ATLAS TRANSLATES

Bai Lian only used simplified notation to record the main melody of this song, which was the skeleton and soul of the song.

But as someone from ancient times, she didn’t know much about modern instruments.

The arrangement of a song is extremely important.

An arranger needs to understand various music theories and know how to combine different instruments to compose accompaniment, making the music richer.

This wasn’t difficult for Jian Zhongyou, who had been involved in music since childhood. He had participated in many arrangements, and he didn’t even need a music library. He could grab anyone from the music academy full of talented people to help him perform the parts needed for the arrangement on the spot.

Sister Xin put away the USB drive and two pieces of paper, “I’ll listen to it when I get back.”

In reality, Sister Xin didn’t have high hopes for Bai Lian’s lyrics and composition in such a short time, after all, Bai Lian wasn’t a professional.

Not just Sister Xin.

Bai Lian also felt that she and Sister Xin might have a generation gap, and wasn’t sure if her aesthetics would suit this era.

She thought for a moment and said to Sister Xin: “You guys go back and listen to it. If it’s really not suitable, just forget about it.”

Bai Lian had learned many different things. She learned the guzheng from the top zither player in the capital, who only taught two people at the time.

Her and the third princess, Princess Huai’an, who learned better than her.

Back then, there were too many people in the world who could play the guzheng, with a hundred flowers blooming, making friends through music.

It was much harsher for women than it is now, and Princess Huai’an was able to stand out at the age of sixteen.

Unfortunately, Princess Huai’an didn’t finish learning. She left the zither to Bai Lian and went alone to marry at eighteen.

Later, Bai Lian also didn’t finish learning, going off to the battlefield.

Now many short videos, including those edited by Lu Xiaohan, have covered this period of Da Yong’s history. They all say this period of history can’t be replicated, because turning each page is full of regrets.

“Xiao Lu has to go back to record the song tonight and join the crew the day after tomorrow,” Mama Zhang looked at the group of children in the backyard, “Everyone will eat here tonight, we’ve bought all the ingredients, and Old Zhang has washed them.”

This time Zhang Shize was already not here, and the next time everyone would be together like this was unknown.

Bai Lian came back to her senses, “Okay.”

She could now calmly recall these things.

Bai Lian slightly lowered her head, her long eyelashes half-closed, the golden light of the setting sun gently covering her. She took out her phone and sent a message each to Lansi and Ji Heng, saying she would eat outside and come home later.

Mama Zhang went to the milk tea shop in front to find Yang Lin and Chi Lu.

Everyone was very familiar with Chi Yundai.

Especially Wen Qi, one look from Chi Lu made Wen Qi feel like he was about to go find Zhang Shize.

Chi Yundai sat on the sofa, his clothes neat, not saying a word.

Others didn’t dare to joke with him, but when they saw Mama Zhang bring out some cut fruit, Chi Yundai with his obsessive-compulsive disorder finally couldn’t hold back.

He stood up and went to the kitchen, chasing Papa and Mama Zhang out.

There was a series of “ka ka” cutting sounds.

Papa Zhang stood at the kitchen door holding a knife, watching Chi Yundai cut the cucumber into thin strips, then looked at Mama Zhang doubtfully: “You… you hired a chef behind my back?”

Mama Zhang slapped Papa Zhang’s head hard: “How many times have I told you, this is Lawyer Chi!”

Papa Zhang: “…”

Although Mama Zhang had told him countless times about Chi Yundai’s prowess, but…

Papa Zhang looked at the kitchen.

Is this really a proper lawyer?

**

After dinner, Sister Xin left with Yan Lu.

They had to go back to North City overnight to record the song.

Only when they were in the car did Sister Xin ask the driver to turn on the backseat light, looking at the two pieces of paper Bai Lian had given her.

The first paper was the sheet music, which she hadn’t learned and didn’t understand very well, so she turned to the second one.

The second was the lyrics for the whole song.

Sister Xin slowly read from top to bottom, her expression changing from casual to shocked.

[…

Raise the cup again

To honor the royal family

And to the vast land under heaven I was born with rebellious bones So why fear thousands of troops

If heaven and earth don’t side with me I’ll put them under my feet

It’s just music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and flowers in the next life Wait for me to mount my horse, take up my spear, and don armor again]

After confirming Yan Lu’s role, “Da Yong” gave her the script. Sister Xin didn’t know much about this part of “Da Yong” history, but she had read the script.

Bai Lian’s lyrics truly captured this character’s entire life in a grand manner.

These lyrics truly amazed Sister Xin.

“Yan Lu, take a look.” Sister Xin directly handed the lyrics to Yan Lu, “Written by Miss Bai.”

Yan Lu took the lyrics and sat up straight, reading from top to bottom.

“Where’s the melody?” After a good while, Yan Lu let out a breath, directly asking Sister Xin for the tune.

She had studied music theory and could roughly hum it out.

Sister Xin gave her the other piece of paper, “Bai Jian should be Miss Bai, it’s just that ‘Jian’ I haven’t heard before,” “I’ve thought about it, if the composition and arrangement aren’t too bad, you can just use this song directly.”

Yan Lu didn’t reply, only looking at the melody.

Sister Xin didn’t have a computer at hand and couldn’t listen to the song on the USB drive. She couldn’t help but urge the driver, “Can you drive a bit faster.”

The sooner they reached North City, the sooner they could hear the overall style of this song.

Beside her, Yan Lu, having roughly hummed the entire melody, remained lost in thought for a long time.

Sister Xin was thinking that as long as the composition and arrangement weren’t too bad, it would be fine, after all, Bai Lian had reminded her that if it wasn’t suitable, they could change it.

But how could she know that the one who wrote this melody was Miss Bai herself? Bai Lian felt she couldn’t compare to the third princess, but she forgot who her teacher was. To be able to take both her and the third princess as students, did her talent even need to be mentioned?

**

The next day.

Early Saturday morning.

Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli went to give Zhang Shize a lesson.

Seeing the two of them, Zhang Shize was very moved, crying and sniffling.

“Brother Jiang,” after an hour of class, Zhang Shize quietly asked Jiang Fuli, “How many chances do you think I have now of getting into Jiangjiang University of Political Science and Law?”

He felt his grades had improved dramatically in less than a month.

Jiang Fuli asked Bai Lian to leave first, then glanced at him and said, “I suggest you don’t mention the University of Political Science and Law right now.”

“Huh? Why…” Zhang Shize was stunned.

He didn’t quite understand.

Jiang Fuli raised his hand: “I’m afraid he’ll sue you for defamation.”

Zhang Shize: “…”

The prison guard nearby lowered his head and put handcuffs back on Zhang Shize.

There was no choice, Jiangjiang University of Political Science and Law was famous throughout Asia, after all, Chi Lu had made a name for himself internationally, and when it was discovered he was from Jiangjiang University of Political Science and Law, its reputation soared.

There wasn’t a single mediocre person there.

Zhang Shize heard the implication in Jiang Fuli’s words. The implication was a small matter, but now he was starting to worry about whether he could get into the University of Political Science and Law.

Seeing Jiang Fuli’s expression, he knew he couldn’t get in…

Chi Lu would really put justice before family ties.

Why were they all so abnormal?

**

Outside, in the car.

Bai Lian sat in the passenger seat.

She leaned back loosely against the seat, her head slightly tilted, lazily leaning against the window, her phone held to her ear, it was Ji Heng’s call.

“It’s Saturday today,” on the other end of the phone, Ji Heng was stuffing tobacco into his pipe, his voice muffled, “The Ren family said there’s a famous teacher from North City coming to teach, do you want to go?”

Ji Heng knew Bai Lian studied hard.

So after Ren Qian called him, he specifically asked Bai Lian.

Ji Heng also knew very clearly that having a teacher’s help in academics would make things go more smoothly, although he didn’t want to have too many entanglements with the Ren family.

But when it came to Bai Lian, Ji Heng was always able to advance and retreat as he saw fit.

Bai Lian didn’t turn on the speakerphone, but she didn’t cover the microphone either. The car space was only so big, Jiang Fuli sitting in the driver’s seat, his hand paused as he was fastening his seatbelt.

He turned his head slightly and looked over at Bai Lian with a calm expression.

His eyes were light and shallow.

Cold and clear.

Bai Lian: “…”

“Grandpa, I’m not going,” she lowered her voice and said to Ji Heng.

Ji Heng was still speaking loudly, “I think…”

Bai Lian: “…Grandpa, I don’t like the Ren family.”

With her saying this, Ji Heng had nothing else to say: “Alright, I’ll reply to them.”

The two hung up the phone, Bai Lian glanced at the person beside her, Jiang Fuli slowly fastened his seatbelt, lowered both car windows, the wind blew in, ruffling both their white clothes.

He didn’t say anything.

Bai Lian felt this matter should be over.

At the library.

Ning Xiao asked Jiang Fuli about a question from the Jiangjiang Affiliated University question bank, Jiang Fuli put down the printed documents in his hand, glanced over, “Do you know any famous teachers from North City?”

Ning Xiao looked at the documents Jiang Fuli put down, it was in English original text, he couldn’t really understand it, so he moved his gaze away.

Hearing Jiang Fuli’s words, he was slightly stunned, “Teachers from North City?”

“Very famous,” Jiang Fuli slightly withdrew his gaze, his hand resting on the table, his posture somewhat casual.

He seemed very nonchalant.

Ning Xiao and Tang Ming took it seriously, “A famous teacher has come to Xiangcheng?”

Bai Lian beside them: “…”

This is ridiculous.

She reached out, grabbed Jiang Fuli’s wrist, took the question bank from Ning Xiao’s hand and stuffed it into his, calmly speaking: “Teacher Jiang, listen to me, you’re the most famous.”

Jiang Fuli picked up the book, barely believing it.

At lunch.

Jiang Fuli finished a bite, suddenly looked at Bai Lian, “So who is that teacher?”

Alright.

Bai Lian knew this matter wasn’t over for now.

She made a mental note against the Ren family.

After finishing her meal, when Bai Lian took out her phone to memorize vocabulary, she found Sister Xin’s WeChat and asked her—

[How is it, does it work?]

She didn’t know if modern people could accept her old-fashioned aesthetics.

**

At the Ren family.

Ren Qian had already received Ji Heng’s reply.

“She’s not willing to come?” Ren Qian wasn’t particularly surprised by this reply, but still didn’t understand what Bai Lian was thinking, “Prepare another gift and send it to the Ji family.”

He gave the order.

Ren Wanxuan was already in class, she had been studying very diligently recently, as if stimulated by something.

“Alright,” the person beside him respectfully responded, and then reported the information he had obtained, “Someone else indeed came from Jiangjiang, surnamed Yu, we don’t know any other details.”

Hearing this, Ren Qian was even more surprised, “This is even more secretive than Mr. Chen’s information? Is there any way to contact them?”

The subordinate slightly lowered his eyes, “Chen Gang is already making connections.”

Their first meeting with Mr. Chen was arranged by Chen Gang, and it’s no longer a secret in Xiangcheng that Chen Gang has connections with the Chen family in Jiangjiang.

If they could meet Mr. Chen, meeting another person shouldn’t be difficult.

It’s good to have connections in high places, Ren Qian was not envious of the Chen family’s connections for the first time.

“Contact Chen Gang for me,” Ren Qian made a quick decision, thought for a moment, then pondered, “Do you think Xu En knows about this?”

The subordinate wasn’t sure either, “He should know, right?”

They had all received the news, Xu En, whose information was more up-to-date than theirs, wouldn’t not know.

**

Recording studio in North City.

Sister Xin and Yan Lu had been waiting for three hours since morning.

A staff member came out from inside, Sister Xin couldn’t help but approach, “Have the people inside finished recording, why haven’t we had our turn yet?”

The staff member glanced at Sister Xin, not recognizing her, he impatiently waved his hand, “Teacher Manxi is still recording, if you can’t wait, go to other recording studios.”

“But we booked for 9:30, can we record a bit first, we’re on a tight schedule.” Sister Xin smiled politely at the staff member.

She had booked for 9:30 this morning a few days ago.

But Manxi still hadn’t finished recording, Sister Xin and Yan Lu had been waiting until 12 o’clock.

There was no choice, Yan Lu wasn’t famous now, she was just an extra in the industry, no one would care about her, this was the reality of not being popular.

“You’re really funny,” the staff member sneered, “You’re on a tight schedule but others aren’t? Don’t disturb my work.”

He took two cups of coffee and walked towards the recording studio.

Hearing it was Manxi inside, Sister Xin knew the other party must have some intentional element.

“Let’s wait a bit longer,” Yan Lu adjusted the sunglasses on her chest, speaking coldly and beautifully, “She surely can’t stay here until night.”

Sister Xin thought, staying here until night probably wouldn’t happen.

This was the best recording studio in North City, with a full schedule, Sister Xin had booked this place long in advance, and now it would be difficult to book other recording studios.

Her phone rang.

It was a message from Bai Lian.

Sister Xin quickly stood up straight, although Bai Lian wasn’t here, she still respectfully replied to Bai Lian’s message.

Roughly describing the situation.

When Bai Lian received Sister Xin’s message, she was on her way back to the library.

She tapped her phone screen with her fingertips, directly calling Sister Xin.

“Miss Bai.” Sister Xin walked to a corner.

Bai Lian stopped at the bottom of the library building, half leaning against a pillar, “Then do you want to change to another recording studio?”

“We would like to change,” Sister Xin sighed, “But recording studios need to be booked in advance, it’s impossible to book any other recording studio at the last minute, hopefully they can finish recording in the afternoon.”

“The afternoon…” Bai Lian calculated the time, suddenly speaking, “The timing is about right, you guys go to Jiangjiang.”

Yesterday, Jian Zhongyou had already asked Yan Lu to go to Jiangjiang to record.

Bai Lian saw that Yan Lu and the others were in a hurry, so she didn’t tell them.

Now they were going to wait either way, so they might as well go to Jiangjiang to record, after all, no one understands the arrangement better than Dean Jian who personally worked on it.

“Jiangjiang?” Wang Xin was surprised by Bai Lian’s idea once again.

“Yes,” Bai Lian made a quick decision, “You buy plane tickets now.”

After talking to Sister Xin, Bai Lian flipped through her WeChat to find Dean Jian’s contact. Their conversation was still on the reply about “simplified notation”. Jian Zhongyou discovered that Bai Lian’s research on simplified notation was even more extensive than his, so he took out a half-missing page of simplified notation to explore and restore it with Bai Lian.

Dean Jian: [!]

Dean Jian: [Send me the flight details, I’ll have someone pick them up]

**

4:45 PM.

Jiangjiang Airport.

As soon as Yan Lu and Sister Xin got off the plane, they saw a young man holding a sign to pick them up at the arrival area.

“You must be Miss Yan Lu,” the young man was very polite to the two, “Please follow us.”

He led the way in front, and took out his phone to report to Dean Jian—

[!!!]

[Dean! We’ve picked up the people!!]

This was insider information that only a small portion of people at the Music Academy knew – Dean Jian loved using exclamation marks.

The young man led the two to a business car.

It was a very ordinary business car.

“Sister Xin, where are we going?” Inside the business car, Yan Lu and Sister Xin sat in the back, and she couldn’t help but ask Sister Xin in a low voice.

Sister Xin didn’t know either, but the two of them trusted Bai Lian very much.

Her heart suddenly started beating faster, and she began to fantasize: “Could it be the Crown Recording Studio?”

Crown Recording Studio was a very popular recording studio in the entertainment circle, with top-notch equipment. It was the go-to studio for many divas and kings of song. With Yan Lu’s current status, it was impossible to book.

But…

Wang Xin thought, since Bai Lian even knew that Mr. Xu, she might be able to book it.

This was already the best recording studio that Sister Xin could think of that Bai Lian might be able to book. In the past, Sister Xin wouldn’t even dare to imagine it.

Until the car stopped in front of a school gate.