ATLAS TRANSLATES

Director Chen spoke with Ji Heng for a while, then noticed others watching them. He told Xu En to go about his business, “Miss Bai and the others haven’t arrived yet, don’t worry about me.”

Director Chen waved his hand.

Then turned back to chat with Ji Heng.

“Alright.” Compared to others, Xu En was much more composed.

With Bai Lian in Jiangjing, Director Chen rushing back despite his busy schedule didn’t seem so hard to understand.

Xu En left again.

If Shen Min coming to Xu En’s second marriage stirred up waves, then Director Chen’s arrival turned those waves into a tsunami.

Just now Old Lady Xu could still sit down.

But now, seeing Director Chen sitting with his back to her, she couldn’t even stay seated.

Only supported by Xu Shujie, she stood in place. With many people today, the banquet hall’s heating was low. Old Lady Xu had already taken off her fox fur coat, leaving only a single layer, yet she felt her back soaking with sweat.

“Shu-Shujie,” her withered hand rested on Xu Shujie’s wrist, “Is that person really…”

Master Chen…

Could it really be that “Chen”?

Xu Shujie also found it bewildering, but seeing Shen Min’s attitude toward Director Chen now, who else could this Master Chen be? But why wasn’t there any information in the files? However, she could now make sense of previous inconsistencies, like why Assistant Xu was so attentive to the Ji family…

** After ten o’clock, traffic wasn’t as bad as eight or nine, but being near the new year, there were still many cars on the road.

Bai Lian’s group arrived at Yunxiao Hotel at eleven.

Xu Wenyao and Xu En were still greeting guests, though by this time most guests had already arrived – only Bai Lian hadn’t come yet.

Obviously, Xu Wenyao wasn’t so calm about Director Chen’s arrival either. The two were making small talk by the door.

The elevator directly facing the reception area on the 36th floor opened with a “ding”.

In the elevator, Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli stood in front. Having entered the hotel with its heating, and since Bai Lian usually didn’t mind the cold, she had taken off her coat, wearing only a white double-breasted long dress.

The lapel was emerald green with gold and white floral embroidery, and a matching belt tied loosely at the waist.

Her right hand held an unfinished review paper, occasionally glancing at it while talking with Jiang Fuli.

Jiang Fuli was half a step behind her, able to see the plain hairpin in her hair. He hadn’t taken off his coat, but was holding a dark blue ladies’ coat.

Bai Lian had brought him his computer today, and he had been using it in the car, still wearing his glasses on his nose bridge.

As the elevator opened, he exited with Bai Lian, slightly raising his head to look at Xu En and Xu Wenyao greeting guests. Even through his lenses, the coldness in his eyes couldn’t be hidden.

“Ah Lian, you’re here.” Xu En hadn’t met Jiang Fuli before and didn’t dare meet his gaze, so he spoke to Bai Lian instead.

Jiang Fuli stood beside Bai Lian, his long, pale fingers removing his glasses and casually placing them in his coat pocket. His posture was relaxed, appearing somewhat indifferent.

But Xu En inexplicably felt great pressure.

“Mm, is it about to start?” Bai Lian checked the time – good, they weren’t late. “This is my classmate.”

She introduced Ning Xiao and Tang Ming, but as for Jiang Fuli, she didn’t introduce him to Xu En.

Xu En didn’t dare ask.

Instead, he led Bai Lian’s group inside.

The banquet hall with several hundred people was very lively. Despite the low heating, people’s faces were red from the warmth. The snacks on the tables had already been replaced once. Bai Lian’s group drew much attention.

Even without the others, just Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli’s appearances were enough to attract gazes.

However, when eyes met Jiang Fuli’s light gaze, they quickly looked away, only secretly watching after the group had passed.

The second and third floors were better.

The noisy first floor gradually grew quiet, even noisy children hiccupped and fell silent. The service staff holding tea stepped aside, waiting for Bai Lian, Jiang Fuli, and the others to pass.

Xu En immediately spotted the main table with Old Lady Xu that wasn’t fully occupied, and the secondary table where many people were gathering to greet others.

From his first anger at seeing the seating arrangement when bringing Shen Min, to now, Xu En had calmed down, thinking, the secondary table is fine, just right to fill a whole table with Bai Lian’s group.

“Ah Lian is here.” He adjusted his boutonniere, looking up with a smile to greet Ji Heng’s table.

Ji Heng sat in the middle, with Director Chen on his right and Ji Shaojun on his left, while Shen Min sat beside Director Chen.

He looked up and saw Bai Lian and… Jiang Fuli… following Xu En.

Shen Min thought he saw wrong. He blinked and looked again – Jiang Fuli was pulling out chairs for Jiang He and Bai Lian, glancing back at Shen Min.

That face – how could he mistake it!

Shen Min’s hand holding the teacup trembled, spilling tea onto the lace tablecloth.

He “sprang” to his feet, “You… how did you come?”

Director Chen, who had been talking with Ji Heng, also stood up.

Jiang He sat next to Shen Qing, Bai Lian sat next to Jiang He, and Jiang Fuli naturally sat beside Bai Lian. He lazily pulled out his chair, greeted Ji Heng, then glanced at the two: “Sit.”

He tapped the table.

Director Chen and Shen Min carefully sat down. Director Chen was still fine, but Shen Min now didn’t even dare drink tea.

Jiang Fuli rarely appeared in public, his identity was top secret, and indeed not many people knew him, but Shen Min had met him at the Chen family home.

Seeing Director Chen and Shen Min’s attitudes, Xu En guessed Jiang Fuli’s identity wasn’t simple, but couldn’t match him with anyone he knew.

He pushed down his thoughts and said to Ji Heng: “The ceremony is about to begin.”

Ji Heng put down his pipe, smoothed his clothes, and followed Xu En backstage.

He would soon hand Ji Mulan over to Xu En.

After Ji Heng left, Director Chen and Shen Min didn’t dare speak. Tang Ming didn’t dare sit next to Jiang Fuli, letting Ning Xiao sit there while he sat next to Shen Min.

Only then did Shen Qing take out two fruits from his pocket, giving one to Bai Lian and one to Jiang He.

“What is this?” Bai Lian looked at the small green fruit.

“I think it’s called mini kiwi,” Shen Qing knew Bai Lian probably hadn’t tried it before. “I asked the hotel staff – it’s very sweet.”

Jiang He lowered his head and took a bite.

Saying nothing.

Bai Lian had heard of kiwi but had never tried mini kiwi. She put down her review paper and ate while describing the kiwi’s taste to Shen Qing.

Seeing Bai Lian also liked it, Shen Qing finally smiled.

Across the table, Director Chen finally found a chance to speak with Bai Lian, “I heard from Mr. Mao that Yan Lu has been confirmed as the image spokesperson? Can the marketing keep up after this?”

He was talking about the spokesperson for the Guyuan Paste.

Initially, Guyuan Paste only circulated within Heishui Street, with very potent effects. The batch that cooperated with the Chen family also had normal potency.

When introducing it to daily life, the effects were too strong for ordinary people, so Bai Lian and Xiao Qi redesigned the ratios, adjusted prices, and launched it. Heishui Street didn’t need advertising, but building a brand image for the public wasn’t easy.

Choosing Yan Lu as spokesperson was Xiao Qi’s idea. Although Bai Lian felt the Guyuan Paste didn’t match Yan Lu’s image, when Yan Lu heard it was hers, she signed directly with Xiao Qi. The price was cheap, but getting the public to accept an unfamiliar medicine wasn’t easy.

Xiao Qi started with the farmers growing Chinese herbs to promote Guyuan Paste.

Yan Lu wasn’t very famous yet, but she had brought in some income.

“Yes,” Bai Lian finished the kiwi and took the tissue Jiang Fuli handed her, casually wiping her hands as she told Director Chen, “Don’t worry, there won’t be any problems with Yan Lu. I’ve checked the farming area, the soil there is very suitable for growing Chinese herbs.”

Only then did Director Chen learn that Bai Lian had actually inspected the Chinese herb planting sites.

Of course, he didn’t know that not only that, Bai Lian had also taken one million from the funds given by the Bai family as initial capital for the herb farmers.

He was just curious, not quite understanding how Bai Lian had won over “Young Master Mao” and his group. He knew a bit about Yan Lu, but Mao’s people weren’t easy to win over.

Director Chen himself led people, with dozens under him, sometimes managing them exhausted him.

Yet Bai Lian seemed to barely manage, yet everyone seemed to trust her completely. At this moment, Director Chen had forgotten that he too was one of those who trusted her so implicitly.

Beside them, Shen Min didn’t dare say a word.

Hearing Director Chen call Bai Lian “Miss Bai,” seeing Jiang Fuli hand her tissues, he didn’t dare raise his head anymore, feeling he might be secretly killed.

The host’s voice rang out.

Welcoming guests and introducing the bride and groom.

With the music, Ji Heng led Ji Mulan forward.

The banquet hall lights had dimmed, leaving only the dazzling stage lights. Bai Lian pressed one hand on her review paper, turning slightly to watch Ji Heng lead Ji Mulan forward.

Today Ji Mulan wore a trailing wedding dress, tailored to fit her figure perfectly. The white veil trailed to her dress hem, with gold foil scattered on her brow bone and nose bridge, reflecting dreamlike light under the main stage lights.

Ji Mulan never shortchanged herself, and time had barely left any traces on her face.

That face made many in the audience gasp.

Ji Heng silently placed Ji Mulan’s hand in Xu En’s – Xu En wore a black suit.

The scene seemed somewhat touching.

Bai Lian looked at Ji Mulan’s face for a long while, finally turning away lazily. Well, although that face looked like her mother’s, she really didn’t feel like she was watching her mother get married.

When her mother married, she wore a phoenix crown and cloudy robes, with a ten-mile wedding procession.

She heard that year, her grandfather excitedly grabbed her father’s hand, thanking him for finally marrying her home.

** The wedding ceremony was long and lively.

With the loud sound system, Bai Lian closed her review paper and talked with Jiang Fuli as servers began serving dishes.

After Ji Heng returned, Director Chen and Shen Min drank with him.

All three could drink well, continuing without pause.

After the ceremony, Xu En had to thank guests with Ji Mulan. Old Lady Xu, who had been restless at the main table, finally found her chance. She stood up with a wine glass, smiling broadly at Ji Mulan: “Mulan, welcome to our Xu family. Later come back to the old house with us for a look.”

Ji Mulan had been doing makeup in the back and didn’t understand the old lady’s stance, feeling confused by her attitude.

“Come,” Old Lady Xu didn’t continue talking to her, looking at the next table and urging Xu En to hurry, “Go thank Master Chen and the others.”

“I… I’ll go too.” Xu Zhiyue came from the relatives’ table, speaking very softly to Xu Wenyao.

She held a drink glass.

Xu Wenyao glanced at her, not surprised.

Xu En took up a wine glass and a bottle of wine, leading a group to Bai Lian’s table.

Only then did Ji Mulan see Director Chen. She didn’t speak out of turn in this situation. Old Lady Xu kept staring intently at Director Chen and Shen Min.

After Xu En finished speaking, she finally found a chance to say her first words to Director Chen and Shen Min, “I didn’t know two such distinguished guests would honor us today, please forgive any discourtesy. Let me first punish myself with three cups.”

Old Lady Xu filled her wine glass and heartily drank three cups.

Only then did her gaze turn to Bai Lian sitting in the corner. Bai Lian lowered her head, casually swiping her phone screen. From this angle, her face wasn’t clearly visible.

But Old Lady Xu didn’t dare mention introducing her to the Yu family now.

Director Chen was also shrewd – seeing the seating arrangement, he hadn’t spoken. His face was stern with frost, making Old Lady Xu’s heart tighten.

After drinking, she didn’t dare even breathe heavily.

The newlyweds Xu En and Ji Mulan had to toast this table of guests. Bai Lian didn’t drink alcohol, but her cup had no drink either. Tang Ming picked up a bottle of juice from beside his feet, “Sis, here…”

Before he could hand it to Bai Lian.

Director Chen took the drink from his hand, stood up to unscrew the cap, and poured it for Bai Lian across half the table: “Miss Bai, is this alright?”

He asked while unscrewing the cap, while Tang Ming wore a “wtf” expression.

“It’s fine.” Bai Lian pushed her glass to the glass turntable.

Director Chen poured the drink for Bai Lian, then carefully turned the table slightly, stopping it in front of her, before sitting back down.

The group normally drank their alcohol.

Then they could leave early.

It was nearly one o’clock now. Bai Lian finished her drink and looked at Ji Heng, “Grandfather, then see you tomorrow morning.”

She and Ning Xiao’s group had to return to Boyuan Base for a seminar.

“Leaving already?” Xu En felt somewhat regretful.

Bai Lian nodded, “Study.”

Xu En had always known how hard she worked.

Beside them, Ji Mulan just looked at Bai Lian. Study? What was there to study now?

While behind Xu En, seeing Director Chen carefully pour a drink for Bai Lian, Old Lady Xu’s face suddenly became extremely rigid.

As if struck by lightning, dizziness came in waves, her heart suddenly aching and tightening.

Beside her, a middle-aged woman swirled her wine glass while waiting to toast, looking at Director Chen, then at Bai Lian, finally resting her gaze on Old Lady Xu: “This old lady… hunts hawks all day only to have her eyes pecked by one.”

She had a winning hand but somehow managed to play it terribly.

As Bai Lian, Jiang Fuli, Ning Xiao and others stood up, Jiang Fuli’s entire aura became obvious as he rose – neither cold nor warm, his eyes in the light both cold and penetrating. Director Chen couldn’t help but spring to his feet.

Xu Zhiyue saw Bai Lian getting up to leave and wanted to speak with her but didn’t dare.

Ji Mulan wore a red toast-making dress. Unable to speak in this situation, she stood among the crowd, turning to ask Xu Zhiyue, her gaze gentle: “Zhiyue, how dare you come toast today?”

Xu Zhiyue shyly held her clear wine glass: “Sister Bai, I don’t dare speak to her in class, I wanted to ask how she studies math…”