ATLAS TRANSLATES

Outside the door were an old man and a young person.

The old man held a pipe, his face deeply wrinkled. This must be Ji Mulan’s father. Xu Wenyao bowed slightly: “Grandfather Ji, hello, I’m Xu Wenyao.”

Then he looked at Bai Lian.

Winters in Xiangcheng weren’t cold. She wore a neat school jacket, her black hair tied up with a wooden hairpin. A white backpack with an embroidered lazy cat hung from her shoulder.

She held a milk tea in one hand and a phone in the other, lazily looking down at her phone.

Xu Wenyao said in a gentle voice: “Hello, classmate Bai.”

Bai Lian slowly looked up and replied concisely: “Hello.”

She didn’t say much, indeed polite as Xu En had described.

Xu’s assistant also stood to the side, very respectfully: “Miss Bai.”

Everyone sat down.

Xu Wenyao’s ability to liven up the atmosphere was no weaker than Xu En’s. He smiled and brought up a topic Ji Heng was interested in, “I know there’s a national treasure in Su embroidery, the Imperial Landscape of Jiangjiang…”

At this, Ji Heng paused briefly.

Then he looked at Xu Wenyao in surprise, his expression softening considerably, “Few young people nowadays know about these things.”

As the two talked, Ji Mulan didn’t interrupt this time.

Because her knowledge of embroidery was even less than Xu Wenyao’s.

Bai Lian lowered her head to check her phone. Jin Kai had sent her a picture – he had already cleaned up the martial arts training ground and ordered a batch of weapons. As for the interior, he was discussing renovations with someone.

Recruitment would start in half a month, but the training ground didn’t need decorating and could be rented out to earn extra money.

“A few classmates are coming for dinner this weekend? Your uncle and aunt need to buy groceries first.” During the meal, Ji Heng remembered this and asked Bai Lian.

“About eight.”

Just Wen Qining, Xiao, and a few others.

“She,” Ji Heng noticed Xu Wenyao’s gaze and explained, “got 40 points on her chemistry monthly test, so her classmates asked her to treat them.”

Bai Lian had been getting 0 in chemistry for almost a semester. This was her first time getting 40.

Not just her classmates from Class 15, even the chemistry teacher wanted to celebrate with everyone, but he was too aloof.

Ji Mulan gripped her chopsticks tightly.

Getting 40 out of 100 points was unspeakably shameful.

She lowered her head slightly, feeling lucky that only Xu Wenyao was present today, not the Xu family matriarch or others.

“Oh right,” Xu Wenyao smiled. He picked up some printed documents he had set aside and finally had a chance to hand them to Bai Lian: “These are key high school knowledge points compiled by Zhiyue. I hope you can use them.”

Bai Lian took the knowledge points Xu Wenyao gave her.

She was a bit surprised.

They were mostly science and math knowledge points. Xu Wenyao must know she had switched from liberal arts to sciences.

“Thank you for your trouble.” Ji Heng raised his glass to Xu Wenyao in gratitude.

Xu Wenyao sighed in relief, knowing he had passed Ji Heng’s test. “It’s what I should do. I still have a few days before I go back. Which subjects are you weakest in?”

This was an offer to tutor Bai Lian.

Hearing this, Bai Lian looked up. “…Thank you, but no need.”

She was indeed catching up on biology and chemistry now.

But young man, please cherish your life.

“Wenyao, don’t listen to her.” Ji Mulan, who hadn’t spoken until now, looked coldly at Bai Lian: “Wenyao is a student at Jiangjiang University. Him tutoring you is something many people can’t even dream of.”

Then she smiled at Xu Wenyao, “Wenyao, please do take the trouble.”

“If you really have nothing better to do,” Bai Lian crossed her legs and raised her head slightly, looking at Ji Mulan with a half-smile, “why don’t you just squat at the front gate?”

Ji Mulan was left speechless.

This time Ji Heng didn’t intervene either.

Xu Wenyao sensed some conflict. Bai Lian and Ji Mulan didn’t seem to get along, so he stayed quiet.

Ji Heng had drunk a bit more today. By 7 PM, Xu’s assistant sent him back. The atmosphere between Ji Mulan and Bai Lian was tense, so she left with Ji Heng too.

Bai Lian seemed to be heading to the library.

She and Xu Wenyao saw Ji Heng off at the door. Xu Wenyao gave Bai Lian a welcome gift and asked: “Do you really not need tutoring? I heard from my assistant that you want to get into Jiangjiang University.”

Although Xu Wenyao had always been good at studies, he had also learned social skills. But facing Bai Lian, he found his social skills were useless.

Ji Heng’s preferences were easy to gauge. Bai Lian’s supposed preference was studying…

But he had been steering the conversation towards studying for so long, yet Bai Lian showed no interest at all.

Don’t you want to get into Jiangjiang University anymore?

Bai Lian twirled her phone lazily and said: “Someone’s already tutoring me.”

Just then, a car slowly pulled up across the street.

Xu Wenyao was about to ask more about Bai Lian’s tutoring.

Bai Lian waved at him.

She walked across the street and got into the car.

It was a black, quite luxurious business car. Xu Wenyao stared at the car in surprise –

He remembered from the files that the Ji family had always lived on Qingshui Street and hadn’t moved. Was the driver a friend or relative?

Xu Wenyao took out his phone and snapped a photo of the license plate.

Then he opened WeChat. He had just scanned Bai Lian’s WeChat, but she hadn’t accepted his friend request yet.

**

In the car.

Jiang Fuli sat in the back seat, his laptop placed on the table. His slender fingers pressed the keyboard, the light from behind illuminating his face, cold jade-like contours, very unapproachable.

“Where’s Jiang He?” Bai Lian didn’t see Jiang He.

She held her phone, saw Xu Wenyao’s friend request, and accepted it.

Jiang Fuli carelessly closed his laptop and honestly complained to Bai Lian: “He seems to have turned into a mushroom.”

Bai Lian: “…”

Jiang He had been in self-isolation for a day.

Because of the ink spots on his face.

When Bai Lian went to Jiang He’s room, he was still crouching under his small drawing table. He must have heard the door open, as he covered his ears with both hands and lowered his head.

Jiang He was probably one of the easier autistic disorders to deal with.

He wouldn’t shout or harm himself or others.

He truly embodied what it meant to be “autistic”.

Bai Lian’s mind kept thinking “mushroom mushroom mushroom”.

Pushing aside thoughts of Young Master Jiang, she crouched beside Jiang He and flicked the back of his head.

Feeling who was beside him, Jiang He slowly lowered his hands and looked at Bai Lian.

“Have you eaten?” Bai Lian rubbed his head, her downcast eyes unusually gentle.

Jiang He shook his head.

Bai Lian tilted her head slightly: “Then, want to come out and eat?”

Jiang He nodded slowly.

Jiang Fuli leaned against the doorframe, one hand in his pocket, watching Jiang He and smirking coldly.

“You go ahead and get busy,” Bai Lian flicked Jiang He’s forehead again and said to Jiang Fuli: “I’ll take him down to eat.”

Monday was Jiang Fuli’s busiest day, with group meetings, summaries, and setting tasks for the coming week. He had been arguing with Jiang He all day.

Now he finally had time to go to the study and deal with lab matters and attend an online group meeting.

Jiang Fuli returned to his office, not very happily.

Bai Lian took Jiang He downstairs to eat.

Ming Dongheng had already set out the food and was sitting on the sofa nearby, ready to serve at any time.

Bai Lian had eaten at Wanhe Tower earlier. Now she took out her homework notebook and sat next to Jiang He to do exercises.

She casually placed her phone to the side.

Jiang He was biting into his white rice when he glanced over and saw a message displayed on the screen –

[Do you really not need my help with tutoring? I’m in the physics department.]

Jiang He stopped, carefully making sure he hadn’t misread the characters. The WeChat desktop didn’t show the name.

He started eating faster.

Chief Chen had heard Bai Lian was here. As soon as he finished his work late at night, he rushed over to report the case progress to Bai Lian: “Miss Bai, the person you asked me to watch had some movement tonight.”

Bai Lian finished writing a problem.

She nodded.

As expected.

Things were progressing quickly, and Chief Chen also relaxed a bit. He sat down next to Ming Dongheng and suddenly remembered something, “Mr. Ming.”

Ming Dongheng looked up at him.

“I heard at the Chen family’s internal meeting today,” Chief Chen lowered his voice because Bai Lian was doing homework, “Chen Jingyu passed the initial registration and will soon have the formal assessment. Did you know? Also, her senior seems to have a recommendation spot.”

Ming Dongheng’s eyes narrowed.

“I’ll help you ask around.” Chief Chen pondered briefly.

He knew Ming Dongheng’s current situation. Jiang Fuli’s identity was sensitive, and the higher-ups were very concerned about his safety. Ming Dongheng was openly placed by Jiang Fuli’s side.

If Chen Jingyu entered the Eastern Martial Arts, for Jiang Fuli’s safety, they would also place Chen Jingyu by Jiang Fuli’s side.

Chief Chen knew in his heart that this information must have been deliberately leaked to him.

He took his phone outside to make a call.

He was quite familiar with Chen Jingyu: “Can you find out about the Eastern Martial Arts’ current recommendation system?”

“Are you asking for Ming Dongheng?” Chen Jingyu hit the nail on the head.

Chief Chen’s status in the Chen family was rising.

He also knew a bit about the Yu family. Yu Hongyi was now very popular in the Chen family.

Yu Hongyi was famous in the Chen family. Some people, like Chen Jingyu, admired her very much, while others were not friendly towards her.

Chief Chen saw this clearly. Yu Hongyi knew her situation. For a small fry like the Yu family to rise, they must try their best to showcase their abilities, otherwise they would never be noticed.

The Chen family valued martial arts, so resource allocation was just so-so.

But being praised too highly could make one float away.

“Yes.” Chief Chen didn’t hide his allegiance.

“I don’t remember when you became so close to him.” Chen Jingyu frowned.

“The situation is different, and Miss Bai…” Chief Chen and Ming Dongheng weren’t close before, but now the situation was completely different.

Hearing Chief Chen about to mention Bai Lian again, Chen Jingyu cut him off directly: “I can’t do anything about this either. Of course, unless he’s willing to apologize to Master Yu.”

Apologize?

Chief Chen recalled the last incident.

Lu Xiaohan spoke first, but she apologized later. As for Bai Lian… Chief Chen really didn’t think Bai Lian said anything. He didn’t know why this Master Yu had such a big reaction to it.

“There’s no other possibility?” Chief Chen wasn’t ready to give up.

“No.” Chen Jingyu was surprised by Chief Chen’s attitude.

“Alright then.”

Chief Chen even felt like going back to Jiangjiang to take a look. It must be very lively in Jiangjiang now.

“That’s how it is,” Chief Chen returned to the sofa and explained to Ming Dongheng, then patted his shoulder, “You definitely have no chance this year. We’ll try again next year, it’s just…”

Others would question again why Ming Dongheng could stay by the Jiang family’s side.

“You’ll have to put up with some hardship.” Chief Chen shook his head.

Not far away, Jiang He had finished eating.

While listening, Ming Dongheng quickly went to clear away Jiang He’s rice bowl.

Bai Lian unhurriedly finished writing this page.

Then she raised her head slightly and looked at Ming Dongheng, “Xiao Ming, how’s the practice I asked you to do last time going?”

Ming Dongheng held the bowl, standing straight, and replied respectfully, “It’s alright.”

“Mm,” Bai Lian nodded. She capped her pen and casually put the book back in her bag, “You know the Calligraphy Association, right? The martial arts gym next to it can be used now. That will be your training base from now on.”

The timing was just right, Jin Kai had just finished tidying up the place.

Ming Dongheng had sent Bai Lian many times and naturally knew where the Calligraphy Association was.

He also knew there was an abandoned martial arts gym there, but didn’t understand what Bai Lian meant, “Miss Bai, that place…”

“You’ve been telling people I’m very strong, can’t let you lose face,” Bai Lian zipped up her bag with a “whoosh” and stood up, lazily tilting her head, “It’s time to show you a demonstration.”