ATLAS TRANSLATES

Xu Miyu quickly thanked Qiang Ge. The casual words mentioned while drinking that night, he actually took so seriously and cared enough to arrange, she was grateful and touched.

Qiang Ge said: “Why are you still being so polite with us? You were the class darling back in our school days, you just didn’t know it.”

Then he simply and clearly introduced the date he had arranged: “His name is Quan Zhibin, in his thirties, never married before, works in trading, already a regional supervisor – so economically, I’m reassured, in the future he definitely won’t let you go hungry. As for looks, although not as handsome as your ex-husband, and not nearly as good-looking as that colleague of yours surnamed Ji, he’s decent enough. For married life, decent is good enough, someone as good-looking as that colleague surnamed Ji is a bit too much, makes people worry.”

Xu Miyu was listening calmly to Qiang Ge’s words. But when he mentioned Ji Feng twice, the calm surface of her heart suddenly rippled, like stones cast and disturbing the waters.

These ripples crashed against her chest, carrying an inexplicably despairing taste.

Beside her ear she could hear Qiang Ge saying to her: “Miyu, I showed Quan Zhibin your photo from our get-together that night, he was very satisfied. I also told him about your divorced status, and he said it was no problem, as long as you’re a good person he doesn’t mind about that. So do you want to meet him?”

Xu Miyu pressed down the ripples churning in her chest, and told Qiang Ge: “Then let’s meet.”

In the past two weeks, whenever Ji Feng walked through the lobby, he felt Xu Miyu had undergone subtle changes.

Just what those changes were, he couldn’t say clearly. But he could sense that Xu Miyu seemed to have made some other plans for her life, even harbored some anticipation for it, and she was also actively engaging herself in that anticipation.

Her gaze towards him had also become more distant, as if there were automatic barriers in her eyes that would rise up as soon as she saw him, keeping distance between them.

He kept wanting to ask her if the injury on her foot had completely healed, but those barriers always prevented him from asking.

In the end he grew a little vexed. It made him seem like he was impatient to do something. So he decided not to ask anymore.

Just seeing Xu Miyu work hard every day towards her new life, and her new life filled with anticipation was obviously unrelated to him, his originally calm heart started to become irritated again, started to gradually get angry again.

That woman had been princess carried by him, and didn’t she come asking what he meant by it?

Although if she did ask, he would definitely say it didn’t mean anything, and warn her not to read too much into such intimate actions. But the fact that she really didn’t ask at all, acted as if nothing had happened, also displeased him to the point where everything felt like something was weighing on his heart.

In a daze, it was as if he saw himself raising a hand to brush aside the wisps of hair by her temple. His fingertips seemed to still clearly remember the feeling of touching her smooth cheek and tender earlobe.

Snapping back to himself, he quickly clenched his hand into a fist, shaking off the lingering sensations on his fingertips. His heart gave a loud thump, beating in a way that perplexed and disturbed him.

Enduring himself to stop thinking about things related to that woman. But she was like a specter haunting him, that day in the meeting room next door’s break room, her back pressed against the table edge trying to lean away to keep distance between them, lips pursed and eyes wide looking at him, that weak yet stubborn look, kept jumping out to appear before him.

In the end he really couldn’t stand it anymore and impatiently asked Xue Rui: “What has Xu Miyu been up to recently?”

Xue Rui immediately widened his eyes and said: “Boss, don’t you also feel like Sister Miyu has been a little different lately? Just looking at her, she seems more radiant and in high spirits?”

Hearing this, Ji Feng’s eyebrows furrowed.

Radiant and in high spirits?

“What has she been busy with recently?” He asked again, his voice pulled taut like an elastic band stretched at both ends.

Xue Rui asked back: “Do you still remember that night we drank together, among Sister Miyu’s classmates there was one called Qiang Ge?”

Hearing this name, Ji Feng even felt a soreness in his shoulders. That man who wouldn’t stop slapping shoulders when he talked.

“I remember.” He said stiffly.

Xue Rui told him: “The day before yesterday, he asked Li Qiaoqi…Qi Qi about me, wanting to confirm whether or not Sister Miyu was involved with any of the colleagues she went drinking with that night.” Xue Rui explained to Ji Feng, “The colleague he was asking about was you.”

Ji Feng expressionlessly said: “I can understand that much without you explaining again.” His words dripped sarcasm. Then he asked Xue Rui, “How did you answer him?”

Xue Rui replied: “Of course I had to say there was nothing between you two. Then that Qiang Ge immediately started arranging dates for Sister Miyu.”

Hearing this, Ji Feng’s expression froze for a second. Then he scoffed: “What a busybody that grown man is.”

Xue Rui looked at him, as if unable to detect the rupture and slowly seeping sourness from somewhere in his body. Xue Rui continued in a matter-of-fact way, even sounding a little excited to gossip: “You won’t believe it, Boss, but Qiang Ge is really efficient! Right after the day we moved to the Sui Hotel for the second half of the monthly meeting, he arranged a pretty decent date for Sister Miyu. I reckon they’ve been seeing each other for about two weeks now.”

Ji Feng’s brow furrowed so tightly, as if able to vacuum seal the entire world.

They had been seeing each other for almost two weeks? After the monthly meeting?

So in other words, after he princess carried her, after he helped brush her hair back, after he told her that her life may not be as worthless as she thought, she then turned around and started going on blind dates with some other man? And not only one meeting, they had steadily dated for two whole weeks already?

Ji Feng’s hands unconsciously clenched into fists by his sides.

In his heart swelled surges of anger, the kind that made him want to tear someone into pieces.

The kind when it felt like something that belonged to him was being coveted and stolen away.

He gritted his back teeth and asked Xue Rui: “So what’s the extent of their relationship now?” He realized after asking that his own voice sounded somewhat hoarse.

Like the low growls a beast makes when about to pounce on its prey.

Xue Rui looked at Ji Feng, as if unable to detect the obvious changes in him, and continued matter-of-factly to gossip about other people’s lively affairs, sounding very mysterious and excited: “Boss, if you’re asking me this then I’m definitely not tired yet! If I tell you the extent of their relationship now, I bet you won’t be tired either!”

After selling it, he told Ji Feng: “Qi Qi told me, the man really likes Sister Miyu, you can tell. And he doesn’t mind at all that she’s divorced. What’s more, this person is quite considerate and romantic, for example, from the first-hand news I got from the hotel gossip squad made up of Lu Xiaoyan, Li Kunlun, and Ke Wenxue – tonight Sister Miyu is working a night shift, and after he gets off work that man plans to keep her company. Since she’s on duty here, he booked a business suite on the executive floor to stay! And get this – the suite has separate inner and outer rooms. He said he’ll stay in the outer room so Sister Miyu can rest assured staying in the inner room.”

He looked meaningfully at Ji Feng with raised brows: “This man really knows what he’s doing! Saying he’s staying here at night to accompany Sister Miyu more, but he also has other motives – like if Sister Miyu is moved by his consideration and romance, she may directly go to his room to rest with him…and then who knows, some more intimate things may happen. Thinking this way, this man really knows how to take advantage of opportunities!” Unlike a certain someone here, who’s so straight he’s almost bent backwards.

As soon as he finished speaking, as he had anticipated, Ji Feng’s expression changed dramatically.

He was colder and more out of control than ever before, any day, any moment.

He completely lost control of his facial expressions.

In his eyes churned disbelief, concern, anger, and jealousy.

Ji Feng’s mind flashed back to how Xu Miyu looked, lying in front of him that night.

Eyes half-closed, misted over with moisture, lips slightly parted breathing out soft gasps, that slim supple waist like a flawless piece of creamy white jade, and her jet black hair spread out on the white sheet, the contrasting black and white were shockingly bewitching.

Recalling this, his breath hitched in his throat, making the tip of his heart go numb.

But soon, thinking that she may reveal that side of herself tonight to the man she was matched with, something seemed to lodge in his heart.

He asked Xue Rui through gritted teeth: “So what’s the extent of their relationship now?” He realized after asking that his own voice sounded somewhat hoarse.

Like the low growls a beast makes when about to pounce on its prey.

Xue Rui looked at Ji Feng, as if unable to detect the obvious changes in him, and continued matter-of-factly to gossip about other people’s lively affairs, sounding very mysterious and excited: “Boss, if you’re asking me this then I’m definitely not tired yet! If I tell you the extent of their relationship now, I bet you won’t be tired either!”

After selling it, he told Ji Feng: “Qi Qi told me, the man really likes Sister Miyu, you can tell. And he doesn’t mind at all that she’s divorced. What’s more, this person is quite considerate and romantic, for example, from the first-hand news I got from the hotel gossip squad made up of Lu Xiaoyan, Li Kunlun, and Ke Wenxue – tonight Sister Miyu is working a night shift, and after he gets off work that man plans to keep her company. Since she’s on duty here, he booked a business suite on the executive floor to stay! And get this – the suite has separate inner and outer rooms. He said he’ll stay in the outer room so Sister Miyu can rest assured staying in the inner room.”

He looked meaningfully at Ji Feng with raised brows: “This man really knows what he’s doing! Saying he’s staying here at night to accompany Sister Miyu more, but he also has other motives – like if Sister Miyu is moved by his consideration and romance, she may directly go to his room to rest with him…and then who knows, some more intimate things may happen. Thinking this way, this man really knows how to take advantage of opportunities!” Unlike a certain someone here, who’s so straight he’s almost bent backwards.

As soon as he finished speaking, as he had anticipated, Ji Feng’s expression changed dramatically.

He was colder and more out of control than ever before, any day, any moment.

He completely lost control of his facial expressions.

In his eyes churned disbelief, concern, anger, and jealousy.

Ji Feng’s mind flashed back to how Xu Miyu looked, lying in front of him that night.

Eyes half-closed, misted over with moisture, lips slightly parted breathing out soft gasps, that slim supple waist like a flawless piece of creamy white jade, and her jet black hair spread out on the white sheet, the contrasting black and white were shockingly bewitching.

Recalling this, his breath hitched in his throat, making the tip of his heart go numb.

But soon, thinking that she may reveal that side of herself tonight to the man she was matched with, something seemed to lodge in his heart.

He grabbed Xue Rui’s collar with both hands, his face distorted, and roared: “You tell me now! Which room are they in on the executive floor?!”

Xue Rui was stunned motionless by Ji Feng’s unprecedented loss of emotional control.

For a moment he even regretted deliberately provoking Ji Feng.

Until hearing Ji Feng demanding the room number, he snapped out of his daze and blurted out a number.

Before his voice faded, Ji Feng had already brushed past him like an icy wind, out the door, straight into the elevator.

Standing in the elevator, anger still churned and surged from Ji Feng’s chest.

He was furious at Xu Miyu, at that matched man, and also himself, for ultimately being unable to restrain himself and now riding the elevator down.

The elevator arrived at the executive floor, he strode out, footsteps heavily treading the executive floor hallway.

Eyes seeking the room number clenched between his teeth, feet quickening past doors.

Finally reaching the end, the numbers on the door matched those between his teeth. He stopped.

Standing before this door, he forcefully pressed the doorbell.

No one opened the door in time.

His heart instantly twisted into a knot, bad scenarios starting to spin out in his mind.

What if the people inside were busy getting dressed, so were slow to answer? When the door opens, will he be facing two people wrapped in bathrobes? Was he still in time?

Thinking this, even his fingertips almost shook, his heart racing as if he were being tortured.

At this moment, he felt unbearably heartbroken at his own imaginings. At this moment, he finally recognized his true feelings: he could not bear Xu Miyu, that wicked woman, abandoning him, ignoring and not caring about him, and going into another man’s arms.

With trembling fingers he continued pressing the doorbell.

Finally the door was opened from inside.

He didn’t dare look up until holding in that breath.

Seeing the tidy, unsullied woman who opened the door, he almost breathed out in relief and gratitude.

He grabbed her wrist with one hand, and pulled her behind him. Facing the man who followed her out of the room, he directly said: “She cannot be with you!”

The man in the room, instead of anger or surprise after hearing this, was very calm. He even asked Ji Feng: “Why can’t I be with her?”

Ji Feng looked at him, at this moment clearly seeing his own heart. So he enunciated word for word: “Because I also like her, and she should like me too.”

Xu Miyu, standing behind Ji Feng, wrist still held by him, was shocked by his words to Quan Zhibin. She looked up, so shocked that a sheen of tears instantly filled her eyes.

Quan Zhibin smiled, looking at them said: “Let’s go into the room to talk about this, between us three.”

Inside the room, everything was very tidy. Especially the bed, the sheets were smooth without a single crease to hint someone had lain there.

Seeing this, Ji Feng felt relieved. Xu Miyu and the matched man had not gotten more intimate, meaning he still had a chance.

He still hadn’t let go of Xu Miyu’s wrist, as if fearing she would run off. Xu Miyu also did not struggle, silently allowing him to continue holding her, face lightly flushed and head lowered.

Quan Zhibin closed the room door, turned around and saw their connected hands, shook his head with a smile.

“Actually I already noticed you at lunch today. And I sensed something was off about Miyu from the moment you walked into the restaurant. My instinct told me you’re probably not just a guest at this hotel, there must be some connection between you and Miyu.”

“And indeed, just now when Miyu came to me, she confirmed you do know each other.”

He looked gently at Xu Miyu. His gaze pricked Ji Feng, who hid Xu Miyu further behind himself to block Quan Zhibin’s line of sight.

Quan Zhibin smiled seeing Ji Feng’s actions, and asked: “Do you know what Miyu just told me before you came?”

Ji Feng tightened his grip on Xu Miyu’s wrist, and answered Quan Zhibin: “No matter what she just said, or agreed on with you, it’s invalid now that I’m here.”

Quan Zhibin smiled and shook his head, telling Ji Feng: “I wish Miyu had told me she agreed to be with me, that would’ve been better. What she actually came to tell me was that she was sorry, she has confirmed she likes someone else, it’s just that he doesn’t like her back. Even though she can’t be with him, she also can’t keep seeing me, as that wouldn’t be fair to me. I said no problem, I can wait until she forgets that man, but she said she may never forget him her whole life.”

Ji Feng was startled to hear this, then his heart stirred greatly. He turned to look at Xu Miyu.

Xu Miyu raised her head and their eyes met for a moment before she swiftly lowered her head again. In her eyes, tears were welling, seemingly exerting some subtle force that made Ji Feng’s heart ache slightly.

He couldn’t help but change his grip on her wrist to holding her hand. She didn’t refuse, allowing him to gently hold it. His heart instantly softened into something, his internal organs seemed to dissolve into a pool of water.

Quan Zhibin coughed to recall Ji

Feng’s attention: “Alright, now I know that man is you, and it’s very obvious not only does Miyu like you, you also like her. To be honest, I like Miyu too, but a gentleman leaves a beauty for another worthy man. Since you mutually like each other, I’m willing to bow out. However,” Quan Zhibin paused here, looking into Ji Feng’s eyes, and sincerely cautioned him, “in the future, please treat Miyu well, don’t make me regret giving you this chance.”

He casually picked up his suit jacket hanging on the door rack, and told Ji Feng and Xu Miyu: “Well, everything’s been said clearly, so I’ll take my leave now. Use this room as you like.”

He bid Xu Miyu a gentlemanly farewell, nodded to Ji Feng, reminding him to cherish the woman behind him, then turned and strode out with big steps.

Xu Miyu watched his departing back, filled with gratitude.

Quan Zhibin really was a good man, she hoped he could find a woman better than herself to live a happy life with.

Her chin was suddenly pinched and lifted.

Her eyes met Ji Feng’s eyes.

Her heart instantly raced beyond control, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

She really wasn’t one to cry easily, but right now, her heart seemed to harbor countless grievances, all surging out together.

He stared unblinkingly at her. She at first mistily returned his gaze, then evaded his eyes and lowered her head.

Ji Feng’s heart lurched, seeing her like this made his heart ache and sting slightly.

These emotions surged to the tip of his tongue, turning into unrelenting words: “What’s going on with you? Went on a matchmaking date right after being carried by me yesterday? Are you that willing to date and anxious to marry a man?”

Xu Miyu immediately lifted her head, looking at Ji Feng in shock.

She thought with no one else around, he would say gentle, affectionate things, but what was he saying?!

She felt both angry and aggrieved.

After that night, he didn’t come looking for her, and agreed when she said they would clarify their relationship. Wasn’t that clearly telling her they were impossible, she didn’t suit him, she was aiming too high?

Then her trying to find a suitable man to marry and live a simple life, no longer harboring improper feelings and lingering attachment for him, was that also her fault?

The more she thought the angrier and more aggrieved she felt, her emotions spiraling out of control. The tears that had been welling in her eyes instantly spilled from her lids, rolling down her cheeks.

Crying, yet the corners of her lips lifted in a smile. She looked at him, voice shaking with anger and asked: “Then what should I do? Tell me. I’m not allowed to date and marry anymore? Knowing I have no future with you, I should just be your one night stand, is that right? Knowing you could never be with me, I should still be unable to get over you, is that what you want to see?”

Ji Feng’s heart lurched hearing this, his temples throbbed.

Everything she said made his insides twist.

Listening to her accusations, watching her falling tears, he felt anxious and remorseful, yet didn’t know what to do to make it right.

In a fluster, he pulled her into his arms.

One hand wrapped around her back, the other cradling her head, he lowered his head and apologized, then fiercely kissed her.