ATLAS TRANSLATES

When Bai Lian was downstairs:

Jiang He finished eating and hopped off the stool to go upstairs.

Jiang Fuli leaned casually against the chair back. His microphone was on but the video was off. His face showed no expression as He Wen was giving a literature report, with an all-English PowerPoint displayed on the large computer screen.

Noticing Jiang He from the corner of his eye, Jiang Fuli ignored him.

Jiang He lowered his head, slowly poking at his watch, occasionally glancing at him.

Jiang Fuli realized something was off with this guy. He muted his microphone and tapped his fingers on the desk, gesturing for Jiang He to come over.

Jiang He sat to the side, still focused on playing with his watch, not paying attention to him.

Jiang Fuli: “…”

Jiang He’s pitch-black eyes looked at the tea in front of Jiang Fuli.

Very well.

Jiang Fuli flipped over a cup with one hand, poured some tea for him, stood up and placed it in front of him, pulling his lip slightly: “Drink.”

Jiang He finished drinking, then slowly held up his pinky finger, making a “1” gesture at him.

“You’re eight years old now, postpone it for another year,” Jiang Fuli said, leaning on the desk. “In the future, your sister Bai will be a graduate student, and you, little Jiang bird—”

He softly uttered a few words: “Do you want to be truly illiterate?”

Jiang He suddenly stood up, then dejectedly left the study.

Remembering something, he took out his watch again and angrily sent Jiang Fuli a picture.

After the group meeting ended:

Jiang Fuli drove Bai Lian home. He was silent to the point of suffocation the whole way. Bai Lian wore headphones listening to English audio, knowing that many research papers are in English, so having a solid English foundation is important.

It wasn’t until they got out of the car and he followed her into the alley that Bai Lian finally took off her headphones: “Is everything okay at your lab?”

Yes, someone’s silence was a bit abnormal, very unusual.

Jiang Fuli shook his head, “No, I’m thinking.”

“About what?” Bai Lian was surprised. She put her headphones in her pocket, wondering what kind of difficult problem could make him think for half an hour without reaching a conclusion. “Tell me about it.”

She was very serious about wanting to know what exactly this difficult problem was.

Jiang Fuli was about a step behind Bai Lian. The alley was brightly lit. He followed Bai Lian relaxedly, head slightly lowered. The light fell on his straight nose bridge, giving him an elegant and melancholy air.

He slowly raised his head, saying softly: “It must be that my physics isn’t good enough.”

Bai Lian: “…?”

Huh? Wait.

No.

“I understand,” Jiang Fuli lowered his head again, his long lashes casting shadows. “I’ll work hard on it.”

“Ah,” Bai Lian raised her hand, starting to realize something: “Wait, did little Jiang bird look at my phone?”

Jiang Fuli answered quickly this time, “Yes, it was him.”

Bai Lian gritted her teeth.

“That guy who might be considered my step-brother?” Bai Lian explained helplessly, “First of all, I didn’t agree.”

“Oh.” Young Master Jiang responded.

His tone betrayed no obvious emotion.

The two walked slowly, soon seeing Ji Heng’s brightly lit courtyard. Jiang Fuli stopped at the entrance and took out a silver ornament from his pocket to give her, “Something I made before. I improved it yesterday.”

Bai Lian took it. It was a magnetic levitation chaos pendulum ball.

She lazily pushed it with her hand, watching the silver balls swing one after another.

Compared to when they first met, when his eyes seemed somewhat lifeless, now they could be seen shining with light.

Jiang Fuli’s gaze was much softer. Love is probably an indescribable feeling, but Jiang Fuli was very clear that her emotions could really affect him for a long time.

“Even though you got 40 points in chemistry, don’t be too proud and complacent.” After smugly giving the 40-point gift, Jiang Fuli still had to remind her not to be arrogant.

Fortunately, there was no one from the lab here.

After Bai Lian returned:

She placed the chaos pendulum ball on her desk, next to the blue one.

After looking at it for a while, she took out her homework from her schoolbag and started doing exercises. She felt a gift box in her bag – the brooch Xu Wenyao had given her as a meeting gift that evening.

Bai Lian neatly placed it in a box on her dressing table.

Having met Ji Mulan many times now, Bai Lian was becoming increasingly calm when facing her.

She returned to her desk and pushed the silver ball again, watching each small ball bounce away and come back.

**

At the hospital:

When Xu Wenyao returned, Ji Mulan had already arrived.

Realizing that father and son needed to talk, Ji Mulan went out to find Dr. Li, giving them some privacy.

“You say she wants to apply to Jiangjiang University?” Xu En was in good spirits today.

But hearing Xu Wenyao’s words, he was still shocked.

Xu Wenyao hadn’t mentioned Bai Lian’s dream at dinner, and only brought it up to Xu En now, “She got 40 points in chemistry this time. Do you know how her other scores are?”

“I remember one time it was over 400,” Xu En recalled the first parent-teacher meeting when Ji Heng represented Bai Lian, “Jiangjiang University… that’s quite difficult. You should check if the affiliated high school is accepting repeat students next year.”

Bai Lian’s current grades certainly couldn’t get her into Jiangjiang University. They were both discussing where she could repeat a year.

Seeing Ji Mulan return from the corner of his eye, Xu En changed the subject, no longer mentioning Bai Lian in front of her: “How are your exam preparations going? Which professor do you want to study under for graduate school?”

He figured Ji Mulan would definitely not agree with Bai Lian trying to get into Jiangjiang University.

Xu Wenyao was in his junior year now. He didn’t currently qualify for direct admission to graduate school, having only participated in two physics department projects. He was preparing to take the graduate entrance exam next year, “We’ll see once I get in.”

“I remember you always talking about the head of your physics department, Professor Ma,” Xu En didn’t understand physics academia, but had heard Xu Wenyao mention Professor Ma many times.

Beside them, Ji Mulan also quietly listened to their conversation. She understood physics academia and Jiangjiang University even less than Xu En.

But most people have an inherent respect for scholars.

She was the same, saying somewhat flatteringly: “Wenyao, you’re so smart, you’ll definitely be able to study under Professor Ma.”

“Do you know who he is? Study under him?” Hearing Ji Mulan’s words, Xu Wenyao shook his head and sighed: “Auntie, just being able to participate in one of his projects would be a shining achievement on my academic record. The members of his team are all post-doctoral researchers from Jiangjiang.”

This was the first time Xu En had heard these details, “Is it that difficult?”

“Of course, you also know,” Xu Wenyao said softly, “who’s backing Professor Ma…”

Xu En naturally knew this.

The two spoke in riddles. Ji Mulan only understood half of it. She didn’t know who was behind this so-called “Professor Ma”, but she also realized it wasn’t something they could touch. After all, even Xu Wenyao had difficulty getting into Professor Ma’s lab.

This was simply not the same circle.

For Ji Mulan, the Xu family itself was already a difficult circle to enter. And a Professor Ma that even Xu Wenyao found hard to meet was simply legendary.

Completely out of reach.

**

The next day:

After school in the afternoon:

Xiao Qi waited gracefully at the gate of No. 1 High School. His face was young, only seventeen years old. Although he wasn’t wearing a school uniform, he looked even more like a high school student than actual high school students.

“Who’s this…” Lu Xiaohan and the others saw Xiao Qi for the first time.

Xiao Qi smiled politely and shyly, “Hello brothers and sisters, just call me Xiao Qi.”

“Little brother Xiao Qi, I’m Wen Qi.” Wen Qi’s eyes lit up.

He went up and put his arm around Xiao Qi’s shoulder. Wow, he could be a big brother now. Xiao Qi replied nonchalantly: “Brother Wen.”

The group of youngsters chatted and laughed. By the time they all crowded into Aunt Zhang’s flower shop, Xiao Qi finally found a chance to talk to Bai Lian about the cooperation for Da Nei Gu Yuan Gao.

This year’s batch of Da Nei Gu Yuan Gao could only supply the people of Black Water Street due to insufficient herbs.

Now that a new batch of herbs was about to hit the market, they could supply externally. Ordinary drug merchants currently had no way to contact the people of Black Water Street.

So those who could contact Xiao Qi now were all famous and powerful families at home and abroad.

“I’m planning to hold a bidding at the bar, let the boss attend, and invite several competitors together,” Xiao Qi said with a righteous look, “Whoever bids highest wins.”

He didn’t even go personally, just had Mao Kun sit there.

Mao Kun didn’t even need to say anything, just stay silent and mysterious, and finally report a number.

This was the persona Xiao Qi gave Mao Kun.

“The Chen family?” Bai Lian heard a surname. She had always known many people were trying to negotiate cooperation with Xiao Qi.

Bai Lian didn’t understand these things and left it all to Xiao Qi.

But she was quite interested in the surname “Chen”, after all, Director Chen was able to take the first step towards approaching her because of his surname.

“Yes, are they your friends?” Xiao Qi asked Bai Lian.

Bai Lian smiled, “It’s nothing, just go with your plan. I don’t really understand these things.”

Although she said this, Xiao Qi still made a note of the surname “Chen”.

**

When Bai Lian and Lu Xiaohan arrived at the Yi Xing Martial Arts Gym, Ming Dongheng was helping Jin Kai pass roof tiles.

Jiang He was crouching in the corner, twisting a Rubik’s cube while occasionally watching them.

A large area of the training ground at the main entrance had been cleared out. The weeds and gravel under the wooden stakes on the right had been cleaned up, and the empty space on the left had also been swept. Two rows of weapon racks were already half-filled with various weapons.

Lu Xiaohan filmed Jin Kai laying roof tiles for a while, then filmed the training ground and weapon storage.

Once the entire gym renovation was complete, she would have material for her next video.

As soon as Bai Lian arrived, Jin Kai and Ming Dongheng stopped working. Ming Dongheng walked over to Bai Lian’s side and called her “Miss Bai”.

“About half of the custom-made weapons aren’t ready yet,” seeing Bai Lian staring at the weapon racks, Jin Kai wiped his sweat with a towel and reported on the progress, “They should all be in place by next week…”

After finishing his report, Jin Kai took Lu Xiaohan to film the interior.

Bai Lian turned around, her gaze shifting unhurriedly to Ming Dongheng, her eyes slightly narrowed.

She was always lazy and casual, but now her gaze held a hint of sharpness as she looked at him. Ming Dongheng nervously lowered his head, not daring to meet her eyes.

Bai Lian walked over to the wooden stakes on the right and nodded at Ming Dongheng: “Try walking on the plum blossom stakes, remember to focus your qi.”

There were seven rows of wooden stakes in total.

Each stake was over a meter tall.

Ming Dongheng walked to the first, slightly shorter stake in the upper right corner. Fortunately, he was tall, so he stepped onto the first one smoothly. He had practiced martial arts since childhood, so his lower body was very stable. He crouched down and stepped across to the second stake, then to the third.

He was quite steady on the first two, but on the fourth one his whole body started to wobble.

On the seventh one, he unsurprisingly fell off the wooden stake.

He looked at Bai Lian, a bit disheveled: “Miss Bai, this is too difficult.”

“Here, take this.” Bai Lian casually tossed her schoolbag to Ming Dongheng, then took off her school uniform jacket.

Ming Dongheng steadily caught Bai Lian’s schoolbag with both hands, then looked up. Only now did he see that Bai Lian was wearing white training clothes underneath.

“To practice boxing, you must first practice the basics. Focusing qi means fully releasing your internal energy,” Bai Lian hung her school uniform on the last wooden stake, then turned her head to look at Ming Dongheng, “Like this—”

Her right leg rose into the air, her toes lightly touching the ground. Her left foot used the force of the wooden stake, and her whole body lifted as lightly as a leaf blown by the wind. Her arms spread slightly, and her right foot gently landed on the second wooden stake.

Bai Lian looked back, the white edges of her clothes fluttering gently in the wind. Her slightly lowered eyelashes cast a shadow on her eyelids. Her expression was calm as she spoke softly: “Lower your center of gravity and press down your base. This trains your legs…”

Her left foot then gently landed on the third wooden stake…

As if walking on level ground.

While speaking, she calmly walked across all the wooden stakes, finally touching down lightly from the last stake with the tip of her foot.

She walked over to Ming Dongheng and raised an eyebrow: “You don’t need to walk the whole thing yet, try five steps first.”

Ming Dongheng didn’t respond.

Bai Lian unhurriedly pulled her schoolbag from his hands, then reached out to close Jiang He’s jaw, “Mr. Ming?”

“Huh?” Ming Dongheng finally snapped back to reality.

When Director Chen arrived, this was the scene he saw: Ming Dongheng standing on the wooden stakes in the corner, walking like a drunk man.

“Miss Bai,” Director Chen’s mouth twitched slightly before he addressed Bai Lian, “Here’s some information we’ve found.”

Bai Lian took the documents he handed her.

They were about Zhou Jian.

“He’s contacted the traffickers five times. The first time was seventeen years ago, and the most recent was yesterday,” Director Chen explained to Bai Lian on the side, “The time span is large, and our people are still interrogating him.”

Director Chen had done a good job with confidentiality this time, keeping tabs on all of Zhou Jian’s social media accounts, and finally found the transaction location and records yesterday.

“An industry chain spanning nearly twenty years,” this was something Director Chen hadn’t anticipated, “Many people are involved, and about half of the mid-level officials in Xiangcheng have been dismissed. They’re all under investigation and dismissal now.”

At best, they would be removed from office; at worst, they faced over three years in prison.

Director Chen’s third wave of action in Xiangcheng burned too fiercely. His achievements and merits skyrocketed, and many people in Jiangjiang were wary of his methods.

As for Ren Qian, his reputation was clean, but now he was also treading carefully, not daring to make any moves.

After all—

Zhou Jian was once his chief of staff.

Bai Lian finished reading the documents, then handed them back to Director Chen.

Director Chen took them back, then looked at Ming Dongheng who was still practicing on the plum blossom stakes. He said loudly: “Mr. Ming, then I’ll take Miss Bai home! Take your time practicing!”

Ming Dongheng raised his head slightly: “…”

How frustrating!

Director Chen walked out with his car keys.

Jiang He also wanted to leave with Bai Lian.

Bai Lian dragged Jiang He back into the courtyard and pinched his cheeks: “So you’re the one who sneaked a look at my phone?”

Jiang He blinked: “…?”

Bai Lian stood up and said to him unhurriedly: “Just wait here for your brother by yourself.”

She patted her sleeves and left gracefully.

Jiang He, who had just bravely made Jiang Fuli serve him tea yesterday: “…”

**

On the way back to Qingshui Street:

Director Chen received a phone call.

It was from a branch of the Chen family in Jiangjiang, Manager Yan, who was responsible for this procurement: “Master Chen, why aren’t you here yet? Chen Jingyu arrived long ago. Don’t let him snatch this achievement.”

It was a social gathering initiated by the Da Nei Gu Yuan Gao collaborators today.

“Has it started?” Director Chen was surprised. He had timed his meeting with Bai Lian to report on Xu En’s case.

One person splitting into three.

“Not yet, but it’s about to,” Manager Yan respectfully replied.

Bai Lian sat in the back seat doing exercises, multitasking as she listened to the conversation. Remembering what Xiao Qi had said, she suggested: “Let’s go to Black Water Street together. No need to waste time sending me back.”