ATLAS TRANSLATES

A new week began.

On Monday morning, Qin Fei left with Weiwei before 8 AM. Zhan Jie, who started work later, knocked on the study door before leaving and sat by Zhan Xi’s bed, feeling her forehead to find her temperature had dropped considerably. He asked, “Did you request sick leave?”

“Yes, I sent photos of my medical record to Sister Wen.” Zhan Xi stayed curled up in her blanket, speaking softly. “Brother, did you apologize to sister-in-law?”

Zhan Jie turned his head away with a “tch” sound: “Why are you, a kid, worrying about such things?”

“I said apologize to sister-in-law.” Zhan Xi frowned. “You were clearly in the wrong.”

Zhan Jie glared: “How was I wrong?”

“Ah, I won’t argue with you. Just be nicer to sister-in-law, help with housework sometimes, and at least take one day on weekends to take Weiwei out to play. You’re like a decoration hanging on the wall as a father.” Zhan Xi impatiently waved her hand at her brother. “Hurry up and go to work, I can take care of myself. Once this lightbulb moves out, you and sister-in-law can return to your sweet life together.”

Zhan Jie found it amusing: “What sweet life? Isn’t Weiwei a person too?”

Zhan Xi grinned: “Weiwei’s still little, what does he understand! He also sleeps early, hehe.”

“You talk like you know everything.” Zhan Jie ruffled his sister’s hair. “What do you want to eat when I come back tonight?”

Zhan Xi said: “I won’t be back for dinner. After signing the contract, I need to do the handover at the apartment. I don’t know what time I’ll be back, don’t worry about me.”

“Alright, take care of yourself. There’s porridge in the rice cooker, remember to eat it later.” Zhan Jie stood up, then turned back to remind her, “Is the real estate agency legitimate? Read the contract carefully. You’re grown up now, you should be able to handle this.”

“Don’t worry! It’s totally legitimate.” Zhan Xi urged him, “Go, go quickly.”

Left alone at home, Zhan Xi was very well-behaved while recovering, spending the whole morning in bed, drifting in and out of sleep. After having white porridge with side dishes for lunch, she went to the hospital alone for an IV drip.

By the time several bags of IV fluids were finished, it was already 4 PM. Zhan Xi felt much better and took a taxi to the real estate agency near Qingque Gate. After waiting for a short while, Agent Liu called the landlord over.

The landlord was a lady in her fifties. The contract signing went smoothly, and after Zhan Xi paid the rent, deposit, and agency fee, the three of them went to hand over the apartment.

The aunt was very talkative, chattering non-stop on the way to Qingque Garden.

“You’re lucky to rent this apartment. If it weren’t for how difficult it is to rent during year-end, I wouldn’t rent it at this price. Ask Little Liu if you don’t believe me – in spring and summer, you couldn’t rent it for less than 2,600!”

“I’m also picky about tenants. Little Liu said you’re a neat and tidy young lady working nearby, that’s why I agreed. Little sister, my apartment was recently renovated, you must take good care of it, okay?”

Zhan Xi nodded: “Don’t worry, auntie.”

Having just come from the hospital, Zhan Xi still wore her mask. As the three entered the building and waited for the elevator, the landlord continued introducing: “The apartments in our complex are quite interestingly designed. Two elevators serve four units, and all four layouts are different. 01 is an 89-square-meter two-bedroom, 02 and 03 in the middle are small one-bedroom units, and 04 is a large 140-square-meter unit!”

Just as she was speaking, the elevator arrived. When the doors opened, Zhan Xi was startled.

The person standing in the elevator was familiar – it was the tall man in black she had seen when viewing the apartment two days ago.

Zhan Xi remembered him because his outfit hadn’t changed at all – still all black, wearing a black mask, looking cool. His gaze didn’t fall on them; he just kept his head down, hands in his pockets, and stepped aside to exit.

The three took the elevator up. After entering unit 802, Agent Liu quickly helped the two women complete the utilities handover. After signing the handover form, the landlord gave Zhan Xi the keys and then showed her around the apartment, teaching her how to use the gas stove, washing machine, and air conditioner. Finally, she said: “You young working people don’t have it easy. When I bought these four small units in this complex, I planned to rent them to university students and white-collar workers like you, so you could have a cozy home while working hard in this city!”

Zhan Xi: “…”

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry: “Auntie, you’re really thoughtful, thank you.”

After everything was done, the landlord and Agent Liu left first. Zhan Xi stayed alone in the apartment. As soon as she closed the door, she turned to look at the small living room and suddenly jumped up.

“Ahhhh!!!” Zhan Xi was truly overjoyed, never remembering being this happy before, even happier than when she first moved into her college dorm! She was free, liberated! From now on, she could live by herself!

The living room had a simple dining table and chairs, a two-seater fabric sofa, and a coffee table. The bedroom had a double bed, bedside table, wardrobe, and a desk with chair. Zhan Xi wandered around, thinking of all the recommended items she had bookmarked and the girly room decoration cases she had seen, her heart bubbling with joy! She imagined adding a shoe cabinet and storage cabinet, buying cute little table lamps, storage baskets, makeup boxes, and such. Hmm! She would also grow flowers on the balcony! It would be even better if she could keep a cat!

Wuwuwu… so excited she could cry!

Back in the living room, not caring whether the sofa was clean, Zhan Xi jumped right onto it, sprawling out with arms and legs spread, staring at the ceiling with a silly grin.

She thought, she’d put the blind date matter aside for now. If her mom arranged any, she’d go see them, and at worst she’d just say she didn’t like them – anyone can find faults! She didn’t believe her mom could force her to get married.

Right now, what she cared about most was actually the department transfer. During the April-May graduation recruitment season, the company would open many positions. As long as there were openings in the Planning Department, Zhan Xi planned to apply.

Both her degree certificates matched the Planning Department position, and she had worked at the company for a year, familiar with its business. Zhan Xi listed her advantages, thinking that with a few more months of preparation, the transfer would be certain!

After being excited for about ten minutes, she reluctantly left unit 802, planning to get dinner before heading home.

Zhan Xi wasn’t familiar with the area around Qingque Garden, so after leaving the complex gate, she strolled along the street.

Winter nights came early, and as the lights came on, with shop signs illuminated, it was the evening rush hour. The street was busy with people and vehicles, very lively.

Zhan Xi found a small restaurant and ordered a bowl of egg noodles with gravy. While waiting, she faced the shop entrance lost in thought, and saw a man in black walk past.

It was him again!

This time he was carrying a bag of something, head down, walking very fast, passing by in an instant.

Zhan Xi inexplicably recalled what Luo Xinran had said – “He’s handsome, you know.”

Although she didn’t have “handsome” as a requirement for her future boyfriend, everyone appreciates beauty. Zhan Xi wondered curiously, was he really handsome? What if he had an upturned nose, or a square face, protruding mouth, or buck teeth?

Wait! That man lived in the same building as her, so wouldn’t she have chances to see him again? Zhan Xi rested her chin in her hand, daydreaming, wondering if after she moved in, she’d have the luck to see this man’s face. Then she could definitely report back to Luo Xinran.

—

All that day, Luo Jingyu stayed at home making purple lilies, working on three lilies at once. He dyed them in the morning, made lunch while they dried, and after eating, it was pressing and assembly. By the time everything was finished, it was getting dark.

He put all four lilies into a glass vase. Each flower had different colors and petal shapes, even the position and number of leaves varied. Some had three leaves, others had four or five, all crowded together, with purple-red large petals blooming competitively, each seeming to shout: Choose me, choose me, choose me!

Looking at these four flowers, Luo Jingyu smiled slightly, thinking: Darlings, it’s okay if you’re not chosen. Three will go in the ceramic vase, and the remaining one can be given to “Egg Pudding” sister – nothing will be wasted.

Because the pressed flower process had humidity requirements, he couldn’t use a humidifier, and after running the heater all day, the room was very dry. Luo Jingyu decided to go out for some fresh air and buy some fruit to soothe his throat.

Although his throat was essentially useless to him, he could still tell when it was dry.

After buying some pears and tangerines and returning home, Luo Jingyu thought for a moment, then took a photo of the four lilies together and sent it to “Egg Pudding” – his first WeChat message to her that day.

Big Fish: four purple lilies.jpg

Big Fish: Teacher Egg, is your fever better?

Zhan Xi was eating noodles in the restaurant, with her phone on the table, typing with her left hand.

Egg Pudding: Much better! No more fever, just some achy bones. Another day of rest tomorrow and I should be fine. Thanks for asking! [smile]

Luo Jingyu was happy to hear she was getting better.

Big Fish: I finished lilies four, what do you think about it?

Egg Pudding: It should be: what do you think? No need for “about it.” I know what it is, you’re actually asking for my opinion on this thing, so use “what.” Now I’ll answer: Super beautiful! Awesome! Master!

Big Fish: [covering face][covering face][covering face]

Zhan Xi took a bite of noodles and continued typing.

Egg Pudding: Little Fish, next time try putting the measure word before the noun.

She now called him “Little Fish” quite naturally, feeling it was more natural than calling him “good student,” and he didn’t seem to object.

Egg Pudding: For example: I finished four lilies, what do you think? Four is a number word, and the measure word often goes together with numbers. Sometimes they go after the noun, but most times they go before. You know what a noun is, right? Lily is a noun.

Big Fish: You’re like my sister.

Zhan Xi almost choked on her noodles.

Egg Pudding: What do you mean?

Big Fish: She is a Chinese teacher.

Egg Pudding: Your sister is a Chinese teacher? Then how is your Chinese so poor?

Luo Jingyu felt quite wronged.

Luo Xiaomei took after their father. Their father had a high school education, and Luo Xiaomei loved reading books and newspapers from a young age, did well in school, and later got into a special education teaching program that recruited students for teaching the hearing-impaired. After graduating, she joined the Qiantang School for the Blind and Deaf as a middle school Chinese teacher.

But Luo Jingyu took after their mother. Their mother only had elementary school education, and Luo Jingyu loved crafts from a young age, never doing well in studies.

He wasn’t just poor in one subject – his Chinese was poor, math was poor, and English was a complete disaster. Physics, chemistry, and biology might as well have been ancient texts to him. Only in art and crafts classes specific to hearing-impaired students did he consistently rank at the top.

In art and crafts, his handwork was particularly outstanding, which was why he decided to give up the college entrance exam and not study art. After graduating high school, he went straight into learning a trade.

He wasn’t like Luo Xiaomei, who had received higher education, had many hearing friends, and read extensively, typing like a normal person.

Most of Luo Jingyu’s friends were hearing-impaired, and the few hearing people he stayed in contact with were all related to his pressed flower work. For years, no one had chatted with him on WeChat, and he was busy working to earn money, not reading books or watching dramas. With such limited input, his written Chinese naturally declined.

For external operations, he relied too heavily on Fang Xu. He was aware of this problem but didn’t know how to improve it. Only now, meeting “Egg Pudding” and struggling to express himself while discussing business, did he deeply feel this frustration.

How could Zhan Xi know his troubles? Seeing the blue whale send three frustrated emoji expressions, her heart skipped – oh no! Had she been too blunt and hurt the young boy’s self-esteem?

Egg Pudding: Are you upset?

The other side went through several rounds of typing before the message came.

Big Fish: I’m not upset, just feel very stupid, low education, can’t learn to chat, typing very poor.

Such a dejected tone! It made Zhan Xi’s heart ache.

Egg Pudding: How are you stupid? You can make such beautiful flowers! If you asked me to make these four, I couldn’t do it in a month.

Big Fish: Can learn it, not difficult.

Zhan Xi sighed.

Egg Pudding: Little Fish, I pointed out your grammar mistakes because I wanted to help you notice them. I didn’t mean anything else, just hoped that after you remember one issue, at least you won’t make the same mistake again. I don’t really understand what your problem is exactly, I’ve just heard of something called reading and writing disability, many people have it, don’t pressure yourself too much. I can practice chatting with you, we can correct a little bit each time, and slowly you’ll remember more and more, and your chatting and typing will get better and better.

Big Fish: Friday, delivery done.

Zhan Xi looked at these words, took a moment to understand his meaning, and quickly reassured him.

Egg Pudding: Even after delivery, I won’t delete you, we’re friends now.

Egg Pudding: Of course!

Big Fish: Really you like my sister.

Big Fish: She very patient took care of me, very good person one.

Big Fish: A very good person.

Egg Pudding: [celebration][strong] You said it right!!!

Big Fish: [covering face]

Zhan Xi decided not to correct any more of his grammar mistakes that day. Getting corrected all at once would be too much for anyone to handle. They should take it slowly, so she changed the subject.

Egg Pudding: Oh right, I’ll tell you some good news, I’ve rented an apartment and can soon move out to live by myself! It’s so exciting!

Big Fish: Living alone really good!

Egg Pudding: [smile] What’s your plan for tomorrow? For that vase of flowers, what’s next?

Big Fish: Tomorrow, make three bird-of-paradise.

He remembered! Zhan Xi felt so pleased.

Egg Pudding: I’ll be resting at home tomorrow, you can contact me anytime. Don’t rush too much, try not to stay up late, it’s bad for your health.

Big Fish: I understand, thank you for caring.

This was something “Egg Pudding” had said before, and Luo Jingyu thought it was very useful, so he learned it.

Zhan Xi pursed her lips and typed a message.

Egg Pudding: Little Fish, on Friday, I hope you’ll come deliver the flowers, okay?

Luo Jingyu stared at his phone screen, not knowing how to respond.

His Adam’s apple bobbed once before his fingers moved to the screen.

[Egg Pudding]: Because I want to meet you!

Strictly speaking, Luo Jingyu had only properly chatted with “Egg Pudding” three times. He hadn’t thought about telling her that he couldn’t hear, and it wasn’t intentional deception – he just wanted their communication to be more pure.

If they met in person, there would be no way to hide it.

Then, she would suddenly understand why his chatting was so poor.

She would definitely be disappointed, right?

This was Luo Jingyu’s first time chatting on WeChat with a stranger who could hear, and it was a young lady at that. From when she was still “Sugar Egg,” their conversations had been very comfortable. He could feel that she was a very gentle, kind, and considerate person.

He was grateful to have met such a friend by chance and cherished this friendship. He would rather admit to having a reading and writing disability than let her know he was deaf.

But she wanted to meet.

Should he agree?

Actually, he quite wanted to meet her too, he just didn’t dare.

After a full five minutes of consideration, Luo Jingyu made up his mind.

[Big Fish]: Okay, I’ll come deliver.