ATLAS TRANSLATES

A light rain was falling, making the weather pleasantly cool. The autumn heat wave that had raged for a week was finally subdued by this fall rain.

It was now late September, and according to the weather forecast, Qiantang’s hot and humid weather was coming to an end.

Du Hengzhi stood idly in the corridor, holding a cup of hot tea with both hands, staring absently at a spot in the courtyard with curious eyes.

Chi Jiang Youri walked up beside him and asked in English: “Lucien, what are you looking at?”

Du Hengzhi took a sip of hot tea, pointed to a spot under the corridor not far away, and replied in English: “Isn’t it September now? There should be osmanthus flowers blooming, so why is there a cherry blossom tree here?”

Chi Jiang Youri laughed: “Ah, that’s fake.”

“Fake?” Du Hengzhi had actually guessed it was artificial, but since he hadn’t looked up close, he just thought the cherry tree looked incredibly realistic. Now hearing confirmation, his curiosity grew even stronger.

At this moment, Mrs. Chi Jiang slowly walked up beside them, letting out a small cough. Chi Jiang Youri supported her mother and said in Japanese: “Mom, it’s cold outside, you should wear more clothes.”

Mrs. Chi Jiang patted her hand with a smile. Seeing Du Hengzhi still staring at the cherry tree, she said to her daughter: “Everyone who sees this cherry tree in the courtyard is amazed.”

Chi Jiang Youri also smiled: “This is a testament to yours and dad’s love.”

Du Hengzhi couldn’t understand Japanese, so he turned to look at her. Chi Jiang Youri then told him the story of the cherry tree in English.

Chi Jiang Youri was twenty-eight, the only daughter of the Chi Jiang couple. She had been working in France as a fashion designer.

When Mrs. Chi Jiang turned fifty, she couldn’t come to China due to work, but received an email from Dong Cheng with photos and videos from the birthday celebration. She had seen the cherry tree in pictures, but this was her first time seeing it in person during her vacation visiting her parents in China.

Du Hengzhi was Chi Jiang Youri’s classmate and good friend from their university days in France. He was one year older than her and returned to work in Qiantang after graduating. Whenever Chi Jiang Youri came to Qiantang, she would invite him over for meals and small gatherings.

After hearing Chi Jiang Youri’s explanation, Du Hengzhi asked: “Yuri, are you saying this tree is completely handmade, not machine-made? The entire tree?”

After confirming with her mother, Chi Jiang Youri answered: “Yes, it’s entirely handmade. The trunk and main branches are made from sculpting clay by a sculpture professor. All the small branches, flowers, and leaves were made by another teacher. They came to install it on site and it took them a full day.”

“May I take a closer look?” Du Hengzhi pointed at the tree and asked.

Mrs. Chi Jiang and Chi Jiang Youri nodded together: “Of course.”

Du Hengzhi put down his teacup, put on his shoes, and walked through the light drizzle to the corridor on the other side of the courtyard.

He took off his shoes to step onto the platform, now standing under the cherry tree.

As a gentle breeze passed by, Du Hengzhi tilted his head back to examine the tree carefully, reaching out to touch the branches, cherry blossoms, and pistils.

“It’s made from fabric.” Looking up close, he could see clearly that each flower was different, whether in color or the size and curve of the petals. It truly wasn’t the uniform appearance of machine-made products, but closer to real trees in nature. There were fully bloomed flowers and unopened buds, with some deliberately made sparse, as if beaten by spring rain.

Du Hengzhi returned to the Chi Jiang mother and daughter, pointing at the cherry tree and asking: “What craft is this?”

Chi Jiang Youri said it once in Japanese and English, then added: “In Chinese it should be, tanghua. Ah, my Chinese pronunciation isn’t very good.” She smiled shyly, showing her two small canine teeth.

Du Hengzhi was clever and asked first in English then Chinese: “Hot pressing? Tanghua.”

“That’s right! Hot pressing.” Chi Jiang Youri said, “My mom knows how to do it, would you like to see her study?”

Mrs. Chi Jiang led the two young people into her study, taking out hot pressing tools to show Du Hengzhi one by one, with Chi Jiang Youri helping to translate. Mrs. Chi Jiang then took out two Japanese toad lily flowers, somewhat proudly asking Du Hengzhi to guess which one she made and which one was made by the teacher who created the cherry tree.

After careful examination, Du Hengzhi guessed correctly right away. Mrs. Chi Jiang was quite dejected: “Oh dear, am I really no match for that teacher?”

The two young people laughed together. Du Hengzhi held the Japanese toad lily branch and asked: “Can that teacher make all kinds of flowers?”

Mrs. Chi Jiang pointed at the flower in his hand and answered: “The fact that he can make this shows his level is already very high. He must know how to make all common flower types. If there’s a flower type he hasn’t learned before, as long as he has a real flower to look at, he should be able to deconstruct the flower, draw the pattern to study it, and then create it.”

Du Hengzhi thought for a moment and asked: “Auntie, do you have that teacher’s contact information? I’m very interested in this craft and would like to get in touch with him.”

After Chi Jiang Youri translated for her mother, Mrs. Chi Jiang nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes, Youri’s father’s assistant has his contact information.”

Du Hengzhi casually asked: “What kind of person is he?”

Mrs. Chi Jiang’s face lit up with a childlike smile as she clapped her hands and said: “Ah! He’s such an adorable young man!”

“More adorable than me?” Du Hengzhi had met the Chi Jiang couple many times and was comfortable enough to joke with them.

Mrs. Chi Jiang recalled the young man’s shy demeanor and couldn’t stop smiling: “More adorable than you! Xiao Zhi, if you meet him, you’ll definitely like him. He’s really such a well-behaved and gentle boy.”

“…” After hearing Chi Jiang Youri’s translation, Du Hengzhi complained to her, “Ah… why am I feeling a bit upset now?”

Chi Jiang Youri’s shoulders shook with laughter as she said: “I’ll ask my father’s assistant for the contact information later. What’s up? Do you have some work-related matters to consult with him about?”

“Yes, I have some ideas.” Du Hengzhi finally turned serious, “Recently, I’ve been thinking about how to approach a client’s design, and when I saw the cherry tree just now, some inspiration suddenly struck. I’d like to meet this teacher, perhaps we could collaborate.”

—

During this period, Zhan Xi and Luo Jingyu’s life was very peaceful.

With so many Hanfu festival orders to complete within a month, plus Wanshang’s orders, Zhan Xi had communicated with Susu about delivering in batches, with the final deadline at the end of October.

This meant that before the end of October, Luo Jingyu would be extremely busy, barely able to rest for a day. Meanwhile, Zhan Xi’s job was to continuously update content on several social media platforms and communicate with customers on Taobao, answering questions – also working without breaks.

They agreed to take a month off after this busy period, not opening during Christmas and New Year’s, instead focusing on business for next year’s Spring Festival and Valentine’s Day, as well as the Flower Festival.

For Luo Jingyu, every year’s work schedule revolved around these various festivals, but being with Huanhuan meant he no longer had to pull all-nighters like before. Huanhuan had said that money was endless, but life and health were more important.

Internet memory has an expiration date, with new scandals constantly emerging. After more than ten days, the incident about Fang Xu and Guan Rujie had faded online.

However, in real life, the lawsuit hadn’t gone to court yet.

“Little Fish Fish Handmade Hot Press” online shop had ceased operations, with those poorly crafted accessories being returned and refunded in bulk. Taobao intervened, and with the lawsuit involved, even if Fang Xu disagreed, he had to agree, losing a large sum of money.

His other online shops had also suspended operations, with several customer service staff resigning because they were ashamed of their boss’s behavior.

Things weren’t going well for Guan Rujie either, with her Weibo comments full of criticism. Many netizens suspected that [rrmft0429] was Guan Rujie, and the male voice in [rrmft0429]’s phone call was Mr. Fang, though Zhan Xi hadn’t publicly confirmed this, feeling she didn’t have the right – that was for the court to decide.

Through the lawsuit against Weibo, Zhan Xi and Luo Jingyu had learned that [rrmft0429] was indeed Guan Rujie. She pushed everything onto Fang Xu, since she had recordings of their multiple phone conversations. Fang Xu couldn’t deny it and had even come to ask Zhan Xi for a private settlement.

Zhan Xi accompanied Luo Jingyu to meet him, along with their lawyer, Luo Xinran, and Pipi Xia – a group of five people arriving in full force, not afraid of Fang Xu doing anything inappropriate.

Fang Xu also brought a lawyer. They met at a tea house, where Fang Xu was no longer his arrogant self. This man in his early thirties had visibly aged, pleading with Zhan Xi in a low voice, saying his parents were old and frail, that his initial intention was just to earn more money. Now he knew he was wrong and hoped Luo Jingyu’s side would withdraw the lawsuit. He could provide financial compensation, whatever amount they asked for.

Zhan Xi didn’t agree.

With so many people accompanying her, she wasn’t afraid at all. Since Luo Jingyu couldn’t speak, Zhan Xi naturally became his spokesperson.

She questioned Fang Xu: “We only won because we got evidence, but what if we hadn’t? What would have been the consequences? You would have destroyed Luo Jingyu! He always remembered your kindness, yet you dealt him such a heavy blow! You never respected him from start to finish, just treated him as a money-making pawn, taking advantage of his inability to hear, using your past help to constantly oppress him! After all these years, do you still think he owes you? You got upset when he wanted to work independently, so you tried to destroy him? Now that everything’s exposed, you want to ask for his forgiveness? Sorry, the law isn’t a game. Even if Little Yu agrees, I won’t! Let the court decide how to judge, they’ll determine the appropriate compensation. I have just one thing to say about this – absolutely no private settlement, and we don’t care for your apology.”

Pipi Xia and Luo Xinran both coldly stared at Fang Xu, with Pipi Xia even giving him the middle finger. Luo Jingyu’s expression, however, was much more peaceful.

He never thought this day would come, when Fang Xu would beg him. Thinking carefully about it, it was both heartbreaking and ironic.

Fang Xu’s voice carried a sob: “What do you want me to do for you to let me go? I really know I was wrong. Little Yu, I was wrong. Please forgive me for Brother Fang’s sake, considering I helped you start your business back then!”

“Mr. Fang, it’s too late!” Zhan Xi showed no softness, “No one will believe your apology is sincere. Even now, you’re only thinking about your own interests, just not wanting a criminal record. Stop bringing up how you helped Little Yu in the past! You’ve always looked down on him, thinking he couldn’t achieve much because he can’t hear. In my view, this mindset is completely wrong! Mr. Fang, Luo Jingyu and I will prove it to you, prove to everyone, that he will only get better and better.”

Fang Xu lost control of his emotions and shouted at Luo Jingyu: “Little Yu, say something! I’m begging you to let me go! Brother Fang just had a moment of confusion, Brother Fang has treated you well!”

Luo Jingyu had been quietly watching him, and now made a long series of sign language gestures.

After watching, Zhan Xi said to Fang Xu: “Little Yu says you were the one who wouldn’t let him go first. Also, he wants to tell you that his ceiling isn’t as low as you think – it’s actually your ceiling that’s too low to accommodate him.”

Fang Xu tried to plead more, but his lawyer stopped him, whispered something, and Fang Xu’s entire demeanor turned grey, his gaze towards Luo Jingyu becoming very cold.

Some prejudices are deeply rooted. Zhan Xi didn’t care how viciously Fang Xu might be cursing them in his heart – he wouldn’t dare say it out loud anyway, as they had brought more than one recording device.

This meeting came to an end. Before parting, Zhan Xi said to Fang Xu: “Mr. Fang, please have your lawyer prepare well. We’ll see you in court.”

This matter concluded for now, handed over to the lawyer. They had evidence, witnesses, and Guan Rujie’s online confession – the lawsuit would undoubtedly be won, it was just a matter of sentencing.

Whether or not Fang Xu and Guan Rujie would actually go to jail, they would definitely have criminal records, and civil compensation and emotional damage fees couldn’t be avoided. Most importantly, Fang Xu and Guan Rujie could never work in the hot pressing industry again.

—

On Sunday, Zhan Jie brought Zhan Kaiwei to Luo Jingyu’s home for dinner, very conscientiously bringing lots of ingredients.

Zhan Xi complained: “Little Yu is so busy, yet he still has to cook for you. We’ve been eating very simply lately.”

Zhan Jie rolled up his sleeves and said: “Just let him make that chicken, the Huadiao wine chicken. I can handle the other stir-fries, and steaming the crabs is no problem.”

Zhan Xi looked at him like she was watching a magic show: “Brother, you know how to cook now?”

Zhan Jie’s face was cold: “If I don’t learn to cook, should I eat takeout every day?”

Gu Xinchi also slipped over, but unfortunately, Weiwei hadn’t visited for so long that he had already completed that big LEGO train set. This time he brought another simpler set of blocks, and the two boys sat on the carpet building together while Gift walked around them curiously, watching all these people in the house.

After marinating and starting to cook the Huadiao wine chicken, Luo Jingyu returned to his workstation to continue making flowers. Zhan Xi stayed in the kitchen to keep her older brother company.

Zhan Jie, wearing an apron and cutting vegetables, asked her: “Are you going home for National Day?”

Zhan Xi was startled: “Of course not! Mom beat me so badly I had to go to the hospital, why would I go back to die?”

Zhan Jie: “…”

He said: “I told Dad about what happened to Little Luo on the phone, Mom probably knows too. But they don’t use Weibo, so they don’t understand all that online stuff. That… is Little Luo’s situation on track now?”

“More or less.” Zhan Xi leaned against the refrigerator door, picking at her fingers. “There are so many orders we can’t even finish them all, it’s quite tiring every day, I feel so bad for him.”

Zhan Jie sighed: “His work isn’t easy.”

Zhan Xi smiled: “Which job is easy?”

After a moment of silence, Zhan Jie still said it: “Mom wants you to come back for National Day.”

Zhan Xi looked up at him without saying anything.

Zhan Jie continued: “Bring Little Luo.”

Zhan Xi: “…”

“Don’t look at me like that.” Zhan Jie glanced at his sister. “I’ve actually been trying to persuade Mom all this time. Of course she doesn’t agree, saying if you insist on being with Little Luo, she won’t acknowledge you as her daughter anymore. I asked her back, saying you’re already sixty years old, Huanhuan is only twenty-four, what difference does it make if you don’t acknowledge her? How many good years do you have left?”

Zhan Xi muttered: “I still don’t want to go back. Just thinking about seeing her makes me anxious. She’ll definitely scold Little Yu, maybe even hit him. She cares so much about face, how would she explain Little Yu to relatives and neighbors? She’ll probably keep calling him ‘the deaf one’ – I can’t stand that.”

“There needs to be a process.” Zhan Jie finished cutting the vegetables and started heating oil in the wok. “You can’t keep avoiding it forever. If she never agrees, are you and Little Luo just going to keep dating like this?”

Zhan Xi lifted her chin: “Why not? Does her disagreement mean I can’t marry Little Yu? My household registration isn’t even at home, it’s at your place!”

Zhan Jie glared at her: “Don’t dream! I won’t give you the household registration book.”

Zhan Xi laughed: “Brother, are you really this clueless? I can go to the police station with my ID card and get a household registration certificate. I’m an independent adult, I can decide who I want to marry myself. What era is this, still hiding household registration books to prevent marriage?”

“Hey!” Zhan Jie was furious. “You’re already thinking about marriage? Zhan Xi, let me tell you, marriage isn’t that simple. This guy can’t marry you without spending anything. We still have engagement customs! There must be a bride price, right? Gold jewelry can’t be missing! Have you solved the children issue? Adding names to the house…”

“Stop!” Zhan Xi shouted, “What are you talking about! Brother, your oil is smoking! Quick, put in the vegetables!”

With that, she fled from the kitchen.

Zhan Jie waved his spatula and roared: “Haven’t even bought a car yet! Need to take wedding photos too! Can’t skip the honeymoon! Nothing can be left out!”

It was only because Luo Jingyu couldn’t hear that they dared to shout so loudly about marriage-related topics.

Zhan Xi slipped over to Luo Jingyu’s side, bent down and kissed his lips, surprising him. He quickly looked at the two boys on the carpet, only to meet Weiwei’s shocked gaze. Luo Jingyu’s ear tips immediately turned red.

Weiwei’s eyes were wide as saucers. Gu Xinchi covered his eyes, saying like an experienced person: “You’re still a child, don’t look, don’t look.”

Gift meowed beside them.

After lunch, the atmosphere at home was harmonious.

Zhan Jie sat cross-legged on the carpet with the two boys building LEGO, Luo Jingyu was bent over his workstation making flowers, and Zhan Xi curled up on the sofa petting the cat and browsing her phone.

When her phone rang, no one paid attention. Zhan Xi lazily answered: “Hello?”

On the other end was a pleasant male voice: “Hello, is this Mr. Luo’s manager, Miss Zhan?”

Mr. Luo’s manager – this title was quite interesting. Zhan Xi said: “Yes, that’s me. May I ask who’s calling?”

“Hello, my surname is Du, Du Hengzhi. Mr. Dong Cheng gave me your number.”

Mr. Dong Cheng… Zhan Xi remembered that interesting translator and assistant, and quickly said: “Oh, hello, what can I help you with?”

Du Hengzhi said: “It’s like this. I’m an independent fashion designer with a haute couture studio in Qiantang. A few days ago, while visiting at Mr. Chi Jiang’s house, I saw the cherry blossom tree Mr. Luo made. Um… I have a client who recently commissioned me to design a formal dress, and I have some inspiration I’d like to incorporate hot-pressed flower elements. I wonder if Mr. Luo would be interested? If possible, I’d like to meet with him to discuss details. Perhaps we could collaborate.”

Zhan Xi jumped up from the sofa. Both Luo Jingyu and Zhan Jie noticed her unusual reaction and looked over at her.

Zhan Xi looked back at Luo Jingyu, saw him blink gently with a questioning look in his eyes. She said into the phone: “Yes, Mr. Du, Mr. Luo would be happy to meet and discuss details.”

Du Hengzhi laughed on the phone: “That’s great, thank you. Let’s add each other on WeChat, and I’ll arrange a time and place later. I’m really looking forward to meeting Mr. Luo.”