ATLAS TRANSLATES

Wang Youfeng knew the last person to arrive was the classmate who taught Ning Xiao the technique.

Near Tang Ming, Lu Xiaohan’s eyes lit up. “Sister Lian is here!”

Ning Xiao, who was beside Wang Youfeng, sat up straight.

This made Wang Youfeng curious – it seemed like this last classmate was the leader of their small group. He wondered who could win over someone like Ning Xiao.

As he was thinking, the person walked in through the door.

The newcomer wore a loose white top and dark blue pants, similar to traditional training clothes. Two wooden hairpins held up their long hair.

They casually carried a canvas bag, with loose strands of hair falling over their forehead. Their ink-black eyes looked relaxed yet cool.

Though the style was different, Wang Youfeng recognized her – wasn’t this the girl who saved him in the alley and who he met again at his godmother’s house? What a coincidence.

“Student Bai,” Wang Youfeng stood up and smiled at Bai Lian. “So you’re also Ning Xiao’s classmate.”

Lu Xiaohan turned around curiously. “Uncle Wang, you know each other?”

“Yes, we met at my godmother’s house,” Wang Youfeng didn’t mention the alley incident, only saying, “When his grandmother fell, Bai Lian was the one who helped her.”

Ning Xiao didn’t know about this.

He thanked Bai Lian again. At that time, Bai Lian had just transferred to their school, and he didn’t know her yet.

Lu Xiaohan and Tang Ming had been a bit nervous, since Wang Youfeng’s visible neck tattoos were somewhat intimidating. But now that Bai Lian was here and they knew each other, the atmosphere immediately became more relaxed.

“Students, add Uncle’s WeChat,” Wang Youfeng took out his phone and friendly added Tang Ming and Lu Xiaohan’s contacts. “If you need anything in the future, you can find me.”

“Okay.” Both of them obediently took out their phones.

When he heard Lu Xiaohan mention they were in their final year of high school, Wang Youfeng paused, then looked at Ning Xiao, “You’re already in your final year?”

He felt awkward, as he had brought first-year study materials for Ning Xiao.

Ning Xiao: “What else?”

Wang Youfeng felt embarrassed – he didn’t even know how old Ning Xiao was. Changing the subject, he said, “The college entrance exam must be coming up soon. All four of you need to work hard.”

The group finished eating, and Wang Youfeng seemed particularly happy. They didn’t finish until almost one o’clock and went downstairs.

He and Bai Lian fell behind the others. Wang Youfeng took out a cigarette, “My godmother isn’t doing well. She’s rarely lucid now, and we don’t know how much longer she can hold on.”

“You and Ning Xiao should spend more time with her.” The last time Bai Lian had felt her pulse, the old lady’s vital signs were already very weak.

As they talked, the group said their goodbyes at the entrance.

Wang Youfeng watched as Bai Lian and the others left. He realized he hadn’t asked about Ning Xiao’s grades. “Which university are you aiming for?”

He turned around and asked casually.

Planning to arrange things for Ning Xiao in advance.

Ning Xiao: “Jiangjing University.”

Wang Youfeng: “…Are you serious?”

Although he hadn’t finished middle school, he knew this wasn’t a university just anyone could get into.

** Six in the evening.

Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli arrived at the mountain road.

The mountain road in the north of Xiangcheng was already lit up with colorful lights and flags, despite it being only six o’clock. The viewing platforms on both sides of the starting point had been renovated and were gleaming magnificently.

Motorcycle enthusiasts from various countries gathered in the middle of the road.

This was the second time Bai Lian had seen so many people. She held her phone.

“Young Master Jiang, you’ve arrived.” Xu Nanjing couldn’t make it, so Xiao Bingwen came down with some people to escort Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli to the viewing platform.

The viewing platform had three levels.

The bottom level had seats for regular spectators and media reporters.

The middle level housed monitoring equipment and a huge screen for live projections. Many people below were taking photos of this giant screen with their phones.

The third floor was the VIP room with a small refreshment area in the middle.

Xiao Bingwen led Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli to the viewing deck, instructed people outside to take care of them, then hurriedly left.

Bai Lian saw a balcony and walked over. From there, she could see the cheerleaders below, the huge screen opposite, and the audience on the first floor.

The music and crowd noise below was deafening.

Jiang Fuli stood beside Bai Lian and watched for a while. He leaned slightly against the balcony, looking down, “I thought you weren’t interested in these things.”

“It’s okay,” Bai Lian lazily rested her hands on the balcony, her eyes following a black motorcycle below as her lips curved into a smile. “I’ve watched sometimes.”

Outside, someone knocked – it was Xiao Bingwen’s man, Xiao Yilei: “Young Master Jiang, Miss Bai, here are some refreshments.”

He placed a small plate on the small table on the balcony.

Seeing that Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli had no other requests, he went back down.

Very respectful.

As the sunset faded, the street lights gradually came on, making the entire mountain road as bright as day. The crowd below grew more excited.

Jiang Fuli wasn’t interested in motorcycles. He put his laptop on the table, talking with Bai Lian while looking at his computer.

The friendly race would start at 7:28.

At seven o’clock, after Xu Nanjing and Xiao Bingwen finished receiving people, they finally found time to greet Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli.

Xu Nanjing sat across from Jiang Fuli and drank a large glass of water. “It wasn’t easy. Charles clearly likes this atmosphere – he’s downstairs chatting with the riders.”

Jiang Fuli closed his laptop and discussed business with Xu Nanjing. “Is everything arranged?”

“Don’t you trust me?” Xu Nanjing smiled.

Jiang Fuli didn’t speak, just gave him a faint glance.

Xu Nanjing: “…The physics incident doesn’t count.”

Bai Lian was still lazily leaning on the balcony, listening to English while watching the vehicles below.

Xiao Bingwen stood beside Xu Nanjing, also looking more relaxed.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. Xiao Bingwen went to open it – it was Xiao Yilei, who whispered something in Xiao Bingwen’s ear. Xiao Bingwen’s expression suddenly changed.

“What’s wrong?” Xu Nanjing held his glass and looked over casually.

Xiao Bingwen’s face was grim. “Little Guo went back to Jiangjing.”

Xu Nanjing gripped his glass tightly, his tone dangerous. “Back to Jiangjing? When did he leave?”

“In the afternoon he said he wanted to do another practice run to familiarize himself with the route,” Xiao Bingwen pressed his lips together. “He must have left then.”

“No backup?” Jiang Fuli tapped his fingers on the table, narrowing his eyes.

Xu Nanjing shook his head, looking very unhappy: “Not many people in the club dare to run this route. Besides Little Guo, there’s one other person, but they can’t complete it. I recruited him personally – I didn’t expect him to leave at this time.”

Jiang Fuli’s cool gaze fell on Xu Nanjing. “Know who’s behind it?”

Xu Nanjing tilted his head back and smiled bitterly: “Must be an inside job.”

Because of Xu Jueling’s warning, Xu Nanjing had been very cautious about Xu Jueming, ensuring his route wouldn’t have problems and watching out for people around Charles.

The only thing he hadn’t expected was having a traitor among his own people.

This business was crucial, and Xu Nanjing didn’t think his second uncle would be so foolish. He blamed himself for being too relaxed after everything had gone so smoothly in Xiangcheng, letting his guard down.

Jiang Fuli looked at Bai Lian who was listening to vocabulary words, and lowered his voice, “Let’s talk inside.”

He stood up and went in.

The atmosphere downstairs was high-spirited.

But on the third floor, the room’s atmosphere was very tense.

Jiang Fuli and Xu Nanjing were inside. Xiao Bingwen didn’t dare go in, but his expression wasn’t good either. “I should have kept a closer eye on him.”

“No one expected this.” Xiao Yilei clenched his fists angrily. “That ungrateful Little Guo!”

Bai Lian tilted her head, looking at Jiang Fuli and Xu Nanjing’s backs, and asked Xiao Bingwen, “Is missing one person really that serious?”

How could it not be serious?

This was about building a good relationship between Xu Nanjing and Charles, involving rare metals and international trade. These things might be hard for Bai Lian to understand.

Xiao Bingwen just pressed his brow, holding back his frustration as he explained to Bai Lian: “If this isn’t handled well, it will be even harder for Nanjing in the Xu family. Everyone in the Xu family is watching his every move, and his second uncle is always targeting him.”

Bai Lian took off her earphones and leaned lazily against the balcony, listening to Xiao Bingwen’s explanation.

It was now 7:18, and a staff member knocked on the door. “Third Young Master, Young Master Charles is asking when you’re coming down?”

This question made the room’s atmosphere even more tense.

The race starts at 7:28.

“Xu Jueming must have reported this to Third Young Master’s grandfather,” Xiao Yilei added from the side, then sighed, “If only we had a rider familiar with the route right now.”

Xiangcheng didn’t have a motorcycle club, and the mountain road was complex with few riders. It wouldn’t be easy to find someone like that on such short notice.

After Xiao Yilei finished speaking.

Bai Lian thought for a moment: “Are your standards high?”

She wasn’t professional, but she had run this mountain road with Mao Kun and others. When stressed, she either went to the fighting arena or came here to practice cornering. Xu Nanjing had given her things before – if their standards weren’t too high, she could run a section.

Of course, she wasn’t professional, but she was crazy enough.