ATLAS TRANSLATES

In the quiet office, besides the occasional breeze, there was almost no other sound. The group of teachers who were just excitedly gathered around the computer were now silently looking at the text displayed on the screen.

First place overall.

“She’s first?”

“First place? How did she manage that?” Some teachers gradually came to their senses.

“She surpassed Song Ming?”

“…Is there really someone in Beicheng who can score higher than Song Ming?”

This year’s college entrance exam had been a hot topic since last year.

Whether in Beicheng or Jianjing, many people were betting on the top three. For the past two years, all high school seniors in Beicheng had been living under Song Ming’s shadow.

Even among geniuses, there are barriers.

None of the teachers present in Xiangcheng today had imagined that someone could score higher than Song Ming.

The principal, who hadn’t dared to take a deep breath since seeing the scores, finally let out a long sigh.

Last time, Bailian’s 97th place had already shocked everyone.

At that time, people could accept it despite the shock, after all, three or four students from the whole school had entered the top 100 in the province, and Ning Xiao was even 31st.

This time, Ning Xiao’s performance in the final exam was already shocking enough, but no one expected the final trump card to be Bailian. At this moment, not just the homeroom teachers who were usually emotionally stable—

Even the usually calm and collected Lu Lingxi was stunned by this scene.

“Is she a monster? How can someone go from 450 points to 692 in one semester?” Some homeroom teachers were starting to lose it.

After all, when Bailian first came to the school, she had transferred from arts to science, with zero points in biology and chemistry.

“She must have been hiding her abilities from the beginning,” one teacher analyzed, “Otherwise, how could her physics be so good while her biology and chemistry were zero?”

Hearing this, other teachers found it easier to accept.

After all, going from zero to passing in chemistry in one semester was quite overwhelming for them.

To say that Bailian hadn’t studied much chemistry before?

Some people believed it before, but now almost no one did.

The teachers discussed for a while, and after relaxing, they could finally face these scores.

“Is she a genius on the same level as Song Ming?” Song Ming’s reputation as a genius had been well-known in major high schools for the past three years.

“I don’t know,” someone suddenly looked at Lu Lingxi: “Can Bailian maintain this? We don’t know how much Song Ming scored this time.”

Scoring first place once doesn’t prove much. Only consistently ranking first like Song Ming could be called stable. Now, Song Ming had become an adjective.

The outcome was still uncertain, the college entrance exam would determine the final result.

“Regardless of whether she can maintain it or not, Principal, congratulations in advance. I think we’ve secured a spot in the top three for this year’s college entrance exam.”

There are many factors in the college entrance exam. This time, the questions might have played to Bailian’s strengths. With one semester left, although Bailian scored first this time, most people still held Song Ming in awe.

It was already quite impressive for other students to take first place from Song Ming once.

“Don’t be so timid,” the homeroom teacher of Class 8 took out his personal savings and slapped them on the table, “I bet on Bailian to take the top spot in Beicheng. Who’s with me?”

“I also bet on Bailian.” The principal was actually daring enough to imagine it, but he didn’t have cash.

So he turned to borrow money from Lu Lingxi.

“But Beicheng’s teaching resources are much better than ours, who knows if Song Ming just made a mistake this time.” Some teachers hesitated, he bet on Song Ming, “Teacher Lu, lend me some money.”

Lu Lingxi, the only one in charge of the finances: “…”

**

Beicheng No.1 High School.

The homeroom teacher of the international class also found this news hard to believe.

He looked at the two names on the list—

Bailian, Ning Xiao.

In fact, from the moment they learned Song Ming wasn’t first, the school was in an uproar.

“692 points, one point higher than Song Ming in total,” the homeroom teacher looked at the principal, “Full marks in math, and another student named Ning Xiao, 279 in science, five points higher than Song Ming.”

“What exactly happened to Song Ming this time?” The principal frowned.

The homeroom teacher pondered for a moment. He hadn’t received these two students’ test papers yet, “Bai Shaoqi has been practicing piano a lot recently, he might have neglected his studies because of this. I’ve already discussed it with him this morning, he didn’t perform well in science and math this time. This setback might be good for him, otherwise, he’d stagnate without any pressure.”

“What kind of place is this Xiangcheng No.1 High School?” The principal learned that both students came from the same school, Xiangcheng No.1 High School, “Students with such talent, how come they’re not in our school?”

A border area long forgotten by the people of Beicheng.

He lowered his head to carefully observe Bailian and Ning Xiao’s scores.

The pressure of 150 in math was truly suffocating.

He really coveted these two students, although their results might not be as stable as Song Ming’s.

“Principal, it’s really a waste for such students to stay in Xiangcheng No.1 High School,” the director of teaching affairs spoke up, “We have better teaching resources in Beicheng, we can get Jianjing’s exam questions every month, and we have spots in training camps. We can provide them with better education.”

Regardless of whether these two could maintain their results, they would definitely be sought after by various key high schools.

The principal nodded, how could he possibly let go of such an opportunity: “I know, I’ve already sent an application to the Education Bureau of Xiangcheng No.1 High School, directly asking them to join our international class. I’m waiting for Xiangcheng No.1 High School to send me their information.”

The director of teaching affairs’ eyes lit up, “Looking forward to seeing two new students at the start of the term.”

None of the teachers at Beicheng No.1 High School thought those two students from Xiangcheng No.1 High School would refuse.

After all…

Everyone in Beicheng knew about the international class, the best class in all of Beicheng, with resources so good it’s explosive. Only those with good grades could enter, even those with power and influence who wanted to force their way in would be kicked out if they didn’t meet the standards.

The most typical example was Bailian, who stayed in the international class for less than two days.

Who could have imagined that the first place student they now want to invite is the very one they kicked out before?

**

At this moment, Bailian was still at the airport, holding up a conspicuous sign while waiting for Jiang Fuli.

Jiang Fuli had left earlier than her. The Jiang family pays a large amount of extra fees to the airport every year, including usage fees and air traffic control fees, so they can queue up to land at the airport.

He had departed from Danping City, and although he flew earlier, he would arrive around the same time as Bailian.

Bailian could spot him at a glance as he walked gracefully around the corner. His aura was cold, his face excessively outstanding, but his expression was indifferent, his light eyes like cold blood, making people afraid to stare.

Compared to him, Bailian, lazily leaning against her suitcase, attracted quite a few people who dared to approach her.

A young man who had just come up wanting to get Bailian’s WeChat noticed the death stare and turned his head, immediately seeing those deep, cold eyes.

He couldn’t help but shiver.

He turned on his heel and decisively walked towards the baggage claim area.

“Let’s go,” Jiang Fuli was about to help her with her suitcase, “They’re waiting for us in the parking lot.”

Today they were going to the training camp, with free accommodation for the entire winter training camp.

It was a course lasting about twenty days, with Ning Xiao and Tang Ming also attending.

“This is all books,” Jianjing was cold, and Ji Heng had prepared a long white down jacket for Bailian. The airport’s heating was sufficient, so she hadn’t worn it. She handed the down jacket to Jiang Fuli, “You can help me carry the coat.”

Bailian’s suitcase didn’t have many clothes, mostly books.

It was quite heavy, she didn’t let Jiang Fuli carry it.

She just stuffed the down jacket into his hands. Jiang Fuli: “…”

He wanted to say something, but Bailian didn’t give him a chance to object because a call from Xiangcheng came through. It was Lu Lingxi.

“Teacher.” Bailian gripped her suitcase tightly, gave Jiang Fuli a look, and gestured for him to lead the way.

Jiang Fuli looked somewhat sullenly at the suitcase in her hand.

Then he started walking forward.

Bailian leisurely fell a step behind him, talking to Lu Lingxi.

“Do you know your total score this time?” Lu Lingxi threw out a bait.

Bailian had a good idea of her own score, she sighed: “Less than 700.”

After their exam, Jiang Fuli had asked about the scores of the three of them and had seen their papers. Ever since learning that Tang Ming was third in the school last time, Jiang Fuli had told them not to limit their vision to Xiangcheng No.1 High School.

In Jianjing, scores above 700 in Beicheng’s final joint exam were not uncommon.

Bailian, Ning Xiao, and Tang Ming all knew this well.

Lu Lingxi didn’t know this, and hearing a hint of regret in Bailian’s voice, she was like: “…??”

Ah, this made it a bit difficult to continue the conversation.

“Beicheng No.1 High School wants you and Ning Xiao to transfer to their international class next semester.” Lu Lingxi brought the topic back, her voice serious.

Beicheng No.1 High School? Bailian barely needed to think, “Oh, not going.”

“You’re not going?” Lu Lingxi was quite surprised. She had discussed with the principal, and although the principal also wanted Bailian to stay at Xiangcheng No.1 High School, they both understood that Beicheng had the best teaching resources, “The principal and I all recommend you go, it can help you maximize your potential. Bailian, think about it carefully. Even if you go to Beicheng, you can still keep your student status in Xiangcheng.”

Lu Lingxi hoped Bailian would seriously reconsider for a couple of days.

Bailian hung up the phone.

In fact, she didn’t need to think at all.

No matter how much time she was given, she only had one answer for Lu Lingxi.

After all, if she had wanted to stay at Beicheng No.1 High School, she wouldn’t have returned to Xiangcheng in the first place.

Jianjing was much smaller than Beicheng, but it still had more than a dozen districts.

Xingjiang District was in the city center, while Yunxiao District and Chang’an District were university towns and areas of bustling economic development. The Xu family was in the more peripheral Mingfeng District.

The Xu family’s old mansion.

Old Mrs. Xu, wearing a black cotton jacket with her graying hair coiled at the back of her head, stood by the warm pool in the back garden of the old villa, feeding fish. Beside her was a capable-looking woman in a black coat.

The Xu family butler appeared silently.

“Where are they?” Old Mrs. Xu held a shiny black cane in one hand and grabbed a handful of fish food from the jar beside her with the other, casually scattering it. In the slightly steaming pool, a group of koi carp leaped out of the water surface competing for food.

From the moment she learned about Ji Mulan, Old Mrs. Xu had no intention of letting her through this gate.

But because of Bailian, Old Mrs. Xu had tacitly allowed Xu En to bring Bailian back to the old mansion this time.

Beside her, the woman in the coat turned her head in surprise.

This was Xu Shujie, Xu En’s sister.

“Madam, that Bailian didn’t come,” the butler reported softly.

“Who is Bailian?” Xu Shujie asked.

The butler explained to Xu Shujie, “Ji Mulan’s daughter.”

Xu Shujie was surprised. She wasn’t very familiar with Ji Mulan, but she had made time to come back for Xu En’s remarriage this time. She now looked at Old Mrs. Xu: “What kind of person is her daughter? She actually made you personally inquire about her?”

She was very curious.

Old Mrs. Xu spoke indifferently, “A person from the border town, nothing special, just good-looking.”

She had Bailian’s information.

She heard that even getting into college would be difficult.

Oh, I see, Xu Shujie immediately lost interest, “How come we didn’t see her come?”

“It’s her first time in Jianjing,” the butler recalled Shen Qing’s behavior and Bailian’s words and actions, “You can see she really wants to fit in. She’s probably out sightseeing now, young people like to check in and post on social media.”

She hadn’t even been on a plane before. If she had flown economy class, she wouldn’t have said that first class was too small.

The butler evaluated, estimating that Bailian was probably having a grand time in Jianjing right now.

Checking in at the gate of Jianjing University, maybe even having Xu Wenyao take her into the school.

“After all…” After all, she comes from a small family background, Old Mrs. Xu looked up, “But it’s also good, easier to control.”

She had seen all sorts of people. People like Bailian and Shen Qing, as long as you give them sufficiently superior conditions, they won’t be willing to leave.

Jianjing Airport.

Mrs. Song and her group finally waited for Song Ming to arrive.

Song Ming only carried a backpack. He walked out of the VIP exit in silence.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Shaoqi very clearly sensed that Song Ming’s mood was off.

Everyone else couldn’t help but look over. Song Ming had a noble status in Beicheng, excellent in studies, and learning finance from the Song family. He had always been refined and proud.

Even in front of Bai Shaoke, he was not at all inferior.

The young man’s pride was very strong.

It was rare to see such a low mood.

“Aren’t you waiting for your results?” Mrs. Song looked at Song Ming with a smile, “Don’t tell me there was a problem with math again this time?”

Everyone present knew that Song Ming had come second in math last time, so he had put a lot of effort into math these two months.

Mrs. Song guessed that Song Ming’s math might not have met his expectations again this time.

“It’s nothing,” Bai Shaoqi also made this guess. After asking about the results, Song Ming hadn’t replied to her messages, “A momentary slip-up is no big deal, don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You’re already first, why keep competing with yourself?”

Mrs. Song and Bai Qiming both nodded, very much in agreement.

Song Ming had dominated the entire Beicheng high school for more than two years, whether in major exams or minor tests, there wasn’t a single time he wasn’t first.

So, no one present would think Song Ming would be in any other position.

Song Ming, who had been looking down and silent, finally raised his head. He looked at Bai Shaoqi, “I’m not first this time.”

“Ah? Then what place are you?” Mrs. Song stopped, incredulous: “If it’s not you, then who could it be?”

Bai Qiming looked at Song Ming, his heart stirring—

Could it be Shaoqi? Song Ming: “I don’t know, I’m also waiting for news from the homeroom teacher.”

It was at this moment that the homeroom teacher sent over the results of the first place.