ATLAS TRANSLATES

Fu Xueli arrived at the agreed meeting place with Xie Ci and the others. She put on her mask and got out of the car.

It was a well-known private hospital in the neighboring city, famous for its maternal and child healthcare.

Li Jieyi turned the key twice and stretched his neck, sighing, “They’re moving fast, getting pregnant right after marriage. I wonder when I’ll get to look forward to that.”

Song Yifan chimed in jokingly, “Ci is the most efficient.”

Just as they were talking, the two people they were discussing came out. Xie Ci wore his usual black jacket, looking handsome. Xu You had long hair cascading over her shoulders and wore a creamy white wool coat with a thick scarf wrapped around her, looking very warm. Her eyes were curved in a smile, good-natured and harmless, making Fu Xueli’s heart flutter.

Xu You softly explained, “We just finished our afternoon nap and came for a prenatal checkup.”

“Wow, cutie, long time no see!” Fu Xueli approached and pinched Xu You’s cheek with two fingers.

Ever since she first saw Xu You in high school, Fu Xueli had been drawn to this delicate girl from the south.

Gentle and quiet, Xu You had an adorably funny seriousness about her. Most importantly, she was a top student who kept a low profile, but shocked everyone by outscoring Xu Xingchun on the first monthly exam. Not only was she good at academics, but she often helped copy notes for Fu Xueli who slept in class. She was truly a rare gem.

When Fu Xueli first learned that Xie Ci was pursuing Xu You, she was very upset. How could such a nice girl be wasted on a jerk like him? She didn’t think their relationship would last long.

But life is unpredictable. Years later, Xie Ci and Xu You were already married with a baby on the way.

Fu Xueli’s gaze on Xu You was so intense that Xie Ci couldn’t stand it anymore. He swatted her hand away, saying, “Fu Xueli, why are you pawing at my wife?”

He still had that cold, lazy attitude from years ago, acting all high and mighty.

Fu Xueli held back and sighed dramatically, “I feel sorry for Xu You having to raise two sons in the future.”

Song Yifan and the others watched the scene unfold with amusement.

They had actually been meeting up occasionally over the years. Though their social circles were different now, they hadn’t grown apart much and still had plenty to talk about.

Fu Xueli wouldn’t have known about today’s class reunion if they hadn’t told her.

Strictly speaking, this wasn’t just a class reunion, but a school alumni gathering for their year, as it happened to be the 100th anniversary of their high school. They had booked a hotel and venue for everyone.

Xie Ci drove his own car, so Fu Xueli rode with Li Jieyi again.

“Blackie, you’re still single, huh?” Li Jieyi tapped on the steering wheel.

Song Yifan smiled slightly, rubbed his nose, and said softly, “What’s the rush? Being single is fine.”

Fu Xueli calmly looked at him and asked, “Blackie, is it because you’re too dark?”

Song Yifan put on a dignified expression, “I don’t have a name? Men should be a bit dark to be sexy, you know? By the way, Fu Xueli, you’re so concerned about other people’s love lives, what about your own?”

“My what?”

“Your love life.”

“Not telling you.”

Song Yifan quickly pressed on, “What do you mean you’re not telling me? Does that mean there’s someone? To be honest, I often scroll through Weibo reading juicy gossip about you and your rumored boyfriends, and I find it quite entertaining.”

“…”

Seeing her obviously choked expression, Song Yifan burst into laughter. Fu Xueli wanted to roll her eyes. “Are you sick?”

On the way to the hotel, they passed by their old high school. Being in the city center with a speed limit, and it being dismissal time, traffic was quite congested.

Fu Xueli lowered the car window.

First and second year students got out at around 5 PM. The sounds of chattering, footsteps, and bike bells mingled together as many uniformed high school students exited the school gates.

After all these years, it seemed like nothing had changed.

Sitting in the car with one hand on the window, Fu Xueli smiled nostalgically.

Her phone buzzed repeatedly. She looked down and saw it was Xu Xingchun calling. Before answering, she coughed forcefully twice, then put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

Her voice was so gentle it made those next to her unable to bear it, turning to look at her.

“Where are you?” The voice on the other end was very low.

Fu Xueli said, “Oh… Li Jieyi and the others came to pick me up. We’re on our way to some kind of school alumni gathering.”

She belatedly realized something happily, “You’re back in town? Finished with work?”

“I have a few days off rotation. Just got to town.”

“Are you coming then? If not, I’ll come find you.”

Xu Xingchun’s tone was equally casual, “Our two homeroom teachers from high school contacted me a few days ago.”

Implying he would come?

Fu Xueli laughed, “Wow, you’re so popular, everyone wants to see you.”

Speaking of being missed, besides teachers, Xu Xingchun was quite missed by his peers too.

He had rarely shown up at class reunions over the years. Many people had asked Fu Xueli about him.

The hotel they booked was in a prime location in the city, very high-end.

Fu Xueli sat at a table with Xie Ci and the others, mostly familiar faces from their old class 9. But because they had been split into different classes later, Xu You wasn’t sitting with them.

Before the main course was served, the host was on stage doing activities to liven up the atmosphere. Fu Xueli kept to the corner playing with her phone, trying to lower her presence.

Amidst the noise, someone suddenly called out, “Class monitor?!”

The voice came from the table next to them where Xu You was sitting, filled with the top students from back then, now all in suits and freshly returned from overseas universities.

Fu Xueli was stunned for a moment and couldn’t help but look over. Their eyes met for a few seconds across the space. Xu Xingchun’s face was like jade, wearing a black jacket, calmly sitting down at that table.

Looking away, there was discussion at their table too.

“Damn, it’s been so long since we’ve seen the class monitor.”

The knowing glances of those around inevitably, if subtly, fell on Fu Xueli.

Due to the nature of her work, Fu Xueli looked much younger than her actual age. She had always given off a lazy, unfocused vibe. Always nonchalant, without much enthusiasm for many things. With her Leo personality, she had a bad temper and poor grades, stubborn and arrogant, not understanding of others at all.

Back in school, god-tier guys like Xu Xingchun – handsome, aloof, with top grades and a cool, clean aura like ice jade – fulfilled all the fantasies of a girl’s ideal boyfriend. It was unbelievable that he would date someone like Fu Xueli, the female King of Hell who walked sideways through life.

Seeing Fu Xueli’s distracted look, Song Yifan coughed twice to break the awkward silence. “I just… saw a question while scrolling through my social media.”

“What is it?” Li Jieyi asked.

Song Yifan held his phone and read seriously, “If someone wanted to rape me, would you prefer I carry a knife or condoms?”

Fu Xueli wasn’t in the mood. She picked up her chopsticks, took a slice of bamboo shoot and chewed it. “You’re overthinking.”

“No, I just want to hear your answers,” Song Yifan said. “I think carrying condoms.”

After a moment of silence, Fu Xueli casually said, “For an ugly guy like you, just carry a smile.”

“…”

“…”

Song Yifan made a move to strangle Fu Xueli, but she dodged.

The whole table burst into laughter, making quite a commotion that drew glances from nearby tables.

Fu Xueli, now in the entertainment industry, had taken on a mysterious aura that made her even more eye-catching.

“Get away, don’t touch me.” Fu Xueli couldn’t help laughing too. She looked up and her eyes met Xu Xingchun’s at the next table again. A man was leaning in to talk to him.

But his eyes were on her, his brows slightly furrowed, eyes clear and dark, without a trace of worldly air. Like the rain before the winter solstice, drizzling and bone-chillingly cool. It made her wilt a little, her movements slowing as she stopped fooling around.

This small interaction happened to catch Li Jieyi’s eye. He raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Tsk tsk. Fu Xueli, you know what? Every time Xu Xingchun is around, you become super well-behaved. But when he’s not here…”

“When he’s not here?” Song Yifan continued, fixing his messed up hair and grumbling, “This woman Fu Xueli is simply a crazy dog humping everything in sight! Remember that time we went ice skating? Because of Xu You, I think, we got into a conflict with some thugs. The guy’s biceps were bigger than Fu Xueli’s face, but she still wanted to rush up and curse at them.”

Being called out made her a bit embarrassed and awkward. Fu Xueli lowered her head to eat. “I didn’t hump you.”

Song Yifan pursed his lips. “Why are you saying such dirty things? Let me tell you, I Yifan Song have always been weak to temptation.”

“That’s enough, Song Yifan. Stop being weird,” Xie Ci said, holding back laughter. He lowered his head and swirled his wine glass.

Halfway through the school reunion dinner, Fu Xueli received a message. She glanced at her phone, said something to the others, then put on her coat and stood up to leave.

“Hey hey hey, where are you going?!” Someone called out to her.

Fu Xueli hurriedly said, “Something came up,” then left.

Winter nights came early, and by now the sky was completely dark. The hotel had Japanese-style decor, with many exquisite courtyards on the first floor. The paths were a bit winding.

After asking a staff member, she headed towards the back door of the hotel. There were few people here. The snowy night was a bit desolate, with lanterns hung along the way casting a faint red glow that was quite atmospheric. There were scattered flowers on the stone path.

Fu Xueli had drunk some white wine with Xie Ci and the others earlier, so she felt a bit dizzy. As she was walking, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Fu Xueli turned around, startled then delighted. “Xu Xingchun?”

She turned and stood on tiptoe to hug him.

Fu Xueli was tipsy. She sniffed his scent – a cool, faint fragrance that smelled good. She couldn’t help but nuzzle his neck with her lips.

Her skin was fair and delicate. Today she was wearing all red, and now with the alcohol, she was like sinking into a down comforter, alluring and defenseless.

Xu Xingchun’s gaze lowered slightly.

When she got no response for a while, she raised her head.

Under the cold light, Fu Xueli suddenly felt Xu Xingchun looked so handsome. This handsomeness had nothing to do with vulgarity – it was silent and cool. Occasionally his borderline personality would flare up intensely, which was also very attractive.

Xu Xingchun also lowered his head and stared at her for a good while.

This was a face he used to know by heart, yet she had been smiling so happily at others just now. He firmly held her face still and kissed the corner of her mouth lightly from above.

This kiss was only quiet, without passion.

His fingertips slid down, parting her lips. Xu Xingchun’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he asked softly, “Fu Xueli, what were you laughing about just now?”

Fu Xueli hummed and quickly bit Xu Xingchun’s finger, not knowing what she had done to upset him again.