sat in the plastic chair, lazily patting his sister’s hair. Looking up, he saw his older sister walking over in high heels and unconsciously straightened his back.

“Why come to a place like this?” Jiang Yuyun swung her car keys, looking him up and down, “Been drinking?”

Jiang Wen nodded.

“Not going home tonight?”

Jiang Wen remained silent and continued nodding.

Jiang Yuyun laughed mockingly, “Dare to mess around when you’re afraid of grandfather’s scolding.”

She turned and shot a sidelong glance at Zhao Binlin, “How much did he drink?”

Zhao Binlin shrunk his neck, smiling ingratiatingly, “Not much, really not much, sister. I was watching him, wouldn’t let Jiang Wen drink too much. Look, he’s still conscious.”

At this moment, Feng Ning came over with a broom and cloth, rolling up her sleeves and efficiently cleaning up the mess on the ground and table. While cleaning, she turned her head, grinning, “You’re finally leaving?”

Zhao Binlin clasped his hands, coughing meaningfully: “Thanks for today, Lady Ning.”

Feng Ning folded the plastic tablecloth without changing expression, tied it in a knot, and pulled both sides, “No big deal, don’t worry about it.”

“Oh? You know each other?” Jiang Yuyun looked at them suspiciously.

Zhao Binlin introduced, “This is our classmate, a top student.”

“Oh.” Jiang Yuyun nodded, “Thank you, little sister.”

Feng Ning smiled sweetly, “No trouble at all. They’re customers who paid, it’s what I should do.”

When getting in the car, Jiang Yuyun commented: “That young girl is quite interesting.”

She turned the steering wheel, looking in the rearview mirror, puzzled, “Xiao Wen, what happened to your face? Who hit you?”

Zhao Binlin, who had been quite serious, couldn’t hold back and laughed.

Jiang Wen felt somewhat embarrassed, turning away his eyes in annoyance.

As the car started moving, he couldn’t help but look back. In the summer night, among the densely packed buildings with their scattered lights, her figure was already gone.