ATLAS TRANSLATES

Chapter 6: Can We Meet?

Shen Mo looked up and saw Xu Si in the cafeteria. The young man was tall and slender, wearing a summer school uniform. The muscles on his exposed forearms were well-defined. His gaze was always cold when looking at others.

She remembered their first meeting. He wore a red basketball jersey that made him stand out on the court. During halftime, he casually lifted his shirt to wipe the sweat from his forehead. Someone beside him said something, and he smiled – that smile made Shen Mo fall head over heels for him right then. After that began her long journey of pursuing him.

Though Xu Si never gave her a proper glance, it didn’t affect her feelings for him.

“Brother Si, Shen Mo is over there.”

Xu Si glanced over and walked towards her with his food tray.

Just as Shen Mo was about to speak, Xu Si said, “You’ve found my desk mate?”

“Yes, the new student?”

Xu Si looked at her and said coldly, “Don’t bother her.”

Shen Mo flipped her long hair. “Alright, but can I get your contact info, classmate Xu?”

Yang Shikun watched Xu Si’s expression, knowing that if Shen Mo weren’t a girl, Xu Si would probably just tell her to get lost.

“In your dreams,” Xu Si replied.

Yang Shikun glanced at Shen Mo, thinking this response was actually nicer than telling her to get lost.

Shen Mo asked the girl beside her, “Don’t you think he looks especially handsome even when he’s saying ‘in your dreams’? Oh no, I’m falling even more in love.”

The girl responded, “Handsome… very handsome…”

“Brother Si, want to play basketball?” someone asked.

Without looking up, Xu Si replied, “No.” His slender fingers swiped across his phone screen, clearing matching blocks in a game.

A text message popped up on his phone. He was about to dismiss it when he saw the words “I’m Mom.” Opening the message from the unknown number, it read: “I’m Mom. Can we meet, little Si?”

Xu Si glanced at it once before blocking the number. Feeling irritated, he turned off his phone and leaned back in his chair, letting out a heavy sigh.

The story was almost laughable. Back then, Xu Hengyu had built his business from scratch. Though they weren’t wealthy, their family was happy. Over the years, he never shortchanged his wife – even when his monthly income was just a few thousand, he would still buy her bags worth tens of thousands. Xu Hengyu carefully grew his business for many years, slowly making progress.

Later, when a business partner deceived him, losing hundreds of thousands and leaving them in debt, Xu Hengyu still never neglected his wife. But one day, his mother suddenly started packing her things and told him, “I’m leaving.”

Xu Si was only seven then. He hugged her legs, crying and begging her not to go. But his mother just turned back with a cold look and said, “I don’t want to live like this anymore.”

“Don’t you want me anymore?”

She looked at him like he was a burden, her words cutting into his heart like knives: “I don’t want to drag along extra baggage.”

Xu Hengyu didn’t blame her for leaving. He only blamed himself for not being capable enough to give her a good life. After that, he threw himself into his work, barely smiling anymore, and grew especially cold toward Xu Si, his own son.

As Xu Hengyu’s business grew and he made more money, he still wasn’t happy. Nothing Xu Si did could earn his praise or even a smile. For many years, he never remarried. His phone screen still showed their first photo together, and he kept their photo in his wallet.

In second year of middle school, Xu Si came home to find the living room filled with the sharp smell of smoke and alcohol. The table was covered with cigarette butts and bottles. Xu Hengyu lay drunk on the sofa, tightly holding a photo of a beautiful woman in a white dress, smiling shyly at the camera.

In all those years since his mother left, Xu Si had only seen his father as steady and serious. This was the first time he’d seen him so undone.

As he helped his father to bed, a red invitation fell from his pocket. The gold-embossed cover opened to reveal glaring names and a photo with a red background. In it, the woman smiled happily at the camera beside a strange man.

Xu Si quietly put the wedding invitation back and left the room. Shen Yuchun, his mother, was remarrying.

When his mother had abandoned him without hesitation, he couldn’t move past it for a long time. He thought if he ever heard from her again, he would scream and demand answers: Why did she abandon him? Why did she leave Xu Hengyu? Why didn’t she want him? But when he actually received this news, he couldn’t describe his feelings. He hadn’t forgiven her, but suddenly it all seemed less important.

Xu Hengyu seemed to age ten years overnight. For all those years, he had fantasized about her return, still waiting for her. Sometimes Xu Si thought his father’s devotion was laughably foolish, waiting for someone who never loved him…

Xu Si lowered his eyes, turning his phone on and off. His fingers tightened until his knuckles turned white, his heart feeling blocked. Even after so many years, he realized he still couldn’t let go.

Opening his phone again, he couldn’t focus on his usual games. He swiped the screen a few times before turning it off. He lay on his desk, covering his head with his jacket and closing his eyes.

Jiang Rang glanced at him before turning back to her work.

“Si…” Yang Shikun turned to speak to Xu Si, but seeing him asleep on the desk, turned back around.

In his dreams, Xu Si returned to his childhood. Shen Yuchun, wearing a white dress, held him in her arms, smiling brightly. The scene changed to her pulling a suitcase, saying, “I don’t want to drag along extra baggage.”

“Wake up… school’s over.” A girl’s sweet voice reached his ears.

Xu Si opened his eyes, bloodshot, startling Jiang Rang. He removed his jacket and said hoarsely, “Thanks.” Then he left.

Yang Shikun called after him, “Brother Si, wait up!” but Xu Si walked quickly, showing no sign of slowing down.

As Jiang Rang packed up her books, Luo Xing came over. “Let’s walk together.”

Jiang Rang looked up and softly replied, “Okay.”

Luo Xing linked arms with her affectionately, walking on her right. “Qiao Qiao, you don’t live in the dorms either?”

Jiang Rang shook her head. “No, I don’t.”

She couldn’t live in the dorms – many things would be inconvenient, and later, she might be away from school for long periods.

Luo Xing smiled. “I don’t either. We can go home together from now on.”

“Okay.”

At the school gate, Luo Xing saw her parents waiting and waved to Jiang Rang. “I’m going now, see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”