ATLAS TRANSLATES

Mao Kun scratched his head.

He wasn’t sure what Bailian wanted to do. He thought she needed help moving something big, and was worried there weren’t enough people. If Xiao Qi hadn’t informed him Bailian had arrived, he would have kept calling for more help.

Bailian continued walking towards the bar. “The items are in the trunk. Bring them inside.”

Mao Kun waved his hand, giving instructions. The black-clothed bodyguards opened the trunk and saw a mass spectrometer inside.

“Gentlemen,” the bodyguards had never seen a mass spectrometer before. The instrument looked delicate, making them hesitant to move it. “Is it okay if we just carry this in as is?”

The bodyguard’s hand was still on the car’s back door.

Despite his fierce appearance, he politely asked Dr. Li, who was wearing a white coat with a name tag.

“Ah,” a cool breeze blew past, and Dr. Li finally came to his senses. “…Don’t touch any buttons. Just carry it in like that.”

With permission granted, the black-clothed bodyguards immediately sprang into action. Display screen, analyzer, color difference meter…

Four bodyguards each carefully carried one piece, walking inside.

Afraid of damaging the equipment, they took very slow steps.

“Gentlemen,” a bodyguard turned slightly towards Assistant Xu and Dr. Li, making a “please” gesture. “Young Master Mao invites you both inside.”

Assistant Xu walked in with unsteady steps. This was probably the first time someone had addressed him as “sir.”

And it was a bodyguard from Black Water Street who called him “sir.”

Even Assistant Xu, who had experienced countless big occasions with Xu En, found this hard to believe. He and Dr. Li exchanged glances as they walked inside, their minds buzzing.

Dr. Li turned his head slightly, looking at Assistant Xu with an obvious question:

[What exactly does Miss Bai do?]

Assistant Xu was even more confused.

He didn’t know much about Bailian either. His mind was in a whirl right now, how could he know?

The bar was very large, with three floors.

The first floor was filled with smoke, with colorful lights flashing. A crowd surrounded the central stage, while some people smoking and drinking in the corners looked over when they saw the group of bodyguards arrive.

But no one was foolish enough to cause trouble.

The bodyguards led Assistant Xu and Dr. Li to the third floor, carrying the equipment. The third floor was very quiet, with thick carpets lining the U-shaped corridor.

Only waiters pushing drink carts passed by, stopping to let the bodyguards go first when they saw them.

The bodyguards led Assistant Xu and Dr. Li directly to the private room at the end of the hall.

Although it was only the third floor, the bar owner had given the room the auspicious number “8888”.

When the door opened, they saw Bailian standing by the window with her back to them.

The giant crystal chandelier overhead was lit, illuminating the entire room.

The bodyguards carefully placed the items on the tea table. Only then did Bailian turn slightly, looking down at the mass spectrometer on the floor.

“Sis, what’s this?” Beside her, Mao Kun curiously examined the mass spectrometer while handing Bailian a cigarette.

Bailian casually took it and put it in her mouth, tilting her head slightly. Mao Kun respectfully lit it for her.

“A mass spectrometer.” Bailian wore a ladylike long dress, plain white with elegant floral vines embroidered by Ji Heng. Her long hair was loosely tied up, but she held a slender cigarette in her hand, creating a jarring contrast.

As the two talked, Assistant Xu and Dr. Li sat stiffly on the sofa, listening in a daze.

Until Bailian looked at Dr. Li and politely asked, “Dr. Li, you should be able to analyze toxins using the mass spectrometer, right?”

“Ah…” Dr. Li snapped back to reality. “Yes, but we need neurotoxins.”

“Mm.” Bailian casually flicked ash into the ashtray, thin smoke veiling her brows and eyes. She turned her head slightly to look at Mao Kun, without saying anything.

Mao Kun made a phone call.

Midway through, he looked at Dr. Li, “He’s asking what kind of neurotoxin you need?”

Asking him what kind of neurotoxin? Dr. Li’s mind briefly froze. Was this something he could just request?

Apparently neurotoxins were as common as cabbage, and he could even choose?!

Bailian sat down on the sofa on the other side, leaning back: “Buy one of each type.”

To find the source of the toxin, naturally they needed a sample of each type of neurotoxin.

“Alright.” Mao Kun went downstairs to make the transaction personally.

These toxins were generally used by international mercenaries against enemies or targets. They weren’t widely available, but the black market had some supply.

Hearing Bailian and Mao Kun discuss neurotoxins as casually as talking about vegetables, Dr. Li and Assistant Xu, who had just managed to calm down, couldn’t help but twitch their mouths again.

Both carefully looked at Bailian. Under the crystal chandelier, her expression remained mysterious, until—

“epoch, epoch, epoch.”

“the Pleistocene epoch.”

A mechanical female voice came from Bailian’s phone.

Bailian leisurely put out her cigarette. She had left in a hurry today and didn’t bring headphones, so she played the vocabulary out loud. She repeated it a few times, memorizing the meaning and spelling, then swiped to the next word.

She looked up and saw Assistant Xu and Dr. Li watching her.

Bailian raised her head: “Am I disturbing you with my vocabulary practice?”

She was really studying vocabulary.

Studying vocabulary in Black Water Street, in a bar.

Unexpected, yet somehow unsurprising. Assistant Xu vaguely recalled that Bailian was still a high school senior, taking the college entrance exam next year. Ji Heng had mentioned she studied diligently.

“Not at all,” he spoke up. “Please continue.”

Bailian nodded, but her voice became a bit quieter as she continued studying vocabulary.

**

Less than half an hour later, Mao Kun came up with four vials.

He arranged them in a row in front of Dr. Li. “Dr. Li, see if any of these are the neurotoxins you’re looking for.”

Dr. Li stood up and seriously plugged in the mass spectrometer, beginning to analyze the contents of each vial.

Assistant Xu, Mao Kun, and the others couldn’t help with this, only handing Dr. Li things when he needed them.

Assistant Xu felt Mao Kun was much easier to talk to than the group of black-clothed bodyguards. He cautiously asked him, “You are Miss Bai’s…?”

How could Bailian have such a friend?

He looked quite intimidating.

Mao Kun smiled at Assistant Xu, “We became friends after a fight.”

With his dyed yellow hair and unruly appearance, he looked very much like a gang leader.

Hearing Mao Kun describe it that way, Assistant Xu also recalled that before coming to Xiangcheng, Ji Mulan had told Xu En that her daughter was a troublemaker who did all sorts of things.

But Assistant Xu had met Bailian many times and thought she was just a hardworking high school senior.

It wasn’t until now that he began to connect Ji Mulan’s description with Bailian.

“Are there many neurotoxins in Black Water Street?” Assistant Xu asked about the main issue.

“Not really,” Mao Kun lit a cigarette and bit it, squinting slightly. “But I’m a bouncer at the bar, and I often hear mercenaries bragging. He just got a batch of neurotoxins, so you guys are lucky.”

He glanced at Assistant Xu.

Assistant Xu took a deep breath. They were indeed lucky. “Thank you.”

He expressed his gratitude sincerely.

But this person was actually also a bouncer at the bar. Assistant Xu couldn’t help but look at Mao Kun again. As expected of the Qinglong Bar, even the bouncers were so formidable.

Just then, Dr. Li took out a vial of medication and stood up excitedly, “I found it! It’s this one!”

He handed the vial of toxin to Bailian.

Bailian reached out to take it, lowering her head to examine it carefully. It was all in English – CN nerve agent.

She exited the vocabulary app.

She opened WeChat and sent a photo to Lansi.

Lansi: [OK, I’ll go ask]

Having found the source of the toxin, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and went downstairs. Xiao Qi was mixing drinks at the bar. Seeing Bailian and the others come out, he raised his head in surprise, “Sis, aren’t you staying longer?”

“Didn’t bring my homework,” Bailian glanced at Xiao Qi, remembering something: “Are you really not going back to continue high school?”

Xiao Qi shook his head, “We’ll see.”

Assistant Xu stood to the side. Hearing this, he looked up at Xiao Qi.

**

The group returned to the hospital.

Ji Mulan and Lansi were still there.

Xu En still hadn’t woken up. If not for the heart monitor still beeping, one might doubt he was still breathing. Ji Mulan was anxious and restless.

She didn’t know where Bailian and Assistant Xu had gone.

Lansi sat in a chair to the side. He could still talk calmly with people when Bailian was around. With Bailian gone, he didn’t care who anyone else was.

His serious expression made him difficult to approach.

Even the hospital director didn’t dare disturb Lansi.

The medical affairs department had come to inquire for the third time, “Ms. Ji, when do you plan to leave for Jianjing? The longer we delay, the greater the damage to the patient’s brain.”

Ji Mulan’s heart was in her throat, almost frantic with worry. She grabbed the transfer form from the medical affairs staff and signed it: “Transfer, transfer immediately!”

She had been foolish. Even Xu Wenyao couldn’t get the antidote, how could Bailian possibly have a way? The medical department prepared for the transfer.

“Don’t transfer now.” The elevator doors opened, and Assistant Xu hurriedly walked out, taking back the transfer form from the nurse’s hand and looking at Ji Mulan.

Ji Mulan stared at Assistant Xu in shock, “Assistant Xu, you…”

“Stay in Xiangcheng for now.” Assistant Xu interrupted Ji Mulan.

Before going to Black Water Street, Assistant Xu had been half-skeptical. Now he had complete trust in Bailian.

Ji Mulan was a bit dazed, feeling that Assistant Xu’s attitude towards Bailian seemed to have changed again. She couldn’t help but look at Bailian.

Bailian ignored her and went past her to find Lansi.

“Does MTR have an antidote for CN?” she asked.

Lansi was leisurely flipping through a medical book from Xiangcheng Hospital. Hearing Bailian’s voice, he finally looked up and replied in very standard English: “Yes, I’ve already had someone recall it.”

They spoke one in English, one in Chinese.

Yet there was no communication barrier.

Ji Mulan looked at Bailian. She remembered Bailian had never passed English.

Could she understand what Lansi was saying?

**

As they were talking, Assistant Xu’s phone rang.

It was Xu Wenyao.

Assistant Xu hurriedly walked outside the ward to answer, his voice very respectful: “Young Master.”

“I’ve contacted Jianjing Hospital,” on the other end of the phone, Xu Wenyao was no longer in the mood to study. He stood in the biting cold wind, holding his car keys as he walked out. “A department is willing to research it. Where are you now?”

Bailian had taken Assistant Xu and Dr. Li away so quickly, and what happened afterwards was too fantastical.

Assistant Xu had only just recovered his senses. He glanced at Bailian talking to Dr. Lansi inside the room, paused, then said, “Young Master, I think we may not need to return to Jianjing.”

“What?” On the other end of the phone, Xu Wenyao stopped.

Because his classmate had described the “neurotoxin” as too fantastical, he had imagined countless possibilities.

“My dad, he…”

“No,” Assistant Xu hurriedly explained, his expression somewhat complex: “We just obtained the CN nerve agent and confirmed the source of Mr. Xu’s poisoning.”

He recounted the events from beginning to end.

“Bailian?” This was the first time Xu Wenyao had heard this name. He was surprised, “Auntie Ji’s daughter?”

Xu Wenyao had been focused on scientific research and didn’t know much about Black Water Street.

“Assistant Xu, you need to ensure that staying in Xiangcheng is better for my dad.” This concerned Xu En’s life, and Xu Wenyao didn’t dare take it lightly.

Assistant Xu was also under a lot of pressure.

But he was willing to believe what he had seen.

“Alright,” hearing Assistant Xu’s assurance, Xu Wenyao slowly said: “I’ll come to Xiangcheng right away.”

**

The next day.

Xiangcheng No. 1 High School had science exams in the morning and the afternoon off.

The science exam questions weren’t too difficult this time. Bailian finished all the ones she could do. With half an hour left before turning in the papers, she handed in her answer sheet and left.

Assistant Xu was waiting for her at the school gate.

He knew Bailian’s exam ended at eleven this morning.

But he still waited for her early. Seeing Bailian come out half an hour early, Assistant Xu was a bit surprised.

“Miss Bai.” Assistant Xu greeted her.

Bailian carried her backpack, squinting slightly: “You were originally planning to return to Jianjing, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then…” Bailian nodded, her tone unhurried, “Just tell others that Mr. Xu has already returned to Jianjing.”

Assistant Xu didn’t ask why, just nodded.

In fact, he and Xu Wenyao both knew something was wrong with Xu En this time. Xu Wenyao rushed over not only to see Xu En, but also to investigate what happened to Xu En.

Just then, a car stopped beside the two of them.

The back door opened, and someone got out. Seeing Bailian, he smiled, “Student Bai.”

Assistant Xu was a bit surprised to see the elderly man who suddenly got out of the car.

Bailian stepped aside slightly, politely greeting him, “Principal.”

“Finished the exam?” The principal estimated how long Bailian had spent on the test paper, smiling very gently, “Did you do the chemistry part?”

The principal had asked the chemistry teacher indirectly more than once.

Logically, if physics and math were so difficult and Bailian always got full marks, how come she never got a single point in chemistry? Bailian: “…I did a little.”

“You did a little?” The principal’s eyes lit up. He had studied Bailian’s papers before. Doing some meant she understood. “Very good, not bad, keep it up! Try to do a bit more next time!”

So Bailian wouldn’t get zero in chemistry this time.

“Okay.” Bailian nodded.

The principal’s tone became even gentler, “Next month is the final exam, which will be a big joint exam. Try to do a few more questions then.”

As the two talked, Assistant Xu’s mouth twitched.

If not for the inappropriate timing, he would have laughed.

So this was the school principal.

And then… why was the principal praising her so much for only doing a little of the test paper? But thinking about it again, it made sense.

He had heard that Bailian’s grades weren’t good. Ji Mulan had wanted Xu En to transfer Bailian to a private school in Jianjing before, but Bailian hadn’t agreed.

Assistant Xu had seen Bailian studying vocabulary in the bar. Studying so hard yet still getting such poor grades.

He sighed and lowered his head to send a message to Xu Wenyao:

[If you have time when you come this time, could you help tutor Miss Bai?]

Xu Wenyao had just arrived in Beicheng and gotten off the plane:

[Sure, what are her goals?]

Xu Wenyao was very grateful to Bailian for her great help.

Assistant Xu waited for the principal to leave, then carefully asked Bailian: “Miss Bai, which university do you hope to attend next year?”