ATLAS TRANSLATES

Xu Miyu clearly felt that ever since the last green snake incident, her relationship with her colleagues in the front office had become more harmonious. Colleagues at the same level would consult her when they encountered issues, no longer dealing with things perfunctorily and executing her instructions immediately. The front desk staff and receptionists would come to her first when they ran into difficult guests or situations.

They trusted her capabilities and fully accepted her as one of their own.

Everything was going smoothly at work and Xu Miyu’s spirit improved along with it. For a period after her divorce she felt disheartened, thinking she would never find happiness in love again, so she had given up on self-care as well. But now her thinking had changed.

Because that person who always looked at her mockingly had told her, even if others didn’t take her seriously, she had to take herself seriously and love herself.

Only people who loved themselves deserved happiness.

So she had to love herself well, nurture and improve herself, even though she was divorced and already in her thirties. After all, even when she turned eighty, she would still have the right to elegance and happiness, wouldn’t she?

Xu Miyu paid attention to skin care and exercised in moderation.

For that period after her divorce when she had been too thin and weak, her cheeks were so sunken without an ounce of flesh. She looked dry and old, her complexion sallow and unhealthy until she put on some foundation to liven it up.

But recently things had been going smoothly and her complexion improved remarkably. What’s more, she made an effort to eat more and intentionally put on some weight. Finally, her diligence paid off. The flesh on her cheeks became full again. Her originally somewhat sunken cheeks regained the oval shape, the collagen barely clinging onto the last of her fleeing youth.

She was now in such great shape that when she went to work recently, she didn’t even need much makeup. Just basic skincare and a touch of lipstick made her look radiant.

Even Shi Huanhuan couldn’t help asking Xu Miyu during their lunch break in the lounge, “Manager Xu, how could you reverse age without making a peep? This face, this skin…My god, I don’t even dare touch it for fear of getting slapped away!”

Lu Xiaoyan also asked, “Sis Xiaoyu, what skincare are you using? Share some links with me please? In just over two months since you came to the front office department I feel you’ve become an entirely different person!”

Xu Miyu told them honestly what skincare products she used. But Shi Huanhuan and Lu Xiaoyan didn’t believe her, unable to accept that such ordinary products could have such incredible anti-aging effects.

A bellboy couldn’t help chiming in teasingly, “It’s that hard for you two to admit she has better natural looks? Sister Xiaoyu’s beauty is innate! She just had some family issues that affected her condition for a period and let herself go a little. Now that it’s over her looks just bounced back effortlessly!”

Xu Miyu laughed at his jest. Her smile was clear and dazzling, capturing the bellboy’s absolute attention.

Shi Huanhuan knocked him on the head. “What are you staring blankly for? Never seen a beautiful woman smile?”

The bellboy rubbed his head bashfully. “You don’t understand. Sister Xiaoyu’s smile is special, it gives you the feeling of first love!”

Shi Huanhuan and Lu Xiaoyan were interested to hear the bellboy elaborate on “the first love smile”. But Xu Miyu had already stopped smiling and gave a light cough.

Hearing the warning in her cough, the other three promptly shut their mouths and glanced towards the hotel lobby.

Ji Feng was standing not far behind them, gazing at them with deep obscure eyes and an inscrutable cold expression.

The bellboy shuddered and scurried off awkwardly to the hotel entrance without even glancing at Ji Feng as he squeezed by.

Shi Huanhuan and Lu Xiaoyan also quickly returned to their posts, assuming diligent working attitudes.

Xu Miyu walked over, hesitating on what volume she should use to greet him.

Finally she softly ventured, “Mr. Ji.”

Ji Feng eyed Xu Miyu icily.

Xu Miyu unconsciously held her breath.

She felt strangely as if Ji Feng would erupt in anger any second.

But his first words stunned her.

“Why put on that cringing look? Do you think I eat people?” Then without waiting for her response, he strode off.

…Xu Miyu silently let out her bated breath.

She returned to the front desk to organize receipts. Lu Xiaoyan couldn’t help sidling up to softly say, “Sis Xiaoyu, why do I feel Manager Ji always picks faults with you? Like no matter what you do, it’s never right.”

Xu Miyu just smiled and told her, “Let’s work.”

In the elevator, after the doors slowly closed, Ji Feng gave a mocking laugh.

Xue Rui heard him sneer disdainfully, “First love smile…Huh.” He suddenly turned to look at Xue Rui with utter contempt on his face as he asked, “Are you hormone-ridden brats really so shallow?”

Xue Rui reacted and realized he had made himself an easy target because he too had previously described Xiaoyu’s dazzling smile as giving him the feeling of first love.

But something struck him as off.

“Boss, since when did I become a hormone-ridden brat? I’m 25 and a half while you’re 29 and a half. We’ve only got a 4 year difference. And you’re not exactly…”

He prudently swallowed back the last words.

Ji Feng’s eyes narrowed threateningly. “Spit it out.”

Xue Rui gulped then bravely finished, “…an experienced non-virgin yourself.”

His voice faded under Ji Feng’s ferocious glare.

Ji Feng glowered at him all the way until the elevator reached the top floor and the doors slowly opened.

Only then did he viciously bite out, “Who the hell said I’m still a virgin?! You damned brat!”

He then strode out of the elevator.

Xue Rui was left standing dumbfounded inside.

Huh???

What did Boss mean just now? Was he declaring he wasn’t pure anymore? When did it happen? How could he, Ji Feng’s personal assistant, not know about this??

It was unbelievable! Ji Feng got laid? ! He really wanted to know who the woman was that claimed Ji Feng’s chastity after so many years!

Right before leaving work Xu Miyu unexpectedly received a call from Chef Xu in the F&B department, asking her to drop by after work instead of rushing off if possible, because he had a favor to ask.

Xu Miyu readily agreed.

After work she went straight to the Chinese restaurant kitchen to find Chef Xu and asked if he needed help with anything. When she previously coordinated work with the F&B department, she and Chef Xu exchanged some cooking tips. Chef Xu spoke very highly of her homecooked dishes and shared a few tricks for making banquet dishes. She felt somehow indebted for his culinary secrets — chefs of his caliber wouldn’t normally teach others so freely.

Hearing her offer to help, Chef Xu rubbed his hands and said he did have a small favor to ask.

Pointing up, he told Xu Miyu that the “boss” up there had a sudden craving for dumplings today. As she knew, of all the hotel chefs, that boss only ate what he (Chef Xu) cooked. But Xu had a sudden family matter to attend to tonight that required him to leave immediately. Earlier Chef Xu overheard Assistant Xue say that apart from his cooking, the only other person’s food that hotel boss could tolerate was what she (Xu Miyu) made. So Chef Xu wondered if she could help substitute for him tonight and make some dumplings for the boss upstairs.

Xu Miyu really wanted to help Chef Xu, but she also had some concerns of her own.

She cautiously asked, “I’m happy to help, but wouldn’t Mr. Ji be unhappy if I just showed up uninvited?”

She clearly remembered Ji Feng recently yelling at her, “Why are you shouting like that as if you know me?” with a fierce expression when she simply greeted him.

Even a simple greeting made him react so unpleasantly. She understood what he meant — keep your distance and don’t forget your place.

So barging upstairs would likely annoy Ji Feng again.

But Chef Xu assured her, “Don’t worry! I already informed Assistant Xue about this. He said he’d tell Mr. Ji and let me know if he doesn’t agree. Since I haven’t heard otherwise, doesn’t that mean Mr. Ji already consented?”

He then pleaded with Xu Miyu, “Xiao Xu, I really do have a sudden family matter that I have to attend. I can only ask you to help me here. In the future if there’s any dish you want to learn, just come tell me. I’ll teach you everything, alright?”

Xu Miyu quickly declined and said there was no need to repay her.

“It’s a simple thing, as long as Mr. Ji allows me upstairs. For me this would be an easy favor.”

Xu Miyu accepted the task.

Chef Xu checked the time and hurried her, “Go on up quickly! Making dumplings is rather troublesome itself. Don’t delay anymore in case the boss upstairs gets hungry and upset.”

Under his urging Xu Miyu didn’t even have time to give Xue Rui a heads up call. Chef Xu just stuffed her into the elevator and sent her up top.

The moment Xu Miyu entered Ji Feng’s penthouse suite, his sharp eyes pinned her from his spot at the bar counter where he was pouring himself water.

His brow slightly furrowed as he coolly asked, “What are you doing up here?”

Xu Miyu froze.

Hadn’t Chef Xu said everything was already cleared with the penthouse?

She answered truthfully, “Chef Xu asked me to come make dumplings for you.”

Ji Feng gripped his glass and squinted ever so faintly. “Where is he? Why doesn’t he come himself?” Pausing a beat, his tone turned sharp. “What, now whoever comes to make dumplings gets decided privately without even going through me?”

Xu Miyu quickly tried to explain, “Chef Xu said Assistant Xue…”

But she caught herself right after bringing up Xue Rui.

Glancing around, she realized Xue Rui was not here. Ji Feng must have sent him out to run errands.

Clearly Xue Rui had been occupied with tasks and forgot to communicate with Ji Feng about Chef Xu’s emergency tonight and her filling in. If she mentioned Xue Rui now she would be implicating him for negligence.

So she changed tracks and simply apologized, “I’m sorry Mr. Ji for intruding without notice. I’ll take my leave now.”

She gave a slight bow, intending to exit.

But Ji Feng’s chilled voice stopped her retreat.

“Stay.”

That one word from Ji Feng froze Xu Miyu’s footsteps.

She turned back questioningly, wariness and apprehension evident as she awaited his next actions.

“Is this a marketplace where anyone can come and go as they please?” Ji Feng asked, tone flat but brow raised challengingly.

Xu Miyu choked up, at a loss how to respond.

Fortunately Ji Feng continued on his own.

“You seem quite close with Xue Rui. You’re even quick to shield him.”

Unsure what response Ji Feng wanted to hear, Xu Miyu hesitated. Should she say they were close or not close?

Either way, one wrong statement could easily displease him again. His moods were more unpredictable than the weather. With just the naked eye it was impossible to accurately gauge his pleasure or displeasure.

So she gave an awkward smile, conciliatory and appeasing.

Facing her smile, Ji Feng’s eyes flashed narrowly for an instant.

Then he looked away, still holding his glass as he walked to the sofa and lazily crossed one leg over the other as he reclined back. Still not glancing her way, he tonelessly instructed, “Go make the dumplings then leave.”

“Okay,” Xu Miyu responded and hurried to the kitchen, afraid any further mishaps might provoke the temperamental boss again.

Right after she went to the kitchen, Xue Rui rushed in panting heavily and anxiously reported, “Boss! I didn’t get to tell you yet that Chef Xu has a family matter tonight. So he wanted Sister Xiaoyu to substitute and make dinner for you!”

Still twirling the glass in hand, Ji Feng coolly replied without looking at Xue Rui, “I already know before you said it.”

Xue Rui exclaimed, “You knew?!”

Ji Feng flicked an annoyed glance sideways. “Next time you report a chef change, do it before the chef arrives. Understand, Manager Xue?”

His sarcasm made Xue Rui shiver.

He instantly realized Xiaoyu must already be here cooking. Xue Rui hastily apologized to Ji Feng then said, “Oh I should go help Sister Xiaoyu so it gets done faster. Don’t want you starving!” He promptly scampered to the kitchen.

Ji Feng watched his retreating figure unpleasantly. Running away from him as if he was the plague.

He looked at the chocolate Xu Miyu tried to manipulate him with, still pinched in his fingers.

He would taste what tricks this thing that woman kept using to try and seduce him contained.

Unwrapping it, he popped the dark lump into his mouth.

Unexpectedly it wasn’t as cloying as he imagined but had a clear, faint bitterness instead.

Just as it entered his mouth the subtle bitter notes made him want to grimace in distaste initially.

But waiting a bit longer to savor it, once he adjusted to the taste, it left an inexplicable mellow aftertaste.

That slight sweetness oddly soothed and lifted his mood, also oddly making him somewhat crave more of this taste.

Were these the damned endorphins then? That substance capable of bewitching emotions.

He thought to himself, these damned endorphins. This damned dark chocolate. And how strangely tasting it was somewhat reminiscent of that woman.

In the kitchen, Xue Rui helped out Xiaoyu and they chatted happily.

After mixing the filling, Xiaoyu told Xue Rui a lame joke while wrapping dumplings. “Do you know how dumplings came about? One day a dumpling wrapper met difficulties in life and went to ask a meatball for help. The meatball patted the wrapper and said no problem, I’ve got your back. And that’s how dumplings were made.”

Xue Rui shuddered from the cold joke but guffawed loudly.

Ji Feng had no idea when he walked over and had been standing at the door listening to their inane chatter for a while already.

He originally came to hurry them along about dinner. But somehow he just stood there pointlessly eavesdropping instead.

Seeing them getting along so swimmingly now, he inexplicably felt rather irked for some reason.

He noticed Xiaoyu interacted very differently with others compared to when speaking to him. She was always cautious and deferential before him, occasionally throwing in some coquettish maneuvers. But with others, turns out she was quite amusing.

She was so relaxed with them yet would become a different person in his presence. Like a puppet.

He suppressed the unpleasantness budding in his chest, unsure if it was from hunger or something else, and called for Xue Rui from the kitchen entrance.

Glancing back, Xue Rui saw Ji Feng and held up the dumpling wrapper in hand, telling him, “Boss! I’m whipping these up for you lickety-split!”

Hearing that, Ji Feng’s brow twitched in annoyance. “What crap are you making? Come out here.”

Xue Rui looked at the thing in his palm that got labeled crap and realized the dumplings he wrapped did look rather deformed. He bashfully set it down and went to the kitchen entrance.

With a voice perfectly calibrated for all to hear, Ji Feng told Xue Rui, “What mess are you causing here? Darting glances everywhere looking suspicious. Go brew me some tea.”

He then walked off.

Xue Rui was reprimanded into wanting to explain yet had no rebuttal. He frustratedly tailed Ji Feng while whining in protest.

In the kitchen, Xu Miyu’s dumpling wrapping motions stilled as she overheard.

She thought Ji Feng’s scolding just now was actually meant for her to take note — he was unhappy she got too close with his assistant and the words were reminding her to keep her distance. She truly harbored no interests towards Xue Rui whatsoever. Hopefully Ji Feng wouldn’t overthink things.

Xu Miyu resumed her dumpling wrapping speed while thinking very well then. From now on she would keep her distance from both him and his assistant, lest he find more faults.

After the dumplings finished cooking, Xue Rui came to take a look and brought the bowls, plates and dipping sauces like soy sauce, vinegar and sesame oil — essentials for eating dumplings.

Confirming Ji Feng would eat at the coffee table in the living room, Xue Rui moved everything over and arranged it all before Ji Feng on the sofa.

As he opened sauce bottle caps to mix a dipping sauce, some oil got onto Xue Rui’s hand. His hand slipped as he prepared to bring over the finished sauce dish for Ji Feng. The dish slid right out of his grasp and landed upside down with a loud clatter onto the floor.

Luckily when the contents splattered out, none actually sprayed onto Ji Feng. Otherwise Xue Rui knew he would be dead.

Still subjected to Ji Feng’s disgusted stare, he swiftly and repeatedly apologized, “So sorry Boss! Don’t move, I’ll go get a rag and air freshener!”

He had just run off when Xu Miyu came over with the cooked dumplings.

Seeing no plate before Ji Feng she exclaimed in surprise. She remembered Xue Rui bringing the dishes over early.

“Let me get you a plate.”

She turned intending to return to the kitchen for a plate. But as ill luck would have it, she stepped right into the spilled mess of sauce on the floor.

The sauce contained sesame oil which made the ground extremely slick. Xu Miyu’s footing slipped entirely. She yelped as her body tilted sharply sideways.

In the next moment she suddenly found herself leaning against Ji Feng’s chest, seated squarely on his lap.

She had slipped right into Ji Feng’s embrace!

Their current position made it seem as if Ji Feng was properly hugging her sidelong onto his lap.

And she was snug against his chest, their eyes meeting squarely.

Heat instantly flooded her cheeks.

Ji Feng looked straight at her and asked, “Why is your face red?”

His question snapped Xu Miyu back to the moment. She hastily stood up from his legs swift as if scalded. She touched her face — fiery hot. Surely just as Ji Feng observed, it must be flushed red.

Just then Xue Rui returned with cleaning rags and air freshener, seeing the oil puddle on the ground and Xiaoyu jumping off of Ji Feng.

Xu Miyu rapidly declared that the dumplings were cooked so she’d best take her leave. She also shot Ji Feng an equally quick apology — she tripped by accident just now. Then she swiftly fled the scene.

Once the elevator doors slowly shut, Ji Feng gave a derisive snort inside.

His face turned, and his heart raced. He dismissed Xue Rui and asked him for a glass of water.

After gulping the water down, he placed the glass down.

In fury, almost gritting his teeth, he asked: “Was she trying to seduce me again?”