ATLAS TRANSLATES

Bai Qiming hadn’t seen Bai Lian for a long time.

In his memory, Bai Lian was too spoiled. From childhood, she never studied properly, only hung out with a bad crowd at bars and raced cars. Even when Ji Mulan personally taught her calligraphy and painting, she couldn’t learn, falling asleep at the sight of books.

She even managed to drive away her music teacher.

She performed poorly at school and couldn’t understand business reports at the Bai family.

She was practically useless.

At first, Bai Qiming thought that with his and Ji Mulan’s intelligence, they could produce a genius, but gradually became disappointed when Guo Yueqing brought Bai Shaoqi and Bai Shaoke.

Businessmen value profit.

Weighing the pros and cons, Bai Shaoke and Bai Shaoqi were clearly more important than Bai Lian. If he could abandon Ji Mulan, what more Bai Lian?

But now, the Bai Lian who Bai Qiming thought only knew bars and racing was actually familiar with Vice Chairman Zhou?

Vice Chairman Zhou was quite famous in the northern city, next in line to be the Calligraphy Association chairman, had organized several calligraphy exhibitions, came from a political family – none of those who could enter the Association’s upper echelons were simple people.

Jian Zhonghai was one example.

But the Jian family was even harder to approach than the Zhou family.

How could someone like her know Chairman Zhou?

“Your daughter?” Vice Chairman Zhou was about to leave when he heard Bai Qiming’s words and was surprised. “You mean… Student Bai Lian?”

Vice Chairman Zhou remembered Bai Lian was from Xiangcheng.

When she went to Jiangjiang for the assessment, she made quite a splash. Zhou specifically checked her background – from Xiangcheng, registered there too.

Bai Qiming withdrew his gaze from Bai Lian: “Yes.”

“Ah, Student Bai Lian is a member of the Calligraphy Association,” Vice Chairman Zhou glanced at Bai Qiming and simply said: “Last year she won first place in the youth division of the Lanting Awards. None of Jiangjiang Calligraphy Association’s young talents could match her. I came specially today to pick her up for the Association.”

A special-grade member of the Jiangjiang Calligraphy Association had joined Xiangcheng. Vice Chairman Zhou felt Bai Lian had great potential.

Her talent had already gained Zhou’s recognition, and with such potential, Zhou naturally didn’t mind coming to the hotel to pick her up personally.

After speaking, he smiled at Bai Qiming and left.

Given that Bai Lian lived in Xiangcheng and her unfamiliar attitude toward Bai Qiming just now, Vice Chairman Zhou could naturally see some signs.

Zhou left quite gracefully.

In the hotel lobby, Bai Qiming hadn’t recovered for a long time. He hadn’t studied calligraphy and didn’t know the weight of the Lanting Awards, but was shocked by Zhou’s words about “specially coming to pick her up for the Association.”

Bai Lian…

She knew calligraphy?

In his memory, Bai Lian hadn’t learned it, yet Vice Chairman Zhou seemed to value her highly…

“Mr. Bai.” Beside him, his assistant also withdrew his gaze from Bai Lian’s departing figure and softly called to Bai Qiming.

Bai Qiming came back to his senses, remembering today was for Bai Shaoqi’s celebration banquet – the Jiangjiang University celebration banquet.

Jiangjiang University – he put aside the matter of Bai Lian.

In the lobby manager’s office behind the hotel, the manager wasn’t in. Bai Qiming waited an extra ten minutes. The Bai family was a VIP client, so when the manager came in, he apologized with a smile, “Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Bai. Director Xie was delayed by a sudden meeting.”

“Director Xie is here?” Bai Qiming put down his teacup, temporarily setting aside the matter of Bai Lian, surprised.

“Yes,” the lobby manager said softly, “The hotel has important guests, Director Xie is personally attending to them.”

The lobby manager didn’t have clearance to know exactly who it was, only that Director Xie and the head waiter were personally receiving them – he didn’t even know which floor they were on.

Bai Qiming looked up – could it be…

That Principal Jian?

5 PM.

Northern City Airport, Principal Jian got off the plane.

A middle-aged man pushing a suitcase followed behind him, “Principal Jian, shall we go to the Northern Music Academy guesthouse? Their car is waiting.”

When the Northern Music Academy heard Principal Jian was coming, they had contacted Old Hu, who worked for Jian, well in advance.

“Not yet.” Principal Jian stopped and took out his phone to make a call.

The call was to Bai Lian.

It was picked up after just two rings, “Principal Jian?”

“It’s me,” Principal Jian looked at the cars outside, his tone casual, “How’s your composition coming along?”

He was asking about her music composition.

Bai Lian hadn’t been writing new songs, making Principal Jian anxious.

“Had some inspiration last night, wrote a section.” Bai Lian had just returned from visiting the Calligraphy Association with Chou Xuezheng. The Xiangcheng Association’s level assessment would take a few more days.

“Is that so,” hearing she had written a section, Principal Jian quickly asked, “Where are you staying?”

He wanted to know what style Bai Lian had written in this time.

“Jiahao.”

“Alright.” Principal Jian hung up and turned to Old Hu, “Let’s go to Jiahao.”

Principal Jian normally had two special assistants. He was usually busy with many matters – three students, school affairs to handle, the Cultural Bureau’s guzheng… His special assistants were people who had been by his side for some time.

After going to Xiangcheng last time, he dismissed one assistant, leaving only his trusted Old Hu.

But even Old Hu didn’t know who Principal Jian was calling. From his tone, it seemed not to be an ordinary person.

Jiahao Hotel.

By the time Principal Jian finished checking in, it was already 6 PM.

His room was on the 56th floor, but instead of going there first, he went directly to the 11th floor to find Bai Lian.

“Why are you staying on such a low floor?” Principal Jian asked casually after entering.

The lower the floor, the worse the view.

Bai Lian commented: “Bit afraid of heights.”

Old Hu followed Principal Jian in and saw Bai Lian’s stunning looks – even more beautiful than the celebrity Yan Lu who recorded at the school. Was she another celebrity? Old Hu pondered secretly.

Principal Jian came just for her composition. He sat at the table in the hall, urging Bai Lian: “Let me see your composition.”

Bai Lian casually tossed her schoolbag to Principal Jian.

The schoolbag’s contents were simple. Old Hu watched as Principal Jian pulled out a stack of English documents. Though he had studied English, he couldn’t understand what these were, feeling confused.

Principal Jian finally found two sheets with reduced notation at the bottom.

Bai Lian poured tea for both of them. Old Hu quickly said thanks, his gaze moving to the reduced notation in Principal Jian’s hands. As Principal Jian’s confidant, he naturally recognized the notation his boss had been studying for the past half year.

One glance told him this was a melody.

Considering that Jian Zhongyou came straight to find Bai Lian without even going to his room first, Old Hu suddenly remembered something and looked at Bai Lian-

Principal Jian had been in Jiangjiang for a long time, keeping a low profile.

Previously he only liked playing “<Bai Yi Xing>”, but later became intensely interested in only one person’s compositions – the famous online composition master “Baijian.”

This person’s compositions stood up to scrutiny.

The first song “Gambling on Wine” already had “<Bai Yi Xing>’s” style. The latest one even surpassed “Gambling on Wine”, with an even higher compatibility with guzheng than “<Bai Yi Xing>.”

Yan Lu’s songs had been arranged for various instruments at Jiangjiang Music Academy – guzheng, bamboo flute, pipa, harp…

Many people tried to guess Baijian’s identity, most believing it was one of the music world’s masters on par with Principal Jian.

Old Hu had guessed the same before.

But now, looking at Bai Lian, an incredible thought surfaced in his mind.

Principal Jian memorized the reduced notation, understood Bai Lian’s style this time, and started urging her to continue writing, “Write quickly.”

Bai Lian sat across from Principal Jian, lazily pouring herself tea, “Takes time.”

“Oh,” Principal Jian had seen college entrance exam graduates taking photos downstairs when he arrived, reminding him of Bai Lian, “How did your exam go?”

What he really wanted to ask was – Could she really get into Jiangjiang University?

Bai Lian looked out the window, just smiled and said, “Not bad.”

College entrance exam? Old Hu kept a straight face – she was still a high school student?

Going to Jiangjiang Music Academy later? Old Hu could already imagine how lively the academy would become after Principal Jian’s chosen one arrived.

“There’s a traditional Chinese music event in a few days, right here in the northern city. I have a performance – want to go find some inspiration?” Principal Jian remembered this matter. He took a sip of tea, then looked down at the teapot in surprise – when did this damn hotel’s tea get so good?

Traditional Chinese music meant guzheng, pipa, bamboo flute and such.

Bai Lian also took a sip of tea, slightly squinting her eyes, saying lazily: “We’ll see.”

Her friends were still waiting for her, and she had a headache.

Besides the Calligraphy Association, this trip to the northern city was also to check on that person for the original owner.

Beside Principal Jian, Old Hu maintained a blank expression while thinking – others would break their heads trying to attend Principal Jian’s performance.

Not only did Jian Zhonyou personally invite her, but she actually responded with “We’ll see.”

It must be you, Baijian!

Not only Principal Jian cared about how Bai Lian did on the exam.

Northern City No. 1 High School.

In the principal’s office, he was speaking with Guo Yueqing, “Mrs. Guo, I’m familiar with Northern Music Academy’s principal, but I might not be able to get tickets. You know who’s coming this time – even Jiangjiang Music Academy students will rush over.”

“I understand,” Guo Yueqing put down her gift, smiling gently, “You’ve helped Shaoke and Shaoqi with so many things. Next month Shaoke is having dinner with Professor Jiang – might you be available?”

Professor Jiang – a Jiangjiang University professor.

Also Bai Shaoke’s lab supervisor. The principal spoke seriously, “Don’t worry, Mrs. Guo.”

Guo Yueqing nodded to him and left.

After she left.

The international class’s homeroom teacher came in from outside. Looking at the gift Guo Yueqing left, he said to the principal: “Bai Lian is back.”

“Bai Lian? Why is she back?” The principal was stunned.

“I saw it in the class group,” the homeroom teacher thought of the scores he saw last time. Bai Lian wasn’t good at science, but she always got perfect scores in math, “Math is so difficult – do you think she can get a perfect score again?”

The principal wasn’t sure either. Guo Yueqing’s thoughts were easy to guess.

But he couldn’t figure out Bai Lian.

With such good grades, why didn’t she show it while at Northern City No. 1?

“Three months without teaching resources in Xiangcheng,” the principal sat down, fingers tapping the desk, shaking his head: “The math questions changed so much, none of us predicted it. She… probably doesn’t have an advantage. Plus science is harder, and she’s weak in science. Song Min has a good chance of becoming the province’s top scorer.”

That was true.

The international class’s homeroom teacher felt somewhat uneasy: “But why did Jiangjiang make the questions so difficult this time?”

People in education were far more sensitive than ordinary people. Jiangjiang rarely made difficult questions – this time the difficulty exceeded everyone’s expectations.

It felt like changes were coming.

They were like the Xiangcheng No. 1 teachers, thinking Bai Lian was competing with Song Min, not knowing that Bai Lian had never set her sights on the northern city.

If she really only achieved provincial top scorer, Liang Zewen would probably crawl from his grave to her bedside.

(Teacher Liang asks for monthly tickets~)