ATLAS TRANSLATES

Academician Ma opened the document and lowered his eyes without speaking.

But Director Huang could guess his thoughts from his expression.

Academician Ma’s status at Jiang University and in China’s physics community needed no explanation. So many schools wanted to invite him for lectures, he was Jiang University’s benchmark, and many people considered it an honor to enter his laboratory.

He picked up the documents on the table and quietly closed the door as he left the office.

Outside, the vice dean was waiting for Director Huang. He glanced toward the office, “Academician Ma seems to be in a good mood.”

Of course he was in a good mood after finding a student he liked.

Director Huang smiled, and they walked downstairs to the main building.

Several people were gathered at the bottom of the teaching building. Seeing the two come down, one of them walked forward a few steps, extremely respectful: “Teacher.”

Director Huang looked over. As the dean of the physics department, he had mentored many students.

This was Zuo Jinhua, a former group member with good talent.

He nodded slightly to Zuo Jinhua.

After Director Huang and the vice dean left, the students beside Zuo Jinhua continued staring at Director Huang’s back without looking away.

Only when his figure disappeared did Qi Shuyun look at Zuo Jinhua, “Dr. Zuo, that was Dean Huang, right?”

Hearing this, the others also looked at Zuo Jinhua.

They usually only saw Director Huang at award ceremonies. The reason they could recognize him at a glance was because of his smooth bald head.

“Yes,” Zuo Jinhua responded flatly, “Everyone, quickly get the data ready for me.”

After Zuo Jinhua left, these people remained gathered together.

“Doesn’t Academician Ma have an office here? Could Director Huang be here to see him?”

“Possibly, but what is Academician Ma doing at school today?”

As they discussed, Qi Shuyun lowered her head to type on her phone, posting to her social media—

[Lucky to see Dean Huang today [photo]]

Coming from an educated family with broad social connections, many people quickly liked her post.

Meanwhile.

In the North City, at the Song residence.

Mr. Song stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up, “He still hasn’t come out?”

“Food was sent to his room, but he didn’t eat it,” Mrs. Song sighed, “This hit him pretty hard, let’s give him more time.”

Song Min hadn’t done poorly on this exam – he was still first place at North City No. 1 High School and had gotten into Jiangjing University as desired.

The university’s admissions office had called the Song family countless times.

His national ranking wasn’t low either, but…

“She really got first in the nation?” Mr. Song didn’t pay much attention to these things and asked Mrs. Song again to confirm.

“Yes.” Mrs. Song thought of Bai Lian, feeling bitter.

When Bai Lian was sent to Xiangcheng by the Bai family, her first thought was to dissolve the marriage. The Bai family clearly valued Bai Shaoke and Bai Shaoqi more.

Seeking advantage and avoiding harm, she knew Bai Lian had no value then.

She even went to Xiangcheng to break off the engagement.

Who could have imagined such big changes in just one year?

While Mrs. Song was lost in thought, the phone rang. The servant standing nearby answered it, then looked up, “Madam, it’s Miss Bai’s call.”

Bai Lian had long been driven out of the Bai family.

When they said Miss Bai, they only meant Bai Shaoqi.

Mrs. Song went forward to answer. After Bai Shaoqi said something, Mrs. Song was stunned, “Really? Alright, I’ll go to Jiangjing with you tomorrow afternoon.”

After hanging up, Mr. Song looked at Mrs. Song: “What’s wrong?”

“Principal Luo helped Shaoqi connect with a teacher from Jiang Music Academy,” Mrs. Song said, finally dispersing some of the gloom of recent days, “They say the person is also a master in Jiangjing.”

Jiang Music Academy?

Mr. Song didn’t know about this, but he knew the Yin family had always cared about Bai Shaoqi, “Why are your brother and his family so concerned about Shaoqi?”

Their concern wasn’t for Bai Shaoqi but for someone who played the guzheng and happened to have the surname Bai.

These were matters of Jiangjing’s social circles that people in North City naturally didn’t understand.

“We’ll talk when we get there,” Mrs. Song turned to go upstairs, “Don’t mention Bai Lian in front of our son anymore. Bai Qiming has already returned from Xiangcheng.”

“He’s back?” Mr. Song was shocked, “What is Bai Lian thinking, really not returning to the Bai family?”

Fighting alone wouldn’t accomplish much, and she had no blood relation to the Xu family in the end.

Mrs. Song didn’t know about these things.

The next day.

Bai Lian went to Jiangjing University’s library early. The library was connected to the campus network, where she could access materials only available to internal students.

In early July, most students had finished their final exams.

Fourth-year students had also left campus, so the library wasn’t as crowded as usual. There was no need to arrive early to secure a seat.

At noon, Xu Wenyao still messaged Bai Lian to go to Cafeteria Three.

Jiangjing University’s cafeterias only accepted campus cards. After learning she was in the library, Xu Wenyao asked her to eat with them.

During summer break, the school closed three cafeterias, but Cafeteria Three still had people and wasn’t far from the library. When Bai Lian arrived, Xu Wenyao and Chen Hong had already ordered.

“She actually met Dean Huang,” Being in the physics department, Chen Hong was quite familiar with Qi Shuyun and the others, “Having connections is nice.”

Qi Shuyun’s family knew Dr. Zuo, and Dr. Zuo was Dean Huang’s former doctoral student.

Chen Hong spoke, then asked Xu Wenyao curiously, “How come you haven’t confirmed your advisor yet?”

Usually, students confirmed their advisors before graduate school entrance exams by sending emails. Qi Shuyun had early on confirmed Dr. Zuo, and people who knew her envied her joining such a prestigious group.

Hearing this, Xu Wenyao lowered his eyes, “I’ll wait for the summer camp results first.”

Chen Hong knew about his issues with Qi Shuyun and didn’t ask further.

Seeing Bai Lian, he enthusiastically stood up to greet her, “Junior Bai.”

Today Bai Lian wore a very loose white long t-shirt with soft fabric, embroidered with ink bamboo on the front. Her black hair was completely tied up with two hairpins, and she casually carried a white backpack with an eye-catching lazy cat lying on it.

Chen Hong looked at the lifelike embroidered cat and suddenly remembered, “I remember now, Junior, didn’t you come to our school entrance last year?!”

Bai Lian sat across from them and looked up.

“How do you know?” Xu Wenyao was surprised – that time Bai Lian had come to deliver tickets to him.

“Holy shit, I knew you looked familiar yesterday,” Chen Hong excitedly looked at Bai Lian, “The forum, the pinned post with 9999+ replies on the school forum has her picture.”

Every school had its gossip, including Jiangjing University.

These academic stars also had their idols – Chen Hong himself was a fan. Jiangjing University’s forum had not only their own students but also students from other schools.

“When school starts, Junior will definitely become famous.” Chen Hong took out his phone to show Xu Wenyao the post.

He wanted to show Bai Lian too, but she only gave it a casual glance.

Chen Hong came from an ordinary background – people like Xu Wenyao and Qi Shuyun were goals he needed to work hard to reach. If he could ever cause such a stir on the forum, he would definitely tag all his friends and family to see, but Bai Lian seemed unconcerned about it.

Xu Wenyao and Chen Hong started discussing mathematical modeling. Bai Lian sat to the side, taking a photo with her phone to send to Jiang Fu Li.

Then she slowly ate her meal.

“Is Junior bored?” Chen Hong was talking excitedly but saw Bai Lian looking at her phone and quickly stopped, “Never mind Wenyao, let’s talk about something else.”

Chen Hong worried the third-year mathematical modeling was too profound for Bai Lian to understand.

“It’s fine,” Bai Lian slowly looked up, indicating she wasn’t bored, “Just you two?”

She thought mathematical modeling would be a bit difficult with just the two of them.

Chen Hong and Xu Wenyao were sensitive to numbers but somewhat lacking in model design.

Chen Hong put down his chopsticks, more curious about Bai Lian now. He didn’t know how she had guessed they had another person: “Three people, there’s another academic star Qi Jun, but he doesn’t want to eat with us.”

Bai Lian nodded without asking more. She had to go back in the afternoon and didn’t stay at school.

After eating, she went to wait for the bus across from the cafeteria.

The Jiangjing Prep Camp app would soon have new members, and Bai Lian’s group’s rankings would enter the overall rankings.

She opened the challenge problem bank and posted the problems she had just written in the library.

Three minutes later.

Correct answers in the challenge problem bank would multiply scores by factors.

In the bottom left corner, her ranking changed from NO.68587 to NO.137174.

The bus stopped, and she got on to leave.

At the bus stop, Chen Hong and Xu Wenyao walked toward the study room. He looked down at his phone, apparently seeing something interesting, “Holy shit, Wenyao, Jian God’s monthly points exceeded 100,000.”

Hearing this, Xu Wenyao knew who Chen Hong was talking about and also checked his phone.

“This must be someone from the lab, right? Definitely one of those national team people,” Chen Hong looked up, dazed: “So insane, will they enter the top ten total points like He Wen?”

No one thought this could be this year’s high school graduate.

In the afternoon.

Bai Lian closed her door and left the apartment. The doors of 301 and 302 on the left were both open.

People were renovating inside. Seemingly seeing her come out, the workers inside started making thunderous wall-breaking noises.

She couldn’t hear the sounds at home, but once outside, construction was happening upstairs and downstairs.

Bai Lian walked toward the stairs, giving the two units another glance.

She lowered her head to send Xiao Qi a message, then walked toward the community entrance. The transportation was convenient here – before she reached the bus stop, a silver car stopped beside her.

Xu Wenyao was in the driver’s seat, his expression somewhat cold, “Get in, where are you going?”

“Where are you going?” Bai Lian didn’t answer, asking first.

“The company.”

That was on the way then, both in Yunxiao District. Bai Lian opened the back door, “Take me to the bottom of the Xu building.”

“What are you doing in Yunxiao District?” There was no traffic at this time. Xu Wenyao drove onto the main road, looking in the rearview mirror.

“Meeting someone.” Bai Lian lowered the window, casually resting her arm on the window frame.

She looked down at her phone.

It was Director Jian—

[Where exactly are you?]

Bai Jian: [Library, studying hard]

Bai Lian typed leisurely, responding without a hint of guilt.

Director Jian knew Bai Lian had always loved studying and had even gotten into Jiangjing University. Seeing Bai Lian’s reply, he didn’t say anything—

[Remember to look at the arrangement I sent you]

Bai Jian: [1]

They quickly arrived at the bottom of the Xu building.

Several people were standing at the bottom of the Xu building.

At a glance, there was Old Madam Xu and Qi Shuyun, along with Butler Xu and Ji Mulan. Xu Wenyao’s finger stopped on the steering wheel. He didn’t get out, only reminding Bai Lian to call him if anything happened.

On Old Madam Xu’s side, seeing Xu Wenyao not getting out, Qi Shuyun lowered her head, “Grandmother Xu, Miss Liu has another engagement, I won’t disturb you.”

Her gaze swept over Ji Mulan without greeting.

She directly got into her bright red sports car. After the sports car left, Xu Wenyao turned off the engine and got out with Bai Lian.

“Miss Liu?” Old Madam Xu hurriedly nodded slightly to Bai Lian, then quickly asked Butler Xu questioningly.

Butler Xu paused, explaining, “The Miss Liu that Miss Qi mentioned should be Director Jian’s student. Director Jian of the Music Academy, the guzheng master, seems to… have a good relationship with Old Master Chen.”

This information, Butler Xu naturally didn’t know – it was all revealed to him by the Qi family.

“What?” Old Madam Xu looked at Butler Xu in shock, unconsciously gripping her prayer beads.

Ji Mulan didn’t know any Miss Liu, nor did she know who their “Old Master Chen” was.

But hearing about Director Jian, she could guess these people like Old Master Chen were similar to the Xu family’s “main family” – places beyond her imagination.

She had photographed Director Jian’s discipleship letter for Bai Lian.

Thinking of this, she looked at Bai Lian.

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But Bai Lian didn’t look at her, only saying goodbye to Xu Wenyao, “I’ll go first.”

Old Madam Xu finally looked at Bai Lian’s departing figure, pausing slightly, “Where is she going?”

“Meeting someone.” Xu Wenyao’s voice was flat.

Director Chen was still in Xiangcheng and hadn’t returned, who did Bai Lian know in Yunxiao District?

Old Madam Xu was surprised but didn’t ask more, only looking at Xu Wenyao, “Wenyao, I need to talk to you about what Shuyu said about that woman.”

Deep in Yunxiao Street.

This was “Bar Street.”

As the most prosperous economic area in Jiangjing, Bar Street in Yunxiao District was especially rich and alluring. Even though it was only past 4 PM, cars were already parked along both sides of the street.

At the end of the street was a castle-style building.

It occupied an enormous area, with a fifty-meter path from the entrance to the main door, luxury cars parked along both sides.

Bai Lian stood at the main entrance, looking up at the four large characters—

Qinglong Bar.

On the third floor of the bar, Xiao Qi wore a baseball uniform with a baseball cap, sitting casually in a chair with one leg propped up, only looking down at his phone.

When he received a message, he quickly got up and walked downstairs.

Wang Youfeng valued him highly. When he came to Jiangjing to develop Xuankang, Wang Youfeng gave him management rights to the bar.

Xiao Qi had lived in an orphanage since birth. After leaving the orphanage and interacting with people in society, he had developed quite a temperament. With his natural talent, even though he wasn’t yet twenty, the old foxes here didn’t dare underestimate him.

However, he didn’t manage much of the bar’s affairs. People had heard many stories about him following Wang Youfeng through life and death, but few had seen him.

On the first floor, the bar’s waiters and manager stepped aside respectfully when they saw him: “Mr. Xiao Qi.”

Xiao Qi nodded politely to them, immediately spotting Bai Lian heading toward the main entrance.

He smiled, “Sister.”

When Bai Lian came closer, he didn’t introduce her to the manager and others, just took her upstairs.

At this time, the bar had just opened and wasn’t very crowded.

In the left booth on the first floor, Qi Shuyun had just arrived. She sat at the edge, not clearly seeing those people, only seeing the bar manager bowing to two people. “Who is Manager Li talking to?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to Liu Shuhe in the middle.

How mysterious Qinglong Bar was in their circles was well known. Although it was a bar, its privacy was even higher than Sijing Club. No one dared leak information about this bar.

Because while Sijing Club might reason with you, Qinglong Bar wouldn’t.

Only Liu Shuhe had contact with Qinglong Bar’s people because she was friends with the Second Miss. “It should be their Mr. Xiao Qi they mentioned. As for the woman beside him…”

Liu Shuhe wasn’t sure. They were sitting far away and couldn’t even see Mr. Xiao Qi’s face clearly. They only vaguely saw white clothing on that woman, who seemed quite tall.

She watched the closed elevator, its red numbers stopping at “5L”.

In the booth, the group of young people who had been excited about coming to Qinglong Bar were all silent. They all knew the bar’s rules – the second floor required membership, no one had been to the third floor, and as for the fifth floor…

No one had heard of it before.

Many people on the first floor saw this “5L”.

Qi Shuyun was about to speak when her gaze caught the woman bartending at the bar nearby. She wore a silver spaghetti strap top showing her fair, delicate collarbone, with lazy black curls resting on her shoulders. Her left hand gripped the silver shaker that had spun twice in the air.

She poured the blue drink into a glass, the gradient blue liquid shimmering.

It was a cool bartending style.

But Qi Shuyun’s expression became very ugly. She recognized her – this was the woman who had been in contact with Xu Wenyao these past few months—

Just a bartender?

Xu Wenyao really knew how to insult people.

Qi Shuyun coldly took out her phone to message her mother.

Around five o’clock, at Qingxin Tower.

Gao Yan wore a moonlight-white qipao with pearl buttons at the collar. She waved a small black folding fan, constantly looking out the window. “Where is she?”

Beside her, Xu Nanjing peeled a sunflower seed and tossed it up.

Opening his mouth – good try, but he missed.

He glanced at the seed on the floor and said casually, “Don’t rush, Brother Jiang has gone to pick her up, what are you worried about?”

“Where is she, why hasn’t she arrived yet?” Gao Yan walked back and forth on the carpeted room in her high heels, holding her small fan.

Xu Nanjing had asked Bai Lian and casually gave an address.

Not far from here.

Gao Yan’s hand waving the fan paused – wasn’t this the Qinglong Bar area that Xu Jueling had been mentioning recently? Lately, many forces had been watching that area.

Wasn’t she supposed to be near Jiangjing University, why did she go there?

“Madam, don’t worry,” Uncle Lin poured Gao Yan a cup of tea, “Rest a while, Miss Bai hasn’t arrived yet.”

Uncle Lin looked at Gao Yan and Xu Nanjing, then glanced toward the door. He had been curious about this “Miss Bai” for a long time. Gao Yan wanted to adopt her as a goddaughter but she hadn’t agreed, and she had solved two major issues for Xu Nanjing this year.

Not to mention Gao Yan wanting to adopt her, just her helping Xu Nanjing was enough to make Uncle Lin take notice.

Gao Yan picked up the teacup and sat down gracefully.

She put away her fan and took out her phone to message someone—

[Shu Shu, I’m going to see Lian Lian first]

Gao Shu: [Livestream]

Gao Yan: [Xiao Jing says she’s prettier than her photos, I’ll have her appear on screen with you later]

As she was messaging, Xu Nanjing stood up to open the door, “She’s here.”

Gao Yan quickly put down her phone and teacup, somewhat nervously picking up her fan and standing to look toward the door.

Xu Nanjing had already opened the door, stepping aside to let the people outside enter.

The first person to enter wasn’t Jiang Fu Li as Gao Yan had expected, but a tall, slender young woman wearing a loose white t-shirt and matching pants, holding a black phone in her left hand, her snow-white slender fingers pressing the screen.

After entering, she raised her head slightly.

Gao Yan could then clearly see her face – jade-like and naturally radiant, captivating. Even having seen many beauties in Jiangjing, Gao Yan was stunned for a moment.

In her youth, Gao Xi had been Jiangjing’s greatest beauty, and the Gao family had sent her to the Jiang family.

Now the Ming family’s eldest miss was also a famous beauty.

But Gao Yan felt none could match the presence of the person before her.

As she was thinking, behind Bai Lian, Jiang Fu Li followed with two books. He wore soft casual clothes, his lowered gaze still cold as frost.

“Auntie.” Jiang Fu Li raised his head, rarely taking the initiative to greet someone.

He put the two books on the table, the unapproachable coldness disappearing from him.

Gao Yan came back to her senses. She casually glanced at Jiang Fu Li, her gaze falling on Bai Lian. She wanted to reach out to hold Bai Lian’s hand but was pulled back by Xu Nanjing, who expressionlessly told her to maintain her dignity.

Gao Yan gave Xu Nanjing a look, then had to settle for greeting Bai Lian, “You must be Lian Lian.”

“Hello, Auntie.” Bai Lian looked up, honestly greeting her.

Beautiful and well-behaved.

This was simply the ideal daughter-in-law, Gao Yan clutched her chest.

Uncle Lin stepped forward to serve them.

Then they saw Jiang Fu Li put the books on the table and pull out a chair, gesturing for Bai Lian to sit.

Uncle Lin, who was about to act, stared at Jiang Fu Li’s hand on the teapot for quite a while before stepping back to become invisible.

Xu Nanjing sat beside Jiang Fu Li, treating this as normal.

Gao Yan discreetly watched Jiang Fu Li pour tea and hand it to Bai Lian, thinking to herself “so you have such a day too?”

She sent a message to Gao Shu on her phone while glancing at the books Jiang Fu Li had put aside.

They were two basic music books.

As everyone knew, Young Master Jiang had never studied music, though he had learned Chinese painting for a while – nearly scaring a famous teacher in the industry to death.

Those must be Bai Lian’s then.

This child really did love the guzheng. Gao Yan breathed a sigh of relief. She rested her black folding fan on her hand, being very familiar, “Lian Lian, I’m going downstairs to bring someone up, wait for me for a few minutes.”

With Bai Lian there, Gao Yan made Jiang Fu Li and Xu Nanjing invisible.

Xu Nanjing watched Gao Yan and Uncle Lin’s departing figures, completely impressed.

Downstairs.

Gao Yan had come down to receive Director Jian.

Director Jian was a cultural heritage bearer and the principal of the Music Academy. He had basically no interaction with Jiangjing’s social circles, his only connection being Old Master Chen.

Gao Yan knew she could invite him only because he was giving face to Old Master Chen.

“I don’t know if he’ll accept students,” Gao Yan spoke with Uncle Lin, “Look at Liu Shuhe, she’s doing quite well in the circles now. If he would accept Lian Lian…”

Bai Lian was from Xiangcheng, seemed so well-behaved, and had no background.

The Jiang family’s den that even devoured without spitting out bones – even Gao Xi hadn’t escaped.

Gao Yan began to worry about her, so if Director Jian would accept Bai Lian…

Uncle Lin could tell from Gao Yan’s beaming expression that this Miss Bai held significant weight in her heart – at least, Xu Jinyi couldn’t compare. “Director Jian doesn’t lack for students.”

That’s true, Gao Yan sighed.

Seeing the elderly man who had just walked into the lobby, she hurried forward, very respectfully greeting him: “Director Jian, thank you for coming all this way.”

Gao Yan knew Director Jian wasn’t just a guzheng leader – he was also Old Master Chen’s honored guest. The two were close, and even Old Master Xu had to give Director Jian some face.

Uncle Lin also bowed respectfully.

This was Director Jian’s first time meeting Gao Yan. He was neither servile nor overbearing: “Madam.”

Gao Yan took him directly to the private room. Director Jian was an art world master, and even Gao Yan felt some pressure facing him. “It’s a junior from the family who really loves guzheng.”

She explained to Director Jian while opening the door.

Director Jian nodded, following Gao Yan in.

Bamboo Room.

As soon as Director Jian stepped in, he happened to see the person sitting sideways at the table who had claimed to be “studying hard” in the library.

Very good.

Director Jian thought calmly.