ATLAS TRANSLATES

“Was it you who blocked the driver for us?”

Xu Mi Yu looked at Ji Feng and blurted out asking.

When she asked, her eyes were shining brightly, like two stars washed clean by the night waters.

“The driver should have come very quickly, but he arrived so slowly…so was it you who deliberately gave him the wrong directions, making him drive somewhere else in a big detour before coming back?” Xu Mi Yu analyzed and deduced.

Ji Feng coughed, trying his best to maintain the cold expression on his face, his tone still mocking: “Figured it out? Still dare to say you all were very thorough?”

Xue Rui immediately strode to Ji Feng’s side, grabbing his arm: “Boss, my good boss! You actually helped us block the bug!”

Ji Feng shook Xue Rui off like shaking off an accidentally stuck booger, disgusted to death: “Just speak normally, touch me casually again and you can roll back home and stop working!”

Li Qiao Qi laughed unrestrainedly at the side, watching the lively scene without caring that it was none of her business. She clapped and said: “I can see everyone is in it together! Since this is the case, stop standing here, let’s go! Back to my place, I’m treating, let’s celebrate this victory over the dumbass together!”

Li Qiao Qi took the lead walking into the bar.

Xu Mi Yu assumed Ji Feng would not participate in their celebration. Very politely she bid Ji Feng goodbye, her goodbye making Ji Feng’s cold face seem to lengthen another 10 cm.

Xue Rui followed suit, also bidding Ji Feng goodbye. After speaking he turned to go in.

He had just lifted his leg when he was grabbed by the shoulder and pressed in place by Ji Feng, as if standing on a treadmill, he strode two steps but didn’t move forward.

“Boss?” Xue Rui asked in confusion as he turned his head.

Ji Feng glared at him, his eyes like icy daggers: “That female boss, didn’t she ask me to go in together to celebrate?”

Xue Rui reacted swiftly to the point Ji Feng was unhappy about: “Oh…oh? Um, since you’ve always been unwilling to participate in these kinds of group activities, I assumed you would certainly not want to join us this time. Then Boss, come! Hurry come! You walk in front of me!”

He obsequiously flashed aside making an inviting gesture for Ji Feng to go first. But he thought to himself, truly strange, afraid tomorrow morning when the sun rises, there would be three suns up.

If the Trisolarans hadn’t attacked, Boss wouldn’t behave so abnormally!

Li Qiao Qi had just accomplished a great deed, extremely elated in her heart. She simply left the bar matters to her assistant’s handling, planning to personally host Xu Mi Yu and the other two, drinking together to celebrate this rare elation.

She wanted to bring them to her office, but Xue Rui objected: “That’s too quiet, not lively at all, the boisterous atmosphere would be gone.”

Ji Feng coldly glanced at him, objecting to his objection: “Quieter is better.”

Li Qiao Qi looked at Xue Rui, looked at Ji Feng, finally looking towards Xu Mi Yu: “Now it’s one on one tied, Mi Yu you cast the decisive vote.”

Xu Mi Yu didn’t dare look at Ji Feng, directly saying: “I choose lively.”

Why did she come out tonight? Wasn’t it to overturn her previous loneliness? Then of course it had to be more lively.

Disregarding that her cheek was nearly frozen through by Ji Feng’s stare, she bravely stuck to her opinion: “I think just here is good; just the booth I sat at earlier is good.”

Other than Ji Feng, the three people all agreed to this proposal.

Xu Mi Yu saw Ji Feng glancing at her askew. She weakly suggested: “Chairman Ji, how about…” we call a car to send you back first?

But before she could finish speaking she was coldly interrupted by Ji Feng: “I’ll decide when I leave.”

Xu Mi Yu’s eyes widened in surprise.

She had only said three words and he already knew the content after? He must have been extremely accurate at guessing exam questions when in school!

Xue Rui also widened his eyes looking at Ji Feng: “Boss, you knew what sister Mi Yu was going to say?” Then he turned to look at Xu Mi Yu, “Sister Mi Yu, he really guessed correctly what you were going to say?”

Li Qiao Qi couldn’t wait for their endless prattle. She directly led the few people over to sit at the booth Xu Mi Yu had just sat at. Ji Feng and Xue Rui sat on the same side, Xu Mi Yu and Li Qiao Qi sat on the same side. Two men and two women perfectly facing each other.

After sitting, Li Qiao Qi casually grabbed a server who had just finished serving drinks and was passing by their table holding a tray. She told him to take her personal stash of good wine from such and such cupboard, such and such grid, the password for the cupboard was such and such.

Xue Rui timely said: “My boss only drinks red wine, white wine and foreign wines will knock him out in one glass.”

Ji Feng glared at him, thinking his second half sentence was excessive.

Li Qiao Qi laughed and said: “What a coincidence, my treasured good wine is red wine.” She turned to tell the server, “Go on, bring me both bottles.”

The server left. Xue Rui couldn’t help but ask Li Qiao Qi: “You just directly said out the password like that?”

Li Qiao Qi propped an elbow on the table, fingers holding the cigarette, other hand suddenly reaching forward pulling Xue Rui’s collar towards her side. Then she took a drag of the cigarette, lightly blowing the smoke towards his face: “What’s there to be afraid of, I’ll just change to a new one afterwards.”

Xue Rui laughed, thinking it made sense after pondering it. He wondered why he kept acting a bit dumb whenever facing Li Qiao Qi tonight. Unable to find the reason he could only blame it on being dazed by her legs.

The treasured wine was brought over and poured into everyone’s glasses.

Xu Mi Yu raised her glass proposing a toast: “Cheers to our successful operation tonight!”

Li Qiao Qi was the first to respond: “Cheers to our reunion, old friends!”

Xue Rui also immediately raised his glass: “Cheers to my abilities finally having a chance to uphold justice!”

The remaining person was unmoved.

The three people looked towards him, deciding to just give up on him. The three cups met with a crisp clink. Then three necks tilted back, downing the three cups of wine.

Leaving the one sitting aside, Ji Feng, half a beat slower raising his cup, wanting to clink finding he had already been abandoned. Annoyed, he thunked his cup back on the table. But seeing the three tilt their heads back to down their drinks, he finally couldn’t help but pick up the wine cup and start drinking too.

Although there was no clinking of cups, the speed of empty cups was still consistent.

Ji Feng felt his mood lighten somewhat. The process wasn’t important, as long as the result was the same, he wouldn’t admit being left behind.

When those three raised their cups to clink again, Ji Feng kicked Xue Rui under the table.

Xue Rui yelped, turning to look at Ji Feng, full of confusion. He wanted to ask Boss why did you kick me, but the question stuck at his lips was killed by Ji Feng’s glare.

He felt asking this directly would lead to his death.

He could only keep the question in his heart. So why did he kick him?

Xu Mi Yu across from them seemed to have seen through their exchange of looks —— this fog that even Xue Rui himself hadn’t seen through.

Xu Mi Yu immediately called out: “Chairman Ji, let’s clink cups together.”

The ladder was perfectly and solemnly set up in front of Ji Feng again. He indifferently yet seemingly reluctantly raised his cup, clinking together with the other three cups.

After drinking this cup, Xue Rui giggled foolishly.

Li Qiao Qi asked what he was laughing at. Xue Rui giggled and answered: “Our Boss Ji has never clinked cups and drank with me before. Today he descended into the mortal realm, I’m so happy!”

Li Qiao Qi also laughed, teasing Xue Rui: “You’re really fun, I think you’re a little buzzed already from my treasured wine.”

Taking advantage of these two bantering and flirting with each other, Ji Feng looked straight at Xu Mi Yu.

Xu Mi Yu’s glance happened to meet his stare. She subconsciously wanted to dodge, so she lowered her eyes. But on second thought, they were here drinking together already. Shouldn’t this night be one where they could be casual and unrestrained? What was there to still be so guarded against him?

So she raised her eyes again, facing Ji Feng’s gaze, giving him a slight smile.

Ji Feng narrowed his eyes. He only felt her gaze lowering then raising, her eyes flowing, one smile, bright glory.

He was suddenly slightly dizzy, also unsure if Xu Mi Yu did that on purpose. Gazing yet refusing to meet his eyes then looking again, any man with shallow experience would have his soul shaken and lose composure amidst her refusing yet seeking gazes and sudden smile.

If she wasn’t doing it deliberately, it would be even more annoying. Innate allure, invisible seduction.

But no matter whether she was deliberate or not, he Ji Feng was not someone she could easily get a handle on.

Ji Feng looked at Xu Mi Yu. Afraid his attention would continue staying on her. In this kind of environment, it was easy for alcohol to take over one’s senses. Alcohol would take hold of his reason to create an illusion of feelings for him. He had to be one who saw through the illusion, he could not be confused by alcohol.

He shifted his attention, looking at what Xue Rui and the bar boss were chatting about beside him.

Li Qiao Qi across from him had lit a cigarette.

Xue Rui’s moral senses acted up, reminding her: “Smoking indoors isn’t allowed right?”

Li Qiao Qi leaned her upper body forward, one elbow propped on the table, fingers holding the cigarette, other hand suddenly reaching forward grabbing Xue Rui’s collar, tugging him towards her side. Then she took a puff of the cigarette, lightly blowing the smoke towards his face: “Silly boy, this booth is a smoking area.”

Xue Rui was blinded by her blowing smoke at him.

Li Qiao Qi laughed, then pursed her red lips, blowing smoke at his face again: “Little brother, we’ve accomplished bad deeds and great achievements, how about you start a relationship with sister? I see you seem to quite like me too.”

Xue Rui immediately blushed red even his hair seemed to redden too. He didn’t even know which to refute first, starting a relationship or liking her: “Who said I like you? I just think you’re very hum also not, it’s just…forget it, anyway I won’t start a relationship with you! Because my principle is absolutely no incestuous relationships!” He stated forcefully and firmly with conviction.

Li Qiao Qi blew smoke at him again, laughing extremely coquettishly: “Then you’re not wrong, sister me is indeed very hum. But since you don’t want an incestuous relationship, fine, let’s not have an incestuous relationship,” she grabbed his collar again pulling him close to herself, then softly blew at his eyes, nose, mouth, “Then let’s directly do very hum things, how about it?”

Xue Rui was thoroughly dumbfounded. His blushing spread from his neck down his body. If not for clothes covering him, blocking other’s eyes, that his entire body had turned red now would definitely be exposed.

Yet he still stubbornly held on, refusing to show weakness saying: “Sister you’re too bad, aren’t you afraid I’ll really agree?”

This time it was Li Qiao Qi’s turn to laugh loudly. She let Xue Rui go, turning to say to Xu Mi Yu who had been watching the show with Ji Feng beside her: “He’s really fun. I want to sleep with him, is it okay?”

Xue Rui protested loudly at the side, meaning this matter should be asked of himself.

Xu Mi Yu calmly kept a straight face, answering Li Qiao Qi: “This matter, you two decide yourselves.”

Li Qiao Qi winked at her: “I was afraid of a tragedy happening again from us liking the same man. But from your reply just now, looks like he’s not your cup of tea, so I’m planning to just boldly eat him up.”

Xu Mi Yu told her: “Help yourself.”

Ji Feng across from them heard “liking the same man” and imperceptibly glanced at Xu Mi Yu once.

Seeing her unperturbed reply, he retracted his gaze.

Xue Rui at the side was still noisily and incoherently emphasizing over and over: I don’t do incestuous relationships, and won’t spend the night with sister!

Hearing his mantra, Li Qiao Qi turned her head blowing smoke at his face again: “I know I know, then I won’t call you little brother, there solved.” Another puff, “Want to hear me call you big brother or uncle instead? You choose.”

Xue Rui was teased until even his cerebral cortex was likely red and burning. Babbling incoherently, impossible to understand what he was saying.

Xu Mi Yu watched as Li Qiao Qi deliberately teased Xue Rui, teasing him until his face was red and his usually slick tongue seemed rusted, stuttering in knots.

She couldn’t help laughing heartily at the side, nearly laughing herself breathless.

She watched them.

She watched this night.

She watched Ji Feng before her.

She felt she was too happy tonight.

It had been a long time since she last felt such carefree joy, laughed so unbridledly like this.

This really was an unbelievable night. She felt her own change once more —— from previously at most just cowardly complaining in her heart even if unhappy, to later daring to resist and say no, to today finally taking the step of being able to actively counterattack —— this was truly a bold, life-changing transformation for her. She smiled enjoying the process of becoming a fresh new self.

Ji Feng also watched Xu Mi Yu across from him.

He watched as she smiled with upturned lips and eyes, laughing nonstop.

She looked completely without elegance, could even be said to be without any manners.

But this manner seemed so pure, seemingly infectious, making him unable to resist wanting to lift the corners of his mouth too.

While he was utterly muddled about why he would feel a little happy, he had been somehow made inexplicably happy by her.

This night was very reckless and joyful, but in the end still didn’t go recklessly happy without any bottom line.

When they parted, everyone still retained the reason they should have.

Li Qiao Qi was just running her mouth, she didn’t actually sleep with the little brother.

Xue Rui also tried hard to hold onto his reason amidst the alcohol, not taking advantage of the liquor to pretend to be out of control and lose himself to the sister.

Before they parted, Xu Mi Yu finally found her subordinate’s manners towards the boss again. Respectfully she returned to addressing Ji Feng as “you”.

She said: Chairman Ji, please go slowly, goodbye.

When leaving in the car, amidst drowsiness and tipsiness, vaguely, faintly, Ji Feng seemed to somehow feel a trace of melancholy.

This night everyone had gone a little beyond their positions.

But the next day after sobering up, everyone found their positions again precisely.

Xu Mi Yu continued to be the humble and polite front desk supervisor. Xue Rui was still Ji Feng’s most trusted CEO assistant. Ji Feng was still the naturally mocking and disdainful cold boss.

Everything seemed no different from before. But everything also seemed to have undergone an extremely subtle change somewhere.

The weather had been gradually turning cooler recently.

Luckily Star City was seaside. Even nearing year end it wasn’t as extremely frigid and piercing as the north. When going out as long as they added an outer layer over a single layer of clothing it was fine.

Counting the days, time really flew by. Xu Mi Yu discovered it would be the new year soon.

The hotel was about to welcome another peak of guests staying for the new year. To welcome this peak season well, Xu Mi Yu had been working closely with all departments in making reservations for rooms, dining, and transport etc during the new year period.

Waking in the morning, washing away the indulgence and unrestraint from the previous night after work, putting away the outrageousness after hours, she became the lowkey, steady front desk supervisor Xu Mi Yu who was dedicated to her duties again.

Changing into her uniform after arriving at the hotel, Xu Mi Yu was busy checking the room reservations when Jiang Zhi Chun walked into the hotel lobby limping.

She hurriedly set down her work to go help, supporting the beautiful girl who even seemed to have trouble standing stably.

Jiang Zhi Chun weakly leaned against Xu Mi Yu, bringing a floral fragrance. She looked somewhat pitiful but still retained the innate aloofness in her bones. Xu Mi Yu sighed inside that this was truly high quality soft jade’s fragrance and warmth. Even her pitiful state carried a hint of aloofness and pride.

Xu Mi Yu hurriedly asked what happened to Jiang Zhi Chun.

Jiang Zhi Chun said somewhat pitifully: “I accidentally slipped and fell when walking to the door, my leg really hurts.”

Xu Mi Yu hurriedly called for someone to clean up the entrance. Her subordinate went out to check and came back saying she didn’t see any slippery dirt or water at the entrance. But Xu Mi Yu still had her clean it again, even if it was just cleaning the air, it had to be done.

After arranging it, she wanted to ask Jiang Zhi Chun if she should support her upstairs.

But Jiang Zhi Chun spoke first: “Supervisor Xu, please help me contact Chairman Ji and tell him my leg is hurt from falling, ask him to come down and get me.”

Her beautiful face held weakness and expectation. Even women wouldn’t bear to reject her request.

Xu Mi Yu really wanted to do as she asked, but had no choice: “Chairman Ji went out early this morning with Assistant Xue, probably for a meeting or to see clients. Don’t know when he’ll be back. Why don’t you call him and ask? If he’ll be out for very long, I’ll arrange a car and person to accompany you to the hospital to get your leg checked first.”

Jiang Zhi Chun shook her head disappointedly: “Forget it, no need to go to the hospital, I’ll just wait for him here.”

She had Xu Mi Yu help her to the lobby café. She picked a seat where she could see the entrance. She had Xu Mi Yu help sit her down.

Sitting down, Jiang Zhi Chun leaned against Xu Mi Yu and subtly sniffed her two times, then sitting in her seat looking up at her. Somewhat naively and innocently she softly asked in a small voice: “Supervisor Xu drank until very late last night right?”

Xu Mi Yu was startled, subconsciously softly asking back: “Is there still the smell of alcohol on me?”

Jiang Zhi Chun smiled at her: “No scent of alcohol, but you sprayed more perfume than usual today. I guess it’s to cover the alcohol. Since you want to cover alcohol, that means you must have drank quite a bit last night.”

Xu Mi Yu looked at Jiang Zhi Chun’s smile, sweet and harmless beautiful face. She realized this girl was not simple at all.

Jiang Zhi Chun suddenly shifted the conversation, asking: “I remember your Chairman Ji had Assistant Xue send you home early last night. Was it that after I left, you guys drank some more?”

Xu Mi Yu truthfully smiled and told her: “Yes, I reunited with an old friend, didn’t chat enough, so we drank more together.”

“How nice.” Jiang Zhi Chun looked envious, “Looks like I left early, otherwise I could have joined you all for the fun. Did Chairman Ji drink a lot when leaving in the end?”

When she asked the last sentence, Xu Mi Yu suddenly realized something. Her heart inexplicably jumped.

Jiang Zhi Chun seemed to be leading her words? Going in circles, she seemed to just want to know if Ji Feng later drank together with them?

But why was she asking this?

She suddenly realized she had overlooked a problem the entire time. Last night Ji Feng left with Jiang Zhi Chun, he should have been sending her home.

But why did he later appear at “Yu Yue”?

Thinking carefully about it, seems like last night he didn’t actually go send Jiang Zhi Chun home, and even went back to drink with her and Xue Rui until very late.

Why would he do that?