ATLAS TRANSLATES

Feng Ning suddenly smiled. Her forehead rested against his shoulder, but her vision became increasingly blurry.

When she was young, Feng Ning’s dream was to grow up quickly, find a job, earn money, and buy a big house for her mother. Even though life was hard, she always tried her best, constantly striving to climb higher, never thinking of giving up. After Qi Lan passed away, she developed depression. Somehow, days became increasingly worse, and nothing seemed meaningful anymore. During that time, she just lived one day at a time.

The long-term avoidance, loneliness, and the embarrassment and uncertainty of being seen through by others — these feelings, day after day, pressed painfully on her heart, like emotions drowning in a deep sea. But now, it was as if a hole had been cut open, letting in a beam of light.

…

“Feng Ning, I used to be a very proud person.” “But now I really want to beg you.”

…

These two simple sentences seemed to unlock something, laying bare all of Jiang Wen’s past helpless feelings in front of Feng Ning.

Her heart felt both sour and painful. Her nose stung with emotion.

In such a sentimental moment, Feng Ning hid her inner turmoil, grabbed Jiang Wen’s head with both hands, and shook it vigorously. “Are you an idiot?”

Looking at her tear-stained face, Jiang Wen lowered his head to kiss her eyes. “If I were smarter, would I have fallen for your tricks so many times?”

“It’s good that you’re not smart,” Feng Ning said, hooking her arms around his neck and kissing him back. “Otherwise, how would I have gotten so lucky?”

After the emotional roller coaster of the evening, the cold wind helped calm them down. Emerging from their emotional state, Feng Ning noticed Jiang Wen’s clothes.

He was only wearing a shirt and sweater, having given her his coat.

She tried to pull him inside, but he wouldn’t budge. Feng Ning turned around, “Let’s go in first.”

Jiang Wen stubbornly stood in place.

Following his gaze, she saw the ring again.

She’d been too busy crying earlier to think about it. Feng Ning held her breath, stunned for a moment. She hesitated slightly, “Isn’t this proposal… a bit sudden?”

“Is it sudden?”

“You scared me.”

“I thought you were going to leave me again.”

“That’s not right,” Feng Ning corrected him. “When did I ever leave you? Last time, weren’t you the one who left me?”

“I’m sorry,” Jiang Wen apologized sincerely. “Breaking up with you was the most regrettable decision of my life.”

Feng Ning patted his shoulder, about to offer some comfort.

“I hope you never mention it again.”

“Why?”

After a few seconds, Jiang Wen turned his head away, “It hurts to think about it.”

His vulnerable and insecure appearance was inexplicably appealing. It made Feng Ning’s heart melt, while also making her want to tease him mercilessly.

“Are you afraid you’ll regret it when you come to your senses?”

“No.”

Feng Ning showed a slight smile, then sighed and held out her hand, “Then go ahead.”

Jiang Wen asked quietly, “What about you, are you afraid you’ll regret it?”

Feng Ning tilted her head, “Honestly, a little.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re afraid.”

Jiang Wen grabbed her hand, aligned the ring with her ring finger, and pushed it on until it was firmly in place. “If you regret it, you’ll have the rest of your life to regret it.”

Neither of them wanted to sleep, so they just stayed like conjoined twins, hugging and kissing. They didn’t do anything else, just quietly stayed together, talking occasionally, feeling an unprecedented sense of warmth and security.

He suddenly spoke up: “Where’s your household registration book?”

Feng Ning looked up at him.

Jiang Wen tried to maintain a calm expression.

Feng Ning couldn’t help but laugh, “What’s the use of getting the household registration book now? The civil affairs bureau won’t open until after the seventh day of the New Year. Don’t you have any common sense?”

Without realizing it, dawn had begun to break outside. Feng Ning whispered in Jiang Wen’s ear, “Jiang Wen, I have a wish.”

“What is it?”

“I hope that in the future, we can both work hard together. Feng Ning will be full of vitality again, radiating light. Jiang Wen will quit smoking and drinking, and live well.”

Jiang Wen felt her warm breath, stayed silent for a long time, then reached over to hold her waist and said, “Okay.”

They slept until the afternoon.

Jiang Wen’s phone had over a dozen missed calls, all from Zhao Binlin.

When he called back, the other side picked up almost immediately.

“Damn, you bastard, finally answering the phone. I thought you’d blocked me. What the hell were you doing, not checking your phone for so long?”

Jiang Wen glanced at Feng Ning, still asleep, lifted the covers, and got out of bed. “I just woke up. What do you need?”

“Come out for dinner tonight! There’s a bunch of people. How about it, are you coming?”

“We’ll see.”

Zhao Binlin cursed, “It’s New Year’s, what could you possibly have to do?! Why is it so hard to have a meal with you? You’re harder to meet than Warren Buffett!”

Feng Ning was a light sleeper, and woke up as soon as Jiang Wen moved.

He was leaning outside the door talking on the phone when she rubbed her eyes, sat up in bed, and called out, “Jiang Wen?”

As soon as she spoke.

Both sides went quiet.

Hearing a woman’s voice, Zhao Binlin instantly became angry and cursed for two straight minutes on the phone.

Jiang Wen patiently listened to it all.

He was in a good mood now, so he didn’t mind.

After hanging up, Jiang Wen pushed open the door and went in, half-crouching by the bed, “Did I wake you?”

“No, I’ve slept enough.” Feng Ning blinked lazily, “What’s wrong? Did someone need something?”

Jiang Wen said, “Zhao Binlin. They want to have dinner together. Want to go?”

Feng Ning thought for a moment, “Sure.”

After last night, the atmosphere between them had clearly changed. It was hard to pinpoint exactly what was different.

However, Feng Ning could finally understand some of Min Yueyue’s previously exaggerated behavior.

She had now become one of those sickeningly sweet women who had to hold hands with their boyfriend even during the few seconds waiting for a traffic light.

The restaurant was about half an hour from Feng Ning’s home, but Jiang Wen managed to stretch the drive to an hour.

This time, their childhood friends were also there, about five or six people.

When they arrived, a server led them upstairs, knocked on the private room door, and opened it.

The room was noisy, but when Feng Ning and Jiang Wen appeared holding hands, it went quiet for a few seconds.

Xi Gaoyuan and Zhao Binlin exchanged knowing looks. The others who didn’t know the situation stared in surprise.

Facing his familiar group of friends, Jiang Wen calmly said, “Let me introduce you.”

Zhao Binlin stood up from his seat, waving impatiently: “What’s there to introduce?”

He ignored Jiang Wen and went straight to welcome Feng Ning: “Sister Ning, please, this way.”

Jiang Wen held Feng Ning’s wrist, not letting her go.

Seeing others showing affection made his eyes hurt, Xi Gaoyuan also got impatient and shouted, “Alright, no need for introductions, we all know she’s your girlfriend, no need to show off.”

Jiang Wen gave him a cool look, “I want to introduce her.”

Xi Gaoyuan: “……”

Zhao Binlin paused, “Fine, fine, go ahead and introduce.”

“This is Feng Ning, my high school classmate.”

Feng Ning cooperated with Jiang Wen by raising her hand, smiling with curved eyes, and greeting everyone: “Hello, everyone.”

Although everyone present already knew, they still played along and applauded, “Nice to meet you, sister-in-law.”

“She is now,” Jiang Wen paused, then dropped the bombshell, “my fiancée.”