ATLAS TRANSLATES

Someone nearby said, “Stop it, the teacher is coming.” The group finally dispersed, with some walking out and others returning to their seats.

After a moment of silence, Meng Taoyu sat against the wall and whispered, “I’m sorry your desk got dirty too.”

Feng Ning didn’t ask anything, just patted her arm with the back of her hand in a comforting gesture.

A girl from the back row stood up and tossed a note onto her desk, torn from an exercise book. It read, “How did you offend these people? Just apologize, they won’t keep bothering you.”

The class bell rang, and the teacher entered. Meng Taoyu silently tucked away the note and rested her head on her arms on the desk.

Halfway through class, the teacher came by to ask what was wrong. Feng Ning, sitting on the outside, quietly explained that she wasn’t feeling well. The teacher didn’t inquire further.

After afternoon classes ended and most students had left, Meng Taoyu finally lifted her head.

Outside, sunset clouds hung in the sky, casting a warm red glow through the classroom. Feng Ning was focused on solving problems.

“You… haven’t left yet?”

Feng Ning tilted her head, her loose hair caught in the sunset creating a gentle effect. While writing, she said, “The cafeteria is crowded now, I’ll go later.”

While Meng Taoyu was still lost in thought, Feng Ning reached into her drawer, searched for a while, and pulled out a bottle of AD Calcium Milk. She handed it over, saying, “Here, as promised.”

Meng Taoyu was surprised, stunned for a few seconds before softly saying, “Th-thank you.”

Feng Ning checked her watch and gathered her things. “Want to eat together?”

“If they see you with me…” Meng Taoyu hunched her shoulders, lowering her head. Before she could finish, someone lifted her chin.

Feng Ning peeled open a bandaid, leaned in close, and carefully placed it on her scrape, grinning mischievously, “See who? I’m not afraid of anything.”

At this hour, the cafeteria didn’t have much left. Meng Taoyu, having attended Qide since middle school, knew the area well. She led Feng Ning out through a side door. Though not on a busy street, there were two lively food streets nearby, full of delicious aromas where many students liked to eat.

In the lingering heat of the summer evening, they walked along. Feng Ning casually plucked a blade of grass from a flower bed and began weaving it, sharing stories from her middle school days. Meng Taoyu followed quietly beside her, gradually relaxing.

“Feng Ning, do you… know Jiang Wen?”

“Hmm?” Feng Ning thought for a moment before responding, “What about him?”

“This morning, I saw you greet him.” Meng Taoyu gathered her courage and glanced at her. “Just… you should probably stay away from Jiang Wen.”

Seeing Feng Ning’s silence, she thought she’d angered her and hurriedly explained, “I don’t mean anything by it, it’s just, just…”

“It’s okay, take your time.” Feng Ning pinched the woven grass between her fingers, flattened it, and after fixing its shape, happily handed it to her. “Here, a rose for you.”

Stunned for a few seconds, Meng Taoyu accepted it, feeling uncertain. Her lips trembled, and she quickly lowered her head, not wanting Feng Ning to see the tears suddenly filling her eyes. “Thank you.”

Her eyes drooped slightly at the corners, with puffy cheeks, as fragile as a withering flower bud. She looked both cute and pitiful, making one want to both tease and protect her.

Feng Ning sighed helplessly, wiped away her tears with her knuckles, then pinched her cheek, saying seriously, “Classmate Meng, out of ten things you’ve said to me, nine were ‘thank you.’ I’m making a new rule – you’re only allowed to say it once per day.”

Meng Taoyu’s face turned red, but she finally smiled through her tears. Since third year of middle school, it had been so long since she’d felt such warmth. After a moment of silence, she stared at the grass rose and said slowly, “I wasn’t bullied without reason.”

Feng Ning listened attentively without interrupting.

“In second year of middle school, I accidentally bumped into someone in the cafeteria. A few days later, this person came to my class to confess to me, and I rejected him. Later… I was harassed by girls who liked him.”

Gossip spreads quickly, and gradually classmates began discussing her. After being bullied so much, Meng Taoyu became numb.

But unexpectedly, her lack of resistance or complaints, her perpetually submissive demeanor, became a different kind of provocation in the bullies’ eyes. Even long after that boy stopped pursuing her, her fearful and increasingly withdrawn nature had become their source of entertainment.

Feng Ning found it ridiculous and frowned. “Was it Jiang Wen who confessed to you?”

“No, no, how could it be? You misunderstood.” Meng Taoyu looked embarrassed for a moment, then carefully said, “He… and Jiang Wen are probably close friends. They’re in the same class, often play basketball together, and are very popular at our school.”

“I’m popular too!” Feng Ning suddenly grinned mischievously, deliberately changing the subject. “I get it, you’re worried I’ll get into trouble if I pursue Jiang Wen, right?”

Meng Taoyu was indeed shocked and looked up. “You’re really going to pursue Jiang Wen?!”

“Hahaha, I’m just teasing you! Quick, look in a mirror at your end-of-the-world expression!”

Feng Ning’s high ponytail bounced as she laughed beautifully, with a special charm. She reminded people of morning glories climbing on a trellis, blooming throughout the window whether in the blazing afternoon or early summer night. One batch after another of sweet, gorgeous flowers blooming there, making people feel secure and content.

“Oh…” Meng Taoyu stared at her, suddenly forgetting what she wanted to say, standing there in a daze like a meditating monk.

Feng Ning pulled her arm, “Come on, let’s eat. I need to go back to the classroom afterward for something.”

“Ah, what for? Self-study?” Meng Taoyu asked belatedly, “Can I keep you company?”

The street was lined with eateries – congee shops, barbecue restaurants, western restaurants. Feng Ning focused on choosing a place to eat and said casually, “I’m copying notes for someone to earn some extra money. You can come if you want.”

Life should have some ceremony, and with the new semester beginning, even the frugal Feng Ning, after getting Meng Taoyu’s opinion, steeled herself to choose a seemingly expensive restaurant, deciding to treat themselves to a good meal.

As she pushed open the door, she thought that it was good she wasn’t eating with Shuang Yao, otherwise she’d definitely be fleeced today, not even able to split the bill.

Inside was crowded with students, very lively. Meng Taoyu, feeling uneasy, almost tripped. Fortunately, Feng Ning was quick to steady her.

The person who got stepped on first saw Meng Taoyu, then noticed Feng Ning behind her, and slightly softened their annoyed expression. “Watch where you’re going, sister.”

The boy’s gaze followed them for a while, and Zhao Binlin asked, “Do you know that person?”

“Who?”

“The taller one.”

“Not very well, met her a few times when hanging out with friends. She was our middle school’s beauty queen.”

Zhao Binlin made a sound of acknowledgment and asked, “Which school did you go to before?”

“Oh, just some old rundown middle school in the urban village, you definitely haven’t heard of it.” Wang Shao noticed his curiosity and continued, “But she was pretty famous at our school. We weren’t in the same class, but I knew about her.”

Among their group of rich kids, Wang Shao was the only one from a “common” background. They didn’t usually hang out together, but because he had some connection with Xi Gaoyuan from elementary school, they occasionally invited him when playing games or needed an extra person for basketball.

Jiang Wen leaned forward, elbow propped on his knee, wearing one earphone while watching NBA, completely uninvolved in the surrounding conversation.

“What about her? Tell us.” Zhao Binlin seemed very interested, and the other two at the table also looked over.

“Well.” Having found an interesting topic to discuss, Wang Shao thought for a moment, considering for a few seconds. “My buddy was in her class in middle school. Once he was playing with a lighter and deliberately burned her hair. It was pretty awful, right? Most girls would’ve cried and gone to the teacher. But guess what this girl did? She went to the education supply store at the school gate, bought a big pair of scissors, came back, and right in front of the whole class, snip! Cut off the burned ends.”

“Wow, that fierce!”

“Yeah, really. Everyone was shocked, watching her slam the cut hair onto the desk. Man, my buddy was a head taller than her, but she grabbed his collar, pulled him close, and while patting his face, she smiled and said, ‘Since you like playing with it, here you go, take it home and burn it slowly.’”

Wang Shao told the story vividly, and Zhao Binlin looked thunderstruck, asking, “Then what?”

“Then, my buddy chased after her for three years.” Wang Shao’s tone was complex, somewhat emotional. “This guy was lovesick bad, for a while he secretly followed her home every day after school, like he was possessed.”

After hearing the story, Xi Gaoyuan was also curious and laughed, “The boy went crazy for love, quite the fanatic. So did he succeed?”

Wang Shao shrugged, “Of course not.”

“This girl’s got character, interesting.” Zhao Binlin smiled wickedly, stroking his chin. “By the way, what’s her name?”

“Ah, it’s Feng Ning.” Anyone who had ever dealt with her could firmly remember her name.

Jiang Wen, who was drinking water, suddenly choked. He threw down his phone and grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth. After coughing for a while, when he finally calmed down a bit, he turned and asked, “What’s her name?”

“—Feng Ning.”