ATLAS TRANSLATES

In the spacious living room, only the whale floor lamp remained lit, casting the sofa in a warm yellow glow.

Luo Jingyu sat on the sofa holding the panicked Gift, judging the magnificence of the fireworks outside by the cat’s reactions. It wasn’t until twenty minutes past midnight that Gift became less jumpy, gradually settling down to rest on his lap.

Luo Jingyu picked up his phone and opened Zhan Xi’s Moments again.

His “Happy New Year” was meant for her to see – he believed she would understand.

When posting that Moments update, he had actually been very nervous, unsure if it was appropriate, worried it might offend her. But in the end he couldn’t help himself. Though he didn’t dare message her directly anymore, at this moment between the old year and new, he just wanted to give her New Year’s wishes, nothing more.

What he hadn’t expected was that she would also post using that photo. So who was her “Happy New Year” meant for? Her friends, family? The cat? Or him?

And what did that random “very handsome” mean?

Gift was female, so “handsome” wouldn’t be used to describe her, right?

But in the photo, besides the cat, there were only hands.

Luo Jingyu looked at his left hand again, spreading his fingers and examining both palm and back – could she be talking about… his hands again?

So hands could be described as “handsome”? Luo Jingyu thought about it and figured that must be what she meant. His Chinese was poor, but Huanhuan studied Chinese literature, she definitely knew more than him. Besides, she had complimented his hands before.

He relaxed against the sofa back. This sofa was really comfortable – he’d chosen it after trying over twenty sofas at the furniture store. Before, he’d never thought about putting a sofa in his home. There wasn’t space, and he had no guests. Being alone, a comfortable chair was enough.

Until in Room 802, sitting side by side with Huanhuan on that small sofa chatting, sitting so close together, he realized his home needed a sofa too. When Huanhuan came over, they could sit together without barriers. The extra spot was for Gift – though the kitten was small now, it would grow into a big cat.

Actually, Luo Jingyu had never dared hope for anything more with Zhan Xi. Romance, marriage – he didn’t dare even think about it.

But Huanhuan was so wonderful… he simply couldn’t control himself. He wanted to see her, be near her, chat with her, be good to her, give her all the best things.

This was destined to be a one-sided love without results. He had originally thought it would last a long time, until Huanhuan found a boyfriend, and then he would quietly exit her life. Being able to accompany her as a friend for a while, he was already satisfied.

Who knew the dream would shatter so quickly – he didn’t even know how Huanhuan had discovered it.

Was he too forward? Indeed he had no experience, must have scared her.

She rejected him, crying so sadly – why did she cry? Was it guilt? Because he was deaf, did she feel she had hurt him?

He really wanted to tell her not to think that way. He was fine, this was normal. She was such an excellent girl, how could she possibly choose someone like him?

But he had no chance to say it now. His first love died as quickly as it bloomed, as brief as the fireworks outside the window.

—

When Zhan Xi posted that “Happy New Year” Moments and replied “very handsome,” she hadn’t thought too much about it. She just couldn’t help herself, even specially imitating Little Fish’s typing style, secretly delighting in it.

She knew Little Fish could see it, and she wasn’t afraid of him seeing.

She was only afraid of her family seeing it, or rather, afraid of Chi Guilan seeing it.

What Ji Hongzhe told her made her shudder, and she clearly knew that was indeed something her mother would do.

The same thing absolutely could not happen to Little Fish! Absolutely! Not! Allowed!

This was the promise Zhan Xi made in her heart.

Besides that, in relatively safe spaces, she didn’t want to be stingy with praise for Little Fish. He was so good, even helping take care of Gift during New Year’s – she didn’t know how to thank him enough.

The New Year atmosphere in the small town was simple but rich. There were gatherings in the town center, young people working outside had all returned home, every household had put up couplets and red lanterns, creating a lively and warm atmosphere.

However, Zhan Xi’s home was an exception.

Early on the second day of the New Year, Chi Guilan and Zhan Jie had an intense argument. It started because Zhan Jie wanted to take his son to Qin Fei’s parents’ home first thing in the morning, but Chi Guilan disagreed, insisting he wait until the fourth day.

This time Zhan Jie didn’t compromise, arguing violently with his mother.

Their father had already escaped. Zhan Xi watched coldly while hugging the sobbing Weiwei, thinking Zhan Jie deserved this – if he had agreed with Qin Fei earlier, wouldn’t everything be fine? Now putting on this show of chasing after his wife a thousand miles, angering their mother, and not even guaranteed to appease Qin Fei.

Finally, Zhan Jie grabbed his son and drove away.

After fuming for a while, Chi Guilan ran out shouting: “Ajie! Ajie! You haven’t taken the New Year goods I prepared for you!”

When their mother returned inside, Zhan Xi could tell from her expression that trouble was coming – the fire would now concentrate on her.

Sure enough, Chi Guilan put her hands on her hips and said: “You’ll both be the death of me! Your brother was unlucky marrying Qin Fei! If he had properly found a well-behaved girl to marry back then, how could this happen now?”

Zhan Xi defended Qin Fei: “What’s wrong with sister-in-law? Mom, this time it was clearly brother’s fault, why do you always speak ill of sister-in-law?”

“I’m speaking ill of her?” Chi Guilan pointed at her own nose. “Leaving her son behind to go to her parents’ during New Year’s, is that what a mother does? She’s capable, she can just never come back!”

Zhan Xi tried to persuade her: “You should stop meddling in their affairs. They’re both over thirty, they live well normally, but every time they come back you have to criticize them, then they fight. What’s the point of you always talking about them?”

Chi Guilan said: “As a wife, daughter-in-law, and mother, when she does things wrong of course I have to say something! I’m teaching her how to be a proper person!”

“I don’t see sister-in-law doing anything wrong!” Zhan Xi was exasperated. “You should be talking to my brother! He’s the one who’s an unqualified husband, son-in-law, and father!”

“Men prioritize their careers. Your brother isn’t fooling around outside, he comes straight home after work every day, that’s already very good!” Chi Guilan thought about it and got angry again. “No, I need to call her mother and have a good talk about Qin Fei. This can’t just end like this!”

Zhan Xi was terrified and quickly tried to stop her: “Mom! Don’t call! What are you doing? Are you only satisfied if you make them divorce?”

Chi Guilan turned to look at her daughter, her expression cooling: “Huanhuan, what do you mean?”

“I…” Zhan Xi didn’t dare say more, her back breaking out in cold sweat.

Chi Guilan didn’t pursue the phone call idea, shifting her attention to her daughter: “Right, tomorrow is the third day, your aunt has already arranged it for you. You better behave and go to that blind date!”

Zhan Xi shook her head: “I’ve already said, I’m not going.”

Chi Guilan lowered her voice to ask: “Why won’t you go? What are you thinking? He works at the court.”

“Even if he worked for the State Council I wouldn’t go!” Perhaps infected by Zhan Jie’s spirit, Zhan Xi wasn’t so afraid anymore. “Even if I went I wouldn’t like him, why waste time?”

Chi Guilan was confused: “Why wouldn’t you like him? You haven’t even met him!”

Zhan Xi raised her voice too: “I said I don’t want to date right now! Why can’t you understand?”

Chi Guilan pointed at her: “You- tell me honestly, are you secretly dating someone?”

It would have been better if she hadn’t said that. After she did, all the grievance and anger welled up in Zhan Xi’s heart. She shouted: “I’m not dating anyone! Do you want to check my phone? You can also call Sister Wenqin to ask! Aren’t you good at making phone calls?”

Chi Guilan: “…”

She sighed: “You’re my daughter, I look at your phone because I want to know if you’re making bad friends. I didn’t actually look. Wenqin is my niece, I called her wanting her to give you less work this month, so it wouldn’t interfere with your exam.”

Zhan Xi’s face turned pale: “Did you ever think about how I might not be able to stay at that company?”

Chi Guilan smiled: “That won’t happen, we’re relatives, she’ll give me that much face. Besides, you won’t stay at that company long anyway, Wenqin knows that too.”

“So everything you do is right, is it? You can lie about grandma being sick to trick brother and sister-in-law home for New Year’s. When job hunting you humbly ask Sister Wenqin for help, now you’re throwing your weight around, burning bridges! Sending out my photos for blind dates without my consent – why don’t you just put a sign on me and sell me at the market!” Zhan Xi’s heart turned cold. “Anyway, I won’t go to the blind date tomorrow. If you want to meet him, go yourself, it has nothing to do with me.”

This was her first time directly opposing her mother. Chi Guilan seemed not to have expected it, asking in disbelief: “Huanhuan, how did you become like this? You used to be so obedient.”

Zhan Xi said: “If you want an obedient daughter, I suggest you get a dog instead.”

With that, she ran upstairs “thump thump thump” and locked herself in her room.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, Zhan Xi called Luo Xinran with trembling hands: “Xinran, when are you going back to Qiantang?”

Luo Xinran was spending New Year’s at her aunt’s home in another province. After her parents divorced and started new families with new children, neither wanted to take care of her. Luo Xinran had grown up with her grandmother, grandfather and aunt.

Hearing something wrong in Zhan Xi’s voice, she quickly answered: “The fifth. What’s wrong? Did your mom scold you?”

“I’m so tired of being at home!” Zhan Xi said. “Then I’ll go back on the fifth too. I want to see you, talk to you.”

“Okay, I’ll let you know when I’m back.” Luo Xinran comforted her. “It’s alright, your mom is just like that, you know how she is.”

Zhan Xi was quiet for a moment, then said: “When I was in school, I could understand her being strict. I thought once I started working, became an adult, she would eventually let go. But now I see that even though my brother is thirty-five, she still tries to control everything. Because of her, my brother and sister-in-law couldn’t even spend New Year’s together. I just think, when I’m in my thirties or forties, will she still control me like this? When will I ever have real freedom?”

After listening, Luo Xinran took a few seconds before speaking: “Baby, you need to know that freedom isn’t something you get when others let go – freedom is something you fight for yourself. When you really want freedom, believe me, no matter how strictly your mom controls you, you can find a way to get it. Of course, you’ll have to pay some price. You don’t have it now only because you don’t want it badly enough.”

After hanging up, Zhan Xi sat by the bed for a long time.

Actually, her mother’s control over Zhan Jie had loosened somewhat, but her brother’s life was still affected by her everywhere. His marriage with Qin Fei too – getting worse year by year. During the five months Zhan Xi lived with them, she witnessed countless arguments. She had thought after she moved out they would return to their loving selves, but every time she saw them, they were still fighting.

So what would happen to her in the future? Would she be suppressed by her mother like Zhan Jie and Qin Fei? Even after marriage, after becoming a mother, as long as her husband didn’t meet her mother’s approval, would they still be scolded by Chi Guilan for ten years straight?

Just thinking about such scenes made Zhan Xi shudder.

—

Originally, Zhan Xi had planned to return to Qiantang on the seventh day of the New Year. After Zhan Jie left, Chi Guilan wore a dark expression every day, only forcing a smile when guests came.

Zhan Xi couldn’t stand staying even one day, because when guests came, she always faced the same topics – either praising her for being obedient and filial and pretty, or imagining her future wonderful career and marriage, as if her life had no other path.

So early on the fifth day, Zhan Xi packed her things and, taking advantage of her mom going grocery shopping, told her dad and secretly slipped out to take a taxi to the long-distance bus station.

As expected, half an hour later she received her mother’s deadly phone call, getting scolded thoroughly and ordered to return home immediately. Zhan Xi made up an excuse about needing to practice dance for the annual party with colleagues, not caring whether her mom believed it or not.

Fortunately, her mom didn’t come after her. When the bus started moving, Zhan Xi actually felt like she had achieved a great escape. She silently decided to only stay one night when returning for Qingming Festival tomb-sweeping, not return for Labor Day, Dragon Boat Festival, or Mid-Autumn Festival. As for the National Day holiday, that was still half a year away – she’d decide then.

Returning to Qiantang two days early, Zhan Xi didn’t know how to ask Little Fish to return Gift. She didn’t dare contact him, much less see him. She thought she’d wait until the seventh when he took Gift to the pet shop – no rush for these two days.

Luo Xinran’s plane landed in the afternoon. After contacting Zhan Xi, they arranged to meet at a bar that evening where Pi Pixia was performing, to support him.

It was a music bar, not too noisy, with customers quietly listening to music and talking softly.

Zhan Xi had only been to bars twice with Luo Xinran during university, never since graduating. She was such a novice she didn’t even know how to order, feeling very nervous entering the dim environment.

Luo Xinran led her to a booth with a view of the stage, ordering two drinks and a plate of snacks, saying: “I ordered something almost like juice for you, won’t get you drunk, just for the experience.”

Soon the drinks and snacks arrived. Zhan Xi stared blankly at the pink bubbling liquid without speaking.

Pi Pixia hadn’t gone on stage yet, coming to their table to hang out. He was born in summer, his full name Pi Zhixia – quite nice actually, but because his surname was Pi, everyone had always called him Pi Pixia (Mantis Shrimp), and he didn’t mind.

“Zhan Xi, long time no see.” Pi Pixia had a low husky voice and somewhat rugged appearance, with long messy hair, deep-set features, stubble around his lips, and wearing a leather jacket – his whole being exuded an artistic feel.

Zhan Xi smiled at him. Pi Pixia sighed: “Ah… seeing you makes me want to sing!”

“Don’t sing!” Zhan Xi shouted.

Pi Pixia had already started singing: “Other girls have flowers to wear, your father has too little money to buy. Tore off two feet of red string, I’ll tie it up for my dear Xi…”

Luo Xinran laughed till she nearly fell over. Zhan Xi reached out: “Stop! It’s still the New Year, if you want to be my father so badly, give me a red envelope first!”

“I’m treating today, just remember to clap enthusiastically later.” Pi Pixia said, kissed Luo Xinran’s cheek and left. Luo Xinran pushed him: “Get off!”

Zhan Xi: “…”

Why was she always the one being fed dog food¹?

The two girls hadn’t seen each other for a month and a half. Drinking and snacking, they started chatting.

Luo Xinran’s hair was still very short, but at least no longer showing scalp, styled quite handsomely – you could tell she was a spirited girl. She asked Zhan Xi: “What’s wrong with you lately? I can see something’s really off.”

Zhan Xi mumbled: “I don’t know how to say it.”

“Is it because of that elevator guy? The one with the cat master you posted about?”

“That’s my cat!” Zhan Xi corrected her, first briefly telling her about the kitten situation.

After listening, Luo Xinran analyzed: “A handsome guy, lives upstairs from you, shares a cat with you, is a freelancer, and then? You like him, your mom doesn’t approve?”

“My mom doesn’t know.” Zhan Xi paused, looking up at Luo Xinran. “Xinran, I haven’t told you, that person… he’s deaf and mute.”

Brief surprise flickered in Luo Xinran’s eyes, but not the big reaction Zhan Xi had imagined.

Zhan Xi asked: “You’re not surprised?”

“A little, but it’s okay.” Luo Xinran asked, “Did he confess to you?”

Zhan Xi shook her head.

“Then what are you worried about?”

“I…” Zhan Xi stammered, fingers anxiously fidgeting with her glass. “I rejected him, said we could only be friends. You know my mom would never agree. But Xinran, I still like him.”

Zhan Xi lowered her head, her voice full of confusion: “I think about him every day, want to talk to him whenever I open WeChat, keep remembering things that happened when we were together. We haven’t contacted each other for almost ten days, he’s ignoring me, and I’m even more afraid to talk to him – I was the one who rejected him, that’s right! But my cat is still at his place… how can he be like this… why did he take my cat away… wuwuwuwuwu…”

She started crying, and Luo Xinran quickly handed her tissues.

She thought for a moment and said: “Xier, can I ask you a few questions?”

Zhan Xi nodded through her sobs: “Ask.”

Luo Xinran then asked: “You say he’s deaf and mute, so how do you communicate when you’re together? Does he wear hearing aids? Can he speak? You probably don’t know sign language, right?”

Zhan Xi answered: “He taught me a little sign language. He can read lips, so I just speak normally, and when he wants to say something he types it on his phone for me to read.”

Luo Xinran imagined this communication method and asked: “Don’t you find it troublesome? Don’t you feel awkward when you’re with him?”

Zhan Xi blinked: “It’s not troublesome at all! Why would it be awkward? I chat really well with him, he’s really really such a good person, I’m always happy when I’m with him.”

Luo Xinran asked again: “Besides being handsome, what other good points does he have?”

Oh my! There were so many! Zhan Xi sniffled: “His good points are endless, and I won’t compare him to others, but just comparing to my brother, he completely outclasses my brother in every way, he’s really just such a wonderful person!”

“What about work?” Luo Xinran remembered Zhan Xi’s previous call. “You said he’s a freelancer? What exactly does he do? How’s his income?”

Zhan Xi answered: “He makes pressed flowers, very skilled, earns several times what I do. Have you heard of pressed flowers?”

Luo Xinran shook her head: “Never heard of it. I’ll look it up later. Xier…” She tried to analyze for Zhan Xi, “Your situation is very difficult. Never mind anything else, just the fact that he’s deaf and mute… I’m not discriminating against him, but even if his ears were fine, your mom would probably have trouble accepting a freelancer. Add this on top, really… sigh, you’re not me – if it were me there’d be no problem, who I’m with is entirely my decision. But for a normal family’s daughter, and a healthy one at that, what parents would agree?”

“I know! That’s why I’m troubled…” Zhan Xi started crying again. These past ten days had been so stifling. She thought after making things clear, she could rationally withdraw, but the reality was she couldn’t forget him at all, suffering torment every day, yet unable to think of any solution.

“He really… is so so good, of all the guys I’ve met since I was young, none have been better than him. I personally feel… being unable to hear or speak isn’t… I’ve never had any problem communicating with him…” Zhan Xi sobbed uncontrollably, covering her face with both hands, her slender shoulders shaking. “But my mom won’t agree, and she’ll hurt him. He’s done nothing wrong, it’s not his fault he can’t hear. Xinran, what should I do…”

People at the next table were startled by Zhan Xi’s crying and looked over. Luo Xinran quickly moved to sit beside her, pulling Zhan Xi’s head onto her shoulder to comfort her: “It’s okay, it’s okay, have a good cry and you’ll feel better. It’s alright little Xier, it’s just heartbreak, no big deal.”

Zhan Xi protested through her sobs: “I’m not heartbroken! I haven’t even gotten to fall in love yet, how could it be heartbreak! I haven’t even kissed him!”

“Okay okay, not heartbreak, not heartbreak.” Luo Xinran was sweating, patting her shoulder. “You should go home and get some good sleep. Things that can’t be helped, we have to learn to let go. Don’t contact each other, after a while it’ll be better.”

Don’t contact…

Zhan Xi grew more heartbroken: “My cat is still at his place!”

“Bring it back, bring it back, bring the cat back and then stop contact.” Luo Xinran had never seen Zhan Xi like this, looking at the half-finished drink on the table, thinking she shouldn’t be drunk from that.

Zhan Xi felt more and more heartbroken, wailing: “I know I’m a coward, I’m too afraid of my mom, I’m too scared to even imagine how my mom would hurt him if she knew he existed!”

“Xier.” Luo Xinran spoke in her ear, “Actually, I think with matters of the heart, if you can’t be together, it means you two aren’t right for each other. When two people are truly right for each other and determined to be together, who could keep them apart?”

Zhan Xi looked up with tear-filled eyes: “What if my mom hurts him?”

Luo Xinran smiled and asked: “How do you know he can’t handle it?”

“I don’t want him to get hurt!” Zhan Xi cried out in despair, “My mom, you know what she’s like!”

“Don’t think him so weak. I’m not afraid of your mom, and he’s a man, he should have that much backbone. Besides, this is a society of law, marriage and love are free – however much trouble your mom makes, she won’t break the law, right?” Luo Xinran said meaningfully, “Rather, could it be that deep down… you’re the one who’s afraid you can’t handle it?”

Zhan Xi froze, big eyes still filled with tears.

Luo Xinran stroked her hair, saying patiently: “If you want to give up, be decisive, don’t drag things out – it’s not good for either of you. If you don’t want to give up, then try. Between men and women, it’s just coming and going, miss one and there’s always another. No one says one relationship must end in marriage. Most important is that you understand your own heart, don’t have regrets.”

She smiled again, “Dating should be happy, not living in fear. Some things can have happy endings for everyone, some are destined to be impossible to satisfy both sides – it depends on how you choose. Little Xier, your problem is you’ve never dated before. Finally finding someone you like, you skip Hard mode and jump straight to Hell mode – I really admire you.”

Zhan Xi discovered that Luo Xinran truly deserved her reputation as someone whose articles got 100,000 views – just a few casual words could cause such mental collisions and emotional turmoil.

At this time, Pi Pixia took the stage. He was quite showy, immediately announcing his most beloved woman was in the audience and this song was for her.

Many people hooted and screamed, but Luo Xinran had no attention to spare for him, just gently comforting Zhan Xi.

Pi Pixia stood lazily on stage, holding the standing microphone with both hands. His weathered, melancholic voice filled the bar along with the live band’s accompaniment, striking straight to the heart.

Zhan Xi closed her eyes. It was a song she’d never heard before, but some lyrics made her tears flow even more strongly:

“… How much further until I can enter your heart How much longer until I can get close to you That person just out of reach though right beside me Also waiting to meet you Orbiting planets, how could they Possess you…”

—

When Zhan Xi picked up Gift from the vet, it felt like a dream – the kitten was still in that cage, just as she’d left it. But she knew that during these nine days, Gift had eaten and slept well, had plenty of space to move around, living far better than her.

Back in 802, Gift came out of the carrier and immediately got depressed seeing the environment.

The little brat even went to scratch at the front door, meowing non-stop. Zhan Xi angrily picked it up and glared: “Wake up, this is your home! Got used to the good life, huh? I haven’t mistreated you! I just bought you milk treats, more expensive than my own milk!”

But what do human sorrows matter to cats? For Gift, the cat tree was gone, the toys were gone, the big house to run around in was gone, and even the litter box cleaner wasn’t the one it liked – just… unhappy!

Zhan Xi slumped on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling lost in thought.

She wished she had x-ray vision to see through seven floors, turn a corner, and see what that person was doing.

She sat there for who knows how long, until Gift came to scratch her leg. Only then did she startle awake – time to prepare the cat food.

A few days later the Spring Festival holiday ended and Zhan Xi started work.

Yuan Sichen and Qian Yun had really gotten fat, earning several complaints from Wen Qin. But Zhan Xi had gotten thinner, dropping from 98 to 94 pounds at 5’7″.

Every time she took the elevator, she felt conflicted. When the doors opened, her heart would race in panic, then sink in disappointment seeing he wasn’t there.

She’d run into Gu Xinchi’s family, that uncle who said she was acting strange, many familiar neighbors, even Zhong Peng and Mo Yang after work, but never once Luo Jingyu.

The two boys just grinned seeing her. They couldn’t hear, and she didn’t have the courage to ask anything.

Luo Jingyu seemed to have disappeared from the building, while “Big Fish” disappeared from WeChat – after New Year’s Eve, he never posted another Moment.

Little Fish’s schedule was very flexible, while Zhan Xi’s was relatively fixed. She guessed he was deliberately avoiding her.

One day, two days, three days, four days… adding the previous days, they hadn’t contacted each other for over half a month.

Luo Jingyu disappeared from Zhan Xi’s life without leaving a ripple, disappearing completely and cleanly.

Gift readjusted to the simple life of 802, even growing closer to Zhan Xi, willing to show her its belly. But Zhan Xi couldn’t adapt as well as a cat, still unable to get used to life without that fish.

Until one day, when she was called to Manager Sun’s office during work…

—

February ninth, Mrs. Chi Jiang’s birthday banquet was set to begin on time in a five-star hotel’s banquet hall.

Early morning, Luo Jingyu brought Zhong Peng and Mo Yang to the venue. Little Li from the sculpture department also came, along with workers from the advertising company to install the backdrop.

They started work directly in the banquet hall.

The tree trunk and branches made of sculpting clay looked very realistic, fixed in their final position. Little Li made final adjustments according to Luo Jingyu’s requirements.

All the cherry blossom petals and leaves had been assembled into five-petal flowers, then made into small branches of five or eight flowers each, sprayed with fixative, ready to be installed on the trunk and branches on site.

The final tree would be nearly 3 meters tall, slightly scaled down from a real tree, with flowers filling all the branches. The layout still needed adjusting – Luo Jingyu estimated it would take six or seven hours.

He worked with the two boys simultaneously. Fortunately all three were deaf, able to communicate smoothly in sign language. While sitting on the ladder installing flowers, Luo Jingyu had to constantly watch their progress – if anything went wrong, adjusting later would be very troublesome.

The backdrop beside the cherry tree had a soft pink base with standing cards and fresh flower arrangements as accents, the flowers also arranged by Luo Jingyu.

The backdrop held a photo wall showing selected photos of Mr. and Mrs. Chi Jiang from their youth to present. The theme text was in Japanese which Luo Jingyu couldn’t read, but just looking at the photos showed how deeply in love the Chi couple was.

They worked from morning until past 4 PM, climbing up and down ladders. All the decorations were basically done. Luo Jingyu stood back to look, taking photos from various angles with his DSLR camera.

Dong Cheng came to the venue and was amazed after seeing it. Luo Jingyu breathed a sigh of relief, knowing this big project he’d worked on for a month and a half was finally complete.

He packed up his things preparing to leave the banquet hall, planning to take the team out for a meal. They couldn’t leave yet – after the banquet they had to dismantle the cherry tree, another delicate job that would take until midnight.

Crouching to pack his tool bag, Luo Jingyu stood up wanting one last look at the cherry tree. As he turned his head, he froze.

Under that cherry tree covered in pink and white petals stood a young woman. Her long hair fell over her shoulders, wearing a moon-white long-sleeved formal dress. Her eyes weren’t looking at the flowers, as if knowing all those blooming branches couldn’t compare to half her beauty.

Her gaze fell only on his face, her expression very calm. Yet this direct look was unbearable for Luo Jingyu. He quickly averted his eyes and strode toward the door.

1. This is a Chinese slang used when couples show affectionate behaviour, and people are forced to see it (single people are jokingly called ‘single dogs/dan sheng gou‘). Think ‘PDA’. ↩︎