ATLAS TRANSLATES

Ji Feng swiftly exited the building and got into the car. The executives behind him also poured out and entered their own vehicles one after another.

Ji Feng’s car drove toward a destination, the long line of executives’ cars closely following behind. The spectacle along the way was magnificent, the motorcade akin to an affluent clan’s wedding procession.

En route, Ji Feng had Xue Rui call the hotel front desk to inquire just what exactly had happened and if anyone was injured.

Instructing this, Ji Feng still couldn’t phrase it tactfully in the end. He directly ordered Xue Rui: “Ask about Xiao Mi Yu – how is she?”

Xue Rui obeyed and repeatedly dialed the front desk, but unfortunately no one was picking up.

Xue Rui looked anxiously at Ji Feng.

Ji Feng’s face was expressionless, seeming to have even lost all color.

“Call again!”

Xue Rui continued calling.

Thankfully, someone finally answered this time. Xue Rui immediately put it on speakerphone and asked what exactly was going on.

It was gossip squad member Xiao Yan who answered. Rarely, she had already grasped the ins and outs swiftly. She rapidly updated Xue Rui: “Assistant Xue, here’s what happened. Today a girl came to the hotel to catch her boyfriend cheating, but it turned out his affair was with their mutual teacher. She couldn’t accept this reality and poured herself a bottle of liquor, wanting to light herself on fire then hug her boyfriend for a joint suicide pact. Her boyfriend was afraid to die so he turned tail and ran. She chased him with a lighter, and they ended up in the lobby like this. As soon as Supervisor Xu saw their stance, she had us call security. But the girl said if security came or they used the fire hose, she’d directly ignite herself. Afraid the girl would truly get hurt, Supervisor Xu immediately rushed over to persuade her…”

Describing to this point, Xue Rui heard an abrupt voice sound from the backseat. He glanced up to see Ji Feng’s cheek muscle twitching.

• He was grinding his molars after hearing Xiao Mi Yu had rushed toward the suicidal girl.

Xiao Yan’s account continued: “…After rushing over, Sis Mi Yu told the girl that women shouldn’t live for men, but should live for themselves. Compared to your precious self, what more are men? Oh right Assistant Xue, am I recounting this too intricately? I forgot to ask if you have time for details, since we usually gossip.”

Xue Rui looked to the backseat. With eye contact and mouthing words, he asked Ji Feng: Do you need such intricate details?

Ji Feng frowned and nodded once.

It seemed he desperately wanted to hear what had happened to Xiao Mi Yu in the hotel lobby, what she had said – even though it was through someone else’s retelling.

Of course this had absolutely nothing to do with liking her. Her circumstances, abilities, age and family background were all far too incompatible with his criteria for a partner. She simply didn’t suit him at all.

But she was his employee after all.

Xue Rui responded to the phone: “I happen to be free now, we can chat in more detail.”

Xiao Yan echoed an affirmation and continued where she’d left off: “After lecturing the girl, Sis Mi Yu immediately gave her mental health spa – I’ve got to say our Sis Mi Yu is really skilled! She told the girl, you have to believe in yourself. Actually you’re far stronger than you imagine. As long as you set your mind to not think about that man you went all the way with, you’ll discover life without him is nothing. Compared to loving him, loving yourself matters more.”

Xue Rui wondered if he was hearing things – he seemed to hear Ji Feng grinding his teeth again. He felt Xiao Mi Yu’s words were quite high quality chicken soup for the soul and didn’t understand why Ji Feng had such an adverse reaction.

Yet it also seemed he was on the verge of understanding…

At this time, Xiao Yan’s tone suddenly changed. Her narrative grew tense: “Later when the girl wasn’t paying attention, Sis Mi Yu suddenly pounced to knock the lighter from her hand and also went to tear off the girl’s liquor-drenched coat. They struggled and the girl pushed Sis Mi Yu to the ground. Then, shockingly, the insane girl actually pulled out another lighter from her pants pocket! She directly ignited herself! The flames instantly blazed up her clothes! Then, even more shockingly, Sis Mi Yu unhesitatingly pounced again!”

Xue Rui sucked in a breath.

He heard Ji Feng pound the car door once.

“Oh right, I forgot a detail earlier. When Sis Mi Yu pounced the second time, she conveniently grabbed the fire hose by her feet and neatly extinguished the fire on the girl.”

“…”

Xue Rui heaved a long sigh of relief. “Next time, don’t recount things so scatterbrained. Especially crucial details like this, remember to say them first!!”

He heard Ji Feng also exhale behind him, even kicking the seat in release.

“Oh, my apologies Assistant Xue. I’m a bit incoherent after the intense, thrilling incident earlier.” Xiao Yan responded.

Xue Rui pondered and asked: “Then why was no one answering the front desk phone earlier?”

Xiao Yan answered: “We had all gone to surround that girl trying to commit s-suicide.” After a pause, she supplemented: “Don’t worry Assistant Xue. With our Supervisor Xu here, everything is under control. Although it was quite chaotic earlier, the outcome is great – no danger and no injuries. The girl, her boyfriend, and their teacher have all been taken away by police for statements now. The fire truck didn’t need to come, so we didn’t waste public resources. Supervisor Xu also skillfully diverted away the media. Rest assured with our Supervisor Xu here, all difficult situations can be handled!”

Xue Rui finally relaxed completely. It seemed everything had already been resolved perfectly.

After hanging up, he glanced back at Ji Feng: “Boss, what do you think? Should we still head to the Sui Hotel or turn back to the group headquarters to continue the meeting?”

Ji Feng pondered briefly: “They’re following us right? Then let’s just change course straight to Sui to continue the meeting.”

No matter what others said about things being fine, he still wanted to see for himself. See what was going on in the head of that foolish woman who had rushed toward someone trying to commit s-suicide.

And also, whether or not she was injured.

He turned to look outside the car, watching the motorcade of vehicles behind. An obscure emotion churned in his heart.

Never before had he been as absentminded during a meeting like today. Never had he listened to others’ reports in such a distracted state.

He felt somewhat negligent because of this, also feeling slightly guilty toward the executives who had painstakingly followed him here.

He told himself he could not continue like this in the future. And decided after concluding this month’s meeting, he would give bonuses to the executives who had endured the trouble of trailing after him.

As the blurred shadows of trees flew past rapidly outside the window, it was as if something hazy was also trapping him in his mind. Just why exactly was he so absent today?

This time when Ji Feng walked into the hotel lobby, the spectacle was unprecedented.

He strode swiftly in front, Xue Rui beside him. Behind swarmed a large group of business elites in ties, suits, and leather shoes.

When Ji Feng reached the lobby center, he suddenly halted.

The group of business elites behind him also hurriedly stopped. But unable to halt their momentum in time, they domino-crashed into each other’s backs.

Ji Feng turned to look toward the front desk. Raising his voice, he called: “Xiao Mi Yu, come here!”

Xiao Mi Yu silently sighed at the front desk.

She couldn’t even avoid him like this.

Composing herself, she stood up straight and walked out from the front desk to the lobby center, in front of Ji Feng.

She could feel the business elites sizing her up.

“Bring tea to the 2nd floor conference room later.”

After speaking, he turned and walked away, not giving her a chance to refute that bringing tea to the conference room wasn’t actually part of her job scope. Clearly he was in a somewhat petty mood, deliberately targeting her. It was obvious he was displeased with her about something and intentionally making things difficult.

Xiao Mi Yu didn’t want to resist. Resisting would play right into his ploy. It seemed like he was just waiting for her to react emotionally to seize on it and pick fault.

She placidly accepted the unreasonable demand. Then apologized and stepped onto a chair, then from the chair onto the conference table. Standing tiptoe, she stretched upward to adjust the angled projector lens hanging midair.

Between her raised arms, her tucked shirt and skirt revealed a one finger gap glimpse of her slender waist.

Watching that slit of hinted sensuality, Ji Feng sharply narrowed his eyes. Memories and images of that night suddenly flooded over him like a dam burst.

He was irritated to discover her backside and that barely visible allure could still affect him.

After the year-end trip with Xue Rui where he had deliberately visited the local club full of gorgeous women to prove something, yet felt nothing for the top-tier hot models there, he had been reassured his prided self-control had recovered. But now facing this 31-year-old divorced woman up on tiptoes adjusting a projector, he was experiencing that same near loss of control from that night again. A feeling of being overwhelmed by impulse against reason.

He suddenly realized he actually seemed incapable of desire toward those other young women. They lacked the unique scent she possessed – that blend of girlishness and womanliness, naive charm and allure coexisting, appearing weak yet enduring strong, knowing she had started late so lived more earnestly and diligently than others.

Xiao Mi Yu’s voice sounded, asking on tiptoe: “Is this okay? Still crooked?”

Suspicion brewed in his heart. Would that tantalizing sliver of her lithe waist be appreciated by others too?

Thinking this, anger inexplicably rose within him. He suddenly said loudly to her: “Stop adjusting, get down!”

Xiao Mi Yu’s body quivered as she turned to look at Ji Feng. His tone’s ominous anger shook her somewhat.

She could feel the executives Ji Feng had brought staring at her. Amidst these probing, prying gazes and Ji Feng’s mercurial moods, her heart inexplicably panicked a moment.

She suppressed the panic, not letting it show.

She hurried to the table edge, intending to step onto the chairs again and climb down the way she had come up.

But in her flustered panic, a stab of pain from her ankle made her sway off-balance to the side. She hadn’t stepped onto the chair and directly toppled off the conference table onto the floor.

The conference room resounded with cries of shock.

The next second, Ji Feng surged up from his seat. In large strides he arrived at Xiao Mi Yu’s side.

Crouching down to look at her, his eyes crowded with unconcealable regret and anxiety as he urgently asked her: “Are you okay?”

Xiao Mi Yu shook her head to indicate she was fine. She wanted to stand up from the floor herself, but her ankle hurt terribly. Her waist and elbows also ached badly from banging against the floor just now. She started getting up but immediately grimaced in pain and sat back down.

She apologetically said: “I’m sorry for disturbing your meeting…”

But before she finished speaking, the world spun and her body went weightless.

When the spinning world settled, she discovered she was being carried princess-style in Ji Feng’s arms.

She blankly looked at him as he held her without a word. Traversing through the room of gazes, he walked straight out.

After Ji Feng carried Xiao Mi Yu out of the conference room, she finally snapped out of her daze.

She whispered urgently: “Put me down, quick!”

Ji Feng glanced at her but ignored her request, looking around instead.

“I can walk myself!” Xiao Mi Yu emphasized.

Ji Feng spotted a lounge next to the conference room. Still carrying her, he headed over.

“You should put me down. It wouldn’t look proper if someone saw…” Xiao Mi Yu pleaded anxiously.

Ji Feng still disregarded her words. Arriving at the lounge door, he simply said: “Open it.”

Xiao Mi Yu blanked briefly, twisting back to glimpse at the lounge door behind her. Then she reached out and twisted the handle, pushing the door open.

Ji Feng carried her inside.

Fortunately the lounge was unoccupied. Xiao Mi Yu truly didn’t know what kind of scandalous news might spread if another server saw her and Ji Feng like this.

The room contained some chairs and a table. Ji Feng bypassed the chairs and went straight to the table.

He gently set Xiao Mi Yu down on the table edge, letting her sit securely.

Finally separated from Ji Feng, yet Xiao Mi Yu’s heart raced even faster now, her cheeks burning hotter.

She almost didn’t know how to face Ji Feng anymore, or what to say to him. She also didn’t dare ponder what his actions just now could mean.

After seating her on the table, Ji Feng bent down. Reaching out, he grasped one of her feet hanging under the table.

Xiao Mi Yu jolted in shock.

She hurriedly tensed her ankle, trying to jerk away, but was seized even tighter.

The struggle aggravated her wound and she painfully hissed.

His grip immediately slackened but didn’t release.

Ji Feng gently rotated her ankle, then saw the large scraped patch on the inside that looked somewhat raw but didn’t seem to be a freshly inflicted injury from the conference room earlier.

“How did you hurt it?” Ji Feng asked Xiao Mi Yu evenly.

Xiao Mi Yu truthfully answered: “Before you arrived, a female guest wanted to commit s-suicide in the lobby. I went to stop her and got pushed down by her. It was probably scraped then.”

The stray wisp of hair that had fallen from her updo delicately brushed her cheek, lending her a tousled, fragile charm.

Ji Feng gazed at her for a long moment. His eyes first roiled with something repressed, then gradually gathered anger.

He released her ankle and coldly, coolly asked: “How can you be so careless? If you were already injured, why didn’t you say so? When told to adjust the projector, you just went ahead up there. Haven’t you learned to refuse by now?”

Xiao Mi Yu pursed her lips, wanting to smile but resisted. He didn’t like seeing her smile.

She flattened her mouth and carefully responded: “I was afraid if I didn’t go up, you would think I was deliberately defying you and trying to garner your attention.”

Ji Feng deeply wrinkled his brow, as if wanting to pinch something to death between them.

Abruptly he raised his hand, removing her earpiece wire clipped to her clothes. As he did so, he also pulled out the earbud tucked in her ear and inserted it in his own. After tuning to the right frequency, he issued instructions into the mic: “This is Ji Feng. HR manager immediately contact the resident doctor and have him come now to the lounge next to the 2nd floor conference room. Bring his medkit. Immediately.”

After handling matters, he clipped the earpiece back on Xiao Mi Yu’s clothes and neatly tucked the earbud back into her ear as well. His hand lingered by her ear a moment. Then he unexpectedly, naturally swept the stray wisp of hair back behind her ear.

His fingertips lightly grazed her cheek, softly brushing her tender earlobe.

Their gazes met. Both froze for an instant.

Ji Feng retracted his hand, entirely composed, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just occurred. But his Adam’s apple hid from sight, rapidly bobbing up and down.

Xiao Mi Yu looked at Ji Feng, recalling his actions fixing her hair just now. It felt as if a muffled drum hid in her chest, pounding loudly for her ears only.

Very soon the resident doctor arrived with a medkit. He treated Xiao Mi Yu’s wound then told her: “It’s not serious, but keep this foot dry the next few days to prevent scarring.”

After the instructions, the doctor left with his kit.

The room was occupied by just Xiao Mi Yu and Ji Feng again. Xiao Mi Yu felt the awkwardness index instantly doubled with one less person.

She twisted, wanting to jump down from the table edge and hurry back to the lobby, to swiftly get away from this man who could make her dizzy and short of breath.

But she had barely twisted before the stabbing pain transmitted from her ankle up. She silently bared her teeth.

Just about to hobble out, the door opened with someone entering.

Xiao Mi Yu looked up. It was Xue Rui.

She smiled and asked: “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be accompanying Boss Ji next door for the meeting?”

Xue Rui scratched his head, laughing slightly, unexpectedly somewhat awkwardly.

“Sis Mi Yu, I just feel there are some things I want to tell you. Otherwise I’d feel stifled keeping it pent up.”

Xiao Mi Yu assumed it was matters with Li Qiao Qi troubling him. Smiling, she said: “Don’t worry, I’ll strongly persuade Qiao Qi for you.”

But Xue Rui waved his hand. “No no, it’s not about her and me today. It’s…you and the Chairman.”

Xiao Mi Yu’s smile froze on her face like dried glue, gradually stiffening.

“Me and the Chairman?” She seemed to somewhat understand yet also not comprehend as she asked.

Xue Rui prepared himself, then told her: “Forget it, I’ll be direct. I just feel the Chairman has treated you differently than others all these years. But if I don’t say it, you may never realize these ways he’s different with you. Yet I hope you’ll know.

“The Chairman never allows anyone to intrude on his territory, but he permitted your free access. He never gave anyone else VIP cards for direct elevator access to his suite – not even when Miss Jiang directly asked him more than once. But he was willing to give you one.

“Earlier when Miss Jiang sprained her ankle, the Chairman would rather let her hobble on crutches than carry her upstairs. You don’t know how upset Miss Jiang was. She asked the Chairman in the elevator why he didn’t carry her up. His reply to her was it wouldn’t be proper since there were crowds. But when he saw you fall earlier, he didn’t hesitate at all and rushed over to pick you up, also not caring if there were crowds or not.

“Also, this afternoon we were originally at group headquarters for the important monthly report meeting. It’s the most significant conference every month that all management has to attend and give their account. It has never been interrupted halfway through anything before. But while we were in session today and heard there was a fire at the Sui, the Chairman immediately got up and rushed from the conference room. He has never left halfway through this monthly report meeting, never had anything or anyone who could pull him out of it. But today he suddenly left. Since he exited, the confused executives didn’t dare tarry – after all the monthly meeting is so important, they had to see it through no matter where he went. So they also packed up laptops and documents and poured after the Chairman here. The spectacular scene you saw later of so many elite executives trailing the Chairman into Sui was for this reason. They had to follow along and accompany the Chairman to complete the meeting.

“Also, on the way here the Chairman insisted I be sure to ask what exactly happened at Sui, if anyone was injured. Especially you – how were you, were you hurt at all.”

Xiao Mi Yu listened in a daze, hot magma seeming to churn and boil in her heart.

So that was how he knew so many details, right down to what she had said.

“Sis Mi Yu, although the Chairman is wealthy, he’s actually just like you – he didn’t receive much warmth from his family of origin either. Truthfully my thoughts are also muddled right now. I feel on one hand you could provide him warmth, but I also understand the huge gap between you two means there’s little possibility of a future outcome. So I also don’t know why I want to tell you all this. Maybe I feel it’d be a pity if you didn’t know he actually treats you very differently. If you were unaware of this.”

Xiao Mi Yu was silent for a very long time. She was struggling to restrain her emotions.

Her nose unhelpfully prickled as tears welled up.

Hot currents also surged and roiled in her eyes. She forcefully held them back, but they sneakily swelled forth again.

Finally expending great effort to fully dam them back, she sniffed and smiled.

“He’s treating me this way today certainly because he’s afraid I’ll become disabled from a work injury and become a burden to the hotel.”

Though it was not remotely funny, she laughed after the joke.

Then her laughter faded away.

Red-rimmed eyes looking at Xue Rui, she said: “Actually I’d rather you feel it’s a pity. Don’t tell me all this. I know what my circumstances, background, and abilities are. So I’ve never dared think too much. Your Chairman – what noble status is that? While I’m just an aged, divorced woman. Like you said, we’re almost impossible. So compared to pity, I’d rather not know anything. Knowing would just lead to fanciful thoughts. But knowing the future is impossible yet still having fanciful thoughts would be even more hopeless and upsetting right?”

You telling me this makes me briefly elated. Then it will be lasting sorrow.

So next time, please don’t say any more. I don’t want to know how special I am to him. I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist tearing off the fig leaf over my heart.

Beneath that fig leaf are my feelings I can’t let anyone see.

“I’ll forget what you told me today. Indulging delusions doesn’t suit me. I’ll find someone suited to me and live an ordinary life together.”

Xiao Mi Yu was telling both Xue Rui and herself this.

She finished speaking with a smile, a purposeful smile like she meant every word. Then she limped past Xue Rui’s shoulder and returned to the lobby to work.

Xue Rui watched her retreating back, both sympathizing and admiring her resolve.