ATLAS TRANSLATES

“Go ahead and film.” Xiao Wu took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, casually pulled one out, and beckoned to the two cameramen.

The director and cameramen heard that casual tone similar to “eat, go ahead and eat” at the dining table.

“Mr. Xiao Wu,” Mei Yi finally came to his senses. With gentle features, he tried to politely shift his gaze away from the gun holster on that person’s knee, “Can we… film freely here?”

Would they suddenly draw their guns?

“No need to call me mister,” Xiao Wu wasn’t used to such formality. He enthusiastically introduced himself: “I’m Black Water Street.Nicholas.Street Fighter.Mao Wu.”

All self-given titles.

The frightened director rarely showed a confused expression.

“Just film those two properly,” Xiao Wu had consulted Mao Kun. He bit down on his cigarette and patted the director’s shoulder like a good buddy, “People here aren’t fussy about details. As long as you don’t film their faces up close, it’s generally fine. See over there? The street side is the cultural street, you can film whatever you want.”

Xiao Wu said it so casually, but with each shot, the director shrunk a bit shorter.

Film faces up close? Did he look like someone who dared to even look at them twice? Filming faces up close was giving themselves too much credit.

As the saying goes, since we’re already here…

The director had the two cameramen turn on their cameras. The two tremblingly hoisted up their cameras and carefully followed behind Yan Lu and Mei Yi.

The director and Xiao Wu walked outside the frame. It was still a while to the fighting arena, and Yan Lu and Mei Yi were also under a lot of pressure.

The two walked into a local shop. The owner sat lazily in the back, the room filled with all sorts of items – bows and arrows, knives, climbing ropes… everything.

Seeing the cameras, the owner’s eyes narrowed. He was about to stand up but noticed Xiao Wu beside the cameras. His gaze lingered on his black clothes for a moment before lazily sitting back down.

After filming some local customs and culture, the group finally arrived at the fighting arena through a long, narrow alley.

Along the way, many people curiously watched the production crew with their cameras.

But this street had all sorts of people. You never knew if someone was carrying a pinhole camera or chewing gum bombs. Those openly carrying cameras—

Looked foolish and harmless.

Of course, this was because they saw Xiao Wu and recognized him as someone from the Blue Dragon Bar, so they treated it as entertainment.

The production crew finally realized there was no danger, and everyone started to relax.

Through winding paths, they finally saw the semicircular fighting arena, with a huge stone carving of fighting figures in the middle, and a poster of a masked person hanging on the right.

Two rows of black-skinned, burly men stood at the entrance, with obvious knives and guns in their knee pads, eagle-like eyes, and an aura of bloodthirst. The director, thinking about how yesterday he had called such a place asking for publicity—

He pinched his philtrum.

“What’s wrong?” Xiao Wu put his hands in his pockets and tilted his head curiously at the director.

Director: “Mr. Black Water Street.Nicholas.Street Fighter.Mao Wu, have the people here ever…”

He made a slicing motion across his neck.

Xiao Wu nodded, “They’re all mercenaries, of course they have. No need to call me mister.”

What mercenary hasn’t tasted blood on blade tips?

It’s over, the director swallowed. Would they track him down?

** Qingshui Bridge.

Bai Lian watched Xiao Wu take Yan Lu and the others inside before heading back.

Originally these people had planned to buy extra tickets with money, but now forget about spending money – they didn’t even have the courage to stand at the entrance. When Bai Lian left, they all followed.

They had come noisily together, but now were silent.

Everyone simultaneously took out their phones to search “Black Water Street.” There wasn’t much information online about Black Water Street, no formal introduction, and most people who mentioned the name were very secretive about it.

Actually, there was no need to search. Just seeing that border and the people guarding the entrance, they could tell this wasn’t a place for ordinary people.

Bai Lian walked at the front of the group. She took out her bluetooth earphones and put them on, starting to play her audiobook.

He Wen happened to message her at this time.

They were both highly intelligent and had become friends online. He Wen especially would vent to Bai Lian about things he didn’t dare tell others.

He Wen: [Boss, are you also in Xiangcheng?]

He Wen usually respectfully called Bai Lian “Big Boss,” later learning to be concise, it became just “Boss.”

Bai Lian had told him her name, but he never changed it, continuing to use “Boss.”

Later Bai Lian got tired of explaining and let him call her whatever he wanted.

Bai Lian typed with one hand – she was proficient at typing now but still kept responses brief—

[1]

He Wen: [I got time off, and got a huge bonus for New Year’s. Do you have time to meet? Let me treat you to a meal]

He Wen: [Also about the recent papers]

The research world only had these few big events. He Wen had discussed with his group members, but some things could only be understood by those on the same wavelength. When Jiang Fuli initially introduced Bai Lian to He Wen, it was because he felt they both had natural talents in mathematics.

Bai Lian: [1]

After replying to He Wen, she switched back to her reading app.

Sister Xin walked on Bai Lian’s left.

She was the only one who seemed relatively composed, after all, she had been truly involved in Zhang Shize’s case. From Chi Yundai to Bai Lian, everyone who appeared was extraordinary.

The group said goodbye on the road outside Qingshui Street.

After Bai Lian’s figure disappeared at the alley entrance, Mei Yi’s manager came over. He looked at the alley entrance, his rapidly beating heart still not calmed down, “Sister Xin, who is Teacher Yan Lu’s friend?”

One sentence with two honorifics.

Mei Yi’s manager had even started calling her “Teacher Yan Lu.”

“Yan Lu is still a newcomer,” Sister Xin smiled helplessly, correcting Mei Yi’s manager’s form of address, “Just call her Little Lu. Don’t worry, tonight’s schedule for Yan Lu and Teacher Mei won’t be boring at all.”

Sister Xin didn’t say anything more.

Mei Yi’s manager nodded, seeing that Sister Xin didn’t want to say more, he didn’t continue asking.

On their way here they had thought this place was too run-down, but now as night fell, the bright street lights cast a mysterious atmosphere over these old buildings.

Mei Yi’s manager had actually noticed that Yan Lu and Sister Xin were too respectful towards Bai Lian, not like ordinary friends.

There were rumors in the industry about whether Yan Lu had some big shot backing her, but in an industry that almost had no secrets, no one knew who was behind her. Later everyone just accepted that Yan Lu was probably just lucky.

But now…

Mei Yi’s manager withdrew his gaze from the alley. He realized that Yan Lu really did have someone backing her.

He returned to the roadside and sat in the crew’s car to wait for Yan Lu and Mei Yi to finish recording the show.

** Ji Heng’s courtyard.

Ning Xiao had just finished a problem when he received Wang Youfeng’s message saying he was at the intersection.

Ji Heng happened to hand the thermos to Ning Xiao and suggested: “Why don’t you invite your uncle to join us for dinner?”

“He’s busy, needs to go back to check on my grandmother.” Ning Xiao politely declined for Wang Youfeng. Wang Youfeng had a bad temper and was fierce, Ning Xiao had only introduced Bai Lian and the others to him out of necessity.

After speaking, he took the thermos and went out.

Outside at the corner, Wang Youfeng was standing under the street light making a phone call.

Seeing Ning Xiao, he waved him over.

Ning Xiao silently handed the thermos to Wang Youfeng. Wang Youfeng hung up the phone, took the thermos, and raised his eyebrows at Ning Xiao, “Not bad, going to classmates’ homes to eat and take things.”

He spoke rudely, and Ning Xiao rarely paid attention to it.

Wang Youfeng carried the thermos back to Grandmother Wang’s courtyard. Grandmother Wang sat on a chair in the courtyard, looking down at a yellowed notebook.

She wasn’t in good spirits, occasionally coughing a couple times.

Wang Youfeng’s heart was heavy, but his face showed a smile, “Mom, look, that kid went to his classmate’s house and brought you fish soup,” he said as he unscrewed the lid, “I must say, it smells good. I’ll go pour you a bowl!”

He went to the kitchen to get a bowl.

Hearing that Ning Xiao went to eat at a classmate’s house, Grandmother Wang also smiled happily, “He has many friends now, this puts my mind at ease.”

** Fighting Arena.

The place was packed. Xiao Bingwen and Xu Nanjing sat in the front row watching the exciting fight.

Charles sat on his right, while Xiao Bingwen sat on Xu Nanjing’s left.

During the intermission, Xu Nanjing was sending messages in the group chat.

Xu Nanjing: [@Ming Dongheng I couldn’t get it]

White Tank Top had a match today, and official autographed photos were being sold again. Ming Dongheng had asked Xu Nanjing to try to get one, but Xu Nanjing hadn’t succeeded.

“Why didn’t Mr. Ming come today?” Xiao Bingwen withdrew his gaze and leaned back, very confused.

White Tank Top had reached the top, and fighting opportunities were rare. For such a rare opportunity, Xu Nanjing and Xiao Bingwen had both joined the crowd, yet Ming Dongheng didn’t come?

“He left with Young Master Jiang,” Xu Nanjing rubbed his chin, eyes narrowing, “Reportedly going fishing with Sister Bai Lian’s grandfather.”

As for why he would rather go fishing than watch White Tank Top’s match, Xu Nanjing hadn’t figured that out either.

Fishing?

Since when did they like fishing? Moreover, for Ming Dongheng, fishing was actually more important than White Tank Top’s match?

“How’s Professor Huang’s matter going?” After replying to the message, Xu Nanjing ignored Ming Dongheng’s ellipsis and slightly turned his head, “With the rare metals secured, hasn’t he talked to you all?”

Xiao Bingwen waved his hand. The arena was hot, so he took off his jacket, very helpless, “You know how stubborn these researchers are.”

“Try a different approach, like the legendary Liang Wuyu, and that He Wen.” Xu Nanjing lazily crossed his legs, scanning the people in the arena, “If you could invite them, it would be profitable. Liang Wuyu is still early, but you know where He Wen is.”

No labs in the country could compare to two people’s – Jiang Fuli and Director Ma.

He Wen was in the top ten historically on the app, even Professor Huang couldn’t match him. Given enough time, his achievements might compare to Director Ma’s. Jiang Fuli really had an eye for talent.

No one had expected He Wen, who had been bullied by his advisor and had his papers stolen, would have such high talent.

Who wouldn’t want to recruit someone who could potentially rival Director Ma in the future?

But He Wen was also clever. He knew he couldn’t offend any family, so he directly joined Jiang Fuli’s research institute and went into seclusion.

No one could contact him.

“I dare not try to poach Liang Wuyu from the Chen family,” Xiao Bingwen paused, sighing: “As for He Wen… you know, who can find him?”

Jiang Fuli’s lab had all signed confidentiality agreements.

This was true. Last time when Xu Nanjing asked Jiang Fuli about Director Ma’s matter, Jiang Fuli had brushed it off in a few words.

Jiang Fuli never favored any side. Everyone had to rely on their own abilities to get his people. Even when the Gao family tried to use connections to get into Jiang Fuli’s lab, they were rejected without mercy.

“Forget it, wait for him to open a back door,” Xu Nanjing was also speechless, “That would be like snow in June.”

Speaking of this, he suddenly fell into an odd silence…

All rules were made for people you don’t like, but… what if it was Bai Lian?