ATLAS TRANSLATES

On the other end of the phone, Butler Lou looked up at the curtain before him.

He slowly exhaled.

When he received the manager’s call, he had thought that Ji Shaojun had some important matter that required him to ask for leave. He was calling now to ask if any help was needed.

Only after hearing Ji Shaojun’s explanation did he realize it wasn’t anything major, but rather picking up something for his niece?

Butler Lou found it hard to understand. From what he knew, Ji Shaojun was smart and could prioritize. He shouldn’t be making such a decision.

“You mean you’re taking leave,” Butler Lou interrupted Ji Shaojun, trying to reason with him, “to pick something up for your niece? It’s not easy for the manager to find time to teach you. Is this item… absolutely necessary to get?”

“Ah Lian rarely asks me for anything,” Ji Shaojun explained.

Unable to dissuade him, Butler Lou said, “Alright, come back early then.”

After hanging up, Butler Lou looked towards the curtain, where an elderly voice came from behind, “Ji Shaojun?”

“Yes,” Butler Lou put his phone back in his pocket, one hand on his cane, the other on his chest, head slightly bowed, very respectful: “He took leave to pick up a delivery for his niece. Mr. Ji is actually very intelligent.”

“Mm.” The elderly voice casually responded, saying nothing more.

Didn’t ask what Ji Shaojun went to do, nor who the niece was.

After experiencing Mu Qiong, who in the Mu family dared to call themselves smart? Others couldn’t compare to even a finger of the deceased Young Master Mu Qiong in the old master’s eyes.

Butler Lou kept his head down, and when no further instructions came, he bowed slightly and left silently.

** Chang’an Express Line.

Shen Qing and Ji Shaojun got off the bus. Shen Qing looked at Jiangjiang University across the street, with its ancient-style gate where many people were taking photos. “Are you sure it’s here? Did Ah Lian make a mistake?”

“Don’t know.” Ji Shaojun looked down at his phone, at his chat with Bai Lian, checking again—

[Chang’an District, 556 Jiangjiang Road, First Campus Administrative Building, Room 303, Third Floor]

Below was a phone number.

He took Shen Qing across the street, looked up at the address, confirming it was number 556.

Ji Shaojun rarely messaged Bai Lian—

[Your things are at Jiangjiang University?]

Ah Lian: [Yes]

Ah Lian: [What’s wrong?]

Nothing wrong, Ji Shaojun silently put away his phone and walked to the security gate. The guard checked their IDs and visitor records before warmly letting them in, “Are you two going to the comprehensive building? See that bus stop ahead? Wait for the bus there, get off at the seventh stop…”

Ji Shaojun memorized the directions and walked calmly towards the bus stop, trying to act like this wasn’t his first time in such a place.

Shen Qing held onto Ji Shaojun’s sleeve, swallowing nervously, looking very uneasy at their surroundings.

Jiangjiang University was a place she never dared dream of, nor did she imagine she’d ever enter it. “What does Ah Lian have here?”

Many students passed by, along with some visiting students from other schools. No one paid attention to them looking like country folk visiting the grand mansion. Shen Qing gradually relaxed.

They quickly found the administrative building and reached Room 303.

Room 303 wasn’t large, with a long table in the middle and eight chairs on each side. Currently, five people were organizing documents. A round-faced man came over to ask who Ji Shaojun and Shen Qing were looking for.

Hearing they were here to pick up something for Bai Lian, the round-faced man’s eyes widened, “Are you Bai Jian’s uncle and aunt? Hello uncle, hello aunt.”

The other four people looked over curiously when they heard “Bai Jian.”

The round-faced man shook hands with Ji Shaojun and Shen Qing, invited them in, and poured them tea, “Please wait, my colleague is getting the commemorative item.”

As he spoke, he tried to indirectly ask about Bai Lian.

Ji Shaojun was cautious, always steady, deflecting questions skillfully. The office staff couldn’t get much information, somewhat disappointed.

Ten minutes later, the commemorative item arrived.

He solemnly handed it to Ji Shaojun, “This is Student Bai Jian’s commemorative medal.”

Ji Shaojun looked at the elegant gift box in his hands, decorated with a landscape painting on the outside, with only the character “Liang.”

Not knowing what was inside, but seeing how formal the other party was, he accepted with both hands, “Thank you, comrade.”

“You’re welcome,” the man smiled, looking down at the medal, “This medal isn’t easy to get. Only eight newcomers received it this year, and your niece is the first one not to come collect it in person.”

Hearing this, Ji Shaojun was even more surprised.

He wondered what kind of medal Bai Lian had won.

** End of March, the 31st. Sunday.

Bai Lian returned early from the library. After asking Wen Qi about “Come On, Friend”‘s broadcast channel, she sat in front of the TV with a stack of papers around seven o’clock.

Because there was now a TV at home, Ji Heng had made two new chairs with backrests these past two days, placing them opposite the tea table.

The TV screen wasn’t large, but Ji Heng’s living room wasn’t big either, the distance was just right.

Chen Ju sat near the door, beside him was Ji Heng, next to Ji Heng was Jiang He, and beside Jiang He were Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli.

“What show is on today?” Chen Ju didn’t know what was broadcasting today. He sat beside Ji Heng, both of them peeling peanuts, “Is ‘Da Yong’ starting?”

No, Chen Ju remembered “Da Yong” wouldn’t start until May.

“Yan Lu’s variety show.” Bai Lian listened to the commercials while leisurely turning a page of her paper, holding a pen between her right pinky and ring finger.

Ah, Yan Lu.

Chen Ju remembered this girl; he had handled her case.

Bai Lian’s phone on her leg kept vibrating non-stop.

Class 15’s big group chat.

Wen Qi: [@everyone Pay attention! “Come On, Friend” is about to start!]

Wen Qi: [@everyone Pay attention! “Come On, Friend” is about to start!]

Wen Qi: [@everyone…]

Bai Lian: [Who’s the admin? Remove his permissions]

Within two seconds, Wen Qi’s admin rights were removed.

Wen Qi: […]

Lu Xiaohan: [Ah, baby…]

Bai Lian returned to WeChat. Ji Shaojun’s video call came through. She accepted and pointed the camera towards Ji Heng’s direction.

On the phone.

Ji Shaojun greeted Ji Heng and Chen Ju one by one, seeing Chen Ju still there so late: “Little Chen, why are you all here?”

“Yan Lu’s TV show,” Chen Ju leaned over, explaining to Ji Shaojun, “They’re all here to support Yan Lu.”

Ji Shaojun remembered too, “Right, I’ll watch too.”

He turned on the TV and asked Chen Ju which channel.

Shen Qing didn’t know how to work their TV, so she left it to Ji Shaojun. Just then, the doorbell rang, and she went to answer it – it was Butler Lou and Little Jie.

“Butler Lou.” Shen Qing was always very formal with Butler Lou.

She stepped back to let Butler Lou in.

Butler Lou walked in a couple steps and heard Ji Shaojun calling Little Chen.

“Who’s he talking to?” He was surprised. Besides his students and colleagues, Ji Shaojun rarely had friends. From the name, it wasn’t Bai Lian or Ji Heng.

Shen Qing closed the door and explained, “He’s calling home. Isn’t Ah Lian’s friend’s show starting tonight? Little Chen is at her grandfather’s watching TV, along with Little Jiang and He He…”

As she spoke, Shen Qing started missing home again.

The list of names gave Butler Lou a headache. He raised his hand, gesturing Shen Qing to stop.

Ji Shaojun tuned the TV, smiling, “Alright, the show hasn’t started yet. Also, Ah Lian, should I mail your medal to you?”

“No need,” Bai Lian’s voice came through the wireless, slightly distorted, “I’ll get it during summer break.”

Butler Lou quietly sat on the sofa, putting his cane aside.

Shen Qing said to Butler Lou, “Ah Lian’s medal, it’s very beautiful…”

Butler Lou seemed lost in thought. Hearing this, he only perfunctorily “mmm”ed, obviously not listening to Shen Qing talking about Bai Lian’s medal.

After Ji Shaojun hung up, Butler Lou looked at him, “The basic assessment phase is over, Mr. Ji. Are you ready to change your surname and transfer your household registration?”

Ji Shaojun was also quite silent. His household registration had been transferred out when he married Shen Qing.

These things didn’t matter, but changing his surname…

Little Jie stood beside Butler Lou, “Mr. Ji, after you transfer, you’ll have Jiangjiang household registration, in the Chang’an district.”

So many people wanted Jiangjiang household registration but couldn’t get it.

“I know,” Ji Shaojun nodded, “I’ll discuss it with my father tomorrow and transfer.”

Butler Lou knew Ji Shaojun wouldn’t refuse these things. He discussed some details with Ji Shaojun and prepared for the DNA test.

Eight o’clock.

“Come On, Friend” started broadcasting on TV right on time.

After the opening credits, it showed Yan Lu hosting Mei Yi. The two were okay on the variety show, but both didn’t talk much and had no chemistry. The live comments were direct.

[These two are kind of boring]

[Will the whole episode be like this? Get some industry people]

[There’s still another episode, didn’t the promo video show some students?]

[…]

[What is Yan Lu doing, Master Mei has had all kinds of cakes]

[…]

“Alright,” Butler Lou glanced at the TV screen, showing a group of celebrities he didn’t recognize in a car, seemingly going to travel somewhere in Xiangcheng. He looked away, “Call me when you’ve decided on the time.”

He took his cane and turned to leave, Little Jie following behind.

Just as he left, on the TV screen, the car stopped and a group of people got out.

A middle-aged woman stood straight with an imposing presence: “Hello, I’m Sun Dan.”

[Who is this random person trying to get screen time? Doesn’t even know Yan Lu but trying to get attention]

In Bei City.

At Li Yang’s studio, the manager sighed in relief, “You can tell the effect is really average.”

He turned to look at Li Yang.

Li Yang was looking down at a script, glanced up at the computer once, not saying anything.

The manager smiled, his back relaxing. What he feared most was this variety show becoming a hit, but now it seemed unlikely.

Until he looked at the TV again, just a minute later, the comment trend suddenly changed.

[Wait, Sun Dan???]

[Oh my god, I just checked Thousand Answers, it really is her!!!]

[!!!]

What’s going on? The manager frowned. He quickly took out his phone, opened Thousand Answers, and searched “Sun Dan.” The first page showed her introduction.

The ID photo matched exactly with the person on the TV screen.

The manager read the introduction below and froze.