ATLAS TRANSLATES

“What books do you usually read?” Bai Lian tapped the table and asked Jian Zhe. She had never asked about his background, only roughly knowing what was taught at school.

Since birth, Jian Zhe had practiced calligraphy with his family. The Jian family was traditionally scholarly, and they always educated their children from a young age.

But with Jian Rong overshadowing this generation, Jian Zhonghai didn’t pay much attention to his grandchildren’s education, focusing everything on Jian Rong.

When Bai Lian asked what books he liked to read, Jian Zhe paused briefly, then looked at her and hesitantly said, “Reborn as an Overpowered Hero, Beautiful Bodyguard, Campus Beauty…”

She made a pause gesture.

Jian Zhe scratched his head, “Hehe, is that really pathetic?”

“Not at all. Some people just want to be slackers,” Bai Lian had no issues with this.

She had grown up with strict traditions but maintained her true nature, all thanks to Liang Zewen.

Liang Zewen’s teaching method was unique. He never suppressed someone’s personality, believing education should align with natural principles and help students develop complete personalities.

She was just… struck by the word “reborn.” Were there really such books?

Bai Lian quietly noted down the book title, then looked at Jian Zhe: “But if you want to get into Jiang Yi for graduate school, put these hobbies aside first. Read them after you get in. Start with ‘The Thirteen Classics.’”

Building a foundation in classical literature was crucial.

“I looked through this book last night, you read this first,” Bai Lian wasn’t sure how well Jian Zhe did in university, but if he wanted to pursue graduate studies, he must have some basics, “You need to master classical Chinese phonology and syntax. This will help you read documents better. Ask me if you don’t understand anything.”

Similarly, modern Chinese was also an art.

Fortunately, the original Bai Lian had left her with nineteen years of precious memories, plus her own twenty-three years of memories from ancient times. She possessed nearly forty years of knowledge and experience that others rarely had.

Jian Zhe took the classical text from Bai Lian.

He was very surprised.

Most people thought classical literature graduate exams were quite simple nowadays, but while the multiple-choice questions weren’t hard, the essay questions were extremely difficult.

Yesterday, Jian Zhe’s exam question was “…should devise good methods to encourage them.”

Such questions tested students’ literary foundation and breadth of knowledge. Jian Zhe hadn’t expected Bai Lian to actually research this.

He lowered his head and read seriously.

**

About ten minutes later.

Two figures, one tall and one small, walked unhurriedly up the stairs. The person in front had long legs and though walking slowly, took large strides. The small person behind struggled up the stairs, trying hard to keep up.

Jian Zhe suddenly noticed the two people opposite him sit up straight.

Before he could wonder why, a cold voice came from above—

“Why is he here?”

Young Master Jiang? Jian Zhe lifted his head slightly. Jiang Fuli stood beside Bai Lian, his hand resting on the chair back, looking at him carelessly.

Jian Zhe’s scalp tingled. He never expected to run into Jiang Fuli at the library. He tried to stand up, but Jiang Fuli waved him down.

“He’s here to study,” Bai Lian said quietly, “He wants to get into Jiang Yi.”

Jiang Fuli pulled out the chair next to Bai Lian and sat down, glancing at Jian Zhe before his eyes settled on the language basics book, “…Good luck.”

He finally uttered these two words quietly.

Jiang He sat across from Jiang Fuli, making six people studying together.

Occasionally, Ning Xiao would ask Jiang Fuli questions.

After studying for half an hour, Jian Zhe was about to take out his phone to watch some videos. Looking up, he saw everyone at the table, including Jiang He, studying seriously.

He: “…”

Silently put his phone down and continued reading. It felt like a century had passed.

Looking up again, the five people around him were either reviewing summaries or doing practice problems… nothing else.

Jian Zhe looked at the time on his phone – only an hour had passed? It was his first time studying with such intense studiers, and Jian Zhe felt dazed all morning.

“Sister Lian, have you finished the comprehensive science papers?” Ning Xiao asked about the winter break homework, the extension papers from school.

“Done,” Bai Lian was solving a problem and asked Jiang Fuli to help her get something.

Her backpack was hanging on the chair back. Jiang Fuli casually opened it.

Bai Lian’s backpack was very organized, containing only papers and question banks. He pulled out the papers that were clipped together and sorted, but wait, what was…

Three notebooks? Jiang Fuli handed the papers to Ning Xiao and patted Bai Lian’s shoulder, “Bai Lian, what are these?”

He asked.

Bai Lian’s hand stopped mid-drawing of an ? arc, her mind ringing alarm bells. Notebooks? “These…” Bai Lian took out the three notebooks, written by two people – physics from Xu Wenyao, biology and chemistry from Liang Wuyu.

“The physics one is specially prepared for Zhang Shize,” she said calmly.

She really needed the chemistry and biology ones.

As long as it didn’t involve physics, everything could be negotiated.

Jiang Fuli glanced at the physics notebook, “Can he understand it?”

Even Ning Xiao would need to study carefully to understand notebooks and error collections from a Jianjing University physics department top student.

“Give it to him first,” Bai Lian found a good home for the notebook, “If he doesn’t understand, Chi Lu will tell him anyway.”

Jiang Fuli reluctantly accepted this.

**

After studying until afternoon, Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli returned to Qingshui Street for food.

Some of the things Director Chen brought in the morning were prepared by Jiang Fuli. Director Chen went so early to pay respects to the tree god with Ji Heng and others, and there was vegetarian food at the tree god temple at noon.

So they didn’t go back.

Ji Heng and Ji Shaojun would prepare dinner in the evening and told Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli to remember to come back for dinner.

At five in the afternoon.

Jian Zhe walked out of the library feeling light-headed. He got into North City University through art exams and had never studied this seriously even in his senior year. After Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli got in their car, he asked Tang Ming beside him: “Do you all… study from eight until now every day?”

Without any breaks? “No,” Tang Ming shook his head.

Jian Zhe breathed a sigh of relief.

“I wake up at six every morning to memorize English,” Tang Ming told Jian Zhe his schedule, “Then come to the library at eight, return at five in the afternoon, after dinner I do the school’s basic question bank, sleep at twelve, this is considered early. Ning Xiao and Sister Lian seem to sleep at one.”

Tang Ming frowned as he spoke, “Not good, I should also sleep at one tonight. Only about 150 days left.”

Jian Zhe: “…??”

How do they do it? Jian Zhe thought he was already impressive for managing two hours, if it weren’t for Jiang Fuli sitting beside him today, he would have played on his phone for at least two hours.

He carefully asked, “Which university are you two senior brothers aiming for?”

Ning Xiao: “Jianjing University.”

He answered very confidently this time.

Jian Zhe, who thought getting into Jianjing Arts University was already incredibly difficult: “…”

Wait…

Why could everyone in Xiangcheng casually aim for Jianjing University? Had Jianjing University become so common?

This would be top ten even in North City, right? Jian Zhe started doubting life itself. What kind of people were Bai Lian and her classmates? He held his books, took out his phone, and called for a ride to Xiangcheng train station.

His grandfather Jian Zhonghai was still waiting at the train station to pick someone up.

**

Xiangcheng Train Station.

Though renovated, the foundation remained the same – the train station was still old. The new south station was under construction and would have high-speed rail.

Ren Wanxuan frowned as she stepped on the ground. Following Ren Qian off the train, she asked curiously: “Grandfather, is the old chairman waiting here personally?”

“Yes.” Ren Qian had already spotted the group of black-suited bodyguards ahead.

He hurried over to greet Jian Zhonghai in the middle, very politely: “Chairman Jian, the person you’re waiting for hasn’t arrived yet?”

Jian Zhonghai wasn’t just the previous chairman of North City Calligraphy Association. Those who reached this position all knew that chairmen held multiple roles – North City CPPCC vice chairman, head of the arts department…

The Jian family’s generations of effort weren’t something ordinary families could match, especially since they were North City natives.

Jian Zhonghai had graying hair and wore a gray coat, with three deep wrinkles on his forehead.

Scholars tend to look down on each other. He glanced at Ren Qian and said briefly: “His train arrives at seven.”

Jian Zhonghai got this information from his arranged people. Actually, after his elder brother left home, he never returned to the Jian family. Even meeting his brother once was difficult. Who would have thought that without the Jian family’s protection, the other person could step by step make something of himself, finally becoming the head of Jianjing Arts Bureau.

The Jian family tried many times to get him to return, but he ignored them all.

This time, Jian Zhonghai wasn’t sure if the other person would meet him…

Hearing Jian Zhonghai’s words, Ren Qian’s heart was hit by huge waves. A seven o’clock train, and Jian Zhonghai had been waiting since four? Jian Zhonghai was the previous chairman – if he hadn’t retired, in terms of administrative position, Ren Qian from this small city wouldn’t come close.

Even retired, his connections were something Ren Qian deeply coveted.

What kind of important person was Jian Zhonghai waiting for? He felt more grateful that he hadn’t gone to the Ji family today.

“I’ve prepared a banquet for you and your honored guest,” Ren Qian handed a gift list to Jian Zhonghai, “Please check if there’s anything the guest might not like.”

Having been in this circle for so long, it wasn’t easy to have someone like Jian Zhonghai visit Xiangcheng.

Ren Qian’s power had been increasingly scattered recently, and he had prepared extremely rare items for Jian Zhonghai.

Jian Zhonghai looked it over and his attitude improved somewhat.

Ren Wanxuan and Chou Boqing stood to the side – in this situation, they couldn’t say anything.

As they were talking.

Jian Zhe appeared from behind the crowd. Seeing him, Ren Wanxuan was shocked, “Why are you here?”

Did Teacher Chou leak the information?

She couldn’t help looking at Chou Xuezheng with furrowed brows.

Did Bai Lian know too?

Jian Zhe just walked forward, stopping beside Jian Zhonghai: “Grandfather.”

Grandfather?

Jian Zhonghai’s grandson? Ren Qian and Ren Wanxuan were dumbfounded – how could someone from the Jian family appear in Xiangcheng?

Jian Zhonghai had two sons and two daughters, with several grandchildren. Among them, Jian Rong was his favorite and had been raised by his side since childhood. As for Jian Zhe…

Since he was young, he had hidden comic books under his bed, and Jian Zhonghai had scolded their whole family harshly.

He glanced at Jian Zhe without speaking.

Jian’s father pulled Jian Zhe aside and scolded him in a low voice: “Your grandfather arrived yesterday, why are you only coming now?”

“I went to the library with Sister Bai,” Jian Zhe said: “Sister Bai is really amazing, I think her calligraphy…”

Though Bai Lian was two years younger, they all called her sister.

He tried to promote Bai Lian to his father.

Jian’s father interrupted him, not caring who Sister Bai was, just coldly looking at Jian Zhe, “Can’t you make some normal friends? Look at Jian Rong’s friends, then look at yours? And besides that, can’t you tell what’s important between your grandfather and others?”

“Isn’t Jian Rong not here either?” Jian Zhe didn’t want to argue this point with his father, looking around without seeing Jian Rong.

“You think you’re like Jian Rong?” His father scolded him again, “He’s studying at the mansion, waiting to meet your grand uncle. Your grandfather will personally take him there.”

Jian Rong was the Jian family’s hope, his matters were top priority – how could he come here? If Jian Rong could study, why couldn’t he? Jian Zhe felt very unfair.

He decided to study for another four hours when he got back tonight.

**

Meanwhile.

At the Ji family home, Ji Heng had been playing chess with Director Chen. As soon as Director Chen saw Jiang Fuli, he quickly got up crying and gave up his spot: “Sir, why don’t you play a few games with Uncle Ji? I’ll go help in the kitchen.”

Ji Heng seemed normal, but why was he so fierce at Five-in-a-Row?

Jiang Fuli glanced at Director Chen, then sat across from Ji Heng, casually picking up a white piece. The ordinary white chess piece seemed to glow like white jade in his hand.

Jiang He sat on a slightly higher stool next to Ji Heng, holding a fruit plate and watching them play.

Ji Heng arranged the black pieces and suddenly asked when he saw Jiang Fuli sit down: “Do you know Go?”

“A little,” Jiang Fuli nodded.

“Good,” Ji Heng decided immediately, “Then let’s play Go.”

White moves first, Jiang Fuli placed the first piece.

Playing chess is like life.

Ji Heng played steadily, while Jiang Fuli’s style wasn’t obvious, seeming quite casual. Bai Lian watched from the side for a while until she received a message from Dean Jian—

Dean Jian: [Picture]

Dean Jian: [Where is this place?]

Bai Lian looked down to see a picture by Xiangcheng’s city gate, with Dean Jian’s luggage beside it.

Bai Lian: [Weren’t you taking the seven o’clock train?]

Dean Jian: [There are troublemakers among the masses]

Bai Lian: […Wait there]

She told Ji Heng she was going to pick someone up at the city gate, which was close to Qingshui Street, only four stops away.

Jiang Fuli watched Bai Lian leave, then placed another piece. Ji Heng didn’t pay attention to this move until the tenth piece, when the white pieces across the board formed a pattern hiding deadly intent, each move containing killing potential.

Ji Heng’s mouth twitched—

Wait, how can someone change their playing style midway??

At the city gate.

When Bai Lian found him, Dean Jian stood next to his silver suitcase, looking quite forlorn.

“You came alone?” Bai Lian thought he would have company.

“It’s New Year’s, I didn’t make anyone work overtime,” Dean Jian looked up and explained: “I’m not a three-year-old child.”

Someone had leaked the news of his arrival in Xiangcheng.

So he had to abandon his train plans and take a bus from North City to Xiangcheng instead, which was quite tiring.

He wasn’t sure if his originally booked hotel was still available. Dean Jian looked at Bai Lian, confused: “Is tourism really this developed here?”

Xiangcheng had suddenly become popular last month, and the Tourism Bureau had seized the opportunity to promote it. All hotels in Xiangcheng were fully booked after the second day of the New Year, making it impossible to get a room.

Otherwise, Dean Jian definitely wouldn’t have bothered Bai Lian – he was someone who didn’t like causing trouble for others.

“Let’s go to my grandfather’s house for dinner first,” Bai Lian reached for Dean Jian’s suitcase.

“It’s very heavy…” Dean Jian started to stop her. His 28-inch suitcase contained not just daily necessities but also a smaller guzheng case.

Before he could finish speaking, Bai Lian effortlessly lifted it with her left hand.

“…”

**

At the Ji family home.

Director Chen brought out a glass of milk for Jiang He, “Where’s Miss Bai?”

He looked around but didn’t see Bai Lian.

“She went to pick someone up,” Jiang Fuli answered Director Chen.

Pick someone up?

Xu En and the others weren’t here either, who else was in Xiangcheng? Director Chen thought for a moment, then discussed with Ji Heng, “Uncle, let’s go fishing tomorrow. In a couple more days, Brother Ji won’t have time.”

Ji Shaojun would start work on the eighth day of the New Year, and Director Chen had to work too.

Ji Heng’s head was hurting from the chess game, so he just agreed perfunctorily: “Alright, alright.”

Five minutes later, Ji Heng looked at Jiang Fuli’s chess style, “Don’t deliberately let me win.”

Jiang Fuli, who had been letting him win from the start: “…”

Twenty minutes later, Ji Heng looked at his surrounded black pieces: “…Let’s play Five-in-a-Row instead.”

“Dinner’s ready,” Ji Shaojun brought out bowls and chopsticks, peering outside, “Is Ah Lian not back yet?”

Just as he spoke, there was movement at the door.