ATLAS TRANSLATES

Xu Wenyao had seen Bai Lian’s handwriting before. It was neat while maintaining its own style, very beautiful.

“Yes, I remember too,” Xu En nodded.

Old Mrs. Xu finally looked at Ji Mulan with some surprise, calculating something in her mind: “What style of calligraphy did she learn?”

Ji Mulan smiled awkwardly – Bai Lian had never formally studied calligraphy. “Just street style.”

Ji Mulan herself had never seen the formal Guange style.

Street style? Old Mrs. Xu didn’t know much about it but knew it wasn’t very prestigious. She lost interest and turned to look at Xu Zhiyue sitting beside her: “Yueyue, eat more. The college entrance exam is coming up soon. Don’t stress too much. You need to make our Xu family proud, especially if the main family sees you.”

“Madam, Miss Zhiyue ranked second in the monthly exam,” the housekeeper praised from the side.

Ji Mulan also looked at Zhiyue with gentle pride. “Yueyue has always had good grades.”

Second in the nation was equivalent to being the runner-up scholar.

Ji Mulan couldn’t help thinking – if Xu Zhiyue were her daughter, would Bai Qiming still treat them this way?

Old Mrs. Xu was naturally very satisfied with Xu Zhiyue. “I remember Ah Lian is also a senior. How is she doing?”

Bai Lian?

Ji Mulan froze. She hadn’t contacted Bai Lian since she left Jiangjiang.

But Xu Wenyao spoke up, “Ah Lian’s studies are very stable now.”

He had just asked Bai Lian last night. Senior year was stressful – one of Xu Wenyao’s classmates had developed depression, so he always checked on both Bai Lian and Xu Zhiyue’s academic state.

They were both doing fine.

“That’s good.” Old Mrs. Xu nodded, not saying more.

She was just being polite in asking, not really curious about Bai Lian’s grades. They wouldn’t be better than Xu Zhiyue’s anyway.

After dinner.

Old Mrs. Xu took her prayer beads to the Buddhist shrine to pray for Xu Zhiyue’s success in the college entrance exam.

She had done this daily since Xu Zhiyue started senior year. Xu Zhiyue was the new hope of the Xu family.

Beside her, the housekeeper handed her an incense stick. “Don’t worry, Miss Zhiyue has ranked second in several joint exams. This year’s runner-up scholar will definitely be Miss Zhiyue. The old master from that side might even want to meet her.”

“Ancestors bless us,” Old Mrs. Xu quickly bowed three times. “Please let Zhiyue do well in her exam.”

Outside, Ji Mulan and Xu En headed back.

Though they had reconciled with the old lady, they didn’t live in the old mansion.

Xu En hadn’t drunk today, so he sat in the driver’s seat: “Ah Lian is also taking the college entrance exam, right? I want to go see her in two months. Though attending her exam might not be possible, do you want to come with me?”

June.

Ji Mulan instinctively covered her belly. She fastened her seatbelt and looked up. “My father is there. The doctor said my pregnancy is unstable.”

The pregnancy was early, and she was an older mother.

Xiangcheng was too far – after the flight, there were still several hours of driving on poor roads.

If Bai Lian had remained as sweet and excellent as Xu Zhiyue, she might go back, but…

Ji Mulan didn’t want to risk going to Xiangcheng. She didn’t want to address this and changed the subject. “The main family you mentioned earlier is…”

“You know there are circles in Jiangjiang,” Xu En drove out the gate. “Mr. Chen is from the Chen family. You studied history, you should know about the Chen family.”

“Descendants of General Chen Ye?” Ji Mulan was shocked.

“Yes,” Xu En nodded, his gaze very deep. “And our main Xu family is equal to the Chen family, with an unimaginably large clan. We used to be their branch, but we’ve separated from the clan. It’s very difficult to return.”

Xu En sighed.

Ji Mulan looked at the road ahead. In just a few sentences, Xu En had described a world she had never known.

The Xu family, the Chen family…

The next day.

When Bai Lian arrived at the Xingyi Martial Arts School in the evening, a group of boys and girls were lining up at the entrance. They were students planning to take art exams next year, coming to register.

She carried her backpack through the corridor to the back.

In the back courtyard sat a large wooden tub. Jin Kai was throwing medicinal herbs into it.

Xu He stood beside him. Today he wasn’t as cold and aloof as yesterday, instead showing some nervousness.

Seeing Bai Lian, both looked over. “Miss Bai.”

Bai Lian put down her backpack, playing with a white handkerchief in her hand. She stood by the wooden tub and casually asked, “Why were you willing to come to Xiangcheng?”

Logically, Xiangcheng was so remote that people from the northern city wouldn’t want to come.

Xu He never lied. “I was seriously injured and developed chronic illness. My father sent me here… Besides, I don’t want to stay with the Xu family. Miss Bai, please rest assured, I won’t have any ulterior motives.”

His voice was bitter.

Previously, he had been promising in the Xu family. Relatives all thought he could rise up and stand before Old Master Xu, becoming the right-hand man of the next family head.

After his untreatable injury, his father stopped valuing him.

To their family, he was just a dispensable reject.

Bai Lian spread out the handkerchief in her hand. She tilted her head to look at Xu He: “Do you want to be treated?”

Want to be treated?

Xu He was stunned.

Years ago, he had thought about treating his illness. He had visited all major hospitals in Jiangjiang, taken many scans, had much blood drawn. Doctors only prescribed blood-nourishing and qi-tonifying medicines for maintenance.

At first, his father found various famous doctors for him. They all said this was all they could do – the chronic condition could only be gradually nursed.

Xu He himself became disheartened, realizing his condition truly couldn’t be cured.

“I…” Xu He looked at Bai Lian, his throat tight. “Miss Bai, can it be treated?”

“Yes, but it will take time.” Last night, Bai Lian had noticed his unsteady steps, deficient lung qi, and insufficient heart qi.

This was a common chronic condition among old soldiers. She had studied with military doctors before.

The girl before him was exceptionally young. She wore a plain school uniform and held an acupuncture needle. When she looked over, those calm eyes were somehow convincing.

Xu He clenched his fists: “Miss Bai, I’m not afraid of waiting. I can wait ten years.”

Bai Lian was silent. “It won’t take that long.”

She pointed to the stone bench nearby, telling him to sit. “Let me examine you first.”

Xu He placed his hands flat on the stone table.

Bai Lian reached out to take his pulse, lowering her eyes in thought.

Xu He kept nervously watching her expression.

Five minutes later, Bai Lian withdrew her hand. “It’s about what I expected. With medicinal baths and acupuncture, it will heal faster. I’ll give you a needle first.”

She casually rolled up her school uniform sleeves. A few stray hairs fell on her forehead, creating a hint of languor. Her slender fingers held the needle, finding the Zhongxian point on his body.

She inserted needles one by one, with the last one at the Zusi point, supplementing earth to generate metal – in traditional Chinese medicine, treating illness must address the root cause.

“How is it?” Bai Lian stepped back, examining him.

Xu He opened his eyes. “I don’t feel much.”

“Mm.” Bai Lian lazily withdrew her gaze. As long as he could still talk, it was fine.

At least he wasn’t paralyzed.

Outside.

Lu Xiaohan was photographing local customs and people. When Bai Lian came out, she had just put away her camera. “Are you done?”

She walked towards Bai Lian with her camera.

“Not yet,” Bai Lian remembered there were many delivery stations at the street corner for tourists to send local specialties home. “I’m looking for a delivery station.”

“You want to send something?” Lu Xiaohan greeted Old Man Tao at the street corner, then grabbed Bai Lian’s sleeve and led her forward. “It’s here. Which courier do you want to use?”

All kinds of courier stations were here.

Bai Lian followed behind Lu Xiaohan, tilting her head. “Which courier is cheapest?”

“The postal service,” Lu Xiaohan led her to the end, passing SF Express, ZTO and other courier stations, finally stopping at the green postal service station. “It’s the cheapest.”

The postal service had the fewest people, with several couriers inside.

Seeing someone approach, a woman inside put down the package she was holding and walked forward a few steps, her gaze falling on Bai Lian. “Want to send something?”

“Yes.” Bai Lian took out her backpack and pulled out a gold and red invitation. “Just this.”

The woman took it – it was an invitation.

She didn’t pay much attention, just bent down and casually found a box that wasn’t too damaged. “Miss, can I use this to send it?”

Bai Lian wasn’t picky. “Sure.”

The other party then had Bai Lian fill out a form.

On the courier slip, afraid others couldn’t read clearly, Bai Lian wrote very neatly. After writing, she handed it to the other party.

The woman took it and was stunned by the formal Guange style handwriting. She couldn’t help looking up at Bai Lian again, then noticed the address: “This is being sent to… Jiangjiang?”

“Yes.” Bai Lian nodded. Xu Nangui had said he wouldn’t come back this time.

The woman didn’t ask more about others’ privacy. She efficiently packed it up, worried the invitation would be damaged, she even carefully wrapped it in a layer of plastic film. “9 yuan.”

Bai Lian smoothly scanned the code.

Lu Xiaohan watched the woman pack from the side. When Bai Lian finished paying and went out, she hesitantly asked Bai Lian: “What you just sent, why did it look like what good people use to play ping pong?”

When Zhang Shize had passed around Bai Lian’s invitation before, Lu Xiaohan remembered it clearly.

The wind blew, bringing some coolness. Bai Lian played with her phone, her tone lazy. “About the same.”

“500,000 yuan?” Lu Xiaohan’s voice changed pitch, her whole person a bit disheveled: “You just sent it so casually?”

Didn’t even insure it?

Bai Lian: “…”

There was also the possibility it was worth 2 million.

Lu Xiaohan immediately turned back to the courier shop.

Bai Lian’s phone rang. She looked down – it was Wang Xin’s call.

She answered.

Wang Xin called to thank Bai Lian. “Miss Bai, thank you so much this time. I’m planning to bring Yan Lu into the crew. We need to sign confidentiality agreements this time, so we won’t be able to contact you often.”

Yan Lu’s popularity had remained high these past few days. Wang Xin hadn’t waited for Dayong to broadcast – she had already found several quality scripts for her.

Bai Lian listened while watching Lu Xiaohan. She thought Lu Xiaohan would cancel the delivery.

Unexpectedly, Lu Xiaohan’s remedy was—

Wrapping it with two more layers of film.

Bai Lian silently withdrew her gaze, turning to look outside at the bustling traffic. Her voice was casual: “Alright, I’ll give the last song to Dean Jian tomorrow. I won’t be releasing new songs for a while.”

Wang Xin paused. “You are…”

The streetlight lit up nearby. Bai Lian reached out to catch some of the light that leaked through, saying lazily: “I need to focus on preparing for the college entrance exam.”

Right, Bai Lian was also a senior.

Wang Xin remembered hot search #14 – netizens had mythologized Ning Xiao, fourteenth place in the national exam.

But she remembered clearly that #14 was Ning Xiao’s account, and Ning Xiao—

At that time was asking Bai Lian about the questions!