ATLAS TRANSLATES

After eating hotpot until they were both full, Shuang Yao and Feng Ning walked down the main street to head home.

Most shops along the road had closed, lacking the daytime bustle. In this season, phoenix tree leaves covered the ground. Shanghai in this quiet moment had a particularly desolate, cold, and sophisticated atmosphere.

Feng Ning played with her phone, opening a frequently listened to song on NetEase Cloud Music, clicking in and out repeatedly.

Shuang Yao wrapped her coat tighter and said, “I’ll spend Christmas with you tomorrow, but the day after I’m meeting a high school classmate.”

Feng Ning showed no reaction upon hearing this.

“Do you want to come with me?” Shuang Yao nudged her.

A breeze blew by. Feng Ning brushed aside the strands of hair at her temples. “We’ll see, depends if I’m free.”

After chatting casually, Shuang Yao said, “Actually, I came to Shanghai this time with a mission from my mother.”

Feng Ning understood immediately, “Who is it this time?”

Previously, elders from Yu Jiang Lane had introduced several unmarried young men, but they had all been discouraged by her coldness.

“This time it’s really promising. Although he’s not exceptionally handsome, he’s well-mannered, over 180cm tall, and a postdoctoral researcher at Jiao Tong University.”

Shuang Yao pulled out her phone to show her a photo, saying absent-mindedly, “Anyway, in terms of looks, you’ve already experienced someone as handsome as Jiang Wen, so you probably have no regrets in this life. You probably don’t care about that anymore.”

“Can you stop bringing him up all the time?”

Shuang Yao covered her mouth, “Okay, okay, I won’t mention him.”

Feng Ning glanced at the photo, “Why is your mom skipping over you and rushing to match me up?”

“I already have a boyfriend, don’t I?” Shuang Yao snorted, “Besides, after the New Year, I’m getting my marriage certificate with Xiao Jia. Then my parents’ artillery fire will officially be aimed at you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Be careful during New Year’s.”

Shuang Yao mumbled vaguely, “Though if I had known that someone was coming back, I wouldn’t have let my aunt try to find single men for you.”

Feng Ning was speechless, “Whether he comes back or not, I don’t need you to worry about it.”

“Ha, looks like you’re planning to stay single forever.”

“Stop it, I’m not as tragic as you think.”

—

Feng Ning came out of the bathroom after brushing her teeth and found Shuang Yao lying at the foot of the bed, holding her phone doing something.

She walked over: “Who are you chatting with on my WeChat?”

Shuang Yao replied carelessly, “That blind date candidate I just mentioned. I gave him your WeChat directly and I’m testing the waters first. If it’s no good, we’ll pass.”

Feng Ning turned on the bedside humidifier, “What are you talking about?”

“Setting up a time to meet for a meal and get to know each other.”

Shuang Yao rolled over, “I just picked a stunning photo of you from the album and sent it to that Jiao Tong postdoc, hahahahaha, guess what he replied?”

Feng Ning frowned: “You sent my photo?”

“What’s with that expression? I’m not that heartless to go through your album, I found it from my own phone.”

Shuang Yao: “Dr. Wu first complimented your beauty, then tactfully asked if you had any photos without makeup. He said if they were to live together in the future, they’d need to be honest with each other.”

Feng Ning ignored her words, sat down at the makeup mirror, contemplating whether to use a face mask. Looking at the time, it was too late, so she decided against it. She started applying skincare products.

Shuang Yao called out: “Then I’m sending another selfie, okay?”

Feng Ning wiped her hands, “What selfie?”

“The one you took on the high-speed train.”

At that time, the pear-head hairstyle was popular, and Feng Ning had gotten a perm too. At the end of the year, on the high-speed train back to Nan City, when Shuang Yao asked where she was, Feng Ning had sent a selfie.

In that photo, she wore a beige turtleneck sweater, with some slightly curled wisps of hair sticking to her lip gloss. The train’s warm lighting, Feng Ning leaning against the window, white earphone cord, a slight smile, making a peace sign at the camera.

With a bunch of bottles on the table, Feng Ning had just screwed the lid back on the face cream when she heard a “holy shit” from behind.

Feng Ning turned around, surprised: “What’s wrong with you, being so jumpy?”

Shuang Yao cursed two more times.

Feng Ning frowned, “Can you stop shouting? The neighbors will complain about the noise.”

“Ning Ning, I’m so sorry.”

Feng Ning had a bad feeling, she got up and walked to the bed, “What happened?”

Sure enough, the next second, Shuang Yao handed her the phone, “I accidentally sent the photo meant for Dr. Wu to Jiang Wen.”

Feng Ning raised her voice, “What?”

Shuang Yao explained: “I really didn’t do it on purpose, I… just now I sent the photo to your WeChat, but when I was forwarding it to Dr. Wu, Jiang Wen was right below him, they both had gray avatars, I got confused and sent it directly to Jiang Wen.”

Feng Ning didn’t say anything, quickly grabbed the phone, long-pressed the image, and clicked recall.

Fortunately, it was within two minutes, successfully recalled.

Feng Ning sat down on the edge of the bed, “Did you do that on purpose?”

Shuang Yao raised her hand to swear, “This time it really wasn’t, I really misclicked.”

Thankfully it was very late, and after waiting a while, there was no response from Jiang Wen, probably because he was asleep.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking again, besides the just-recalled message, the last message was from Jiang Wen: [Fine, if you have the guts, block me]

Feng Ning had just put down her phone when Jiang Wen suddenly sent a question mark.

-61nfiawj: ?

-61nfiawj: [What did you send?]

Ning: [Nothing, misclicked.]

-61nfiawj: [?]

Feng Ning looked at what she sent, feeling like her explanation was a bit stiff? So she added more.

Ning: [It was a work notice for a colleague, accidentally sent it to the wrong person when forwarding.]

-61nfiawj: [Oh]

Feng Ning didn’t reply anymore.

Shuang Yao knelt beside her, “How is it?”

Feng Ning hit her arm hard, “It’s okay, he didn’t see it.”

“Huh?” Shuang Yao clicked her tongue in disappointment, “No fun.”

Feng Ning pulled her hair, “If you deliberately mess with me again, I’m going to send your bed-wetting photo to Xiao Jia.”

“You little bitch, can you be any more vicious?”

As they were laughing and joking, the phone received another WeChat notification. On the screen, it was from Jiang Wen: —

-61nfiawj: [The work notice you mentioned, is this it?]

-61nfiawj: [Image]

Feng Ning: “……”

Shuang Yao glanced at it and fell laughing onto the bed, “Hahaha, damn, Jiang Wen’s pretty quick.”

Feng Ning remained silent.

Shuang Yao added: “He even knows how to tease you now, those years in America weren’t wasted.”

Ning: [?]

-61nfiawj: [Sending me this in the middle of the night?]

Ning: [Misclicked]

-61nfiawj: [Your company is quite special]

-61nfiawj: [Using selfies as work notices]

His words sparked some anger in Feng Ning.

Ning: [Why are you being so sarcastic? I said it was a misclick.]

-61nfiawj: [?]

Ning: [It wasn’t meant for you anyway.]

Ning: [Going to sleep.]

After hastily ending the conversation with Jiang Wen, the troublemaker Shuang Yao was still gloating: “Are you two elementary school students? Fighting over this?”

“Didn’t you see he was being mean to me first?” Feng Ning was irritated.

Shuang Yao: “Isn’t that because you’re too cold?”

“Cold?” Feng Ning laughed, “Should I act normal and be friends with him? Pretend nothing happened before?”

Shuang Yao thought for a moment, “Why not?”

Feng Ning coldly responded: “Once something’s broken, it’s not that easy to fix.”

Shuang Yao sighed, “You’re harsh on others and harsh on yourself. Forget it, I won’t try to persuade you anymore since I can’t change your mind anyway.”

Since childhood, Feng Ning had always been very strong-willed. She didn’t like changes and wanted everything within her control.

Once Feng Ning made a decision, it was hard for others to change her mind.

In her mind, Jiang Wen had already been classified as something from the past.

Although neither of them had completely let go, once Feng Ning decided something was impossible, she wouldn’t waste time dwelling on it.

The next day was Christmas Eve, and the store windows were filled with Santa’s white beard, brown reindeer, and skateboard sleighs. Shuang Yao took Feng Ning to get their nails done, go shopping, and get their hair done.

Around dinner time, Shuang Yao received an invitation from her high school classmate. She had originally planned to take Feng Ning along to celebrate Christmas, but on the way, Feng Ning got called away by a work phone call and had to go to the office for an emergency shift.

After finishing work, Xiao Zhu came over and said: “Sister Ning Ning, we’re going to dinner with the Maruko people today, want to come?”

Feng Ning tried to remember, “Didn’t you eat with them last time?”

Xiao Zhu exclaimed: “In business, it’s give and take! Last time they treated us, this time it’s our boss treating.”

“Is Senior going too?”

Shi Yuange walked out of the office, “I’m going.”

Feng Ning: “Then what do you need me for?”

“Maruko is a big client, having both Double Port bosses present shows sincerity. Besides, Senior, Brother Guan, and I can’t drink, we need Sister Ning to help with that.”

They booked a new Japanese restaurant near Xujiahui.

Maruko also brought four people, Feng Ning only knew Manager Li. Meeting for the second time, she took the initiative to greet him.

The Japanese restaurant was having an opening promotion – if three people posted on social media, they could get a 30% discount.

Everyone took out their phones and scanned the code as instructed by the staff.

Feng Ning set her location and posted on Moments.

Guan Tongfu had been busy with work lately, dealing with contracts with the legal department all day. Seeing the restaurant’s decoration, he suddenly realized: “Is today Christmas Eve?”

“Yes.”

Everyone chatted for a while, and Shi Yuange was in charge of ordering.

Midway through the meal, Manager Li got up to take a phone call. When he returned, he said: “Someone else might join us later, is that okay?”

Shi Yuange smiled: “That’s no problem, just need to add another set of dishes.”

Xiao Zhu and a young man from the other side were typical social butterflies, both doing their best to liven up the atmosphere.

Feng Ning was listening to Shi Yuange talk about work matters.

The curtain at the entrance was suddenly lifted, and Manager Li stood up. Feng Ning turned to look at the door too.

Everyone went quiet for a few seconds, especially Xiao Zhu, who was mid-sentence and forgot to close her mouth.

After scanning the room and briefly meeting Feng Ning’s gaze before looking away, Jiang Wen casually said, “Hope I’m not interrupting.”

Xiao Zhu came to her senses, repeatedly saying with a slightly trembling voice: “Not at all, of course not.”

Guan Tongfu pinched her thigh under the table.

Xiao Zhu’s smile cracked a bit, squeezing out through her teeth, “What are you doing?”

Guan Tongfu also kept his voice low, “Don’t act like a love-struck fangirl, you’re embarrassing Double Port.”

Shi Yuange stood up, extending his right hand, “Welcome.”

Jiang Wen rested his right arm on the chair back, reaching out his other hand to shake, “Nice to meet you.”

He took off his jacket, casually placing it aside. He wore a v-neck sweater with subtle British patterns, with a neat blue dress shirt collar. Matching dark gray suit pants perfectly outlined his figure.

He was devastatingly handsome.

Xiao Zhu’s eyes were glued to him.

Manager Li said, “Let me introduce everyone. This is my boss, Jiang Wen. He happened to be nearby, so he joined us for dinner. These two are Ms. Zhu and Mr. Guan from Double Port Translation.”

“And this one.” Manager Li was about to introduce Feng Ning.

Jiang Wen casually interrupted, “No need to introduce this one.”

Everyone at the table was stunned for a moment as he sat down: “I know her.”

Feng Ning acted normally while pouring water. Noticing others looking at her, she asked, “What?”

Guan Tongfu said: “You know Chairman Jiang?”

Feng Ning: “Yes.”

Xiao Zhu was somewhat excited and couldn’t help but ask curiously: “Really? What a coincidence! How do you know each other? How come you never mentioned it?”

Feng Ning glanced at her.

“Hand—” almost blurting out “handsome guy,” Xiao Zhu caught herself in time, “Chairman Jiang, how long have you known our Sister Ning?”

“Forgot.”

“Forgot?” Xiao Zhu looked confused.

Feng Ning said: “We were high school classmates.”

An unexpected answer, but others didn’t pursue it further.

Another person from Maruko asked: “Boss, why did you come?”

“Saw your Moments posts,” Jiang Wen raised an eyebrow, “Thought it was a company gathering, and since I was nearby, came to grab a meal.”

As they talked, Shi Yuange finished explaining the work matter to Feng Ning that he had been discussing earlier. He pulled out his phone to show a temporary work table.

Feng Ning leaned in to look, and they were quite close.

From Guan Tongfu’s angle, their heads were almost touching. He raised his voice and called out, “Boss, what’s going on with you two, showing affection in public?”

Manager Li joined in the joke, “Showing affection? So Double Port is a husband and wife partnership?”

Guan Tongfu caught Shi Yuange’s warning glance and quickly explained: “No, no, not yet.”

Xiao Zhu took the chance to get revenge: “He just likes to talk nonsense, always saying things without thinking.”

They continued chatting, while Jiang Wen barely spoke.

After ordering a few more dishes and having a round of drinks, the atmosphere was noticeably more relaxed. Guan Tongfu actively brought up Jiang Wen, “Chairman Jiang, can I ask about some gossip about Sister Ning?”

“What?”

“She often brags to us that she was the school beauty from junior high, and that guys lined up for three blocks outside the school to chase her.”

Hearing this, Jiang Wen smiled slightly, “I don’t really remember, maybe.”

Shi Yuange came to Feng Ning’s defense, “Xiao Ning was even more popular in university. Back then, probably half the guys in our department had feelings for her.”

“Was that half including you?”

Shi Yuange responded very gentlemanly: “Of course.”

“Then Chairman Jiang, do you have any embarrassing stories about Sister Ning to share with us?”

Feng Ning couldn’t take it anymore: “Are you done?”

“No.” Jiang Wen didn’t know if he was answering her or Xiao Zhu.

Xiao Zhu looked disappointed, “Really none?”

“She only made others embarrassed,” Jiang Wen said briefly. After a pause, he added, “In the dead of winter.”

“That’s too fierce.”

Jiang Wen made no comment. He had had some drinks and was leaning back in his chair with a casual, fearless laziness about him.

At this point, Xiao Zhu noticed Jiang Wen and Feng Ning exchange a glance across the table. Though both were expressionless, Xiao Zhu felt… they didn’t seem like just ordinary high school classmates.

She just felt there was some inexplicable subtle tension between them.

After dinner, Guan Tongfu suggested going singing together. Manager Li said he needed to rush home to his wife and kids. Thinking it was a holiday and everyone probably had their own plans, they dropped the idea, “Alright, let’s end here today, we can meet up again another time.”

As everyone was saying goodbye, Shi Yuange said, “Where are you going? Want me to give you a ride?”

Feng Ning refused: “No need, I’m planning to walk around for a bit, you go ahead with your business.”

Winter nights came early, and all the neon lights on the street were lit up, creating a Christmas atmosphere.

Feng Ning walked around the nearby plaza, stopping near a huge Christmas tree outside Starbucks.

Looking up, she saw shining snowflakes, golden bells, and red bows hanging on the green branches.

Feng Ning’s mood improved a bit, and in the cold wind, she took a deep breath of cool air.

The Jiaotong University postdoc had sent her several messages, basically wanting to meet up for New Year’s.

Feng Ning glanced at them but didn’t reply.

She originally wanted to refuse directly, but since this was arranged through Shuang Yao’s mother, it wouldn’t be good to be too direct. She could explain clearly when they met.

Putting her phone away, she stuffed both hands into her coat pockets. With her chin buried in her dark green scarf, Feng Ning kicked a small stone at her feet, preparing to find a subway entrance.

Unexpectedly, as she turned around, she ran right into Jiang Wen. They both stopped, looking at each other.

She hesitated slightly: “You haven’t left?”

Jiang Wen lifted the bag in his hand, “Came to buy coffee.”

“Oh, I see.” Feng Ning exchanged a few polite words with him, then said goodbye, “I’m going to catch the subway then.”

Feng Ning continued walking towards the subway entrance.

In the glass reflection, Jiang Wen was following three or four meters behind her. Feng Ning stopped and turned around: “What are you doing?”

“Going home.”

“Then why are you following me?”

“I’m taking the subway too.”

Feng Ning: “You didn’t drive?”

Jiang Wen unhurriedly asked back: “You want me to drink and drive?”

They went down the stairs together. Because it was a holiday, there were many people. Jiang Wen was pushed and bumped into Feng Ning.

She turned her head and asked him: “Line 1 or Line 10, which are you taking?”

Jiang Wen didn’t immediately answer.

Looking at his face, [How would I know] was clearly written all over it.

So Feng Ning asked again: “Then where do you live?”

Jiang Wen slowly said a place name.

Feng Ning thought it sounded familiar, after clarifying which characters it was, she searched on Gaode Maps and found it was actually in a new development near her home.

—

Before entering the station, Feng Ning took out her phone to open her transit card. Her arm was pulled from behind.

Feng Ning turned around, “What are you doing?”

Jiang Wen, like some entitled old man, naturally tilted his head and ordered her like an assistant: “Go buy me a ticket.”

Feng Ning: “?”

Looking at the dense crowd in the queue, Feng Ning said, “You’re dreaming.”

Jiang Wen had been plied with drinks, his eyes were red at the corners, and he made a sound of agreement.

Feng Ning had no patience: “Don’t take the subway, go up and get a Didi instead.”

Jiang Wen: “Too lazy to walk back up.”

Feng Ning: “……”

In the end, she still taught Jiang Wen how to download the Metro app.

They got on Line 1. As the subway doors closed and started moving, Jiang Wen’s body swayed.

Feng Ning was replying to someone’s message when she suddenly felt her hat being tugged. She turned to look.

She was a bit angry: “Why are you pulling my hat?”

Jiang Wen let go: “Lost my balance just now.”

“Then why didn’t you grab the handrail?”

He wrinkled his nose slightly in disgust: “Dirty.”

Feng Ning: “……”

Maybe because of the alcohol, Jiang Wen was showing his “true nature.” Even though he wore the shell of a handsome and elegant business elite, at first glance looking like a sophisticated professional, he was actually still that immature, arrogant peacock of a man.

After passing a few stops from Xujiahui, a seat opened up nearby. Feng Ning looked at it, “You go sit down.”

Jiang Wen didn’t refuse, went over, and sat down smoothly and gracefully.

An auntie next to him looked at his suit and tie and couldn’t help commenting, “Young man, this isn’t good, how can you let your girlfriend stand while you sit?”

Jiang Wen had his long legs stretched out casually.

Feng Ning said: “Auntie, it’s fine, he’s disabled.”

Jiang Wen: “…….”

The auntie immediately went quiet, switching to a sympathetic expression. She didn’t say anything else and turned away.

Two guys sitting opposite looked over.

Jiang Wen lifted his lips in a smile.

On the way, he took a call from Jiang Yurong, who asked: “Brother, where are you?”

Jiang Wen: “On the subway.”

Jiang Yurong was a bit confused, “Huh, subway? Why are you on the subway?” She was being urged by someone on her end, responded twice, then said into the phone: “By the way, brother, do you want to come celebrate Christmas with me?”

“No.”

Jiang Yurong was very unhappy, “Why not?”

“No time.”

After Jiang Wen hung up, Feng Ning said, “Your sister came to Shanghai for university too?”

Jiang Wen gave a very aloof “mm” in response.

That attitude.

The auntie next to them thought, he doesn’t look disabled at all.

Feng Ning had once tutored Jiang Yurong for a while and had a good impression of the clever young girl: “Which school?”

“Shanghai International Studies University.”

Feng Ning nodded, “Not bad.”

Getting off at their stop, they walked out of the subway exit side by side.

Jiang Wen didn’t speak, and Feng Ning didn’t speak. They walked quietly along the street.

Suddenly remembering something, at a certain alley entrance, Feng Ning turned in.

Going in about ten meters, she crouched down and expertly broke a sausage into small pieces, throwing them on the ground.

After calling out twice, soon a small swaying figure emerged from a pile of cardboard boxes.

It was a skinny little yellow dog with a slight limp in its right hind leg.

Footsteps sounded, and Jiang Wen’s voice came from above, “Feng Ning, do you have any manners?”

Feng Ning turned around, “What did I do?”

Jiang Wen: “Leaving me behind without a word?”

The stray dog was very timid and ran away at the sight of a stranger.

Feng Ning couldn’t be bothered to argue with him, turned back around, but the dog had already disappeared.

The little yellow dog had gotten into a fight somewhere a few days ago and was injured. Feng Ning was a bit worried, stood up, turned on her phone’s flashlight, and started searching various corners while moving deeper into the alley, looking for the dog.

The alley was dimly lit, almost pitch black. In the darkness, she lowered her head, missing the “Construction Ahead, Please Detour” sign standing nearby.

As Feng Ning searched, she suddenly stepped into empty air. Unable to catch her balance, there was a dull thud.

—Feng Ning had fallen into a hole.

She sat at the bottom, waiting for the intense pain to pass. Finally recovering a bit, Feng Ning used her still-functioning left hand to slowly feel around for her phone.

Today must have been an unlucky day – when bad luck strikes, even drinking water could chip a tooth. Finally finding her phone that had fallen nearby, Feng Ning supported herself against the side to slowly stand up.

Fortunately among misfortunes, this pit wasn’t particularly deep, or she might have lost her life here.

She called out Jiang Wen’s name a few times, “Are you still there?”

Jiang Wen stood at the edge, looking down: “How did you fall into a hole?”

Feng Ning explained: “I was looking for the dog just now and wasn’t watching where I was going. Help me call the police, it’s a bit deep here, I can’t get out.” Before she finished speaking, she suddenly screamed “Ah!”

“What’s wrong?” Jiang Wen asked from above.

She was still screaming.

Feng Ning had never been afraid of anything since childhood, except rats. Her skin broke out in goosebumps. Before she could react, she heard another dull thud.

Jiang Wen got up painfully, “What happened? Are you okay?”

Feng Ning was shocked: “I told you to call for help, why did you jump down?”

Jiang Wen: “Would I have jumped down if you hadn’t screamed so frighteningly?”

“……”

After spending a few minutes calming down,

Feng Ning suppressed her temper, “Are you okay?”

Jiang Wen: “Think I twisted my ankle.”

He also turned on his phone’s flashlight, and as soon as he noticed their surroundings, his cleanliness obsession kicked in: “Damn, why is it so dirty here?”

“……”

“Give me some tissue,” Jiang Wen disgustedly shook his hands, “My hands are covered in mud.”

“…….”

Feng Ning: “Just bear with it.”

She thought she had really overestimated Jiang Wen’s intelligence. After the brief chaos, Feng Ning decided to call 110 herself. She picked up her phone.

Sure enough, China Unicom’s signal never disappoints.

The signal had dropped to barely one bar, and calls wouldn’t go through. Jiang Wen’s phone had no signal either.

Jiang Wen said: “What do we do now?”

Feng Ning: “What else can we do? Wait and see if anyone passes by.”

After two seconds of silence, Jiang Wen turned to ask her: “Why are you so impatient with me?”

Feng Ning: “……”

He continued accusing: “If it weren’t for you, would I be in this godforsaken place?”

Feng Ning said: “You jumped down yourself, what does it have to do with me?”

“Wasn’t it you who called my name?”

“……”

After a long silence. Jiang Wen awkwardly opened his mouth, “Are you okay?”

Feng Ning very calmly said, “My arm hurts a bit, but it’s nothing.”

They just stayed in this hole, looking up they could only see the moon. There was faint barking in the distance.

Jiang Wen casually said: “I remember you used to have a yellow dog at home too?”

Feng Ning made a sound of agreement.

“I almost got bitten by it.”

They both suddenly laughed.

The atmosphere became very strange. In this place isolated from all human voices, with just the two of them. For a moment, it felt like they had returned to the past.

After another long silence, Jiang Wen said: “I was drunk that day, whatever I said to you, don’t misunderstand.”

“What could I misunderstand.”

“It’s best if you don’t misunderstand anything.”

Unexpectedly, Feng Ning spoke up: “I actually want to ask, why did you use the lottery numbers I bought as your password?”

Jiang Wen paused, responding calmly: “To constantly remind myself not to make the same stupid mistakes from the past, not to repeat old paths.”

“Oh, I see.” Feng Ning responded, not saying anything more.

They were lucky, after waiting about an hour, a construction worker passed by.

The worker called over several passersby, and together they pulled them out and sent them to the hospital.

Feng Ning’s arm hurt, and at the hospital, a female doctor examined her arm, “Young lady, take off your coat and roll up your sleeve, let me check first.”

Feng Ning did as told.

After carefully feeling for a while, the female doctor said: “Probably no fracture. Go downstairs to get an emergency department number, bring the slip back for me to sign, then go get an X-ray.”

At this hour, the hospital wasn’t empty either. They waited quite a while to get a number.

While walking, she felt something strange between her legs.

Feng Ning felt her bag, fortunately she had brought some panty liners. She hurriedly went to the bathroom, running into Jiang Wen on the way.

She said: “Nothing serious with you?”

Jiang Wen: “Doctor wants me to get an X-ray.”

Feng Ning nodded, handed him her slip, “Then help me get this signed by that doctor, third floor turn left first room, I need to use the bathroom.”

—

The female doctor sat at her desk, flipping through the medical record, saying: “Just now there was a patient, sigh, when I was examining her arm, those knife scars one after another, it was heart-wrenching.”

“Knife scars?”

“Should be self-harm.”

Another person joined in: “Must be depression? I have a friend whose nephew had this illness, tried to commit suicide in his first year of high school, took half a year off school to recover at home.”

“Could be, such a beautiful young girl, her arms completely ruined, how did she get such an illness.”

There was a noise, the female doctor turned in her chair, looking towards the door, “Who’s there?”

A breeze came through, but no one answered.

—

Feng Ning sneezed twice in a row. She wrapped her down jacket tighter, mud spots all over her.

Feng Ning felt a bit heartbroken.

This was the new coat she had just bought this afternoon, now ruined.

Someone sat down beside her, Jiang Wen tossed the slip onto her lap.

Feng Ning picked it up to look, “Thanks.”

He was silent for a moment, then made a sound of acknowledgment.

Just the two of them here, Feng Ning caught sight of his hand. With nothing else to do, her gaze fell there and she observed it for a bit.

Jiang Wen’s hands were beautiful, with clear, straight knuckles, no decorations. Seeing the mud on his fingertips, she took out a wet wipe from her bag and handed it over.

Jiang Wen stared ahead, not moving.

“Hey.” Feng Ning nudged his arm with her back of her hand, “What are you spacing out about?”

He turned his head, meeting her investigating gaze without emotion, delayed half a beat: “What?”

Feng Ning: “Wipe your hands.”

—

Feng Ning’s number was called, she went in first for the X-ray.

Jiang Wen opened his phone.

He hadn’t used QQ in a very long time. He scrolled through his contacts, finding Feng Ning.

The Chibi Maruko avatar was grayed out.

The username was still “Devoted to Guo Degang,” with a status from eight years ago.

—If there’s really an unkillable cockroach in this world, its name must be Feng Ning, keep going!!!!!!!!!!!

Jiang Wen closed his phone.

By the time they left the hospital it was very late. As they waited for a car by the roadside, Jiang Wen suddenly said, “Is your arm really okay?”

She casually replied: “No fracture.”

“Let me see.”

Feng Ning found it strange, “What’s there to see?”

Jiang Wen grabbed her wrist.

Feng Ning was startled for a moment, then quickly pulled her hand back, “I already said the doctor said it’s fine.”

Just then a car came by, Feng Ning stepped forward, waving to flag it down. She felt her other hand grabbed by Jiang Wen, his grip painfully tight, “What’s wrong with you?”

Their eyes met, and Jiang Wen loosened his grip.

On the somewhat empty street, occasional cars whooshed past. In the night, he just looked at Feng Ning like that.

She looked back.

She had a vague premonition.

After what felt like an eternity, Jiang Wen repeated word by word: “Let me see your arm.”

Feng Ning suddenly froze there.

She knew what Jiang Wen was talking about now.