ATLAS TRANSLATES

“Jiang Wen, did you find it?” she shouted.

“Use my phone to make a call,” he instructed.

Two minutes later, amidst the ringtone of “Don’t Be Obsessed With Me, I’m Just a Legend,” Jiang Wen was stunned for a few seconds. He held back his irritation, his face darkening as he knelt in the snow to dig out the squawking phone.

Just as it played “Hey yo~ Brother won’t be lonely, because loneliness keeps brother company,” he took a deep breath and ended the call with a black face.

Feng Ning sat on the bench, exchanging a deep meaningful look with Jiang Wen from afar.

He handed her the phone. His fingertips were red from the cold.

Feng Ning immediately put on a pleasing expression, gratefully accepting it and carefully examining it with concern.

Fortunately, although it was a domestic knockoff phone, it was durable enough to withstand drops and hits, and spending half a day in the ice and snow hadn’t damaged it.

While going upstairs, Jiang Wen couldn’t hold back anymore and asked, “Why are you so non-mainstream?”

Feng Ning looked confused, slightly lifting her head, “What’s wrong with me?”

“Your ringtone…”

“Oh, oh!” Feng Ning suddenly became energetic, speaking excitedly, “I think it sounds great! I just feel like, really, I deeply relate to some of the lyrics in this song.”

“……”

“In middle school when I went to KTV, I especially loved singing this song for my fans.”

Jiang Wen glanced at her sideways: “Fans…plural?”

“Yeah!” Feng Ning acted smugly, though he couldn’t see it, “I was many people’s idol in middle school! I had some passionate fans, like Shuang Yao and Zhao Weichen, they once wanted to create a fan club for me. But I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like being high-profile, so I firmly refused!”

As she spoke, her breath brushed against the skin behind his ear, making it tickle.

Bouncing along, Feng Ning lay on Jiang Wen’s back, able to see his short black hair ends, his translucent earlobes, and a small section of his tall, straight nose from behind.

“Oh right, remember that boy who burned my hair?” Feng Ning said cheerfully, “He chased after me for a long time, right? Then at our middle school graduation, after dinner when we went singing, I specially sang this song for him, ‘Brother is Just a Legend.’”

“And then?”

“Then he was so shocked by me that he never contacted me again after graduation, hahahahaha.”

After laughing, Feng Ning sighed, “But I heard from others that after he started high school, he’s had at least four or five girlfriends, living quite happily.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

She said seriously: “To brainwash you.”

“Brainwash what?”

“At an age when we don’t understand anything, regrets are common,” Feng Ning’s casual words were right by his ear, “Whether you like someone or not is just a momentary thing, don’t take it too seriously.”

After a few seconds of silence, he asked: “Did you hurt your leg, or your head?”

“Hm?”

Jiang Wen’s tone carried undisguised disgust, colder than the falling snow outside: “I can’t believe you can say such affected words.”

Feng Ning: “……”

She was stunned by his sharp tongue for a few seconds, then puffed up angrily: “Hey, how come I never noticed you were so harsh before?”

“I never noticed you were this stupid before either.”

Feng Ning burst out laughing despite her anger.

Although their interactions began with her calculated scheme, she approached him with the intention to “educate” him, but after getting to know him, she found that Jiang Wen wasn’t as unlikeable as she had imagined. Though he lacked some manners, he could be quite funny and cute at times.

So even though his words were harsh now, she secretly felt relieved.

— His words didn’t sound like someone who was “trapped.”

How could Jiang Wen not understand the underlying meaning of what she had just said? Now she knew how to be indirect, not as sharp as before.

Who doesn’t have their pride?

He had always been seen as heaven’s chosen one in others’ eyes, but his self-esteem was repeatedly trampled. Jiang Wen was already discouraged.

Now with just a little interaction, she was avoiding him like the plague, repeatedly drawing clear boundaries. The fire that had been suppressed in Jiang Wen’s heart for so long was being provoked bit by bit.

He spoke without thinking, getting angry enough to curse: “I was really blind before, not seeing how vulgar your taste is, narcissistic and arrogant. Please don’t try to educate me with those stupid youth tragedy quotes you got from who knows where.”

How did a nice heart-to-heart turn into kindergarteners insulting each other? Feng Ning came to her senses, wondering if something had gone wrong?

She hadn’t said much, how did she manage to set him off?

Feng Ning struggled a bit, then said angrily, “Some people, it was bad enough having unrequited love for me before, now why are you attacking me personally?”

“Who had unrequited love for you!” Her words provoked him into angry embarrassment again.

“Hey hey hey, I didn’t say it was you, you admitted it yourself.”

Jiang Wen made a motion to let go, “Get down, walk by yourself.”

Know when to be tactful. Feng Ning decided not to argue with him, pretending to be magnanimous: “Okay okay okay, I was wrong, I was wrong.”

When they were almost at the classroom door, Jiang Wen roughly dropped her. Feng Ning stumbled, barely maintaining her balance.

As he was about to leave, she called out to him.

Jiang Wen stopped.

“Even though you humiliated and scolded me today, I, the great Feng Ning, won’t hold grudges against petty people, I have the capacity of a prime minister.” Feng Ning patted her chest.

Jiang Wen closed his eyes, using all his upbringing to control himself. He turned and walked away.

She shouted from behind: “Thank you for helping me find my phone today! Merry Christmas to classmate Jiang Wen, may you be happy every year!!!”

New Year’s was approaching, and the school humanely gave half a day off. Following Qide’s tradition, each class held their own New Year’s party in their classroom.

The arts committee member had a student council meeting in the afternoon and no time to decorate for the party. She found the most easy-going person in class, Meng Taoyu, and after much begging, finally persuaded her to help buy decorations like ribbons, balloons, and party poppers.

After getting the class funds from the class president, Meng Taoyu left school and hailed a taxi.

The driver started the meter and asked where she wanted to go.

Meng Taoyu had no experience and thought for a moment, “Do you know where I can buy small decorations nearby?”

The driver thought for a while, turned the wheel, and said, “I know a place!”

But when they arrived and she got out of the car, looking at the slightly worn blue sign at the entrance of the market, Meng Taoyu was dumbfounded.

This… this is Changzheng Market?

Changzheng Market had two main streets, Luo Street and East Street.

Meng Taoyu was timid and always followed the rules, never daring to go to sketchy places. In elementary or middle school, she had heard that there was a famous gathering place for lowlifes in the south city, where large-scale violent fights often occurred, and it was chaotic and bustling year-round – that was East Street of Changzheng Market.

Looking at her watch, if she went somewhere else now, there wouldn’t be time to decorate the classroom. Meng Taoyu was caught in a dilemma.

After hesitating for a long time, thinking that nothing should happen during the day, she gathered her courage and went in. Along the way, there were foot massage parlors, hair salons, and unopened food stalls. Everything seemed normal, not like the den of tigers and wolves she had imagined.

Meng Taoyu didn’t dare go too far, randomly found a general store, and picked out some candies, sunflower seeds, and snacks. She walked around, getting items according to the list from the arts committee member.

She hadn’t done much shopping alone before, and was blank during checkout, not knowing how to bargain, just accepting whatever price the shopkeeper quoted.

Finally finishing shopping and coming out, she let out a big sigh of relief. Walking on the street, two or three people followed behind introducing products. Meng Taoyu was good-natured and refused politely, waving her hand: “Sorry, I don’t need anything right now.”

Just as she was about to walk out, a man crossed his arms and blocked her way.

She had just started to say sorry when the man smiled, “Sister, are you alone? Want to play some pool with brother?”

Meng Taoyu clutched her plastic bags tightly and quickly walked to the side.

The man stepped aside, casually blocking her, “Just one game, brother’s been watching you for a while, first time here? Still a student, huh?”

Meng Taoyu’s body obviously stiffened, starting to panic. She looked around for help, but the passersby all seemed used to such scenes.

She turned to run, only to find people had already followed behind her, and the thugs surrounding her all started laughing.

“What do you want?” Meng Taoyu’s legs were weak, and she didn’t even know where to look.

“Play a game of pool with brother.”

As the circle of people gradually shrunk, tears were about to fall from her eyes: “No, I need to go back to school, I won’t go.”

Someone laughed, “Nan-ge, stop harassing the student.”

Nan-ge took a step closer, “Just playing around, not doing anything else.”

Suddenly a person flashed through Meng Taoyu’s mind, and she said quietly: “Don’t block me, I’m… I’m here to find my brother.”

The man seemed interested: “Finding your brother? Who’s your brother?”

“My brother…” Meng Taoyu, pale-faced, closed her eyes and took a desperate gamble, “My brother is Meng Hanmo.”

To her surprise, when this name was said, Nan-ge looked at her for a few moments and repeated: “Meng Hanmo?”

Meng Taoyu’s heart rose with a glimmer of hope, and she quickly nodded, “Mm-hmm, that’s him.”

Just then, someone from the outer circle shouted: “Mo-ge!”

How could there be such a coincidence?

Meng Taoyu was completely shocked, and opened her eyes wide to confirm again.

It really was him.

Meng Hanmo had a cigarette in his mouth and one hand in his pocket. When he looked over, she was both excited and nervous, tears suddenly falling.

“This student says she’s your sister?” asked the person who had called him.

They made way. Meng Hanmo had two people with him, and he squinted at Meng Taoyu, paused, then spoke in a low, slightly hoarse voice, “Oh, my sister.”

The teasing suddenly stopped.

The whole “handover” process was very calm, and Meng Taoyu left with them.

Chen Xi still remembered her, “You’re Ning’s classmate, right? Pretty brave coming to East Street alone.”

Having just escaped danger, Meng Taoyu’s face still had tear marks, and she almost buried her face in her chest, “Our class is having a New Year’s party, I came to buy some things.”

“Got everything?” After finishing a cigarette, Meng Hanmo lazily turned his head.

Meng Taoyu didn’t dare meet his eyes, lifted her plastic bags, “Should… should be about done.”

Chen Xi laughed: “You’re quite clever, knowing to use Mo-ge’s name in East Street.”

His words made Meng Taoyu embarrassed again. She stammered an apology, “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…”

Somehow this hit these people’s funny bone again, and they burst out laughing.

Chen Xi and the others rarely got to interact with good girls like Meng Taoyu, and found it novel just talking to her for a bit. The little girl’s gloves and scarf were pink, and her down jacket hood had two rabbit ears. She was just like a little rabbit herself.

After they finished laughing, Meng Hanmo lazily tilted his head: “Let’s go.”

“Huh?” Meng Taoyu was confused for a moment.

“Take you back to school.”

Chen Xi: “The Passat’s keys are with Ah Hu, he went to restock.”

Meng Hanmo made an “oh” sound.

Watching them walk away, Buzz Cut put on a surprised expression: “What’s up with Mo-ge today, being so tender?”

There was snow on the road, so the car drove slowly. Meng Hanmo sat in front, propping his head with one hand.

Meng Taoyu placed both hands properly on her knees, just staring at his profile for several seconds.

When he turned his head, she suddenly came to her senses, her face turning half red. To cover it up, she took out her phone and started looking through the class group messages.

Feng Ning sat at the classroom door, personally witnessing several girls surrounding Jiang Wen in the corridor. Giving scarves, giving handmade cookies, giving chocolate.

She absently thought, winter really is a romantic season, when the snow falls softly and lingeringly, it gives people a feeling of being able to walk hand in hand until old age.

Zhao Binlin came from behind and placed a greeting card on Feng Ning’s desk.

Feng Ning opened it directly, smelled a perfume scent, and grinned: “Wow, Zhao Binlin, you’re so elaborate?”

“Yeah, where’s yours?”

“My what?”

Zhao Binlin asked curiously: “You’re not writing New Year’s cards for others?”

Hadn’t noticed he had such a girly heart, Feng Ning raised her eyebrows, “I don’t write cards, there’s no point.”

Mainly because greeting cards were expensive, a ordinary one cost one yuan, prettier ones cost more than ten yuan, it was such a waste that so many people bought them.

Zhao Binlin shouted: “That won’t do, I wrote one for you, you have to give one back.”

Feng Ning held her chin, making a thinking pose: “Alright, wait ten minutes.”

The classroom started preparing to decorate, getting noisier. Zhao Binlin was hot and took off his coat, casually tossing Jiang Wen a red sticky note folded into a triangle.

He didn’t react at first, frowning: “What’s this?”

“The New Year’s card I got from Feng Ning.” Zhao Binlin waved his green sticky note, “She wrote one for you too.”

Jiang Wen made an “oh” sound, didn’t even open it to look, just threw it onto the pile of gifts on his desk, ignoring it.

Zhao Binlin casually put the sticky note on the desk and turned to talk to someone else.

Jiang Wen picked it up to look.

It was another drawing, a boy holding a basketball, wearing AJ sneakers. He looked at it disdainfully, folded the sticky note in half, and tossed it aside.

Maintaining his outward coldness, he played a few rounds of games on his phone until the screen showed game over.

Jiang Wen leaned back, turned off his phone, and slowly picked out a gift to open.

After opening one, he threw it aside and moved on to the next.

Gradually, the gifts were gone. Only a triangular sticky note remained on the desk.

His face showed no expression as his fingers tapped the edge of the desk intermittently, but he finally picked it up and opened it.

[Wishing classmate Jiang Wen a happy New Year, may you be happy every year!]

Just one bare line of text, nothing else, not even a signature.

The other sticky note was right beside him, Jiang Wen picked it up and looked at it again.

The figure on it was cute and lively, wearing the number 8 jersey, even the dimples on the face were drawn.

Ten seconds passed, and he gave a cold laugh.

Jiang Wen tore up Zhao Binlin’s sticky note.