ATLAS TRANSLATES

Not long after the midterm exam, the competition class also held a formal mock exam. The difficulty of the papers and competition format were all based on the national competition in previous years.

On exam day, Ruan Mian happened to get her period again. Her overall condition was affected and she lost all points for the experiment in the afternoon practical exam (3+3). Her ranking directly dropped from first place to last.

But it was understandable given the circumstances. No one was too surprised and they even thought she could still get back to first place in the next exam.

Even if the current first place was Chen Yi, Chen Yi who got first place in every monthly exam.

The day the results came out happened to be Saturday. Class ended early in the evening. Meng Xinglan had arranged to go shopping with Ruan Mian. Of the four boys who usually went with them, only Liang Yiran and Jiang Rang came along.

Jiang Rang’s vague signs of interest inevitably made people have improper thoughts. Ruan Mian couldn’t pretend not to know when her heart already belonged to someone else, yet she accepted another person’s kindness as if she knew nothing.

Her feelings were already bitter and painful enough. She didn’t want someone else to shoulder the same emotions as her, with one word from the object of affection determining life or death.

But before anyone spoke up, Ruan Mian could only choose to imperceptibly distance herself from Jiang Rang, nipping all remaining possibilities in the bud.

The already limited interaction between the two dwindled further due to one person’s retreat.

The days of the second half of 11th grade passed swiftly like the wind. The scorching summer days, the deafening cries of cicadas, and the green leaves covering the walls – those beautiful times they once shared would become irreplaceable memories of youth.

The two most important days in June, the entire city was on high alert. No. 8 High School was one of the exam centers. The 11th and 12th graders gave up their classrooms for the 3rd year exams and had a short two day break.

Ruan Mian had been busy recently. Taking this sudden break, her whole being completely slackened. She spent all of the 7th at home sleeping, only going out in the evening.

Li Zhi was taking the exam this year. The exam venue was in No. 8 High School. He didn’t go with the school and went straight home instead.

Ruan Mian had gone out with him to ride for half an hour last night.

She now slowly walked to the entrance of the supermarket near his house. Peering in, she didn’t see Li Zhi. But Li Zhi’s father saw her first. He smiled and greeted, “Looking for Li Zhi?”

Ruan Mian smiled shyly. “Uncle Li, you’re here. Has Li Zhi not come back yet?”

“He came back early. He’s in the backyard.”

Li’s father put down the calculator in his hand. His expression was kind, “Come in, go find him in the yard yourself. Don’t mind me.”

Ruan Mian nodded. “Then I’ll go over first, Uncle Li. Don’t let me disturb you.”

“Go on.”

Ruan Mian entered the store and went around two shelves before entering the Lis’ courtyard. She happened to run into Li Zhi who had just finished showering and came out.

The boy was bare-chested. His fair, lean shoulders were draped with a beige towel. His short hair was still dripping wet. His features were clean and handsome.

But…

Ruan Mian’s footsteps abruptly halted in place. She swiftly turned around, her ears and neck already flushed red. “Sorry, sorry.”

Li Zhi laughed out loud. He went over to the clothesline and randomly pulled on a black T-shirt. His tone was mocking, “No need to make a big deal out of it. I had clothes on.”

Ruan Mian still stood with her back to him, fingers twisting together, somewhat flustered and embarrassed.

“I’m dressed now.”

After saying so, Li Zhi bent down to pull on the rope hanging by the well. He hauled up the wooden bucket soaking inside.

Ruan Mian rubbed her face before finally turning around.

Li Zhi carried the watermelon from the bucket and put it on the stone table nearby. He commanded Ruan Mian very naturally, “Go to the kitchen and bring me the knife.”

“Oh, okay.”

In the evening breeze, Li Zhi and Ruan Mian each held half a watermelon, squatting side by side on the steps under the eaves. Ruan Mian took two bites of the fruit. The flesh was sweet and icy cold from the well water, dissipating a lot of the heat.

She spit out the seeds and casually asked, “How did the gaokao feel?”

“About the same.”

Li Zhi laughed. “No different from usual.”

“Have you decided which university you want to apply to?”

“Not yet. Let’s talk after the results are out.”

Li Zhi turned to look at her. “What about you?”

Ruan Mian’s hand was wet from the melon juice dripping down. She flicked it and said, “I haven’t decided either.”

“Weren’t you in the physics competition class at your school this semester? Don’t you plan to pursue physics in the future?”

Ruan Mian lowered her head to take another bite of watermelon, chewing a few times before answering, “Let’s see. Not sure if I can get recommended admission.”

Li Zhi just smiled without replying.

Night slowly descended as the evening breeze blew. Ruan Mian left the store, passed through the bustling alley, and headed west. Her figure disappeared among the coming and going crowd.

Li Zhi stood at the store entrance for a while before going in. He saw Chen Yi walking over from the other direction and took a few steps down to meet him. “What are you doing here?”

Chen Yi had also just woken up from home. His whole being was bleary-eyed, even his voice still held traces of drowsiness. “Came to see you.”

Li Zhi chuckled. “What’s there to see about me?”

“Because it’s your gaokao.”

Chen Yi stuffed the thermos in his arms into Li Zhi’s embrace. “My grandma had the aunt at home stew this nutritional soup.”

Li Zhi held it in both hands. “Thank her for me.”

“I already did.”

“Come in and sit for a while then.”

Li Zhi and Chen Yi went into the store one after the other. Chen Yi greeted Li Zhi’s father before following him into the yard. The surrounding power lines criss-crossed, the lights bright. The watermelon they didn’t have time to clear was still on the table in the middle of the yard.

Chen Yi washed his hands at the sink nearby before sitting down and starting to eat a slice of watermelon. “How was it today?”

Being asked the same question twice in a row gave Li Zhi a headache. “Can you let me eat in peace?”

Chen Yi glanced at him but didn’t ask again.

Li Zhi slowly finished a bowl of soup. He tapped the rim of the bowl twice with his fingers. “I remember you said you were going abroad to study before?”

Chen Yi hmm’d. “What, are you considering it too?”

“No, just curious.”

Li Zhi pressed his lips with his thumb, biting the corner. “Then what are you doing in the competition class? You’re not taking the recommended admission route.”

“I need the extra points from awards.”

Mosquitoes easily bit Chen Yi. After sitting for a while, his calves were covered in bumps. He got up and stood. “The school I’m applying to, for the physics major they require a certain national level award in China. If I can get a recommended admission spot, they’ll be more lenient with my academic review.”

“I see.”

Chen Yi stood in the light where there were fewer bugs. He asked, “Have you decided which school you’re applying to?”

“Nope.”

Li Zhi sat with legs spread, posture relaxed. “Let’s talk after finals. I’m not like you overachievers with goals – I just go with the flow.”

Chen Yi laughed quietly without retorting.

The final month of gaokao prep passed by with barely any real effort. The rest of the days proceeded as usual, and the last exam of the term arrived in the hot restlessness of summer.

The final two days of June were the end of term exams for High School Year 1 and Year 2 at No.8 Middle School.

The evening after the English exam, all second year students moved into the long vacant third year teaching building, stepping into third year life before even having a chance to welcome summer break.

After cramming half a month of courses while Pingcheng temperatures exceeded 40°C1, the school finally announced summer vacation. On the last day of class, the noisy chaos in the classroom reached a fever pitch. With everyone about to leave campus and only the fans on, the faint cool breeze mixed with the muggy air drifting in the windows, unable to dispel the heat.

After packing up, Ruan Mian held the mini fan gifted by Meng Xinglan up to her face, gazing blankly out the window at the cloudless sky.

Zhou Hai stood at the lectern reiterating the usual safety precautions – don’t swim in the wild, beware of personal safety when going out, finally wishing everyone a happy vacation.

Amidst the sudden cheers, Ruan Mian snapped back to reality. Zhou Hai had already left the classroom, replaced by the sounds of desks, chairs, and stools scraping across the floor.

Meng Xinglan came over with her bag. “Mianmian, let’s have lunch together, then go to the movies after we eat. “

Ruan Mian didn’t decline. “Then let me drop my stuff at home first. Want me to bring your bag back too?”

“Oh, sure.”

Ruan Mian thought for a second. “Actually, I’ll just come with you now.”

“Sounds good!”

After saying bye to the guys, Meng Xinglan hugged her books and left school with Ruan Mian.

Passing Li’s Supermarket, Ruan Mian spotted Li Zhi and stopped to greet him.

Li Zhi’s gaokao results were out – lower than expected given his usual school grades, but he didn’t seem too upset either. He had declined the teacher’s suggestion to retake the year and applied to an average university in Pingcheng instead.

Ruan Mian had somewhere to be, so didn’t chat long.

After leaving the supermarket, Meng Xinglan said, “Wow, hidden talents in your alley! How did I never notice such a hottie before? He goes to No.8 too?”

“No, No.10 High.”

“Ah that explains it.”

Meng Xinglan was still fixated on Li Zhi’s looks long after, insisting on dragging Ruan Mian into the store when they left.

Ruan Mian relented and went in to buy a couple bottles of water. “This is my classmate, Meng Xinglan.”

Li Zhi looked up. “Hi.”

“…..Hi.”

In the end, Li Zhi didn’t charge them for the waters. Leaving the store, Meng Xinglan clutched the mineral water, starry-eyed. “Ah, I can die happy now.”

Ruan Mian joked, “Won’t Liang Yiran be upset if he hears about this?”

“If you don’t tell and I don’t tell, how would he know?”

Meng Xinglan was completely shameless. “I’m just appreciating some eye candy, not like I’m actually going to do anything.”

Ruan Mian had no rebuttal: “…..”

They had picked a restaurant near school for lunch. When the two girls arrived, some people were already seated in the private room.

Aside from the usual four guys, there were two others Ruan Mian didn’t expect to see.

Qi Jia and Sheng Huan.

Standing outside, Ruan Mian felt like she’d been doused in ice water, her whole body going cold.

Oblivious to Ruan Mian’s reaction, Meng Xinglan pulled her over to the remaining two seats. Sheng Huan happened to be sitting right across from Ruan Mian.

The expressionless Chen Yi sat to her right.

Ruan Mian didn’t know what face she was making then, numbly taking a seat. She heard Meng Xinglan ask Liang Yiran, “Why is Sheng Huan here?”

Liang Yiran shook his head. “No clue. She was already here when I arrived, must’ve been invited by Chen Yi.”

“Impossible, wasn’t Chen Yi avoiding her before?”

Liang Yiran chuckled. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?”

They kept their voices low, only audible to those right beside them. Shen Yu, next to Liang Yiran, leaned over and said, “I invited her. Sheng Huan happened to come find Chen Yi, so I asked her to join too.

Also, don’t you think Chen Yi’s reaction is pretty funny?”

Listening in, Meng Xinglan glanced over at Chen Yi diagonal from her and grinned. It was rare to see him in such an awkward spot. “You’re the best.”

Shen Yu looked especially smug raising an eyebrow.

Sitting straight again, Meng Xinglan nudged the dazed Ruan Mian beside her. “Mianmian, you okay?”

Ruan Mian snapped out of it, forcing a smile. “I’m fine, just thinking about a problem.”

“Come on, it’s vacation! Loosen up a little!”

Meng Xinglan poured her a cup of drink from the table. “Here, cool down.”

“You’re right, I’ll stop thinking about it.”

Ruan Mian held the cup, nerves stretched taut.

It was a meal of mixed emotions.

Sheng Huan was open and cheerful, able to keep up with the guys’ conversation. She chatted animatedly with Jiang Rang and Shen Yu about all sorts of things, even making plans to play games together another time.

Yet she conspicuously didn’t speak a word to Chen Yi the entire time. Compared to how she had relentlessly pursued Chen Yi before, the contrast was glaring.

Even the usually oblivious Meng Xinglan noticed something was off. She leaned in to whisper to Ruan Mian, “Is Sheng Huan playing hard to get now or has she really lost interest in Chen Yi?”

Ruan Mian had no brainpower left to think. The instant she saw Sheng Huan, she had already crumbled, thoughts in complete disarray.

After waiting in vain for a response, Meng Xinglan turned to look at her. Seeing her pale complexion, she asked worriedly, “Mianmian, are you okay? You look really unwell.”

“I’m fine.”

Ruan Mian took a light breath. “I think I drank something cold too fast, my stomach kind of hurts.”

“Let me order you something warm?”

Ruan Mian fidgeted with her fingers under the table. “It’s okay, I’ll feel better after sitting for a bit.”

Not taking no for an answer, Meng Xinglan called the server over for a warm drink and got up to pour Ruan Mian a cup of hot water. “Drink some, it’ll soothe your stomach.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t need to be so polite with me!”

Meng Xinglan hadn’t eaten her fill yet and turned back to the feast on the table after making sure Ruan Mian was taken care of.

Ruan Mian lowered her head and took a couple sips of the hot water. From the corner of her eye, she saw Chen Yi get up. Her grip on the cup tightened, fingertips scalded red without her noticing.

Chen Yi still wore that disregarding expression, tone betraying no emotion either. “I’m heading back first, enjoy your meal.”

Shen Yu called out, “You gonna join us at the internet cafe later?”

“No, I’m gonna go nap.”

Chen Yi moved his chair back and left. He had barely stepped out when Sheng Huan, who had ignored him the entire meal, suddenly put down her chopsticks and rushed after him.

Those still in the private room could hear her voice through the door. “Chen Yi, wait up!”

Ruan Mian held her breath for a long time. Aside from the initial running footsteps, she heard nothing else. Sheng Huan didn’t come back.

Quick-thinking Shen Yu got up and walked to the window, waiting for a minute or two before turning back. “Place your bets, did Sheng Huan catch up to Chen Yi or not?”

“She must’ve caught him, why else hasn’t she come back yet?”

Meng Xinglan picked up some greens with her chopsticks. Looking up at Qi Jia, she asked, “Did she directly leave with Chen Yi, or is she coming back later?”

“She definitely left with him, like she’d pass up this chance?”

Meng Xinglan shrugged. “You have a point.”

Ruan Mian released her tight grip on the cup, fingertips burnt red and throbbing with pain. It hurt so much she nearly couldn’t hold back her tears.

After lunch, Ruan Mian went with Meng Xinglan to catch a long-running Korean romance film at the theater. When the male lead K willingly handed over the woman he loved most to another man, the theater echoed with quiet sobs – except Ruan Mian, who remained utterly unmoved the entire time.

It wasn’t until the plot twist ending, when the female lead Cream knew everything K had done was solely to give her terminally ill boyfriend peace of mind to move on, and she chose to pretend ignorance, that Ruan Mian’s eyes suddenly turned red. Tears streamed down unchecked no matter how she tried to hold them back.

Meng Xinglan was startled by Ruan Mian’s silent weeping. She frantically dug out tissues from her pocket and wiped the tears away before pressing another over her own eyes.

The ending was perhaps tragic for most audiences, but for the leads it was the happiest possible outcome.

Unlike her and Chen Yi.

No beginning, and no ending.