ATLAS TRANSLATES

“What?!” Xu Wenyao and Ji Mulan were both shocked.

Xu’s assistant had calmed down by now. He explained the whole situation to them.

Ji Mulan found it hard to accept: “You’re saying the one who goes fishing with my dad every day is that Mr. Chen?”

She recalled Chen Yongkun’s appearance – a fishing basket hanging at his waist, calling Ji Shaojun “brother” casually. He didn’t seem like the big shot “Mr. Chen” Xu En and others described.

“Yes,” Xu’s assistant explained to Xu Wenyao, “Mr. Chen has taken over the investigation of this matter. Don’t worry.”

Ji Mulan sat to the side. She drank a glass of cold water but still struggled to calm down. Her father had actually become fishing buddies with that Mr. Chen? The one she often saw in Ji Heng’s yard?

Xu Wenyao hadn’t expected this either. He had just heard from his assistant about the Ji family before coming. He focused on the key point: “Didn’t you say the Ji family was just ordinary Xiangcheng people?”

How could they be connected to overseas labs… and Mr. Chen too? Is this what Xiangcheng people are like?

“I just found out that Mr. Chen and Ji Heng are good fishing buddies. But the Ji family has always lived on Qingshui Street. Ji Shaojun is a teacher, and he has a son who married into the Ren family.” The assistant recalled Bai Lian’s calm demeanor. Her luck was incredible.

Everything seemed ordinary, except for Mr. Chen’s presence, which didn’t make sense.

The assistant thought for a moment, then lowered his voice and mumbled: “Young Master, things are about to change in Xiangcheng.”

And Bai Lian wanted to get into Jiangjiang University, so it seemed she planned to go to Jiangjiang in the future.

It’s just… Getting into Jiangjiang University might be a bit difficult for her.

The assistant remembered this and asked, “How long can you stay? When will you tutor Miss Bai?”

Xu Wenyao’s strongest subject was physics, which was also his current research field. He had been admitted to Jiangjiang University as one of the top ten in his major.

The assistant felt that tutoring Bai Lian would be a challenge for Xu Wenyao.

Monday. Chemistry class.

The chemistry teacher, though aloof, had hair that always stood up. Because Bai Lian scored 40 points on a chemistry test worth 100 points.

Although the test was simple, and Bai Lian’s score was at the bottom of the grade, it had been less than two weeks since the last joint exam, where she had scored zero.

After school, Lu Xiaohan and her group were chattering, discussing Bai Lian’s 40 points. Wen Qishuang, the loudest, said, “Sister Lian, you must treat us!”

Bai Lian listened to them calmly while casually browsing her phone.

A new friend request popped up on her phone: [Hello, I’m He Wen]

This was the person Jiang Fuli had mentioned to her at noon. She accepted the request.

He Wen replied quickly: [Screenshot] It was a mathematical model.

He Wen: [Thank you] Bai Lian: [1]

Jiang Fuli hadn’t told He Wen specifically who Bai Lian was. He Wen thought she was just another ordinary math genius Jiang Fuli had found.

Not far away, Chen Ju overheard the students’ conversation: “…” They dare to ask Miss Bai to treat them for just forty points?!

“Uncle Chen.” Lu Xiaohan and Ning Xiao greeted Chen Ju.

Because of the Zhang Shize incident, the students of Class 15 were very familiar with Chen Ju. “Uncle Chen, you’re off work so early!”

“It’s alright, it’s alright.” Chen Ju smiled and waved to the students.

Then he walked with Bai Lian and the others towards the Zhang family’s house.

Ning Xiao and the others went to move flowers first. Chen Ju fell a step behind Bai Lian and reported the progress to her, “We’ve found a lead and are gathering evidence. We don’t know how they’re conducting the transactions.”

Chen Ju pondered briefly. Xu En’s lead was strange and didn’t connect.

“I see,” Bai Lian nodded slightly, without offering any other opinions.

Chen Ju had always found it hard to guess what Bai Lian was thinking or what she wanted to do. Her thoughts were even harder to read than Jiang Fuli’s.

He helped move a couple of flower pots for the Zhang family when someone called him, saying there was new progress in the case. Only then did Chen Ju leave.

“Are you going to the martial arts hall?” After moving the flowers, Lu Xiaohan took out her camera from her backpack.

Bai Lian lowered her head, carefully trimming a bunch of irises. “Mm.”

She was going to sign a contract with Jin Kai.

“I’ll go with you. I’ll take overall shots of the yard first, then film the renovation later,” Lu Xiaohan estimated the time. These kinds of renovation videos were also popular.

This was Lu Xiaohan’s new idea, to film all the shops and artisans on that street.

After the tourism route is established, there should be more people coming to check in.

The Xiangcheng Cultural Tourism people had also contacted Lu Xiaohan, hoping she could do a good job promoting Xiangcheng’s cultural tourism. After learning that Lu Xiaohan was a high school senior, the Cultural Tourism Bureau quietly put this plan on hold for now.

Students are the foundation of a country. They wouldn’t disturb high school seniors’ studies at such a time.

6 PM. Xingyi Martial Arts Hall.

By an abandoned dry well, Bai Lian and Jin Kai each held a document. Jin Kai was looking at the content carefully.

“Water for you two students.” Mrs. Jin poured water for Bai Lian and Lu Xiaohan, and brought out some fruit.

Bai Lian had already finished reading. She sat across from them with her school uniform open, took the water, and smiled at Mrs. Jin: “Thank you.”

“Auntie, yes, just that pose. Let me add another shot.” Lu Xiaohan was filming Jin Kai’s daily living environment, with her camera now focused on Mrs. Jin.

“Bang—” The back yard door was suddenly kicked open.

Lu Xiaohan was startled, her hand shook, and the camera almost fell.

Jin Kai, who was reading the document, looked up. Seeing the group of people who had arrived, his expression changed, and he instinctively looked towards Bai Lian.

Lu Xiaohan didn’t recognize these people, but she knew Chen Wei among the crowd. She unconsciously took a step back.

Standing behind Bai Lian.

The students of Xiangcheng No. 1 High School were very afraid of Chen Wei, who had power and influence, and was also a school bully.

“Jin Kai, so this is why you’ve been refusing to sell Xingyi Martial Arts Hall,” Zhou Jian entered with a group of people, smiling, but with a hint of malice in his bones. He glanced at the three people present.

His gaze finally landed on Bai Lian, implying, “So you have someone backing you up, that’s why you’re so bold.”

“Mr. Zhou,” Jin Kai stood up and looked at Zhou Jian coldly, “I’ve said it before, the Xingyi Martial Arts Hall left by my ancestors, I won’t sell it. Please leave.”

Zhou Jian was wearing the black training uniform of Jingfeng Martial Arts Hall.

Everyone behind him wore the same clothes.

Lu Xiaohan’s gaze was on Chen Wei. She lowered her voice and said to Bai Lian, “The school genius wasn’t wrong. She really is learning Thai boxing. As expected of someone from the Chen family…”

Mrs. Jin frowned. She knew Zhou Jian and was aware that there were people behind Jingfeng Martial Arts Hall.

But she didn’t know who.

She only knew that many years ago, the sudden closure of Xingyi Martial Arts Hall had something to do with Jingfeng.

Hearing Lu Xiaohan talking to Bai Lian, she asked, “Lu, do you know who these people are?”

“That Chen Wei,” Lu Xiaohan said very quietly, “is our school bully. She’s from the Chen family. You know, that Chen?”

In Xiangcheng, there were only two big family names, Chen and Ren.

They often appeared in local Xiangcheng news.

How could Mrs. Jin not know? She suddenly looked up at Jin Kai.

So there were Chen family people behind Jingfeng Martial Arts Hall?

Jin Kai practiced martial arts and had good hearing. He heard Lu Xiaohan’s words very clearly.

Zhou Jian still wore a perfect smile on his face. Seeing Lu Xiaohan’s fearful eyes, he didn’t care. He just bent down and picked up the contract from the table.

He read it from beginning to end.

Without saying a word, he just tilted his head to look at Chen Wei, “Miss Chen, I need to deal with some private matters for a few minutes. Can you wait?”

Chen Wei’s gaze swept over Bai Lian, “Sure.”

She basically went to Jingfeng Martial Arts Hall to practice Thai boxing every day.

Today she was brought here by Zhou Jian, but it wasn’t a big deal.

“Thank you, Miss Chen.”

Zhou Jian had deliberately brought Chen Wei here. Just the word “Chen” was enough to intimidate most people in Xiangcheng. He casually threw the contract on the ground and said gently to Jin Kai, “Eight million can buy you out? How about this, nine million, I’ll buy Xingyi Martial Arts Hall.”

Nine million was a high price for Xingyi Martial Arts Hall in its current state.

But after development, given its location, the starting price would be ten million, with no upper limit.

Jin Kai had already withstood too much pressure. Now hearing Lu Xiaohan mention the “Chen family” and Zhou Jian say “Miss Chen”, he knew that today’s matter couldn’t be brushed off like before.

He instinctively looked at Bai Lian, still remembering what she had said that day.

This was the only way out Jin Kai had found for Xingyi Martial Arts Hall.

“You’re looking at Miss Bai, huh,” Zhou Jian followed Jin Kai’s gaze to Bai Lian and suddenly smiled, “Let me guess who’s behind Miss Bai. It’s Mr. Xu, right? This eight million is also from Mr. Xu, isn’t it? Of course, Mr. Xu is indeed a good backer, but Jin Kai, why don’t you ask Miss Bai if her backer is still around?”

Zhou Jian had always thought that all of Bai Lian’s confidence came from Xu En.

So, once Xu En left Xiangcheng, Bai Lian would have no cards left to play.

As Jin Kai listened to Zhou Jian’s words, his expression finally changed. He slammed his fist on the stone table and looked at Zhou Jian fiercely, “Your Jingfeng Martial Arts Hall is going too far! I won’t sell Xingyi Martial Arts Hall!”

“Don’t be so angry, I’m trying to negotiate with you nicely,” Zhou Jian looked at Jin Kai, “This place will be planned as a tourist route. If you don’t sell, do you think there’s a possibility that the tourist route might just happen to pass through Xingyi Martial Arts Hall, hm?”

Jin Kai looked at Zhou Jian, his body trembling.

At this point, he realized that the power behind Zhou Jian was even greater than he had imagined, even able to change the tourist route.

“Secretary Zhou, you’re very well-informed. And… altering the tourist route, aren’t you afraid of being reported?” In the silence, a lazy voice rang out.

It was Bai Lian.

Zhou Jian narrowed his eyes and looked over, the smile at the corner of his mouth turning cold.

Mrs. Jin also realized that this Zhou Jian was not easy to deal with and shook her head at Bai Lian.

“Report?” Zhou Jian laughed strangely, took out his phone, and waved it at Bai Lian and Jin Kai, “This is Ren Qian’s number. Why don’t you ask him?”

Bai Lian put away her own phone and took a couple of steps forward.

If the news about the Chen family made Jin Kai and Mrs. Jin feel like they couldn’t breathe,

Then the appearance of the name “Ren Qian” was the last straw that broke Jin Kai.

Seeing Bai Lian walk forward, Jin Kai reached out to grab her school uniform, “The Ren Qian he mentioned, that’s the Ren family…”

“Master Jin, I told you to trust me, didn’t I?” Bai Lian casually brushed off Jin Kai’s hand, her demeanor somewhat scattered.

Jin Kai was also a martial arts expert. He stared blankly at his hand being easily brushed off by an irresistible force.

Bai Lian slowly walked up to Zhou Jian. She reached out and just took Zhou Jian’s phone. The dim light in the yard cast a hazy shadow on her face.

“Secretary Zhou,” Bai Lian tilted her head slightly, the corner of her mouth curving into a lazy arc, her black eyes like ink-stained: “Reporting to Ren Qian isn’t enough? I suggest you keep going up the chain, like to Chen Yongkun and those people.”

“Bang—” The phone fell carelessly from her hand, landing in the same place as the document Zhou Jian had thrown on the ground earlier.