ATLAS TRANSLATES

Bailian thought for a moment.

She knew Professor Ma was in his seventies and couldn’t imagine how he could go shopping with Lu Xiaohan like that.

Baijian: [Professor Ma, be careful not to slip on the icy paths of Boyuan Road]

The weather in Jiangjiang was colder than in Xiangcheng, and some sections of Boyuan Road were icy. Older people needed to be careful not to fall, so she reminded Professor Ma.

Professor Ma: […]

Professor Ma ignored her, but Bailian didn’t mind. She took out her notebook and a black pen from her backpack to work on organizing musical notation in her spare time.

On just the second day, clear cliques had already formed in the middle school section of the special training camp.

The academic elite group led by Liang Wuyu sat in the front row. In the middle were excellent students from Jiangjiang Affiliated Middle School like Ling Ziyao.

Bailian and the students from the four major cities sat in the last two rows on the left side of the classroom.

From yesterday when the professor handed out the test papers, you could see the difference was like that between top disciples, ordinary disciples, and slackers.

In front of Bailian, a boy with a crew cut showed strong leadership skills as he assigned presentation topics to everyone.

“Ning Xiao will be responsible for research direction. Pei Qin will handle data analysis and collection for the practical part. Pei Qin, you and Ning Xiao need to determine the model and integrate classifications… Bailian, you’ll work with me on writing up the results and report. Oh right, I’m Wang Xu. Here’s my WeChat QR code – everyone scan it so I can create a group for us to communicate.” It was clear Wang Xu had researched everyone overnight to come up with reasonable assignments.

The group kept their voices low.

Wang Xu had added many people last night, but Bailian and Ning Xiao still hadn’t added him.

He had Ning Xiao scan his code first, then moved two seats over to put his phone in front of Bailian.

As Bailian took out her phone to add him, Wang Xu happened to see what she was writing in her notebook – “Four-Six Da” and such.

What was that? He couldn’t understand it.

But classmate Bailian looked very relaxed. She could relax herself even in this tense study atmosphere.

It was good that he had assigned relatively simple tasks to Bailian and himself – writing the academic presentation. Among their group, he and Bailian were probably the weakest.

Ding—

A new friend request.

Wang Xu looked down to see one from Ning Xiao and another with an old city tower avatar named…

Baijian?

Wang Xu couldn’t help but turn back to look at Bailian. Who would have thought, a fan of Jian God? There were many Jian God fans on the app forum who used the name “Baijian”, including Wang Xu. Of course, since he couldn’t use the exact same name, he was Baijian111.

After adding everyone and creating the group chat, at 8 o’clock the classroom fell silent. Everyone looked towards the door, waiting for Dr. Gao to arrive.

Next to Wang Xu, Song Min also saw Bailian writing musical notation.

He naturally didn’t recognize it either. After a casual glance, he frowned and looked away.

Could she really write an academic report?

**

At 8:05.

The sound of leather shoes clicking finally came from the hallway.

Everyone looked towards the door. Wang Xu was still sharing information with the group, but his voice was much quieter now: “He’s from the Gao family. His grandfather is a very impressive academician, but his aunt is the most impressive person. Anyway, they’re a noble family, extremely prestigious…”

He summed it up in four words.

The professor who came yesterday was from Jiangjiang University, but his teacher didn’t have the title of academician. Having an academician was what made a first-rate institution. Those without academicians were third-rate.

And noble families like Gao Jiechen’s were among the top-tier institutions.

The man walked in carrying teaching materials. The classroom was very quiet.

Gao Jiechen’s gaze swept across the classroom. He wasn’t as gentle and refined as yesterday’s topology professor. His sharp gaze made people afraid to make eye contact. “Today I’ll be lecturing on whether this world is deterministic or probabilistic.”

Pei Qin, Wang Xu and the others instinctively avoided his gaze.

Not just them, but most of the affiliated school students also didn’t dare to meet Gao Jiechen’s eyes.

As Wang Xu avoided eye contact, he saw that Tang Ming and Ning Xiao behind him didn’t avert their gazes. He couldn’t help but give them a thumbs up. Tang Ming looked at him in confusion.

Of course, Wang Xu didn’t know that these two had faced Jiang Fuli’s death stare for so long.

Gao Jiechen’s intensity was nothing compared to Jiang He’s.

**

Compared to yesterday, today’s lecture was profound and difficult to understand.

Liang Wuyu in the front row raised his hand to ask a question.

“Classmate Liang,” Gao Jiechen clearly recognized the famous Liang Wuyu, after all he was the hottest candidate for valedictorian in Jiangjiang University circles, “What’s your question?”

“Dr. Gao, so right now there’s no way to do universal computing, we can only handle specific problems? Where is the quantum advantage manifested?”

Gao Jiechen looked at Liang Wuyu and waved for him to sit down. “Its principle isn’t much different from the photoelectric effect…”

“Dr. Gao…” Ling Ziyao in the middle also wanted to ask a question.

Gao Jiechen glanced at Ling Ziyao without answering and continued lecturing. This made others who wanted to ask questions not dare to speak up.

Just then, there was suddenly a knock on the classroom door.

Gao Jiechen frowned, his expression displeased as he looked towards the door. Everyone’s attention was drawn there.

The door opened.

It was an old man wearing a black velvet hat, only revealing graying hair at the temples. His deep black eyes held the weight of years, his face crisscrossed with wrinkles, looking dignified.

“Professor Ma?” Gao Jiechen recognized the old man, the displeasure on his face disappearing. He was very excited, “Did you come to watch my lecture?!”

Hearing Gao Jiechen’s words.

The quiet classroom instantly erupted.

It was mentioned earlier that the highest honor in China was being an academician. Having an academician made an institution first-rate, but there were distinctions even among first-rate institutions. Professor Ma was one of the top figures among them, his achievements went without saying.

He was top tier among the academician all-star team. How many people wanted to join his research projects but couldn’t?

Song Min, Ning Xiao and others present weren’t familiar with the research world and didn’t know exactly who Professor Ma was, but just seeing how the noble-born Gao Jiechen treated Professor Ma revealed a thing or two.

Professor Ma looked at Gao Jiechen, “It’s nothing, you continue with your lecture. I was just taking a stroll and happened to wander here.”

As he spoke, his gaze swept across the whole class.

There were only two female students in the entire classroom. One was Xu Zhiyue in the middle, wearing glasses and the uniform of the affiliated middle school.

Professor Ma focused his gaze on the second female student.

She was also looking at him, lazily twirling a pen in her hand while her left hand casually pressed down on a printed document.

No need to guess, it must be her.

Professor Ma saw there was still space near Bailian and calmly sat down behind her, under everyone’s gaze.

Due to Professor Ma’s arrival, Gao Jiechen lectured with surging passion.

The four-hour lecture quickly came to an end.

Professor Ma left five minutes early. As soon as he left, Gao Jiechen hurriedly packed up his things and chased after him. “The first academic seminar is in six days. If anyone has questions, come find me in the temporary office. Professor Ma, please wait for me.”

Only after the two had completely disappeared did everyone start buzzing.

“It’s really Professor Ma! I can’t believe I saw him in person!” said a student from the affiliated school. “Even my grandfather has never spoken to Professor Ma, and I actually sat in the same classroom as him.”

Ling Ziyao’s face was also flushed red. “Dr. Gao lectured on quantum computing today. Did Professor Ma come to listen to Dr. Gao’s lecture?”

“I didn’t expect Dr. Gao to be so valued by Professor Ma. Does this mean he’s stronger than Senior He Wenxue?” “…”

These top students from the affiliated school had excellent innate conditions. The school had organized many activities at Jiangjiang University for them from freshman to senior year. They also had family members involved in scientific research, so they knew the famous figures at Jiangjiang University like the back of their hand.

In comparison, Ning Xiao, Wang Xu and Song Min’s information was very limited. Wang Xu was currently asking his aunt for information about Professor Ma, while Tang Ming was searching online.

The students from the four major cities were also engaged in heated discussion.

Bailian lowered her head to look at her lit-up phone.

Professor Ma: [Publicity room]

Bailian had only thought he was wandering by and happened to come see her.

Baijian: [1]

She packed up her things one by one and went to find Professor Ma in the publicity room.

Seeing Bailian about to leave early, Wang Xu quickly said, “Where are you going? Let’s go to the cafeteria together to eat and discuss academics.”

“Going to meet someone,” Bailian thought for a moment, then said to them, “Just save me a seat, I’ll be back soon.”

“Meeting someone?” After Bailian left, Wang Xu scratched his head and looked at Ning Xiao and Tang Ming. “You guys know people in Jiangjiang too?”

Ning Xiao lowered his head to pack up his things.

Song Min watched Bailian’s retreating figure. He knew Ji Mulan had married into a Jiangjiang family and thought Bailian was going to meet the Xu family.

**

The publicity room was near the main entrance.

As Bailian was heading there, she passed by Gao Jiechen on the main road.

He was arrogant and didn’t even take Liang Wuyu seriously, only fearing the Liang family. As for others, he didn’t even bother to look at them properly, naturally not recognizing Bailian.

It was just when they brushed past each other on the road that he noticed Bailian’s extremely outstanding face and took an extra look.

Others looked bulky wearing down jackets, but Bailian appeared especially slender. She wore a white cotton jacket embroidered with delicate vines and cats. She was tall with cold white skin, her face beautiful but not coquettish, her eyes lazy.

“Who is that?” Gao Jiechen turned his head to look again.

The staff member beside him looked back, “Should be a student participating in the training camp.”

Gao Jiechen nodded.

Bailian arrived at the publicity room just as a group of people arrived at the school gate.

Almost on each other’s heels.

In the publicity room.

The person in charge and Professor Ma were both there. There was heating inside, so Bailian was about to close the door.

Professor Ma put down his teacup and raised his hand, “No need to close it, just come in and sit down.”

So Bailian didn’t close the door.

Seeing that the person Professor Ma was waiting for was Bailian, the publicity room director wasn’t surprised. After all, he had seen more surprising things before. “Student Bai, have some tea.”

He poured Bailian a cup of hot tea.

“Thank you.” Bailian thanked him.

The director quickly waved his hand, “You’re welcome.”

He sat back down, discreetly observing Bailian, wondering what was special about this student that he didn’t know about. Young Master Jiang and Professor Ma both seemed quite fond of her.

“Why aren’t you studying dark matter?” Professor Ma didn’t stand on ceremony with Bailian. The two had been chatting on WeChat for several months.

They were both social butterflies.

The director complained inwardly that Professor Ma was as direct as ever. It wasn’t like anyone who wanted to could study dark matter. There were only two dark matter research institutes in China. It wasn’t easy to get in – even Dr. Gao couldn’t.

Bailian finished her tea, “Not interested.”

Director: “…?”

What? Not interested?

The director who was blowing on his tea almost burned himself.

“That’s right, quantum mechanics is more interesting.” Professor Ma nodded. He was clearly very pleased. He took a sip of tea and looked up to see the director. The wrinkles on his face smoothed out as he said very directly: “You have tea leaves stuck there.”

He pointed at the left corner of the director’s mouth.

The director hurriedly wiped his mouth, mortified to have embarrassed himself in front of Professor Ma.

“I have a lecture on quantum chips in a couple days,” Professor Ma invited Bailian. “Do you have time to come? You’ll become more interested in quantum mechanics.”

“Which day?” Bailian considered the date of Xu En’s wedding.

Professor Ma was very candid, “It was just decided. I need to discuss the timing with my team when I get back.”

“I have something on January 19th.” Bailian replied.

“Then I’ll avoid that date.” Professor Ma quickly decided.

Professor Ma was always busy. It was already rare for him to stay here for a whole morning. After finishing talking with Bailian, he picked up his coat and they left together.

Bailian walked Professor Ma to the main gate.

The publicity room was close to the main gate.

**

At the entrance of Boyuan Base.

Madam Song wrapped her fur coat around herself and smiled at Bai Shaoqi beside her: “Amin is too busy. When he has time we’ll let him show us around. I’ll take you to try on the dress for the banquet first.”

Bai Shaoqi took a photo of Boyuan Base with her phone.

She had spent all of yesterday at the Music Academy. Today she finally found a chance to come out with Madam Song to find Bai Shaoke and Song Min. Boyuan Base was a holy land in the hearts of students nationwide. Having this experience on one’s resume would make it easier to get into any lab or university in the future.

But Bai Shaoqi had no connections to get a recommendation. Bai Shaoke was still just a freshman.

Being able to see Boyuan Base once was already a rare opportunity for Bai Shaoqi.

She lowered her head and opened WeChat Moments, selecting four photos – one of the Music Academy gate, one of herself practicing piano, one of the Boyuan Base gate, and one of Song Min’s back. She captioned it: [Keep going]

As soon as she posted it, a flood of comments came in.

— Jiangjiang Music Academy! Boyuan Base!

— As expected of you two, us ordinary people can only look up in admiration

— That white figure in the bottom left of the third photo looks a bit familiar
— Damn, haha of course it looks familiar to you guys, doesn’t it look like that girl who got kicked out of your class? — Class monitor of Class 2: Now that you mention it, it does look like her. Damn, what bad luck

— Ever since she left, the atmosphere in our class has improved so much

These kinds of comments kept pouring in. Bai Shaoqi naturally saw them too. She had the original photo, which was clearer than what people on Moments could see.

She zoomed in on the original image. The figure in the photo wasn’t actually very clear, only capturing a side profile. But the person’s aura and looks were so striking that they stood out in a crowd at a glance. However, it was so different from the frivolous Bailian in Bai Shaoqi’s memory that she wasn’t sure.

Bai Shaoqi turned her head to look in that direction, and could still see that white figure that hadn’t walked too far away.

Beside her, Madam Song was surprised to see her suddenly stop, and also turned to look.

“Is that—” Madam Song froze, “Bailian?”