ATLAS TRANSLATES

“Let’s not talk about such things today.” Bai Qiming raised his glass to the Bai clan leader and the Song family.

“You already have two talented children, you should let your ancestors rest a bit.” The Bai clan leader wasn’t very interested in her and didn’t ask further. “How did you find out about Dean Jian’s news? Are you familiar with the Jian family?”

Young ladies, after all, were female.

Generally, women couldn’t be recorded in their clan genealogy. Back then, Bai Lian was only added because Bai Qiming had specially requested permission from the clan.

“It wasn’t us, it was Shao Ke.” When mentioning Bai Shao Ke, Bai Qiming’s smile was evident. “He’s good friends with Young Master Jian Rong from the Jian family.”

The Jian family of North City had always kept their distance from merchants.

Though Bai Qiming had made plenty of money, his Bai family’s heritage wasn’t long. While they had a strong reputation in North City, they couldn’t compare to families with such deep roots, let alone when Jian Zhonghai had such an extraordinary brother.

“I knew Shao Ke wasn’t ordinary,” the clan leader’s eyes lit up, and he paused before continuing, “After the scores are out, set a time to return to the clan and add Shao Yi to the genealogy too.”

Later, when Bai Shao Ke returned, he was directly added to the genealogy, but Bai Shao Yi never was.

Even if Bai Shao Yi got into Jianjing University, she was still a bit short of qualifying for the genealogy. But her brother was already making achievements at Jianjing University. Back then, Bai Shao Ke had grown up with his mother and received limited resources, yet still managed to become North City’s top scholar. In a resource-rich environment like Jianjing University, he would only get better.

Future graduate school and doctoral studies were just a matter of time.

Hearing the clan leader’s words, Bai Qiming finally smiled, “Shao Yi, quickly toast to the clan leader!”

With the clan leader’s words, Bai Qiming felt the next clan leadership might fall to him.

Beside him, Bai Shao Yi also breathed a sigh of relief and stood up.

Others at the table remained silent. Madam Song only glanced at Song Min. Bai Lian had left the Bai family for nearly a year, and now right after the college entrance exam, why would she return at this time?

After dinner, Bai Qiming saw the clan leader off before turning to the Bai family butler, “Has she returned?”

The butler knew who “she” referred to: “No.”

Bai Qiming frowned, not mentioning Bai Lian further, “Did the young master say anything else?”

“That Dean Jian,” the butler recalled, “is coming to attend North City’s National Style Music Concert, an official event confirmed last month.”

“Music concert?” Bai Qiming was surprised that Dean Jian would specifically come to North City for this. “Go reserve some tickets.”

“Everyone knows Dean Jian is coming, tickets might not be available for sale. I’ll try to have someone look for them.” The butler checked the schedule, “For the young miss’s banquet, should we still book Mingtai Mountain Villa?”

Many Bai family banquets were held at Mingtai Mountain Villa.

Both Bai Lian and Bai Shao Yi’s previous birthday celebrations were held there, though it wasn’t considered North City’s most luxurious venue.

Bai Qiming paused briefly, “This time, at Jiahao. I’ll go tomorrow.”

Jiahao Hotel, a global chain hotel, was North City’s top luxury venue for banquets, where political and business elites often held their evening gatherings.

Booking the banquet floor cost six times more than Mingtai Mountain Villa. Even Bai Shao Ke’s top scholar celebration was held there.

The butler was surprised that Bai Qiming would choose this. He lowered his eyes, thinking how Bai Shao Yi’s status in the Bai family was different now.

Being added to the genealogy, with a celebration banquet at Jiahao.

While even if Bai Lian returned to North City, Bai Qiming hadn’t thought about meeting her.

The butler let out a long breath, feeling his earlier choice had been correct – he’d backed the right side.

He then went to the kitchen to prepare a plate of fruit and desserts for Bai Shao Yi to send upstairs.

At the hotel.

The room was booked by Chou Xuezheng, a small suite with a living room and bedroom. It wasn’t very large. After arriving, Bai Lian took a shower first.

The phone on the table outside rang.

She tied her bathrobe’s belt and walked out with a towel to answer the phone. The room’s curtains were closed, and she casually leaned against the table.

Picking up the phone, she saw it was Xu Nanjing.

“Sister Bai Lian, today is Dragon Boat Festival.” Xu Nanjing’s voice carried a smile.

Bai Lian’s thoughts returned to the present as she leisurely dried her hair, “Mm.”

Xu Nanjing listened to her tone, trying to gauge her mood. He was usually good at reading people, but with Bai Lian, he was a bit uncertain and could only probe: “The college entrance exam is over.”

He wasn’t a current student and hadn’t paid much attention to the exam, just remembered Bai Lian was taking it this year.

Most people who followed the college entrance exam either had children or relatives participating. Most working adults only paid attention when they came across related videos.

Xu Nanjing had timed it well to wish her luck before the exam and check on her afterward, wanting to know how she did.

But even with indirect questions, he couldn’t get much out of her. She always maintained that lazy demeanor, rarely showing emotion.

“Yes.” Bai Lian casually dried her hair a few times, then found a remote to turn on the TV.

Hearing the TV sound, Xu Nanjing guessed she must have done okay, so he smiled: “When are you coming to Jianjing?”

Recently, everyone contacting Bai Lian loved asking this question. Bai Lian changed channels: “July, not sure exactly when.”

The hotel TV seemed different from home, everything required membership.

Bai Lian tried several channels, all the same.

She tossed the remote aside.

“July?” Xu Nanjing calculated the time – the old master’s birthday was in July, if she came early she should make it. “Alright, I’ll wait for you in Jianjing.”

After hanging up, Bai Lian opened WeChat to ask Jiang Fuli.

Student Bai: [[Image]]

Student Bai: [?]

She was now very proficient with the 26-key keyboard but still preferred being concise.

On the other end of the phone.

Today was Dragon Boat Festival, half the research institute staff had gone home, but Jiang Fuli was still busy. When he saw the message, it was already ten minutes later.

His left hand held a record book, his right hand writing line after line on it.

The writing flowed like clouds and water.

Walking toward his office, his radiation protection coat created an arc behind him.

Reaching his desk, he casually put the record book down. His expression was aloof, not even looking at the middle-aged man following him, just picking up his phone, “No quota.”

Young Master Jiang had always been lazy about appeasing anyone, whether in the lab or in the Jiang family.

He controlled the decision-making power, and trying to place people under him was nearly impossible.

Even the Gao family had to swallow this bitter pill.

The middle-aged man’s face fell, yet he had to keep smiling. There was no choice – this person couldn’t be controlled. Though he was immersed in scientific research, even before being recommended to Jianjing University, he had already gotten the Jiang family well in hand. The Jiang family now feared Jiang Xiju.

But which old fox in that circle didn’t know whose person Jiang Xiju was?

The Chen and Xu families were desperate to arrange marriages with the Jiang family, but couldn’t even get a meeting.

The middle-aged man walked out, closing the door behind him, taking one last look inside before leaving.

At the desk, the man lowered his head to look at his phone, fingers tapping the desk. Though his lowered eyes didn’t reveal his expression, he somehow seemed more approachable.

Jiang Fuli was unusually silent. Looking at Bai Lian’s message, he tapped the screen, forcing himself to stay calm—

[It’s just the hotel, don’t worry about it]

He waited for a while, but Bai Lian didn’t reply. Young Master Jiang switched out somewhat dejectedly, only to see several messages below, including two from Xu Nanjing.

Asking if he was coming back for summer break.

Jiang Fuli: [Yes]

This single word made Xu Nanjing, who was at a club in Jianjing, suddenly stand up.

“What’s wrong, Third Young Master?” Beside him, Xia Ximing was very surprised – what could make Xu Nanjing so shocked.

Xu Nanjing just glanced at him, “It’s nothing.”

After a while, he clicked his tongue: “I knew it.”

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In recent years, Jiang Fuli had been immersed in scientific research, rarely involving himself in outside matters. The Jianjing circle knew of such a person, but few could actually meet him. In all these years, only Old Master Chen could see him a few times.

He was a nationally protected figure, holding several important projects.

This summer was his grandfather’s birthday, but no one expected Jiang Fuli to show up. However, Xu Nanjing knew Bai Lian was coming to Jianjing, so in the future…

Xu Nanjing thought, Young Master Jiang might likely become a regular resident in Jianjing.

The next day.

Bai Lian woke up before six, the hotel had good soundproofing. After washing up, she first opened the curtains.

She took out a printed paper from her suitcase and went to the balcony to read.

The paper was written by Academician Ma himself, a newly written analysis document, all in English with many new terms. Bai Lian put the document on the glass table on the balcony, her wrist pressing it down, occasionally marking something on the literature.

After the college entrance exam, she hadn’t continued with chemistry and biology, would still listen to English, but mostly studied new physics and mathematics problems.

At seven, someone rang the doorbell.

Bai Lian took the document and opened the door. Outside was a middle-aged man and a hotel staff member. The middle-aged man saw Bai Lian and smiled: “Miss Bai, good morning, I’m Xie Zhongfei, here to deliver your breakfast.”

The hotel had a breakfast buffet, and last night Jian Zhongyou had told Bai Lian to have breakfast on the 22nd floor at seven.

Bai Lian responded with a “morning” and looked down at the cart.

Besides breakfast, there was a purple clay teapot. Bai Lian reached out to pour a cup into the white porcelain teapot beside it, recognized what tea it was, and let the server go in to set up the meal trays, “Thank you.”

“No need to be polite, Miss Bai,” Xie Zhongfei handed Bai Lian a business card, “You checked in too late last night, so I didn’t come to disturb you. If you need anything, please feel free to call me.”

“Okay.” Bai Lian politely accepted.

Looking down, Xie Zhongfei, General Manager.

Inside, the head waiter set breakfast on the balcony table, very respectful to Bai Lian, “Miss Bai, if you need anything, just dial internal line one.”

After leaving, the head waiter noted down the room number, 1108, and finally instructed the service department that calls from room 1108 must be answered immediately, and she must be notified.

“1108, it’s not even a presidential suite.” Several service staff were very surprised.

The head waiter just gave them a serious look, not explaining why.

Even for presidential suites, the general manager had never personally received guests.

At eight o’clock, first floor of Jiahao Hotel.

Vice Chairman Zhou was talking with Chou Xuezheng, “Do you really have a special grade member this time?”

The Xiangcheng Calligraphers Association was here for grading, and Vice Chairman Zhou was familiar with Chou Xuezheng. As a candidate for the next chairman, Vice Chairman Zhou knew some information.

“You’ll know when the time comes.” Chou Xuezheng was composed.

As they were talking, a black Cayenne stopped at the hotel entrance, and the hotel doorman immediately went to open the door.

In the back seat, Bai Qiming got out.

The assistant in the passenger seat also got out and followed closely behind Bai Qiming, “Manager Liu said the 28th is booked, but everything still needs to be discussed with you.”

Bai Qiming nodded.

He entered the hotel, just about to go to the hotel office to find Manager Liu, when his gaze caught a familiar person in the middle of the hotel. He paused his steps, walked forward a few steps: “Chairman Zhou.”

Vice Chairman Zhou, deputy chairman of the North City Calligraphers Association, was also a North City public official.

Bai Qiming had met Vice Chairman Zhou during government bidding, the son of Zhou Wennan, North City’s highest executive authority.

“Mr. Bai.” Vice Chairman Zhou stopped talking and looked at Bai Qiming, polite but distant.

Bai Qiming knew Vice Chairman Zhou was as hard to approach as the Jian family. He noticed an elderly person beside Vice Chairman Zhou, but Vice Chairman Zhou didn’t introduce them.

He just smiled and extended an olive branch: “I wonder if Chairman Zhou has time to attend the banquet I’m holding for my daughter at the end of the month.”

Vice Chairman Zhou smiled but didn’t answer immediately.

He didn’t have deep connections with the Bai family.

Bai Qiming still needed to go arrange the venue with the hotel and planned to say a few words to Vice Chairman Zhou before leaving. Just then, from the elevator not far away, Bai Lian walked out.

Catching the figure in his peripheral vision, Bai Qiming’s words stopped before they could come out.

He squinted at Bai Lian’s figure. Today she wore a loose white T-shirt with two crossed green bamboo stems embroidered on it, simple and elegant.

Her whole demeanor was composed.

It was completely different from the rebellious, ignorant Bai Lian in Bai Qiming’s memory.

Seeing Bai Lian suddenly, Bai Qiming couldn’t react for quite a while.

Beside Bai Qiming, Vice Chairman Zhou walked forward a step. Chou Xuezheng beside him said to Bai Lian, “Perfect timing, the car is waiting outside.”

“Sorry I came down late,” Bai Lian didn’t look at Bai Qiming, only apologizing to Chou Xuezheng, “I didn’t know you were waiting for me downstairs.”

Vice Chairman Zhou smiled faintly and explained to Bai Lian, “Miss Bai, I told Teacher Chou not to disturb you, worried you were practicing calligraphy.”

Chou Xuezheng took Bai Lian outside first, “Vice Chairman, I’ll take her to wait for you outside.”

He led Bai Lian out, neither of them acknowledging Bai Qiming.

Vice Chairman Zhou was still anxious about who the special grade member was, so he said to Bai Qiming, “Mr. Bai, we’ll meet again another time.”

Speaking to Bai Qiming, Vice Chairman Zhou’s smile disappeared, becoming merely courteous.

It was obvious that he had a good relationship with Bai Lian.

Bai Qiming came back to his senses and almost instinctively asked: “Chairman Zhou, how do you know my daughter?”