ATLAS TRANSLATES

While they were talking, Xu En sat to the side and looked down at his phone.

It showed his WeChat conversation where he had sent Bai Lian several messages asking about her college entrance exam and when she would come to Jiangjing.

But she hadn’t replied.

Listening to Xu Wenyao and Xu Zhiyue’s conversation, he clicked on Bai Lian’s profile picture and sent another message—

Xu En: [Even Zhiyue and the others said this exam was difficult. Don’t take it too hard if you didn’t do well. Students from the affiliated school didn’t do well either]

Xu En: [#@!%…]

He sent a long string of comforting words.

“Nothing major happened at our school,” Xu Zhiyue put down her pencil case. She spoke slowly and quietly. “The students in our class are all discussing this. Many didn’t do well.”

“That’s strange,” Xu Wenyao narrowed his eyes slightly. “Why were the questions so far beyond the standard this year?”

If the questions were too difficult, the exam committee must have consulted experts, so—

Why did the expert panel go to such lengths? When Old Madam Xu first heard Xu Zhiyue say the exam was difficult, her heart skipped a beat.

But after hearing that others also found it difficult, the old lady relaxed. “Don’t worry about whether the questions were too hard or not. As long as Zhiyue performed normally, that’s fine.”

Normal performance meant at least top three.

At the hotpot restaurant in Xiangcheng.

When Bai Lian saw Xu En’s messages, Lu Xiaohan was ordering food beside her.

She had been discussing the last math question with Ning Xiao and Tang Ming, so she hadn’t checked her phone.

Now looking at it, there were lots of messages. She read Xu En’s texts from top to bottom.

Bai Lian: [Difficult?] Bai Lian: [.] Bai Lian: [Going to Jiangjing in July]

She replied to Xu En one message at a time.

“Sister Lian, stop looking at your phone,” Wen Qi sat across from Bai Lian and tossed her a bottle of beer. “Come drink.”

Bai Lian had one hand on her phone and didn’t look up, but precisely caught the beer.

Wen Qi often brought mineral water for Bai Lian, Lu Xiaohan, Ning Xiao and others during breaks, so they were quite familiar.

Beside Ning Xiao, the outsider Tang Ming saw this scene for the first time and mumbled: “So cool.”

Lu Lingxi had booked two private rooms. Most of the class was of legal age now. With the college entrance exam over, she rarely ordered alcohol for the class. “Don’t drink too much everyone, safety first.”

As she spoke, her gaze fell on Bai Lian.

Seeing Wen Qi pass Bai Lian beer, Lu Lingxi was about to stop it, but saw Bai Lian calmly pull the tab open with one hand.

Bai Lian put down her phone, rested her wrist on the table, and lazily leaned back in her chair, her long legs tapping slightly.

She wore an elegant traditional Chinese dress, but now sat with crossed legs drinking beer unhurriedly.

Her beautiful eyes looked gentle, like someone who had stepped out of an ink painting, elegant and mysterious yet with a hint of rebelliousness that made her hard to figure out.

Every movement was graceful and captivating.

The room’s lights were on, the crystal chandelier glaring. Lu Lingxi felt somewhat dazed watching this scene.

It felt like this was the Bai Lian she knew, but also not the Bai Lian she understood.

“Teacher Lu?” Noticing the stare, Bai Lian turned her head slightly and lazily curved her lips. “Teacher Lu, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Lu Lingxi shook her head with a smile. With the exam over, she really shouldn’t pressure the students, but she couldn’t help asking, “How did you do on the Chinese exam?”

After asking, Lu Lingxi stared at Bai Lian’s expression.

Bai Lian gently swirled her beer glass. “Not bad.”

She was as casual as ever. Lu Lingxi couldn’t read anything from her eyes, so she didn’t ask further. “Everyone have fun. We’ll talk about everything else after the exam results come out.”

On the ninth, Dragon Boat Festival.

After having lunch with Ji Shaojun and others at Ji Heng’s place, Ji Shaojun needed to rush to North City – his flight was that evening.

The person coming to take Ji Shaojun to North City was Xiao Jie.

Seeing Bai Lian also sitting in the car, Xiao Jie recognized her and after a pause, quietly asked, “Mr. Ji, is Miss Bai also going to Jiangjing?”

The butler had arranged the tickets.

Only three were bought – for Ji Shaojun, Shen Qing, and Xiao Jie.

“No,” Ji Shaojun sat in the passenger seat, taking out a cigarette. His gaze still on Qingshui Street, he said casually: “She’s coming with us to North City.”

North City? Xiao Jie breathed a sigh of relief. If Bai Lian was going to Jiangjing with them now, he wouldn’t know how to arrange it.

But North City…

He started the car and glanced in the rearview mirror, wondering why Bai Lian was going to North City.

In the back seat, Bai Lian only opened her instrument case, took out the guzheng, and casually plucked a few strings, making it ring “zheng zheng.”

Jian Zhe and Chou Xuezheng had already taken several Xiangcheng Calligraphers Association teachers and formal instructors to North City before the college entrance exam. She had to go later because of the exam.

Jiang He stayed at Ji Heng’s place in Xiangcheng. Jiang Fuli was delayed by accompanying research at the institute and was still there.

The highway from Xiangcheng to North City had been renovated. Xiao Jie drove onto the highway and chatted with Ji Shaojun, “When was this road fixed? It’s much better to drive on than before.”

In just four months, he clearly felt Xiangcheng had changed during this visit.

The roads were wider, shopping malls and residential developments had sprung up, and the population flow rivaled second-tier cities.

“Good policies.” Ji Shaojun watched Qingshui Street grow more distant, his voice very deep.

Xiao Jie didn’t say anything more.

This highway went straight to North City. In less than seven hours, Xiao Jie’s car arrived in North City. “Miss Bai, where would you like to go?”

Bai Lian gave an address – a hotel name.

Xiao Jie drove there.

North City Jiahao Hotel.

As the car stopped, Bai Lian’s phone rang.

Bai Lian looked down – it was Dean Jian. While packing away her instrument, she answered the phone.

“You’re in North City?” Dean Jian was very well-informed.

“Yes.” Bai Lian got out with her instrument case, her voice lazy.

Dean Jian made a sound of acknowledgment. “You’ve finished your exam too. Remember you owe Yan Lu a composition. My flight is tomorrow.”

“I have some ideas. I’ll tell you more when you arrive.” Bai Lian was bursting with inspiration after just finishing the college entrance exam.

While she talked with Dean Jian, behind her, Xiao Jie opened the trunk and took out Bai Lian’s small suitcase to hand to her. Her suitcase was a bit heavy – he needed both hands to lift it.

“Thanks.” Bai Lian reached out to take it.

Shen Qing reluctantly said goodbye to Bai Lian, and after getting in the car, still lowered the window to watch Bai Lian standing at the hotel entrance.

Only after Bai Lian disappeared from the rearview mirror did Xiao Jie ask curiously, “Is Miss Bai writing songs for someone?”

He had heard Bai Lian mention composing.

“I don’t know,” Shen Qing wasn’t sure. “But Mr. Jian said she has great talent.”

Mr. Jian?

Who was that?

Xiao Jie hadn’t heard them mention him before.

Jiahao Hotel was a national five-star hotel chain. It was also where the Xiangcheng Calligraphers Association had booked rooms this time, very close to North City Calligraphers Association headquarters.

Bai Lian carried her instrument in one hand while a hotel employee helped push her suitcase, leading her to her room.

The two waited for the elevator.

The nearest elevator came down from the second floor. The hotel’s second floor had restaurants and banquet halls. Having just finished the college entrance exam yesterday, many classes chose to have gatherings here.

In the elevator were two men and a woman.

“Young Master Song isn’t coming,” the male student shrugged. He was the class president of North City First High’s international class. “You know, in our class only Bai Shaoqi could invite him, but Shaoqi has something today and can’t come.”

Beside him, the crew-cut student rubbed his head. “I heard Young Master Song didn’t do well on math this time.”

“Even if a top student does poorly, they’re still first,” the girl played with her phone, speaking casually. “Besides, with those insane questions, even the homeroom teacher said it was hard. Who could do well?”

As they spoke, the elevator doors opened with a “ding.”

For an instant, it seemed to brighten.

Outside the elevator stood a girl in a plain long dress, her hair half pulled back, casually holding a long case.

Her other hand played with her phone, seemingly texting someone.

Seeing people inside, the girl moved aside. As she moved, strands of hair fell at her temples.

The three students in the elevator were stunned. The girl in the middle exclaimed in disbelief: “Bai Lian?”

Hearing her name, Bai Lian looked up. She looked at the girl and squinted slightly, remembering that the girl was Xu Yi, the study representative from Class 2 of North City High School’s senior year.

Class 2 was a liberal arts class, also where the original Bai Lian had spent two years.

Bai Lian glanced at them without speaking, just moved aside slightly to walk into the elevator.

After the elevator doors closed.

The two male students beside Xu Yi finally reacted. They were from the international class and had only interacted with Bai Lian for one day, but because Bai Lian often came to find Song Min in the international class, they were quite familiar with her.

Kong Yifan, the international class president, came to his senses. “Was that just Bai Lian? I feel like she’s changed a lot…”

“I heard she was in Xiangcheng? Why is she back?” The crew-cut student sneered when he heard it was Bai Lian. “Wonder if she can even test into North City.”

“Good thing she left our class, otherwise she would have dragged down our 100% college admission rate.”

“…”

The news of Bai Lian’s arrival in North City spread through the Class 2 and international class group chats.

At the Bai family home.

Bai Shaoqi had just finished the college entrance exam yesterday. The Bai clan patriarch had come early to discuss opening the ancestral hall with Bai Qiming.

If Bai Shaoqi alone had gotten into Jiangjing University, the clan might not have made such a big deal. But having two talents from one family was truly rare – the clan patriarch thought very highly of Bai Shaoqi.

The Bai family originated from scholars and always valued those who achieved academic success or made national contributions. Bai Qiming went into business, so he didn’t make much impact in the Bai clan.

Only after Bai Shaoke did the clan start paying attention to Bai Qiming’s branch.

With the patriarch visiting today, Bai Qiming also prepared a feast.

He specially invited Song Min and his parents from the Song family.

At the dinner table, the clan patriarch discussed Bai Shaoqi and Bai Shaoke with Bai Qiming. “Dean Jian – is that the old gentleman from the Jian family?”

Hearing Bai Qiming mention Dean Jian, the clan patriarch was surprised.

The Jian family also had a long history in North City – they were truly a scholarly family and had some connection with the clan patriarch. He knew Jian Zhongyou was an important national cultural heritage inheritor who served as both Director of Jiangjing Cultural Bureau and Dean of Jiangjing Music Academy.

He represented the nation’s cultural heritage.

In the past, he would have been honored like a king or noble and enjoyed offerings in the imperial ancestral temple.

Unfortunately, the Jian family still hadn’t been able to invite him back.

If the Bai family had such a person, the clan patriarch would worship them.

“Yes,” Bai Qiming looked at Bai Shaoqi beside him. “Shaoqi not only excels in academics but also has quite an achievement in guzheng. Shaoke said Dean Jian might come to North City soon. I want Shaoqi to work harder and seize this opportunity.”

The clan patriarch’s gaze at Bai Shaoqi grew increasingly amazed. “Indeed must work hard.”

“These two children are excellent. Mr. Song, your Song family is about to produce a top scholar too.” The clan patriarch looked at Song Min beside Bai Shaoqi.

Song’s father smiled and raised his glass to the patriarch. “Not necessarily. This child said he didn’t do well in math.”

“The math was hard this time, no one could do well,” Bai Shaoqi looked at Song Min reassuringly. “My brother said it was difficult.”

Bai Shaoke was at Jiangjing University and last year’s top scholar, so his assessment was very authoritative.

Just then, Song Min beside them suddenly froze while looking at his phone, his spoon hitting his bowl with a loud clang.

People at the table looked over at him. Madam Song lowered her voice, “What’s wrong?”

Song Min looked up, dazed: “Bai Lian is back in North City.”

He was the only one who knew that Bai Lian could do mathematical modeling with He Wen – how had she done on the math exam?

The smile at Shaoqi’s lips slightly froze.

At the mention of Bai Lian, Bai Qiming frowned.

The patriarch didn’t know that Bai Qiming and the grand uncle had removed Bai Lian’s name for the sake of the Bai Shaoqi siblings.

The clan patriarch heard the name “Bai” and asked puzzled: “Who is Bai Lian? Someone from our Bai family?”

The Bai family butler poured wine for the patriarch and explained: “She’s the eldest young miss born to the former madam. Sir previously sent her to the international class…”

Bai Qiming’s expression soured again at hearing this.

The butler spoke vaguely.

The clan patriarch understood – this Bai Lian was moved from the international class to the liberal arts class because she was so poor at science that the international class teacher couldn’t stand it anymore.