ATLAS TRANSLATES

As if with a life of its own, the firecracker darted under Yang Shikun’s feet and exploded.

Yang Shikun: “Exciting! I’ll try one too.”

Xu Si tugged at Jiang Rong’s sleeve: “Stand back.”

Jiang Rong stepped back with him. Yang Shikun and Jiang Zhixu were having a great time playing.

“What’s this?” Jiang Rong picked up a cylindrical firecracker.

“It’s the kind that shoots out lots of golden sparks. Want to try?”

“Sure.”

Xu Si watched her light the fuse. Crackling golden sparks burst forth in a rainbow of colors.

The five of them played with firecrackers for a long time before lighting fireworks. Dazzling white light shot skyward, exploding in an instant. A silver tree of fire, purple and red. After the brief brilliance, only faint golden trails remained across the sky.

Yang Shikun checked his phone: “Everyone, one minute till New Year!”

“Five seconds!” “Five.” “Four.” “Three.” “Two.” “One.”

All five shouted in unison: “Happy New Year!”

Above were silver fire-trees and brilliant fireworks, beside her were the heart-stirring young man and friends. Jiang Rong looked at Xu Si: “Happy New Year, Xu Si.”

“Happy New Year, Little Teacher, not just this year, but for all the years to come.”

Those last four words seemed to sear Jiang Rong’s heart. She curved her lips in a smile at Xu Si. Though she was smiling, she felt her nose tingling.

Seeing her sweet smile, Xu Si really wanted to hug her.

“Xu Si.”

“I’m here, Little Teacher.”

It seemed every time she called his name, he would say “I’m here.”

“You’ve worked so hard lately.”

She had seen Xu Si’s efforts – he worked on problems until late every night, dark circles forming under his eyes.

“It’s not hard. Little Teacher has been keeping me company though.”

“You’ve improved a lot, very well done.”

“All thanks to Little Teacher.”

Jiang Rong knew she had only provided some methods and materials – all the effort was his own. She said softly: “It’s your own hard work.”

But without her, he wouldn’t have changed from that state. Without her step-by-step guidance, without her not giving up on him initially, his progress would have been impossible.

Yang Shikun opened the class group chat to see Fang Zixin’s message.

[Fang Zixin]: Happy New Year @everyone

Below was a flood of New Year’s greetings.

[Fang Zixin]: A New Year’s gift for everyone. [Fang Zixin]: Final exam results summary.doc

These two messages set off an explosion in the class group.

[Wu Wei]: A “getting beaten at home” package, just what you need. [Yang Songyue]: Not looking, going to sleep, afraid of getting beaten. [Li Jingjing]: Everyone, I’ll check first.

“So intense, Teacher Fang posted grades in the group.”

Xu Si opened his phone, noticed a head leaning close beside him. Before he could open the results, Yang Shikun shouted: “Brother Si made the top ten!”

Xu Si opened the grade sheet to see himself exactly at tenth place. 556 points.

“Well done, Xu Si.”

Xu Si looked at his subject scores. Though he had improved greatly, it still wasn’t enough.

Jiang Rong reached out her hand as he lowered his head, and she ruffled his hair. He heard her soft voice: “Little Xu has improved so much, deserves praise.”

Xu Si smiled: “The revolution is not yet complete, still need to work hard.”

Hearing her call him “Little Xu,” he felt an inexplicable itch in his heart, like little hooks scratching at his heartstrings.

Since entering senior year, Yang Shikun had also started studying seriously. He looked at his score – nearly 400 points, then at Hao Ming’s – over 450 points.

Hao Ming: “Still can aim for second-tier universities.”

Yang Shikun instantly felt motivated again: “Study with me. Brother Si studies too intensely, I can’t keep up. I’d die studying like that.”

“Okay.”

“Want to get late-night food?” Yang Shikun asked everyone.

“Let’s go!” said Jiang Zhixu.

At past 2 AM, almost all shops were closed except for street food stalls still lit up.

“Ladies first, you order.”

Jiang Rong and Jiang Zhixu ordered some dishes and passed the menu back.

Jiang Zhixu asked them: “Want some drinks?”

Yang Shikun: “Yes yes yes!”

Hao Ming glanced at him: “Don’t get drunk again and hug telephone poles…”

Before he could finish, Yang Shikun covered his mouth: “He’s talking nonsense.”

Xu Si ordered a case of beer and a hot milk for Jiang Rong. All his actions were noticed by Jiang Zhixu.

Jiang Zhixu could tell he was a very thoughtful person, especially kind to Jiang Rong.

The food came quickly. Xu Si opened a beer bottle and turned to ask Jiang Rong: “Do you mind the smell of alcohol?”

Jiang Rong leaned in to smell the bottle: “No.”

Five glasses clinked together.

“Happy New Year!” they all said in unison.

Jiang Rong kept her head down eating, watching the four others drink and play games. Xu Si put peeled shrimp in her bowl.

This scene was also caught by Jiang Zhixu. If Jiang Rong wasn’t sick, perhaps the two of them could have been very happy together.

After just a few drinks, Yang Shikun’s face was already red. Jiang Zhixu looked at his flushed face: “Is he drunk?”

“Not drunk, his face just gets red when drinking.”

Yang Shikun said this while pouring more into his glass.

By the end, only Yang Shikun had collapsed. Hao Ming’s hand rested on his nape, gently squeezing as he finished the drink left in Yang Shikun’s glass.

Jiang Zhixu held her glass, looking at Yang Shikun sprawled on the table, unable to hold back a laugh.

Hao Ming: “This is all his tolerance.”

Yang Shikun suddenly raised his head: “I’m not drunk.”

Then he collapsed again.

While everyone ate, Yuan Yuan ate the dried fish Xu Si bought it.

At past 4 AM, Hao Ming carried the drunk Yang Shikun out.

Xu Si hadn’t drunk much, his eyes still clear. He looked at Jiang Zhixu: “We’ll send you home.”

Jiang Zhixu looked at Jiang Rong: “No need, I can take a cab. Just send Rong Rong home.”

Despite this, Xu Si and Jiang Rong watched her get into the taxi.

Jiang Zhixu waved: “Bye bye.”

Jiang Rong smiled and waved back: “Bye bye.”

“Brother Si, I’ll take him back. You and Student Jiang be careful on your way.”

Hao Ming supported the somewhat drunk Yang Shikun.

“Okay.”

Xu Si looked at Jiang Rong: “Let’s go home too.”

“Okay.”

Xu Si suddenly stopped and lowered his head, leaning closer.

Jiang Rong looked at his suddenly approaching face, forgetting to breathe for a moment.

Xu Si adjusted her scarf: “There, let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Rong looked at the young man walking beside her, slightly dazed.

Walking together, there were many times she wanted to tell him about her illness. Before, she didn’t know how to bring it up. Now, she couldn’t say it.