ATLAS TRANSLATES

Feng Ning’s thumb hovered over the keyboard for a moment.

Her scalded tongue still ached. She walked to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and found some ice to put in her mouth.

Leaning against the door frame with her phone, she pondered Jiang Wen’s message for a long while. Afraid of showing “the other party is typing,” she opened her notes app, typed a few words, then deleted them all.

Feng Ning made a voice call to Shuang Yao, but hung up as soon as it connected.

Shuang Yao angrily sent three question marks.

Ning: [My mouth hurts, don’t want to talk.]

Shuang Yao Ah Yao: [I was about to sleep, what do you want!!!]

Feng Ning sent two screenshot from her gallery.

Shuang Yao Ah Yao: [-61nfiawj? Who’s this?]

Ning: [Jiang Wen, just added him, haven’t saved the contact yet.]

Shuang Yao Ah Yao: [?!!!! Huh???? Jiang Wen?? Him??? You two???]

Ning: [Don’t get excited, just tell me how to reply first]

Shuang Yao called back. Feng Ning walked from the kitchen back to the living room, sat cross-legged on the sofa, and answered.

“What’s going on with you two? How did you get back in contact?”

Feng Ning recounted what happened today to Shuang Yao over the phone, then asked, “So should I refuse?”

“You two have quite the fate, meeting in such a big city. As for refusing… that depends on what you think.”

Feng Ning sighed, closing her eyes and falling back, “What do you mean what I think?”

“Have you ever imagined what meeting Jiang Wen again would be like?”

Feng Ning didn’t respond, opening her eyes to look at the white ceiling, staying silent for several minutes as memories began to turn.

Had she imagined it?

Maybe… she thought about it at first, but later got tired of thinking about it, and stopped thinking so much.

Shuang Yao asked again: “So how do you feel about Jiang Wen now?”

Feng Ning answered honestly: “I don’t know.”

“What about him?”

“He’s changed quite a lot.”

“It’s been so many years, who hasn’t changed? Anyway, past relationships are hard to resume, why not just be friends?”

Feng Ning asked evasively: “You think we can still be friends?”

“Comrade Feng Ning, hiding from your ex is very childish behavior.” Shuang Yao said carelessly, “Besides, while you’re here agonizing over this, maybe he’s already moved on?”

After hanging up, Shuang Yao sent a message:

[I miss the little Feng Ning from high school, smiling every day, like a little sun. Too bad your enthusiasm was used up in the first half of your life, now you’re cold to everyone.]

Ning: [What do you mean?]

Shuang Yao Ah Yao: [Nothing, being cold to everyone is both a freedom and a regret, think about that.]

Back when Feng Ning was brainwashing others, talking about reason and life philosophy, Shuang Yao was still wearing split pants playing in the dirt. These pseudo-profound little chicken soups couldn’t move her at all.

Feng Ning collected her thoughts, opened Jiang Wen’s message again to look it over, and sent him four characters.

Ning: [Are you asleep?]

A few minutes later, her phone buzzed.

-61nfiawj: [Third one.]

Ning: [Sorry, I was taking a shower, didn’t check my phone. What time tomorrow?]

-61nfiawj: [Three in the afternoon?]

Ning: [ok]

After tossing and turning all night, Feng Ning reached for her phone by the pillow – it was five in the morning.

She had insomnia again.

A bit of moonlight leaked through the curtain gap, falling on the floor. She closed her eyes but still couldn’t sleep.

Feng Ning turned on the bedside lamp, picked up her phone, and randomly found an old movie to watch. Later she dozed off while watching and slept for a few hours.

At noon, the alarm rang on time. Feng Ning got up, dark circles under her eyes, tied her ponytail low, went to the bathroom to brush her teeth, washed her face, and sat down tiredly in front of the makeup mirror.

Picking up concealer, she habitually covered her arms first before starting on her face. When the whole makeup was done, Feng Ning’s hand paused while applying lipstick, examining herself in the mirror.

From the meticulously drawn eyebrows to the black-lined eye corners. She wondered if it looked too formal. After a while, she pulled out a wet wipe and blotted her lips lighter.

Before leaving, Feng Ning specifically checked the weather forecast.

The temperature wasn’t very high today, so she chose a loose white t-shirt and a knee-length denim A-line skirt.

Worried about traffic, Feng Ning didn’t drive. She randomly hailed a cab and gave the driver the address Min Yue Yue had sent last night. Who knew the car shop had recently opened a branch, and Feng Ning only discovered she hadn’t made an appointment when she arrived. She double-checked, “Where’s your other branch?”

The staff pointed the way: “Follow this street, turn left at the intersection, it’s not far from us, about a kilometer away.”

Halfway there, under the blazing sun, it suddenly started raining. At first the rain was light, but accompanied by rolling thunder, it turned into a downpour within minutes.

Feng Ning was completely caught off guard, looking around, there was nowhere to take shelter. Since she was already quite wet, she resignedly continued walking to the car shop.

Jiang Wen had just finished work, dressed in a suit with a jacket hanging on his arm, leaning against the garage entrance.

Female customers passing by couldn’t help but look at him a few times.

Back in school, wherever he went there would be groups of girls gathering to scan him from head to toe with their eyes. Jiang Wen was long since numb to it, letting them look.

The manager brought over some papers, inviting Jiang Wen to sit on the sofa. They chatted for a bit. While talking, Jiang Wen suddenly stopped, his gaze turning.

The manager read his expression, “Excuse me, is there a problem?”

Jiang Wen didn’t answer.

The manager turned his head, following Jiang Wen’s line of sight.

…

…

Feng Ning’s top was mostly soaked by the rain, clinging wetly to her body, with large patches of water on her denim skirt. She pushed open the store door and entered, the air conditioning’s coolness making goosebumps rise all over her body.

A staff member came up to offer tissues.

Feng Ning thanked them, taking the tissues to wipe the water from her arms and face. Happening to look up, she met the gaze of someone sitting in the rest area. Her movements slowed.

Jiang Wen sat hunched on the sofa, looked at her for a while, turned his water bottle half a circle, and stood up.

Seeing him approach, Feng Ning instinctively shifted her body to hide her arms. She stepped back twice, somewhat urgently, “Jiang Wen, lend me your jacket to wear.”

He replied without thinking: “What, planning to steal my clothes again?”

As soon as the words came out, they both froze.

Jiang Wen’s eyes were dark as he tossed her the jacket he was holding.

Feng Ning quickly put it on, shivering, and said: “Thanks, I’ll wash it and return it.”

She looked disheveled now, following the signs to find the restroom, where she washed her face. Taking wet wipes from her bag, she began wiping in front of the mirror, cleaning off all her smeared makeup.

When she came out, the staff specifically led them both to the second floor reception room, saying to Jiang Wen, “The air conditioning isn’t on here, is that okay?”

Jiang Wen nodded slightly.

This car shop was very professional and efficient. The manager confirmed the repair items and approximate pricing with them, then pushed over two papers. “If you have any other requirements, you can raise them now. If not, could you both fill out the repair form, sign in the signature box, and we’ll notify you when the car is ready for pickup.”

The whole process took less than an hour to complete all handovers. Feng Ning pushed open the glass door to leave, the rain outside hadn’t stopped but had lessened considerably.

They stood under the eaves, Jiang Wen right beside her.

Feng Ning asked: “Did you bring an umbrella?”

“No.”

He instinctively reached for cigarettes in his pocket, taking one out. Lowering his head to light it.

Feng Ning glanced at him: “Your smoking habit is quite heavy now.”

Jiang Wen’s movements paused, taking the cigarette from his mouth.

At this moment, the reception manager came over, handing them an umbrella saying, “Oh my, the rain is so heavy outside, luckily we have an umbrella here, please take it.”

There was only one, Jiang Wen gave it to Feng Ning, “You use it.”

“What about you?”

Jiang Wen: “I drove here.”

Feng Ning made an “oh” sound, opened the umbrella, and walked forward a few meters. Turning around, there was a curtain of rain between them.

She tilted the umbrella back slightly, revealing her face, and said to him, “Do you want to get rained on or wait here for it to stop?”

Jiang Wen smiled indifferently, speaking casually: “Don’t particularly want either.”

Feng Ning: “Then why aren’t you coming over?”

Jiang Wen’s car was parked nearby, a silver-gray soft-top BMW Z4. He unlocked the car with his key and asked, “Where are you going?”

“Home.”

“I’ll take you?”

Feng Ning refused, “No need to trouble you, I’ll just get a taxi.”

“Why?”

She made up an excuse, “I’m all wet, don’t want to dirty your car.”

Jiang Wen ignored her: “Get in.”

Rain hit the glass, droplets rolling down, Feng Ning watched intently.

Jiang Wen’s fingers were on the navigation, and he asked: “Your home is in Yu Nan City?”

Feng Ning turned her head, making an “mm” sound. Her hands were placed on her legs, sitting very cautiously.

She suddenly asked: “Is this your car?”

Jiang Wen said: “Yeah.”

Feng Ning was a bit confused: “Didn’t you just return to the country?”

As she spoke, she accidentally bit her tongue, right where it had been scalded by hot water last night.

Feng Ning’s words cut off halfway, she let out a muffled groan, immediately unable to control her twisted expression, both hands covering her mouth, hunching over, tears of pain coming to her eyes.

Jiang Wen turned the steering wheel, parking the car on the roadside. He unbuckled his seatbelt and turned his head, “What’s wrong?”

Feng Ning wanted to speak but felt a flood of saliva about to flow out as soon as she opened her mouth. She freed one hand, pointed at her mouth, then waved at him, indicating it was nothing.

About a minute later, the intense pain finally began to ease. Feng Ning took out her phone and typed a line to show Jiang Wen:

[I accidentally bit my tongue]

The wipers moved slowly, he asked, “Is it bleeding?”

Feng Ning nodded, typing again:

[Let’s go, the traffic police will give us a ticket soon]

The car got back on the road, and after a while, Feng Ning realized they were going the wrong way. She didn’t ask, thinking he had something to do.

Jiang Wen parked beside KFC, “Wait for me a moment.”

Feng Ning sat in the car playing with her phone.

Jiang Wen came back in about ten minutes, opened the car door, and threw a plastic bag onto her.

It had the green pharmacy logo.

Feng Ning was a bit puzzled, opened the bag to find watermelon frost powder, mouthwash, and oral ulcer patches. She froze, saying to him, “Thank you.”

Jiang Wen put on his Bluetooth earpiece on his right ear, “Don’t mention it.”

Feng Ning said: “How much was it? I’ll transfer it to you.”

Jiang Wen had both hands on the steering wheel, making a phone call, acting as if he hadn’t heard her.

Hearing him seemingly discussing work with someone, she closed her mouth, tactfully not disturbing him further.

…

…

Back home, Guan Tong Fu sent over a translation project for her to proofread.

Feng Ning took off the jacket, quickly took a shower, and carried her laptop to the study. She got busy until dark.

She stretched, her stomach growling loudly. Only then did she realize she hadn’t eaten all day.

Feng Ning opened Meituan, ordered her usual takeout, tied up her hair, and began tidying the house.

While cleaning the living room, her eyes caught the jacket casually thrown on the sofa.

Feng Ning bent down, picked up Jiang Wen’s haute couture suit, pulled out the tag to look at it. Found she couldn’t search for it online. She then checked the care label, and found… it couldn’t be dry cleaned or machine washed.

She couldn’t help cursing. After thinking, she sent him a WeChat message:

Ning: [How much was this suit?]

After waiting a few minutes with no reply, Feng Ning put down her phone and continued mopping.

After finishing mopping the balcony too, she picked up her phone again.

-61nfiawj: [What for]

Choosing her words carefully, Feng Ning replied:

Ning: [I got your jacket dirty, I just checked and apparently it can’t be washed.]

-61nfiawj: [Oh, then throw it away.]

When Feng Ning received this message, her first reaction was speechlessness, really not knowing what to say.

After the speechlessness, immediately following, a strong sense of familiarity suddenly welled up from the bottom of her heart. This feeling instantly pulled her back to many years ago.

It seemed like there had never been so many strange barriers between them. He was still that young master who, with a disdainful expression, would unhesitatingly take off his clothes and throw them on the ground when his cleanliness obsession acted up.

In the bar.

“Hey, Jiang Wen, you just came back without any warning, not even a heads up. But it’s good you’re back, otherwise I’d be the only lonely one left. Recently it’s either drinking at weddings or attending someone’s baby’s hundred-day celebration, I feel like I’ve been left behind by the times.”

Zhao Bin Lin talked for a long time, discovering Jiang Wen was looking down at his phone, focused almost to the point of not seeing him.

He stopped, nudged Jiang Wen’s shoulder, “This late, who are you messaging?”

Jiang Wen didn’t answer, obviously not even hearing his words.

Zhao Bin Lin leaned over to look himself, making an “oh” sound, “It’s actually Feng Ning.” He smiled, “How did you add her?”

Jiang Wen: “Ran into her yesterday.”

“How many times did I try to give you her contact before, why didn’t you add it?” Zhao Bin Lin made a thoughtful expression, “What did you say then? ‘There’s no point in forcing it’ – those were your exact words, right?”

Jiang Wen’s right hand held his phone on the table. His eyes stayed on his chat with Feng Ning, not hiding at all.

He picked up his drink and took a sip.

Zhao Bin Lin said, “I see you’ve grown thicker skin these years, not afraid of me laughing at you.”

Jiang Wen made an extremely cold “oh” sound.

“No backbone, still no backbone.”

Jiang Wen bit out a cigarette, clicked the lighter, casually tossing the lighter aside, “Yeah.”

Catching Jiang Wen’s expression, Zhao Bin Lin knowingly closed his mouth.

Through the curling smoke, Jiang Wen said: “I hugged her yesterday.”

Zhao Bin Lin wasn’t surprised, just asked: “Did you?”

“Just for a few seconds.”

Zhao Bin Lin thought of a question: “So how did it feel meeting Feng Ning?”

“How did it feel?”

“Mm, how did it feel?”

Jiang Wen’s face was devoid of expression, falling into a brief silence. Until the cigarette between his fingers burned out, he didn’t speak.

Zhao Bin Lin thought he wouldn’t get an answer.

“When talking to her…”

He suddenly spoke, then stopped.

Zhao Bin Lin quietly waited for him to continue.

“Every word.” Jiang Wen’s fingers traced the outside of the glass, staring at the liquid inside, “Every single word, I had to hold myself back.”

After speaking, he lifted the glass, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he drank the remaining alcohol in one go.