RaindropTranslation

The Photograph Calling it coaxing wasn’t entirely accurate. He just stood there, expression cold, restrained and faintly impatient, softening only a fraction when his gaze landed on her. But his voice was low, the final syllables drawn out just slightly, trailing into the air with something almost tender. Qi Yao’s heart trembled. She stared fixedly at him. His eyes were long and narrow, pupils dark as ink. Their gazes met in midair, and her heartbeat skipped a beat before racing wildly. So strange, Qi Yao thought. This person always had a way of making her feel better. No matter what kind of situation she was in, as long as he looked at her once and tossed out a few absurd remarks, she would feel as though nothing in the world was truly a big deal. The elevator doors slowly slid shut, carrying the two stunned and bewildered bystanders downward with them. It wasn’t until another resident pressed the button and the elevator reopened on a different floor that the two finally snapp...

Wind Gap The mechanical hum slowly came to a stop as the elevator doors slid open. Having just finished dubbing for the day, Qi Yao stepped out behind Lizi, holding her script and thermos cup. Repeatedly immersing herself in emotional scenes had been draining. Her throat felt dry and raw. "Don't follow anymore. Go home and have dinner early.” Qi Yao waved goodbye to the fans who had come to see her off after work, climbed into the van, then suddenly spotted something and leaned back out again. “Ah, I've got some strawberry gummies here. Here you go.” A chorus of delighted squeals erupted. Qi Yao smiled too. “I’m leaving, bye bye!” The staff shut the van door, and the car slowly pulled away. Only once the scenery outside had become a blur of scenery, no more waving fans in sight, did Qi Yao finally seem to lose strength, collapsing back against the seat. The moment she relaxed, every ache surfaced at once. Her shoulders and neck throbbed, her limbs felt heavy, exhau...

 When Fang Yiming got home, he still felt unsettled. The moment he pushed the door open, a strange odor assaulted his nostrils. Who knew what concoction Madam Lu was brewing up this time? She was always obsessed with all kinds of household tricks she'd picked up from hearsay. Unfortunately, she lacked both skill and judgment. She rarely approached anything scientifically, and it constantly gave him a headache. Fang Yiming dropped onto the sofa, tossed his keys aside, and leaned his head back, closing his eyes to rest. Not long afterward, Madam Lu emerged. One glance at the living room was enough to set her off. "Leaving your clothes all crumpled up again! Can't you spare me a moment's peace? Do you think I'm not busy enough already? Am I supposed to spend all day cleaning up after you?" Fang Yiming pressed a hand against his forehead, irritation plain on his face. After tidying up for a while, Madam Lu straightened and said, "Wait a minute. Why are you ho...

Lantern She spent the night at Ye Qingman's. When she woke, the owner of the place was already gone for hair and makeup, leaving two breakfasts on the table. Coastal cities cooled fast. The autumn wind cut sharper than in C City, bleak and withering. Qi Yao shivered, wrapped her scarf tight, and boarded the plane. Starting today, she'd begin dubbing for the historical drama she'd filmed back in May. It would likely wrap around the year's end, right before her next project began. Autumn wasn’t peak travel season. Business class sat mostly empty, quiet to the point of stillness. Qi Yao reclined slightly in her seat, flipping through her script to get into character in advance.  Through the open window shade, the weather was beautiful. Thick, cotton-like clouds drifted lazily beneath a sky washed impossibly blue. The engine hummed steadily, a mechanical white noise that slowly pulled at her consciousness. She hadn’t slept well the night before. Between her own tang...

 Workdays after a holiday always make people sluggish. Fang Yiming wasn't in especially high spirits. He took his seat in silence, turned on his computer, and when the woman walked by, politely thanked her, then casually set the orange she'd handed him on the corner of his desk. Someone peeled one open, took a bite, and praised, "This orange is incredible, so sweet and juicy, way better than anything I get at the supermarket. Xu-jie, where’d you buy them?” The woman stopped beside Fang Yiming and laughed brightly. "From Old Fang's daughter! They're homegrown, straight from the countryside. Four yuan a jin, a total steal. If any of you want more, ask Old Fang whether he still has some left." Fang Yiming and the other colleagues froze. For a moment, it was difficult to connect the person she was describing with the Fang Yiming they knew. At work, Fang Yiming had always maintained the image of a refined, cultured man. He was always impeccably dressed in a su...