ATLAS TRANSLATES

The taxi drove from her aunt’s house to Tong County’s long-distance bus station, passing through the main road of Fucun Town.

Luo Jingyu’s mood was calm now, finally having a chance to properly look at the place where Huanhuan was born and grew up.

They passed by the elementary and middle schools where Zhan Xi studied. As the car drove on, Luo Jingyu’s gaze lingered on the increasingly distant school buildings until they disappeared from view. He turned back to sign to Zhan Xi: [I’ve never seen your childhood photos, I can’t imagine what you looked like.]

Zhan Xi smiled and replied: [When we go back for New Year’s, I’ll show you. I was very cute as a child too.]

She told Luo Jingyu that in high school, she tested into Tong County, which was far from home. Students from town who got in all lived in dorms, but her mom wouldn’t let her stay in the dorms, so she had to take the town bus to school every day, leaving early and returning late.

In Luo Jingyu’s eyes, this was a beautiful town. The streets were clean, the buildings were orderly, and after leaving the town center, you could see many factories. Zhan Xi told him the local economy was doing well, with quite a few tourist attractions that drew visitors from Qiantang on weekends.

“Next time, I’ll take you to see the attractions,” Zhan Xi said dreamily. “There’s one place that’s supposed to be really fun – my brother went but I haven’t been. Let’s go together next time!”

Luo Jingyu smiled and nodded. As long as he was with Huanhuan, he was happy to go anywhere.

He had never been to Tong County before, let alone Fucun Town. Previously, Tong County was just an ordinary place name to him – a county under Qiantang’s jurisdiction, unfamiliar and far away.

But things would be different now. Would he marry a girl from Fucun Town in Tong County? Become a son-in-law here? Ah, would they need to discuss whose family to spend New Year’s with?

Oh no, if he spent New Year’s Eve with Huanhuan in Fucun Town, would his parents be unhappy?

Could they take turns? One year with each family? Fortunately, he had a sister, and Huanhuan had a brother…

Suddenly his arm was hit. Luo Jingyu snapped out of his daydream to find Zhan Xi squinting at him, asking, “What are you thinking about?”

Luo Jingyu blushed. His thoughts had wandered too far – if he kept going, he’d be thinking about which kindergarten their children would attend.

Oh, children…

This issue actually hadn’t been resolved yet.

Huanhuan told him not to tell her parents about the potential hereditary nature of his deafness yet, nor mention anything about his family’s health conditions. They should first let her parents accept their relationship, and discuss other matters later.

Although Luo Jingyu knew keeping things from her parents wasn’t right, this was the joint suggestion of Zhan Jie and Zhan Xi, so he could only agree.

—

After Zhan Xi and Luo Jingyu returned to Qiantang, they immediately threw themselves back into their busy work.

The Y Country International Film Festival would open in mid-October. Time was tight, and Luo Jingyu couldn’t delay Du Hengzhi. After making minor modifications to the dress design, Zhan Xi emailed it to Du Hengzhi.

The twilight mist flowers were actually very small – a single bloom wasn’t eye-catching on its own. Their beauty came from growing in dense clusters.

In Du Hengzhi’s original design, the flowers on the skirt were more concentrated, closer to their natural state, and positioned lower. After Luo Jingyu’s modifications, there were fewer flowers arranged irregularly on the skirt, with some areas sparse and others dense. The focus was on the right hip, becoming increasingly sparse towards the bottom, creating a scattered effect.

He had Zhan Xi explain to Du Hengzhi that if the flowers were placed too low on the skirt, they would definitely add weight and make it harder to achieve that floating effect when walking. Since Yu Xi was tall with a slim waist, moving the flowers up wouldn’t make her torso look bulky. The visual focus would be more concentrated. He truly felt that if Yu Xi walked the red carpet with flowers all over the skirt, it would look too heavy.

After discussing with Yu Xi’s team, they accepted Luo Jingyu’s suggestions. Soon, the great designer Du Hengzhi drew up the modified design. After several rounds of revisions, the dress was finally finalized and moved into the measurement and tailoring phase.

Zhan Xi wasn’t idle either. With all the accessories for the Hanfu Festival completed, she and Luo Jingyu packed and shipped them from home.

The originally clean living room suddenly became messy and dirty, filled with cardboard boxes, tape, and shipping labels… Thinking about Little Fish’s future business operations, Zhan Xi realized they really needed a dedicated workspace. Working from home like this wasn’t sustainable – home should be cozy and tidy to feel comfortable.

Going forward, Luo Jingyu worked on Hanshang Hanfu orders at home while Zhan Xi occasionally strolled through the creative district, checking out soon-to-open shops one by one, quietly observing their business conditions while looking for suitable store locations.

She had looked at several storefronts before, but they all had various shortcomings. The shops that were good in all aspects had very expensive rent, making it hard to decide. Zhan Xi didn’t have much money – opening the store would require using Luo Jingyu’s savings, so she had to be very careful about the rent budget.

Little Fish’s earnings were all hard-earned money. Zhan Xi would absolutely not spend it carelessly.

Walking from one end of the street to the other, several hundred meters long, Zhan Xi recorded the business types of every shop on both sides. Counting them up, there were many cafes, bubble tea shops, and dessert places. Although they all had different creative themes, the general categories inevitably overlapped, which worried her.

At the end of the street, Zhan Xi saw a big tree with a crown so large it blocked half of the storefront behind it. That shop was vacant, with three storefronts across two floors. The interior had been stripped bare, with a lock on the door and a “For Rent” sign with a phone number on the window.

Zhan Xi stood in front of the store looking around for a while, then walked further back to look up at the second floor. The second-floor windows should have a view of that big tree’s canopy.

She thought for a moment, then saved the rental phone number in her phone.

—

A few days later, the Western Town Hanfu Festival opened with great fanfare.

Western Town was an ancient water town, an hour and a half drive from Qiantang, and normally a well-known tourist spot. Luo Jingyu and Zhan Xi invited Luo Xinran and Pipi Xia along. The four of them rode in Pipi Xia’s car to go sightseeing and booked one night’s accommodation in the ancient town.

This time, Zhan Xi was well-prepared, bringing two sets of Hanshang’s autumn Hanfu that Susu had given her. However, Susu had one small request – she hoped Zhan Xi would post photos wearing the Hanfu on Xiyu’s official account and Weibo. Her face could be masked, just noting they were Hanshang products.

“I’m like their spokesperson, haha,” Zhan Xi said happily to Luo Jingyu after receiving the clothes. “Little Fish, make me a flower to match these two outfits!”

Luo Jingyu smiled and nodded in agreement.

In Zhan Xi’s heart, Teacher Luo was her personal stylist who could do all sorts of hairstyles and make various hair accessories. She thought if he could learn makeup, it would be even more perfect – she could go out without having to think about anything.

So walking along Western Town’s ancient streets, Zhan Xi’s dress floated gracefully, her long hair falling over her shoulders, with an autumn sea flower that Luo Jingyu made for her adorning her upswept hair.

The Hanfu Festival lasted a week and lived up to its name – young men and women in Hanfu were everywhere in the ancient town. The girls were dressed beautifully, and Zhan Xi and Luo Jingyu even saw several Hanfu girls wearing Xiyu’s floral accessories. The two of them followed behind the young ladies like thieves, admiring their work and secretly discussing their thoughts in sign language.

Along the way, Zhan Xi felt like she had traveled back in time to ancient times. Only looking at her three companions reminded her they were still in modern society.

None of her three friends would wear Hanfu with her. Luo Jingyu still wore casual clothes, and not only that, he wore a mask with a camera hanging around his neck, diligently taking photos for everyone the whole way.

When night fell, all the red lanterns in the ancient town lit up.

At the dock, a girl in red lifted her skirts, stepping onto a black-awning boat with the help of a gentleman in white.

In the deep corridors, several girls gathered together giggling and taking selfies.

The restaurants large and small along the street were filled with boys and girls in various Hanfu styles from different dynasties. Pipi Xia watched in amazement, his heart itching with desire. He said tomorrow he would get a general’s armor to wear, making the other three burst out laughing.

“What style would suit Little Fish?” Pipi Xia asked.

Zhan Xi looked at Luo Jingyu and uncertainly asked back: “The scholarly type?”

“Like Ning Caichen?” Pipi Xia thought for a moment. “No, scholars are too silly – more like a hidden master.”

Luo Xinran suggested: “Like those white-robed masters in immortal dramas?”

Zhan Xi still felt it wasn’t quite right: “Actually I think he’d look good all in black, gallant and heroic, like a young swordsman who’s cold on the outside but warm-hearted!”

“Haha, I can picture it, like the male lead in a wuxia drama,” Luo Xinran laughed.

Luo Jingyu couldn’t understand what they were saying, only knowing the three people kept looking at him. Zhan Xi noticed his confused expression and explained with a smile: “We’re discussing what kind of Hanfu would suit you. When will you wear it with me?”

Luo Jingyu frowned and waved his hands repeatedly. He really wasn’t interested in wearing Hanfu, feeling it was too showy. He was someone who wanted to be invisible when going out – how could he want to become the center of everyone’s attention?

October had entered autumn, with temperatures dropping daily and big differences between morning and evening.

The four of them had worked up a sweat during their daytime sightseeing, but walking along the ancient town’s canals at night, the cold wind made them feel the deep autumn chill.

Luo Jingyu’s jacket was already draped over Zhan Xi’s shoulders. The two walked hand in hand slowly along the stone-paved road. Not far away, people were releasing flower lanterns into the river. Zhan Xi looked on enviously, tugging Luo Jingyu’s hand saying: “I want to do that too!”

She called out to Luo Xinran walking behind them, “Xinran, Xinran, want to release lanterns?”

Zhan Xi had been very happy all day. Luo Jingyu smiled and led her over, buying a small flower lantern.

Luo Xinran didn’t want to play, but Pipi Xia did, so he bought one too. Zhan Xi crouched by the riverside, giving the lantern a gentle push. The warmly glowing flower lantern gradually drifted away with the current.

She stood up and closed her eyes, pressing her palms together to make a wish. Luo Jingyu stood beside her, turning his head to gaze at her quietly.

Suddenly large clouds of white mist spread across the water – it was the scenic area’s special ethereal effect. Tourists cheered and snapped photos enthusiastically, but the noise couldn’t reach Luo Jingyu’s ears.

To his eyes, everything was natural, just mist rising. His beloved girl stood prettily beside him, still with eyes closed.

The crescent moon hung in the sky, the scenery along the canal glittered brilliantly at night, black-awning boats drifted slowly past, and several small flower lanterns floated on the water, appearing and disappearing in the mist.

Luo Jingyu looked at Zhan Xi in her light pink dress, head slightly bowed. He could see her thick eyelashes, delicate nose tip, and rosy lips. Set against the background of small bridges, flowing water, dark tiles and white walls, with white mist swirling around her and the breeze stirring her long hair and skirts, she was as beautiful as an ink painting.

That night back at the inn, Luo Jingyu couldn’t even wait to shower. He swept Zhan Xi up in his arms and gently laid her on the bed.

He didn’t let her undo her hair or take off her Hanfu dress, just bent down to kiss her – kissing her lips and earlobes, kissing her chin and collarbone. Gradually his breathing grew heavy, kisses turned to licks, and licks turned to bites.

Zhan Xi tilted her head back, feeling his passion and once again hearing his irrepressible whimpers. She secretly thought that her Little Fish wasn’t as well-behaved as he appeared…

This session of lovemaking went on for quite a while before ending. Zhan Xi’s nicely pressed dress was all wrinkled. She and Luo Jingyu showered together in the bathroom before returning to bed to rest.

This inn was decorated in an ancient style, with every detail exuding classical charm. You could tell the owner had put a lot of thought into it.

Zhan Xi stared blankly at the traditional Chinese scholar’s four treasures displayed on the desk. Luo Jingyu stroked her face and signed: [What are you thinking about?]

Zhan Xi signed back: [I’m wondering if we really should open a cafe.]

Luo Jingyu: “?”

What? Were they not opening a shop? This was Luo Jingyu’s thought.

Zhan Xi knew he had misunderstood and explained: “I mean, do we have to open a cafe and dessert shop? Could we do something else? That street already has so many of those kinds of shops.”

Luo Jingyu understood her meaning. He pressed his lips together, thought for a while, then signed: [Actually, about opening a shop, I have some ideas.]

“What ideas?” Zhan Xi asked curiously.

Worried his signing wouldn’t express it well, Luo Jingyu took out his phone to type: [Tea drinking, tea ceremony, dim sum, Chinese style, tea house.]

Zhan Xi’s eyes lit up.

Opening a shop was her idea. Luo Jingyu had agreed immediately without much consideration.

She decided where to locate it and what kind of shop to open. Throughout the process, Luo Jingyu just kept saying “okay okay, whatever you think is best,” as if he was only responsible for providing money.

It turned out he had his own ideas all along but had never told her.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?” Zhan Xi asked, puzzled. “This is such a good idea! I never even thought of it!”

Luo Jingyu was very embarrassed and signed: [I’m not as smart as you, not as educated. There’s a lot I don’t understand. I was afraid of giving bad suggestions and making things worse.]

“How could it be a bad idea? It’s such a great concept!” Zhan Xi hugged Luo Jingyu and said helplessly, “Little Fish, don’t be like this anymore. Tell me whatever ideas you have. Really, truly, you’re too reserved. You don’t know this, but I actually really admire you. I know you just aren’t good at expressing yourself, but you actually have many good ideas. See? If you hadn’t said anything, I would have been lying awake worrying about this.”

Her words really boosted Luo Jingyu’s confidence. Feeling that he could actually be helpful, he smiled with curved eyes and signed while deflecting blame: [I’m not keeping quiet, I thought you had it all figured out. Your ideas must be better than mine. You didn’t ask me, so I didn’t say anything.]

“So it’s my fault now?” Zhan Xi pinched his waist, making him yelp “ow.” Zhan Xi discovered his cry actually sounded quite nice – a clear, bright voice – so she pinched him again, wanting to hear it once more.

“Ah ow…” This time Luo Jingyu wouldn’t stand for it. He flipped over and pressed her down, holding her tightly, his eyes showing displeasure.

Zhan Xi panicked and kept apologizing: “No no no, don’t be angry, I’m sorry, you can pinch me back if you want.”

Of course, Luo Jingyu couldn’t bear to pinch her – it would hurt too much. He freed his right hand and signed in the air: [Call me.]

Zhan Xi: “?”

Call him? Call what? Usually when they played games, she was the one asking Little Fish to call her. Zhan Xi didn’t understand – call him… but he couldn’t hear anyway.

Oh well, she tried tentatively: “Little… Fish.”

Luo Jingyu was still pressing down on her, their eyes locked. He shook his head.

Zhan Xi: “Luo Jingyu.”

The man shook his head.

Zhan Xi: “Mr. Luo?”

The man shook his head again.

Zhan Xi: “…”

A light bulb went off in her head. She hesitantly said: “Teacher… Luo?”

His slightly cold gaze finally softened, seemingly very satisfied, and the corners of his mouth turned up.

Zhan Xi called again sweetly: “Teacher Luo!”

Luo Jingyu smiled even more happily.

Zhan Xi also smiled sweetly, calling “Teacher Luo” over and over, but soon couldn’t smile anymore as she realized she had ignited someone’s fire again.

…

Halfway through their game, Zhan Xi couldn’t take it anymore and covered Luo Jingyu’s mouth.

She was almost crying: “Keep your voice down, we’re not at home. At home it doesn’t matter, but the soundproofing here doesn’t look good, and Xinran is next door!”

Luo Jingyu blinked at her, his expression slightly innocent. He nodded, then bit his lip and closed his mouth, speeding up his movements…

—

From mid-October, several things happened simultaneously.

The first was renting the store.

Zhan Xi and Luo Jingyu met with the landlord to look at the shop by the big tree. Because it was at the end of Creative Street, it was far from the subway station at the street’s entrance but close to the parking lot – transportation-wise it had both advantages and disadvantages. And because of the blocking tree, the rent was cheaper than surrounding shops.

“This tree is ancient and can’t be moved. It’s really annoying,” the landlord said helplessly. “But it has one advantage – it’ll be cooler in summer. This shop faces west, so the afternoon sun is quite strong.”

Zhan Xi and Luo Jingyu stood in the empty second floor, looking at the lush tree canopy outside the window. They didn’t see it as an obstacle – all that greenery was quite nice.

They had already decided to open a Chinese-style tea house that would serve not only tea but other drinks and snacks, both Chinese and Western style but leaning more Chinese.

The pressed flower elements would integrate well. Experience classes would be held on the second floor, while the first floor would display and sell pressed flower works. They could also hold regular handcraft salons – not just pressed flowers, since Teacher Luo knew how to make many things, some suitable for children, so they could do parent-child activities.

The classical decoration would be great for photos and check-ins. Luo Jingyu said the decor must be distinctive – it might even become an internet-famous spot.

Zhan Xi laughed and asked: “You even know about internet-famous spots?”

Luo Jingyu: “…”

And so, they unanimously decided to rent the three-storefront shop beside the big tree, with the lease starting November 1st.

The second matter was the lawsuit against Fang Xu and Guan Rulie.

The trial finally began, with Luo Jingyu as the plaintiff. However, since he was deaf, he authorized his lawyer to speak for him throughout.

The entire trial went very smoothly. Fang Xu and Guan Rulie had almost given up resisting, only asking for lighter sentences and willing to pay more compensation.

The judge likely considered that the case hadn’t caused particularly serious personal or property damage to Luo Jingyu, the social impact was relatively small, the timespan was short, and the defendants’ entire criminal behavior was clear and straightforward. In the end, Fang Xu and Guan Rulie were sentenced to six months of controlled release – meaning they weren’t imprisoned but had certain freedoms restricted – and were each ordered to pay Luo Jingyu a large sum in compensation.

Fang Xu and Guan Rulie accepted the verdict in court and stated they would not appeal.

Luo Jingyu’s side also accepted this outcome.

With this, the matter was completely concluded.

The third thing was making Yu Xi’s dress.

Luo Jingyu packed his suitcase with pressed flower tools and spent an entire week in Du Hengzhi’s studio, staying nights with Zhan Xi at a nearby budget hotel within walking distance.

For his first time doing such a commission, Luo Jingyu couldn’t succeed in just one try. He first did a test run to check the effect. After Du Hengzhi approved, they formally began work on the purple dress.

They had also tested the waterproof resin on the sample piece with good results, but Luo Jingyu didn’t dare be careless. After finishing work each day, he kept experimenting with other pressed flower pieces.

The people at Du Hengzhi’s studio said Teacher Luo was practically becoming their honorary employee – eating three meals there daily, arriving early and leaving late, drinking coffee like water, truly a model worker.

But Zhan Xi knew this was always Luo Jingyu’s work attitude – either not do it at all, or do it to the absolute best. He even saved time on commuting to and from Blue Bird Paradise, sending his cat gift to a pet shop for boarding, throwing himself completely into making this dress.

Finally, through Luo Jingyu and Du Hengzhi’s joint efforts, the dress was completed and handed over to Yu Xi’s team to take to Y Country.

Back at Blue Bird Paradise, Luo Jingyu slept for a day and night before recovering, but he still couldn’t rest. There were still some Hanshang orders unfinished – he had to keep working, and calculating the production schedule, he would need to work overtime.

In late October, Luo Jingyu finally completed all the “Fish Playing with Lotus” accessories. After shipping the last batch, he let out a huge sigh of relief.

One day in early November, Luo Jingyu and Zhan Xi went to Du Hengzhi’s studio to watch the Y Country International Film Festival closing ceremony livestream on the projection screen in his office.

Originally, Yu Xi was supposed to wear the twilight mist flower dress at the opening ceremony, but for some reason her team changed it to the closing ceremony – meaning she would wear this dress to the awards ceremony.

Du Hengzhi felt it didn’t matter, though the only downside was the weather wasn’t cooperating. The opening ceremony had bright sunshine, but it was raining for the closing ceremony. Fortunately, it wasn’t pouring, just a light drizzle.

There was a time difference between Y Country and China – their red carpet was in the afternoon, but it was already late night in China.

This was Luo Jingyu’s first time watching a red carpet show from start to finish. The artists, directors, and crew members came from all over the world, with all kinds of skin colors. He didn’t recognize any of them.

Because it was a livestream, the subtitles were very simple. Zhan Xi and Du Hengzhi were listening to the commentary while Luo Jingyu watched in isolation.

However, Zhan Xi would help translate key information to him in sign language, like telling him this actress was also nominated for Best Actress, meaning she was Yu Xi’s competitor. Then Luo Jingyu would pay more attention to that star’s red carpet look.

He had Zhan Xi ask Du Hengzhi what were Yu Xi’s chances of winning.

Du Hengzhi laughed after hearing this: “To be honest, I don’t think she has a chance. Not because her acting isn’t good, but because at these international film festivals… how should I put it, it’s cultural differences. Foreigners probably still can’t accept that our country isn’t so poor anymore, you know what I mean. And Yu Xi’s film isn’t a tragedy either, it’s an art film. She acted very well, but I don’t think she has much chance of winning.”

Upon learning this, Luo Jingyu was disappointed for a while.

After waiting for a long time, Yu Xi finally appeared in the latter half of the red carpet.

She walked the red carpet with the Chinese director who was also nominated. Du Hengzhi, Luo Jingyu and Zhan Xi all stood up at once, staring intently at the projection screen.

The light rain fell steadily. For the first half of the red carpet, the male director held a transparent umbrella, gentlemanly shielding Yu Xi’s head to protect her hairstyle and makeup.

But her skirt was too big – it couldn’t possibly be covered by a small umbrella. Like the two men, Zhan Xi wasn’t concerned about whether Yu Xi looked good, only anxiously praying that the twilight mist flowers on her dress wouldn’t run.

Fortunately, the section exposed to rain wasn’t long. The latter half had a canopy. The male director put away his umbrella, and Yu Xi finally stopped to showcase her graceful figure before the many photographers.

She was so beautiful!

Her long hair wasn’t pulled up but styled carefully, with the left side falling in curls over her shoulder while the right was tucked behind her ear, revealing a sparkly purple earring.

Her makeup wasn’t as dignified and elegant as before, appearing much sweeter and gentler. Her aura had indeed changed from cool to romantic young lady.

Her skin glowed white, her swan neck, perfect shoulder lines, toned arms and waist unchanged as ever. The purple dress fit perfectly, made with light fabric. The full tulle skirt swayed gently as she walked and turned, the twilight mist flowers on the skirt eye-catching but not overwhelming. Her gaze was playful, like a twilight mist flower spirit who had descended to the mortal world, every smile and gesture captivating.

Zhan Xi and Luo Jingyu both watched in a daze, marveling that actors truly were actors. At the opening ceremony Yu Xi had walked with a mature sophisticated style in a big brand dress, but now in a completely different style of dress, even her aura had changed – so impressive!

Not until Yu Xi finished walking the red carpet, doing interviews, and signing autographs did the three people in the office come back to life.

Throughout the entire red carpet, there were almost no other women wearing purple. Among the foreign stars with high bridges and deep-set eyes, Yu Xi’s Eastern features stood out, her bearing elegantly perfect.

Du Hengzhi and Luo Jingyu high-fived and hugged tightly. They both knew this look was successful. Yu Xi had mastered that pure purple perfectly, and also mastered those twilight mist flowers that could have seemed cumbersome if handled poorly but became highlights when done well.

After the red carpet, Du Hengzhi didn’t pay much attention to the awards ceremony. He ordered a bunch of barbecue takeout, and the three of them ate and chatted in the office.

Zhan Xi scrolled through Weibo. Yu Xi had over 30 million followers. Her studio and manager had already posted professionally edited photos of her dress from Y Country, looking even more ethereally beautiful, though she herself hadn’t posted yet.

The comments were full of praise. Yu Xi’s style change hadn’t backfired – fans said their sister could totally rock the fairy princess look, both sweet and cool. Xi Xi was amazing!

Some asked if this was Du Hengzhi’s work again? Designer Du was too amazing! He kept discovering new ways to showcase Xi Xi’s beauty.

Gnawing on a chicken wing, Zhan Xi silently cheered: Your Xi Xi’s beauty is partly thanks to my Teacher Luo!

However, without approval from Yu Xi’s team and Du Hengzhi, this couldn’t be made public yet. Zhan Xi didn’t know when or how it could be revealed. To be frank, if Du Hengzhi took all the credit, Zhan Xi and Luo Jingyu had no recourse.

Du Hengzhi and Luo Jingyu clinked their beer cans and watched the awards ceremony casually.

It was already 2-3 AM. Luo Jingyu was exhausted, yawning repeatedly, just wanting to sleep. Who won what awards had nothing to do with him anyway – Du Hengzhi had said Yu Xi wouldn’t win…

At some point, as Luo Jingyu was dozing off on the sofa, his arm was suddenly smacked several times. He jumped in fright, opening his eyes to find it was Zhan Xi who had hit him.

He looked at her face in confusion. Zhan Xi’s eyes were wide open, not looking at all like someone who had stayed up all night. Luo Jingyu watched her lips moving rapidly but couldn’t tell what she was saying.

Zhan Xi quickly signed: [Yu Xi won, Yu Xi won, Yu Xi won!]

Luo Jingyu: “!!!”

Du Hengzhi was also stunned. Luo Jingyu looked at the projection screen – the award had already been announced, and Yu Xi was gracefully walking to the stage.

She was very excited, definitely not acting. After all, she was just a young actress not yet thirty, winning Best Actress at the Y Country International Film Festival – absolutely a highlight of her acting career.

Yu Xi stood on stage with tears in her eyes, holding the trophy and giving her acceptance speech.

The three people in the office were completely awake now. Luo Jingyu watched the actress in focus by the cameras – she wore that beautiful purple dress, with clusters and single blooms of twilight mist flowers on the skirt that he had made, that he had made with his own hands!

Not long ago they had been scattered across Du Hengzhi’s workbench as they discussed how best to attach them to the dress.

After drinking several cans of beer, Luo Jingyu felt he must be drunk. My god! How wonderful!

The pressed flowers he made were seen by people all over the world! From Asia, Europe, America, Oceania, Antarctica… oh no, Antarctica probably didn’t have people, only polar bears… oh no, that’s wrong too, polar bears are in the Arctic, Antarctica has penguins…

After the immense happiness, Luo Jingyu was exhausted, sleepy and drunk. He later fell asleep on Du Hengzhi’s sofa. After discussion, Du Hengzhi and Zhan Xi saw it was almost dawn and didn’t wake him, just brought a small blanket to cover him.

Du Hengzhi went to nap in the villa’s rest room while Zhan Xi drank a cup of coffee and stayed by Luo Jingyu’s side.

In the early morning, as Zhan Xi was sound asleep on another sofa, Du Hengzhi burst in shouting: “Everybody! Yu Xi posted on Weibo!”

Zhan Xi bounced up instantly. Luo Jingyu couldn’t hear and remained curled up sleeping soundly under the blanket. Zhan Xi opened Weibo to see Yu Xi had posted twice – the second post was a long acceptance speech with a photo of her holding the trophy.

The first was a repost of her dress’s professional photo set: [Yu Xi]: Purple is my lucky color. Thank you @Du Hengzhi lucien_du, thank you @Xiyu Pressed Flower Art for making my princess dream come true.

“Xiyu Pressed Flower Art”‘s Weibo followers exploded, going from several thousand to tens of thousands overnight. There were so many comments Zhan Xi couldn’t even read them all.

Under the post acknowledging Luo Jingyu as hearing impaired and showing his photo holding Little White Cat, Zhan Xi saw a comment from a fan:

[Fan]: Teacher Luo is truly an angel. Thank you for making Xi Xi so beautiful. This is my first time hearing about pressed flowers – they’re really so beautiful! Wishing you success in your future work and all the best. Keep going!

It was an ordinary comment, but it brought tears to Zhan Xi’s eyes.

She turned to look at the person on the sofa – her little angel lay on his side with his long legs curled up, bangs covering his eyes, breathing soft little snores, sleeping so sweetly.