ATLAS TRANSLATES

In the classroom.

Some group members were talking quietly.

Wang Xu sat at the desk, elbows propped up, face buried in his hands. On the computer screen in front of him was still his report page. Occasionally, the ping of new WeChat and QQ messages in the bottom right corner of the computer distorted the silence of the classroom.

This was society’s first lesson for Wang Xu: never trust anyone in the real world.

The sound of the door opening startled Wang Xu. He dropped his hands dejectedly, “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault.”

A group member spoke with a dark face, frustration evident in their voice: “We worked so hard collecting data, gathering materials, integrating models. We were about to start our presentation. Our whole group trusted you, and now you say there’s an error in the modeling? Is this fair to all our efforts?”

The opportunity at Boyuan Base was rare. Everyone had given their all.

They returned to the dorms after 11 PM every night, and left for the computer room, lab, or library before 6 AM.

“Alright,” Tang Ming frowned. He stood up to stop the internal bickering: “When Wang Xu suggested collaborating with Ling Ziyao, you didn’t object. It’s not right to push all the blame on him now. This isn’t the time to complain. Let’s calm down and think of ways to fix this.”

Not many in the group had participated in mathematical modeling competitions before. Even with data support, the National Mathematical Modeling Competition’s C question would take at least three days. That’s why they initially thought of collaborating with Ling Ziyao.

They had used the data to build a model to explain and predict the practical problems in their academic report.

That person snorted coldly, turning their head away in despair: “Solutions? What solutions do we have now? Where are we going to find an analysis model?”

A dark cloud hung over the classroom.

The silence was suffocating.

Song Min clenched his fist. He took Wang Xu’s computer, closed the document, and opened MATLAB: “Let’s build the model now.”

With only one day left, it was impossible to complete this model.

Some stared blankly as Song Min worked on the model, while others helped organize the data.

When Bai Lian sat down, the classroom was still gloomy and oppressive.

Tang Ming looked at Ning Xiao, then at Bai Lian. Their expressions were no different from usual.

Their emotional stability terrified Tang Ming.

Bai Lian sat down and opened her chat with He Wen. She scrolled through their conversation history, which included their discussions on preparing the model and making assumptions, interspersed with numerous papers.

Bai Lian was a quick reader. She had helped him compile many reference materials and determine expressions.

She didn’t scroll far before she saw the compressed file He Wen had sent. It was the model. She clicked to download it, then forwarded it to the group chat.

Just as she was about to exit WeChat, a message from Xu En came through—

[I gave the invitation to your grandfather]

[Image]

[Do you like this room design?]

Bai Lian opened it to see the design of a room. It had a somewhat Chinese-style design. She didn’t understand design, but thought the space looked large and comfortable.

Bai Lian: [It looks very nice]

Xu En: [(Grinning) That’s good]

Then came a message from Ji Shaojun: [I’ll bring you fish soup tomorrow morning. Do either of them not like fish soup?]

Ji Shaojun knew Tang Ming and Ning Xiao were there.

She turned her head and asked the two in a low voice, “Do you two drink fish soup?”

Ning Xiao was already downloading the compressed file Bai Lian had shared in the group chat and was downloading the decompression software. Hearing her question, he nodded.

Tang Ming hadn’t expected Bai Lian to bring up eating fish at such a serious moment, but he also nodded: “Yes.”

Their voices weren’t loud, but Song Min, who was trying to calm himself nearby, couldn’t stay calm.

Bai Lian was here earlier, clearly aware of the model problem, yet now she had the mood to discuss food?

Then again, she probably didn’t understand what this model meant to them.

He looked up, his frustration indescribable, “Even if you can’t help, can’t you at least stay silent?”

Song Min’s gaze swept over the computer page Bai Lian had open, which wasn’t even half as complete as Wang Xu’s. At this moment, he couldn’t help but think of Bai Shaoqi. If she were here, she would surely be working on the model with him.

Instead of most people choosing to give up.

Song Min even thought how much better it would be if Bai Shaoqi had this spot.

Rather than Bai Lian, who couldn’t read the situation and probably couldn’t even write the paper clearly.

Bai Lian put down her phone. She leaned back in her chair lazily, her right fingertip casually opening software on the computer screen. She glanced at Song Min: “Will my silence help you finish?”

Song Min froze.

“Apparently not,” Bai Lian withdrew her gaze, slowly typing two words on the keyboard: “Then I suggest you have fewer issues.”

Ning Xiao had already opened the compressed file.

It contained modeling and analysis. He quickly scanned it and sent screenshots to the group chat. He turned to Bai Lian to discuss, “It’s a bit complex. Everyone will have to work overtime tonight, no sleep.”

With only one day left tomorrow, they needed to incorporate the model into the analysis, write it out, and familiarize themselves with the presentation.

It couldn’t be completed without overtime.

“I know,” Bai Lian’s gaze fixed on the computer screen as she continued typing, “You analyze first, then send the results to me and Wang Xu.”

The two discussed the subsequent arrangements.

By now, Wang Xu had also seen the screenshots Ning Xiao shared in the group chat. His expression changed from despair to shock, and finally to joy. “Ning Xiao, you guys are amazing! Where did you get this model from?”

Others also picked up their phones, opened the screenshots Ning Xiao shared, and downloaded the compressed file Bai Lian had sent to the group.

Ning Xiao didn’t respond, only looking at Bai Lian.

Wang Xu and the others instantly understood that Bai Lian had obtained this. They exchanged glances, finally beginning to understand why Ning Xiao and Tang Ming followed Bai Lian’s lead.

“Bai Lian, you’re my savior!” Wang Xu slammed his fist on the table, “From now on, your business is my business!”

Bai Lian: “…”

Savior?

Who’s taking advantage of whom here?

At this point, it could be described as a turn of fortune in a desperate situation. Others sat down and started downloading the compressed file.

Wang Xu walked over to Song Min, casually rubbing his right fist before taking back his computer.

Seeing Song Min’s gaze, Wang Xu lowered his voice, “Check the group messages first. Bai Lian found us a model.”

Song Min lowered his head to open his phone.

The model Bai Lian and He Wen had made was no small feat. The more one understood mathematical modeling, the more one could see its value. Song Min could naturally see that the model was very different from the one they had planned to build.

Like the others, the more he looked, the more astonished he became.

Bai Lian had produced this? Song Min turned his head, looking at Bai Lian’s profile. Who had she gotten this model from? Who did she know?

Did the Xu family’s connections reach this far?

“Forget about drinking fish soup,” Pei Qin also looked up at Song Min, “Even if she wanted to drink phoenix soup, I’d ask my family to find a way.”

Wang Xu nodded along, “That’s right, she could even ride me to class tomorrow if she wanted!”

Reminded by Pei Qin and Wang Xu’s words.

Song Min, always proud and aloof in North City, felt embarrassed for the first time. He had been feeling self-righteous about working on the model, even thinking that the others didn’t understand the situation, weren’t team players, weren’t contributing to the team…

Now that he thought about it, wasn’t he the most foolish for trying to create a model in one day that was impossible to complete?

So, where did she get the model from? Song Min sat down properly, but his heart couldn’t quite settle.

** Xu En’s residence.

“I think she should like this style,” he handed the blueprint back to Ji Mulan, “Don’t you have other classmates coming? Didn’t you say you had old friends in Jiangj”

The clan members had reserved a classmates’ table for Ji Mulan, but Ji Mulan hadn’t invited any classmates, only the Song family. However, Bai Lian had two classmates.

Ji Mulan took the blueprint, “No.”

She turned and went back to the study.

Behind her, Xu En looked at Ji Mulan’s back, very surprised. He and Ji Mulan had moved out to live in a three-story house, with rooms prepared for Xu Wenyao, Xu Zhiyue, and Bai Lian.

Before they returned to Xiangcheng, the rooms were already prepared.

Ji Mulan had designed them according to each child’s preferences.

Bai Lian’s room was originally cyberpunk-styled, but after returning from Xiangcheng, it was clear that Bai Lian preferred Chinese-style things. Xu En couldn’t quite imagine—

Bai Lian wearing a horse-face skirt, standing at a cyberpunk bar counter.

So Ji Mulan changed the design.

But Xu En thought the design of Bai Lian’s room was really cool. He thought for a moment, then went upstairs to the room prepared for Bai Lian and turned on the light.

On the ceiling was a huge blue ring light, with seven regularly uneven rings from inside to outside, occupying most of the area.

The outermost ring near the door protruded from both ends of the connection all the way to the door edge, along with transparent glass Rubik’s cube edges descending from top to bottom, one after another, lighting up to the bar counter.

The Rubik’s cube edges were hung on metal rods that extended to the ground, next to which was an irregularly shaped white single-seater sofa.

Next to the sofa was a white robot…

Although it wasn’t the first time he had seen it, Xu En was still amazed by this design.

The Ji family was born for art.

It was strange that Ji Shaojun, who painted so well, had no fame, while Ji Mulan’s planning and design for Xiangcheng was mentioned as a key project, yet among designers, she hardly made a splash.

He took out his phone to take a picture and sent it to Bai Lian—

[This is what it looks like now. Compared to the new Chinese style from earlier, which do you prefer?]

Just after sending it, a phone call came in from the Xu mansion.

“Shuqiong is coming tomorrow. You and Wenyao should come back to the old house for dinner.” It was Old Mrs. Xu’s voice, leaving no room for refusal.

Xu En replied directly: “I’m having lunch with Uncle Ji and the others tomorrow. If Shuqiong is willing, she can come to my place.”

Ji Heng had caught a lot of fish, and they were planning to have a fish head hotpot for lunch tomorrow.

“Xu En!” Old Mrs. Xu sounded angry.

“If you’re willing, you can come too.” Xu En would no longer compromise with her.

Old Mrs. Xu hung up the phone.

Xu En didn’t care. He hung up, and Bai Lian had replied:

[Keep this one]

She asked Xu En to keep the cyberpunk style, which was unexpected but understandable.

** The next day.

Early in the morning, Shen Qing and Ji Shaojun crossed two districts to bring fish soup to Bai Lian.

“Ning Xiao, Tang Ming,” Shen Qing looked at the dark circles under their eyes, hesitated, then walked to Bai Lian’s side and asked in a low voice: “What happened to these two?”

Bai Lian sat in her seat, her cotton jacket placed aside.

She was only wearing a white cashmere sweater with light yellow embroidery on the cuffs and collar. Her hair was tied back with a wooden hairpin. Her face was surrounded by the steam from the soup, hazy yet piercing. “They didn’t sleep all night, maybe they’re a bit yin deficient.”

Even though they hadn’t rested well, she looked energetic.

“I see.” Shen Qing looked at the two’s complexions, mentally planning to buy some deer antler to stew some soup when she got back.

“You’re really not coming for fish head hotpot at noon?” Shen Qing asked again.

Bai Lian finished her soup, put down her chopsticks, then looked up: “We have to do an academic report tomorrow, no time.”

The schedule was too tight. She and Wang Xu hadn’t finished writing the report yet.

“Then we’ll bring you some medi…” Shen Qing bit her tongue, quickly withdrawing her gaze from Tang Ming and Ning Xiao, “We’ll bring you some fish head at noon.”

There wasn’t much point in bringing fish head, Shen Qing wanted to bring some tonic for these two boys.

The three of them saw Shen Qing and Ji Shaojun off.

Tang Ming watched the two get on the bus, then rubbed his head, “Why do I feel like Auntie’s look at me was very strange…”

Ning Xiao was also thinking.

Bai Lian calmly spoke: “Let’s go to the classroom to work on the problem first.”

At noon.

Yunxiao District.

Xu Residence.

Xu Wenyao parked the car and got out. After gentlemanly opening the passenger door, a woman in a black coat stepped out.

This was Qi Shuqiong.

Slim waist and long legs, sunglasses pushed up, perfectly holding back her bangs, very charismatic.

The two came to the Xu residence to find Xu En. At the main entrance, Qi Shuqiong received a phone call.

They happened to meet Shen Qing and Ji Shaojun at the main entrance. The three were familiar with each other. When they learned that Xu Wenyao was going back to Jiangjing University, Shen Qing suddenly remembered, “Jiangjing University is also in Chang’an District, right? Could you take this to Ah Lian and the others?”

Shen Qing gestured to the black bag in her hand.

Inside was a thermal lunch box containing fish head and… soup for those two.

Xu Wenyao didn’t know where Bai Lian was, always thinking she was playing with classmates. Hearing she was also in Chang’an District, he quickly said: “Of course, where is she?”