ATLAS TRANSLATES

Meng Taoyu got off the bus at Yujiang Lane entrance and saw Feng Ning waving from afar. Her eyes brightened as she happily jogged over.

“Have you had breakfast?” Feng Ning held a small plastic bag containing several steaming hot, freshly baked buns.

Meng Taoyu smiled shyly, “I had a bowl of noodles with mixed sauce this morning.”

Feng Ning led her inside, “What are you carrying?”

“Ah, these are some health supplements I bought for auntie.”

“You’re so polite?” Feng Ning laughed, “My mom’s not home.”

Meng Taoyu was a bit shy: “I rarely visit others’ homes since I was little, I don’t really know what to do.”

They ran into Zhao Weichen on the road, who ran past them frantically, then suddenly braked and backed up, “Sister Ning! Who’s this?”

Feng Ning was still chewing a bun, swallowed it, and introduced them, “My deskmate, she’s here to visit. Where are you going?”

“I’m going to the post office to pick up a package for my mom.” He scratched his head sheepishly, “Come build snowmen with your classmate later.”

Qi Lan had gone to the hospital for a follow-up check in the morning, so no adults were home. Feng Ning pushed open the half-closed door, and a large yellow dog squeezed through the gap, panting and weaving between them.

After a few seconds, Meng Taoyu let out a scream, dropped what she was holding, and frantically dodged to the side. The yellow dog excitedly chased after her, trying to climb up her back.

Feng Ning shouted sternly: “Feng Beibei! No jumping on people, come here!”

Meng Taoyu had been terrified of dogs since childhood, and now she was scared out of her wits. Seeing a container about half her height, she hurriedly climbed up and drew her legs in, breathing heavily.

Feng Ning held down the yellow dog.

Still recovering from the shock, she suddenly heard Feng Ning call out, “Brother.”

Meng Taoyu turned her head slowly to see a man in a black jacket standing a few meters away, silently watching her, holding a bleeding fish in his hand.

Meeting his gaze directly, her mind was still slightly dazed.

Feng Ning tied the yellow dog to the side, “Brother, why are you here?”

Meng Hanmo had just gotten a haircut, his sideburns short. He frowned slightly, “Didn’t you ask me to bring you fish?”

“Oh oh, I forgot!” Feng Ning turned her head, her voice clearly carrying a hint of amusement: “Little Meng, I’ve tied up the dog. You’re being too dramatic, come down quickly.”

After a moment’s daze, realizing her awkward situation, Meng Taoyu’s ears turned red with embarrassment. She bit her lower lip and kept her head down as she passed in front of Meng Hanmo.

She was a bit afraid to look at him.

As Meng Hanmo took the fish to the water basin, Meng Taoyu carefully asked, “Why… why didn’t you tell me your brother would be here?”

“Hmm?” Feng Ning said meaningfully, “You don’t want to see him?”

“Ah??” Meng Taoyu shook her head vigorously, “No…”

Feng Ning took Meng Taoyu on a tour around, introducing each vegetable and fruit she was growing in flowerpots.

Zhao Weichen called out breathlessly from outside, “Sister Ning, the stuff is heavy, give me a hand.”

Meng Taoyu wanted to go along too, but was stopped by Feng Ning, “You stay here and watch the house, don’t break those thin arms and legs of yours.”

The faucet in the corner was running with water, washing the fish underneath. The ice-cold water ran over his hands, but Meng Hanmo seemed not to feel it.

Just as she had made a handprint outline in the snow, a voice suddenly came from above, “What are you crouching here for?”

Meng Taoyu looked up, awkward for two seconds, her gaze somewhat evasive as she said in a small voice: “I… I’m playing with the snow.”

After a moment of silence, Meng Hanmo was slightly puzzled: “Why are you stuttering, are you that afraid of me?”

“No, no.” Meng Taoyu stood up, burying her head like an ostrich, “I get a bit nervous talking to strangers.”

“Strangers…” Meng Hanmo repeated, seeming to find it amusing, “Kid, you don’t remember me?”

When Feng Ning returned to the courtyard, Meng Hanmo was already gone. She looked around, “Where’s my brother?”

Meng Taoyu explained: “He said he had something to do and left first.”

Feng Ning didn’t mind, rolling up her sleeves as she walked to the kitchen, “My mom won’t be back for lunch, let me show you Little Chef Feng’s skills.”

Meng Taoyu’s eyes widened: “You can cook?”

Feng Ning answered with full confidence: “That’s right!”

Lunch was just the three of them. Feng Ning made four dishes: tomato and egg soup, stir-fried garlic shoots with beef, steamed fish, and stir-fried lettuce. Meng Taoyu couldn’t stop praising the taste.

After lunch, Shuang Yao called Zhao Weichen over, planning to play mahjong with four people, but Meng Taoyu didn’t know how.

“You don’t know mahjong?” Feng Ning thought for a moment, “Then what about cards, do you know how to play cards?”

Meng Taoyu shook her head, “I… I don’t know any of them, I’ve never played, my mom doesn’t allow me to play cards.” Afraid of ruining their fun, she quickly said, “You all go ahead and play, don’t mind me, I’ll just watch TV on the side.”

“That won’t do, you’ve come all this way to visit.”

Finally, they all decided to go to the newly opened arcade in Zhenwu Commercial District. Most students were already on break, and it being the weekend, it was especially lively.

They bought 200 yuan worth of tokens at the service counter. Feng Ning was a small gambler, loving the fruit machines most. Then came the basketball machine, where she had to shoot for half an hour every visit.

By the time they finished their tokens, everyone was covered in sweat. Feng Ning’s face was flushed red, and she was so hot she took off her down jacket, wearing just a low-necked sweater. Fortunately, the mall’s central air conditioning was strong, so they didn’t feel cold.

Shuang Yao fanned herself with a flyer: “Shall we go home for dinner?”

“Since we’re already out, let’s eat outside.”

Feng Ning asked Meng Taoyu: “Little Meng, what do you want to eat?”

“Anything is fine.” This was Meng Taoyu’s first time coming to an arcade with friends, and she was both curious and excited.

Zhao Weichen raised his hand with a suggestion: “Let’s eat Hunan cuisine, I know a really good place.”

The restaurant was a recently popular internet-famous spot. It was on the second floor, and being dinner time, there were quite a few people queuing. They got a number. With four or five tables ahead of them, and everyone tired from playing, they sat on chairs outside the restaurant chatting.

“You know, Sister Ning has been bullying me since we were little.” Zhao Weichen complained to Meng Taoyu, “Shuang Yao too. When I was short as a kid, these two would chase and beat me up for no reason, made me cry several times.”

Feng Ning impatiently picked her ear: “Little Zhao, for a man, you sure hold petty grudges. How long are you going to keep talking about this stuff?”

Shuang Yao stepped on his foot, “Zhao Weichen, why are you acting like a girl?”

Zhao Weichen nearly jumped up: “Hey, don’t step on my shoes, stepping on a man’s shoes is like stepping on his face!”

Just as everyone was laughing together, a puzzled voice called out: “—Feng Ning?”

Feng Ning stopped laughing and turned her head.

“It really is you.” Zhao Binlin confirmed. His left arm was linked with Jiang Wen, his right with Xi Gaoyuan. The three stood not far away, “Are you eating here?”

Shuang Yao spotted them and froze, her eyes fixed.

After not seeing him for several days, Jiang Wen seemed even thinner, his facial features more defined. His hair was black, his lips pale. His expression still carried traces of weariness, and his eyes met hers directly.

Feng Ning quickly adjusted her expression, “Yeah, are you eating here too?”

“What a coincidence then.” Zhao Binlin glanced at Jiang Wen, “Why don’t we join up?”

Since they had many people, the server led them to a small private room separated by curtains.

It was a semicircular seating arrangement, and they naturally split into two groups. Feng Ning walked in front, entering from the left side and sitting in the middle position.

Xi Gaoyuan was about to enter from the right side but was pulled back by someone. He turned around to see Zhao Binlin giving him a “can’t you read the room” look, even rolling his eyes.

Jiang Wen gave them a perfunctory glance, said nothing, and went in to sit down.

The Hunan restaurant was bustling, and the servers were too busy, so they first brought some snacks to keep them occupied.

Feng Ning picked at the french fries.

The atmosphere became a bit awkward for a moment until Shuang Yao coughed and started warming things up, “This is so boring, should we play some games?”

Zhao Binlin eagerly responded: “Sure, what should we play?”

“Hmm…” Shuang Yao thought for a moment, elbowing Feng Ning, “You think of one, you’re the expert in this.”

Feng Ning wore a light purple low-necked sweater, her white neck long and slender. She folded the napkin in her hands and said casually: “Without alcohol or cards, what can we play?”

“Then let’s order some alcohol.”

Xi Gaoyuan sat at the outer edge, lifted the curtain, and called for a server.

The alcohol came quickly, and Feng Ning skillfully began shuffling cards, explaining the rules to them, “Here we have A, J, K, Q, and numbers 2 to 10. Each of us draws a card, then we play the game corresponding to each card.”

After shuffling, she took out her phone and sent them a screenshot of the memo with game rules, “Just these.”

Everyone was a bit confused at first, but after playing two rounds, they gradually understood what was happening, and their enthusiasm grew.

In the third round, Feng Ning drew the penalty card—show everyone the first photo in her album.

If she refused to fulfill the penalty, she would have to drink.

How bad could showing a photo be? Feng Ning carelessly chose the latter.

Under their supervision, Feng Ning unlocked her phone and opened the first photo in her album. When she saw what it was, her pupils immediately contracted.

Just as she was about to swipe away from the screen, Xi Gaoyuan caught her movement clearly and immediately shouted: “Hey hey, Feng Ning, you can’t cheat!”

Feng Ning flipped her phone face down on the table, her expression slightly unnatural as she negotiated with them, “How about I just drink instead?”

They firmly objected: “No way, you already chose the penalty.”

“Fine.” Feng Ning stood up slightly and handed her phone to Xi Gaoyuan, “Then start with you.”

Xi Gaoyuan spent a minute looking at it, his expression becoming very complicated. He looked at Feng Ning, then at Jiang Wen, before passing the phone to Zhao Binlin.

Feng Ning had already resigned herself to the embarrassment and calmly took a small sip of alcohol.

Next should have been Jiang Wen’s turn, but unexpectedly, Zhao Binlin skipped him, holding back laughter, “You look at it last.”

When the phone finally reached Jiang Wen’s hands, everyone’s gazes fell on him simultaneously.

Jiang Wen was a bit confused, not knowing what was going on. He picked up the phone, and what met his eyes was a WeChat conversation.

-s: [I want to see Jiang Wen kneeling in formal wear!!!!!] -f: [What’s formal wear kneeling, is it SM?] -s: [It’s him wearing a repressed white shirt and black trousers, hands bound behind him, kneeling in front of you!!!!!] -f: [I have to say, you’re quite perverted] -f: [But, I like it.]

Jiang Wen was completely stunned.

A few seconds later, two spots of red suddenly rose on his pale face.