ATLAS TRANSLATES

Bai Lian stood behind the Xiangcheng principal. She nodded politely, “I used to be a student at Beicheng First High.”

“Then why did you come here?” Principal Li looked at the international class’s homeroom teacher, then at Bai Lian.

He wondered internally why Beicheng would let such a person go. Everyone in Xiangcheng had always wanted Bai Lian to go to Beicheng – if students could have a better platform, the principal would feel gratified.

After all, with Xiangcheng’s teaching resources, Beicheng kept blocking their projects. The principal hoped students could receive better, more comprehensive education.

But now, he looked at Principal Li and the international class’s homeroom teacher, then shielded Bai Lian behind him, “I just learned that Student Bai Lian was previously at your school. Since she has already left, we should respect her wishes.”

When Bai Lian first came to Xiangcheng, her grades weren’t particularly good.

Thinking about her sudden arrival in Xiangcheng, the Xiangcheng principal’s smile also slightly faded.

“Beicheng has better teaching resources, and there are lectures by famous teachers in the final semester,” the international class homeroom teacher knew who Bai Lian was – talking about money with her now was meaningless, “If you’re willing, you can get better education when you return and achieve higher scores.”

He had a strong impression of her.

When she first arrived at Beicheng First High, the Bai family had donated a lot of money to the school, with only one requirement – to let her into the international class. He had initially agreed.

He taught mathematics, and all his students were top performers. He couldn’t stand seeing someone who knew almost nothing about math for even a second.

He directly sent her to the arts class, and at that time Bai Lian became the talk of the entire Beicheng First High.

The school’s tumor.

The international class homeroom teacher had almost forgotten about her. Now pulling her from his memories and facing this girl before him, he felt very dazed.

“I think Xiangcheng is quite good,” Bai Lian lowered her eyes and said to the Xiangcheng principal, “I’ve also told Teacher Lu I won’t leave.”

She was purely dissatisfied with Beicheng First High.

They wanted the Bai family’s money but didn’t want to accept the Bai family’s young lady.

Of course, the Bai family’s young lady’s grades weren’t good, but this wasn’t a reason for them to want both yet neither.

“Then don’t leave,” the Xiangcheng principal felt somewhat regretful. He patted Bai Lian’s shoulder, “Go back and continue studying.”

Bai Lian turned towards the door.

Seeing her really leaving, the international class homeroom teacher raised his voice: “Bai Lian, didn’t you always want to join the international class? Educational resources are cruel. Having a good teacher as a leader is several times better than studying alone. If you don’t come with us to Beicheng now, you won’t have another chance later.”

Bai Lian didn’t even pause her steps.

She thought to herself, fortunately Jiang Fuli wasn’t here, otherwise he would definitely discuss with them what makes a “good teacher.”

She sincerely didn’t want to return to Beicheng First High.

Principal Li and his colleague had excitedly come on the third day of the New Year, originally thinking Beicheng First High would gain another powerful addition.

“If she won’t return, then so be it.” Principal Li had come personally but couldn’t persuade Bai Lian, and was now somewhat annoyed.

He lowered his head to check Bai Lian’s information on his phone. There wasn’t much useful information – he had just asked Beicheng people to check. Most of it was about Bai Lian hanging out in bars and racing cars in Beicheng. Looking at these—

Principal Li couldn’t figure out how she had managed to score 692.

“Her grades aren’t as stable as Song Min’s. It’s only been half a year, I wonder if she can really surpass Song Min.”

Soon after.

The Song family also received this news.

Mrs. Song stood at the table, holding a yellow rose, arranging flowers while murmuring, “She really doesn’t plan to return to Beicheng?”

“No.” Song Min wore headphones, playing a recording on his phone.

“That’s… a pity.” Mrs. Song lowered her eyes.

Song Min wasn’t paying attention to what Mrs. Song was saying at this point. He wasn’t very concerned about whether Bai Lian would return or not, currently only focused on listening to the recording Bai Shaoqi had sent him.

After listening, he replied to Bai Shaoqi: [It lacks some of the killing intent of “Gambling on Wine”]

Yan Lu’s song had already gone viral. Bai Shaoqi had transcribed the score, knowing Song Min also liked this song, and recorded it on guzheng to send to him.

Bai Shaoqi: [I’ll revise it again, when you think it’s okay I’ll post it on the platform]

Bai Shaoqi: [I’m still transcribing her “Another Autumn”, I’ll let you listen when it’s done]

People who liked <Bai Yi Xing> rarely disliked Yan Lu’s new songs.

** After leaving, Bai Lian went to the library to borrow the books Professor Ma had listed for her. Professor Ma had only listed four books, but the library didn’t have three of them.

“These three books are too obscure,” the librarian apologetically looked at Bai Lian, “We can’t find them at all.”

Bai Lian hadn’t expected that such a seemingly large library couldn’t even complete four books.

She thanked the librarian, then complained to Jiang Fuli.

Finally, she found two ancient texts she wanted, went to the front desk to borrow them. The librarian was quite surprised to see books of such vastly different styles.

After getting the books, she took bus route 12 directly back to Qingshui Street.

Mao Kun had a cigarette in his mouth helping the shop owner sell New Year goods. Seeing Bai Lian approach, his eyes lit up as he stood up from the small stool: “Sis.”

Bai Lian hadn’t had time to see Mao Kun and the others since returning.

Mao Kun started reporting recent events to Bai Lian.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of Qingshui Street.

A car slowly stopped, and Ren Qian’s group got out. Ren Wanxuan sat with Ren Qian, her brows tightly furrowed – this was the first time Ren Qian had come to pay a New Year visit to the Ji family.

Ji Shaorong and Ren Jiawei got out from the front.

Ji Shaorong immediately spotted Bai Lian at the small shop ahead, talking with a yellow-haired youth.

“Your niece?” Ren Jiawei followed Ji Shaorong’s gaze and saw Bai Lian.

When she spoke, Ren Qian also saw Bai Lian, “What is she doing there?”

“You go ahead, I’ll wait for her,” Ji Shaorong walked towards Bai Lian, “And buy some tobacco while I’m at it.”

Ren Jiawei earned a lot, but Ji Shaorong had always been very modest in his daily life. Even the branded clothes Ren Jiawei bought for him were worn as regular clothes.

Ren Qian looked at Ren Wanxuan. Ren Wanxuan pressed her lips: “It just rained the day before yesterday.”

She was wearing new clothes today, and Qingshui Street’s stone pavement could easily splash black water. She was already annoyed about coming here and didn’t want to spend even a second with Bai Lian.

“Never mind,” Ren Qian looked at the yellow-haired youth beside Bai Lian and didn’t force Ren Wanxuan, “You said someone from Beicheng is coming today?”

“I heard from senior brother that people from the Jian family are coming today,” Ren Wanxuan told Ren Qian, “Grand Master Jian was the previous chairman of Beicheng Calligraphers Association.”

Xiangcheng was the most inconspicuous city in the vast Beicheng.

Hearing Ren Wanxuan say this, Ren Qian was very surprised, “The Jian family of Beicheng’s three families?”

“Yes,” Ren Wanxuan carefully avoided a stone slab, “My senior brother has a good relationship with Grand Master Jian’s grandson.”

Of Beicheng’s three long-established families – Bai, Song, and Jian – the Jian family was a scholarly family, while the Song family was said to have connections in Jianjing, and the Bai family was newly wealthy.

These three families might be slightly inferior to the Xu family, but they weren’t comparable to Xiangcheng. The GDP provided by both the Ren and Chen families combined wasn’t even one-tenth of any one of these families.

Just thinking about Bai, Ren Wanxuan couldn’t help but frown.

Why were there so many people with the surname Bai.

“What are they coming to Xiangcheng for?” Ren Jiawei asked in shock.

Beicheng probably didn’t know about Chen Ju being transferred down, how could their reach extend through Jianjing to Xiangcheng?

“Jian Rong seemed to say the Jian family…” Ren Wanxuan was about to speak when she heard Bai Lian and Ji Shaojun’s voices coming from behind.

She stopped and said no more.

Ren Qian also didn’t let Ren Wanxuan continue. This news wasn’t something just anyone who wanted to know could know.

In other words, the news that people from Beicheng’s Jian family were coming was first known by Ren Wanxuan and Chou Boqing. Even if Chen Zhu and others wanted to inquire, they would need to exchange favors.

Just hearing Bai Lian’s voice, Ren Qian turned around and greeted her kindly.

His gaze fell on the four books Bai Lian was carrying, the outermost one being classical literature, “Weren’t you studying science? Why are you reading classical literature?”

Ren Qian knew that Bai Lian had previously been in the training class.

And had gotten into an unpleasant situation with Ren Wanxuan because of it.

Bai Lian didn’t speak. Ji Shaorong lifted his head and explained for him, “The child wants to expand her knowledge.”

Ren Qian nodded, “But in your third year of high school, you should focus on your studies.”

** Ren Qian hadn’t told Ji Heng in advance that he would come to pay a New Year visit.

Ji Heng was also caught off guard.

Wanting to call Ji Shaojun and Shen Qing back to prepare food.

Ji Shaorong went straight to the warehouse to help clean when he came in.

Ren Qian stopped Ji Heng who was about to make a phone call: “I just came to pay a New Year visit, I have to go back to handle other matters later.” Saying this, he changed the subject, “So Mr. Xu won’t be coming back for now?”

Ren Qian looked around Ji Heng’s courtyard, which hadn’t added any major items.

Ji Shaojun and Ji Heng still hadn’t bought a car.

“He’s quite busy.” Ji Heng said in a muffled voice. The Xu family was indeed busy. Because of the Xiangcheng matter, Xu En had obtained most of the decision-making power in the Xu family, and because of the Chen family, Xu Corporation had received a bunch of olive branches.

“Is that so.” Ren Qian changed the topic, looking at Bai Lian: “Do you have time to come to the Ren family for dinner on the fifth day of the New Year?”

Bai Lian: “No time.”

This wasn’t a lie.

According to Dean Jian’s intentions, she would fly to Beicheng on the fourth and should come to Xiangcheng on the fifth.

As she said this, Ren Wanxuan didn’t believe it, just glancing at Bai Lian’s back.

Starting from the first day of the New Year, the Ren family had a bunch of subordinates coming to give New Year greetings to Ren Qian. Today’s visit to the Ji family was Ren Qian making time to come.

As for the Ji family…

Looking at this desolate courtyard, who would come to pay New Year visits?

“Indeed no time,” Ji Heng also raised his head at this point, explaining for Bai Lian, “We have guests visiting on the fifth. Today’s preparations were rushed, you can come over for dinner on the fifth if you have time.”

Apart from some neighbors, the only visitors to the Ji family were Ji Shaojun’s students…

And Chen Ju.

Since Xu En couldn’t return for now, Ren Qian wouldn’t come for dinner anymore. He smiled without responding.

** Bai Lian returned to her room to put away the books. Just as she put them down, her phone rang with a contact saved as “Wang”—

[I can’t reach my godmother’s phone, I’m not at Heishui Street, can you help check what’s wrong when you have time?]

This was someone she had added at Grandmother Wang’s house.

The two barely ever contacted each other. Seeing this message, Bai Lian frowned as she stood up. She replied with a “1” and took her coat to leave.

Ji Heng never questioned where Bai Lian was going.

But Ren Qian asked warmly as soon as he saw her: “Where are you going? Do you want Xuan Xuan to go with you?”