ATLAS TRANSLATES

After the person next to her started breathing evenly, following a moment of silence, Xu Xingchun slowly opened his eyes.

In the darkness, he quietly gazed at her sleeping silhouette. He was wide awake, without a hint of sleepiness.

He loved listening to her heartbeat and breathing, feeling her warm body temperature so close he could touch it.

He was just afraid that after waking up from a nightmare, it would all turn out to be his imagination.

Hugging a soft pillow, Fu Xueli tossed and turned all night in a deep sleep. She had poor sleeping posture, with the blanket wrapped around her body and half her arms and legs suspended in the air.

Lying on the mattress, she was sleeping in a daze when she heard the phone ring. With a sleepy groan of annoyance at being disturbed, she urged in a sweet, hoarse voice, “Xu Xingchun… answer the phone, it’s so noisy.”

Then she changed positions and went back to sleep.

After a while, the phone on the nightstand started vibrating again, buzzing loudly.

Fu Xueli’s eyes flew open, taking a few seconds to wake up. She grabbed the phone and saw the caller’s name, pausing for several seconds before sitting up and patting her face to wake herself up. With a thick-skinned “I’m a scoundrel, who am I afraid of” attitude, she answered Tang Xin’s video call.

“Fu Xueli, are you dead?! Where have you been hiding lately that I can’t reach you? I’ve packed your schedule full, and you’re still out there living it up?!”

Fu Xueli was groggy, wearing thick bear pajamas. “I’m on vacation, sister.”

The two of them hadn’t spoken for many days. Fu Xueli felt a headache coming on. She had been living too freely and happily lately, cut off from the world, almost forgetting that she was the alluring beauty on giant posters in shopping malls.

“What’s wrong? Are you in a bad mood?” Fu Xueli noticed something off about Tang Xin.

This question successfully diverted Tang Xin’s attention and fire.

Hugging her blanket, Fu Xueli lay sideways on the bed video chatting with Tang Xin. In her earphones, she heard Tang Xin’s cursing, “That stinking bitch, just because she showed her face in Fang Nan’s MV before, I’ll find someone to take care of her in a while. Stealing my man, I’ll kill that bitch.”

Tang Xin and her current boyfriend had fought countless times over the years, breaking up and getting back together. Fu Xueli had met the guy before, only knowing that he worked in investment banking and was an experienced player who liked college girls.

Tang Xin took a swig of alcohol, choking until tears streamed down her face. The Italian chandelier above her head swayed dizzily.

She had always been a glamorous and elegant woman, skilled in scheming and plotting, but now she held a cigarette in one hand, her makeup smeared, obviously having cried a lot.

Too miserable, like an idiot.

Fu Xueli watched coldly from the sidelines, “You silly girl, what’s there to be so upset about? Without that scumbag, plenty of people would be chasing after you crying, why are you being so heartbroken here?”

Tang Xin glumly tossed away her wine glass, returning to normal, “Forget it, let’s talk business. You report back to the company tomorrow afternoon, latest by the day after.”

Fu Xueli didn’t say anything.

The other side continued, “I signed someone new a few days ago, planning to give her two shows to try out first. She has talent and potential, but lacks staying power. Her figure and face aren’t as good as yours, needs to slim down her jawline and get a nose job. What was her name again, she’s an American-born Chinese, I forgot. I’m planning to cultivate some new talent lately, anyway you’ll be transitioning in a few years too. Oh right, there’s more news, ‘Breaking Dawn’ has changed its release date again, it’s the higher-ups’ decision, conservatively estimating it might be released in the summer.”

After listening to Tang Xin’s work updates, Fu Xueli got up to wash her face and brush her teeth, then ran downstairs, looking around but not seeing Xu Xingchun anywhere, not knowing where he had gone to help out.

There was freshly heated porridge and side dishes on the table, light and delicious. After eating and drinking her fill, Fu Xueli took a full cup of sweet milk outside, planning to look for Xu Xingchun.

Just as she stepped out, she saw the familiar yellow dog sitting on the ground sunbathing, not barking or making noise, just giving a single “woof” when it saw Fu Xueli. The person and dog stood facing each other.

There was also a birdcage hanging under the eaves, chirping away.

The scene was quite leisurely, but in reality, Fu Xueli didn’t dare move.

Seeing that the yellow dog was about to pounce over excitedly, she took two steps back, and the dog was stopped by someone’s stern voice.

“This dog doesn’t come inside, and it doesn’t bite. Don’t be afraid.”

Fu Xueli turned to look and saw it was Xu Yuan. She smiled embarrassedly, explaining her cowardice, “When I was little, I was chased by a dog after school, so I’m especially afraid…”

“Auntie, do you know where Xu Xingchun went?”

Xu Yuan thought for a moment, “He should be cooking, I think.”

“Oh…” Fu Xueli’s fingers fidgeted with the glass.

Xu Yuan was carrying a pile of coats in her arms and said to Fu Xueli, “Come with me to my room to get some motherwort, steep it and drink a little, it’ll help a lot with menstrual cramps.”

Fu Xueli agreed and followed Xu Yuan in quick steps, passing through the inner hall, lotus pond, and heading towards the interconnected inner rooms.

As soon as they entered the room, Xu Yuan moved efficiently, taking off her shoes and putting away the clothes. Fu Xueli stood with her hands in her pockets, “Auntie, do you need any help?”

“Do you see that wooden box over there? The motherwort is on the second layer, see if you can find it.”

When Xu Yuan finished tidying up, she saw Fu Xueli silently crouching there, staring at something. She walked over, tying up her hair, “What’s wrong, couldn’t find it?”

“I found it.” Fu Xueli quickly replied, looking up at her, “Auntie, I saw a photo album, can I take a look?”

She was too curious about Xu Xingchun’s childhood.

Xu Yuan smiled, “If you want to look, go ahead and take it out.”

With permission granted, Fu Xueli immediately took out the thin photo album.

Opening the first page, there was an old group photo of a man and a woman, both smiling at the camera. The woman had a loving gaze, elegant and gentle in demeanor, while the reserved and steady man had his arm around her. It was eye-catching.

Watching from the side, after a while, Xu Yuan smiled and said, “Those are Xu Xingchun’s parents.”

Fu Xueli nodded, she could tell.

Xu Xingchun’s mother was truly a genuine beauty in that era. Studying her features, she discovered that Xu Xingchun’s chin and nose bridge were very similar to his mother’s.

No wonder she always felt he had a delicate air about him.

Turning a few more pages, Fu Xueli suddenly realized something and looked up with a surprised expression, “So uncle used to be a police officer too?”

Xu Yuan seemed lost in thought for a moment, sighed, then nodded, “Yes.”

“Then uncle…” A thought flashed through Fu Xueli’s mind, but she didn’t know how to ask.

Xu Yuan calmly said, “Didn’t Xu Xingchun tell you? His father died while on duty.”

“Ah?” This bombshell news left Fu Xueli a bit flustered, “I didn’t know…”

“The family situation is complicated. We tried to persuade Xu Xingchun not to follow in my brother’s footsteps, but in the end it’s fate.” Xu Yuan’s voice was emotionless, even a bit cold, “If you’re going to be with him, you need to be mentally prepared. The family of a narcotics officer isn’t very happy, you never know when an accident might happen.”

The stormy waves eventually calmed. The words echoed in Fu Xueli’s heart a thousand times, but she shook her head, “No, I was the one who actively pursued Xu Xingchun.”

Her eyes didn’t blink as she looked at the young boy in the photo album, saying softly, “My own matters, I decide for myself. Both in love and in life.”

One photo album, one outsider, this was the documentary of Xu Xingchun’s life from childhood to adulthood.

Scenes from the past flashed by one by one.

There weren’t many photos of him, and he rarely smiled in any of them.

Xu Yuan said Xu Xingchun had bad luck since he was little.

He had a very extreme personality. You could tell from elementary school. If someone cursed at him, he would fight back recklessly, as if his life depended on it. It wasn’t until he got older that he learned to restrain himself.

Due to family circumstances, he matured very early. At an age when boys were screaming and running on soccer fields and girls were wearing flowery dresses with ponytails, if Xu Xingchun didn’t cook, there would be no food at home.

In the kitchen.

Xu Xingchun wore an apron, his hands moving deftly and skillfully as he sliced ginger and removed fish bones. His thick yet evenly proportioned hands were covered in salt as he opened a bottle of cooking wine. Quietly and quickly, he tapped the cooking wine bottle on the edge of the ceramic counter.

Fu Xueli hid outside, secretly watching him work. Thinking about the things Xu Yuan had told her, she felt a bit upset, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on why. She couldn’t bring herself to smile or cry.

At the dinner table. Fu Xueli ate large mouthfuls of food, shoveling rice into her mouth. With her head down, biting on her chopsticks, just hearing his voice made her nose tingle.

Winter days always get dark especially fast. It was barely 5 o’clock when night fell. The old man went out to walk the dog and hadn’t returned yet, so Xu Yuan went out to look for him, feeling worried.

Having just taken a nap on the bed, Xu Xingchun held a cup of water, preparing to go to the kitchen to cook. His finger slid over Fu Xueli’s nose bridge, extremely light and gentle, as he observed her expression and asked, “What’s wrong with you today?”

Her low mood today was clearly noticeable to him.

Even when taking an afternoon nap, Fu Xueli stayed by his side, not leaving for a moment.

Rarely so obedient.

He was very smart and quickly guessed, “Did my aunt say something to you?”

Fu Xueli sniffled, holding up a lighter she had found somewhere. Her thumb applied pressure, clicking the lighter with a “pah” sound as the flame flickered. The sharp edge next to it cut a thin wound on her hand, with a droplet of blood seeping out.

The faint firelight flickered between them. Fu Xueli didn’t notice at all.

“Xu Xingchun, make a wish.”

Out of the blue, he looked at her without speaking.

“I want to make a wish too.” She looked back at him, her eyes a bit red, “I wish for Xu Xingchun to be safe and sound, and to live a life a thousand times, ten thousand times happier than others.” After saying this, Fu Xueli focused intently on blowing out the flame.

Xu Xingchun raised his hand to gently pinch her neck, revealing a slight smile. Although he smoked occasionally, his lips and teeth were very well maintained, with a light red lip color, his lips red and moist.

Fu Xueli had been building up to something for a long time but then deflated. The corners of her eyes were flushed red. A very alluring yet pitiful expression.

Xu Xingchun had never been one for high morals, nor was he as chaste and desireless as a bodhisattva. He had desires, so he leaned in and placed a kiss on her lips, “Why are you suddenly so well-behaved?”

She didn’t care about anything else, opening her arms and wrapping them around his waist.

Finally.

Mustering up her courage.

“Xu Xingchun, if I like you, I like all of you. No matter how bad you are, no one can persuade me to leave you.” Fu Xueli pulled back a little, finally looking him in the eye, “I want to hear you tell me about things from before.”

She knew about another side of Xu Xingchun’s life.

Though not much.

But she still kept feeling regret and remorse.

The thunderbolt that tore through the sky.

When he was hysterically angry and desperate, she wasn’t able to gently hold him tight.

“Does your hand hurt?” Xu Xingchun lowered his head slightly, his hand sliding down her wrist and holding it. His nose touched her forehead, their foreheads pressed together, eyes meeting. His eyelashes were long and curled.

His soft lips brushed over her bleeding fingertip, like the gentlest kiss. Wiping away a trace of moisture from the corner of her eye, he asked, “What do you want to hear about?”