ATLAS TRANSLATES

Dean Jian paused briefly at the entrance.

High Yan noticed this, but before she could ask, Dean Jian walked in as if nothing had happened.

The Bamboo private room was spacious, with areas set up for music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as tables for games.

Xu Nanjing noticed them enter from the corner of his eye. He put down his teacup and stood up, saying quietly to Bai Lian, “Sister Lian, my mother wants to introduce you to an elderly gentleman who has arrived.”

Bai Lian tilted her head slightly and politely stood up with Xu Nanjing.

High Yan led Dean Jian past the screen. She wore a well-tailored qipao that highlighted her unique grace, with an elegant black jade fan resting in her palm.

Manager Lin followed behind Dean Jian and pulled out the main seat for him.

High Yan leaned forward slightly to introduce Bai Lian to Dean Jian, “Elder Jian, this is the young lady I mentioned to you.”

After she finished speaking, she noticed Dean Jian just standing there silently, his gaze resting lightly on Bai Lian, expressionless and motionless.

High Yan’s heart skipped a beat as she turned to Bai Lian, “Lian Lian, this is Dean Jian.”

Bai Lian was also very quiet.

This…

Were their personalities clashing?

High Yan gripped her fan tighter, instinctively looking toward Xu Nanjing, who also seemed puzzled.

Jiang Fuli just sat quietly beside Bai Lian, unhurriedly pouring himself tea with elegant nonchalance.

The only sound in the private room was his pouring tea.

The atmosphere grew cold.

Looking at Dean Jian’s expressionless face, High Yan began to think she had been too rash and had somewhat messed things up.

Bai Lian probably hadn’t heard of Dean Jian before.

She set down her fan, and Manager Lin hurriedly came over to pour tea for Dean Jian to ease the atmosphere. “Miss Bai, this is Elder Jian, also a guzheng master.”

Then to Dean Jian, he said, “Elder Jian, this is Miss Bai, Bai Lian, an honored guest of the Xu family.”

After Manager Lin finished speaking, Dean Jian sat coldly in his chair and swept his gaze over, “She’s Bai Lian? Then who was that person studying hard in the library?”

Jiang Fuli’s hand paused as he lifted his teacup.

“Out buying books,” Bai Lian nodded slightly to High Yan, her fingertip lightly tapping the modern music theory book beside Jiang Fuli.

Dean Jian rested his hand on the armrest and glanced over, “Stop trying to fool me.”

“I watched the performance you sent me. Their string pressure control wasn’t good,” Bai Lian spoke calmly. “The second measure lacked tension in tone.”

When discussing his specialty, Dean Jian immediately sat up straight, “You felt the same way, right? Their fingers were too soft, completely failing to bring out the momentum…”

As he spoke, his face lost its previous masterful gravity. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the armrest, his manner very relaxed.

His expression was kind, his clouded eyes sparking with light when discussing topics of interest.

The two had already begun conversing.

Beside them, High Yan was stunned for a moment before reacting, looking at Xu Nanjing.

These two clearly knew each other, and not just knew each other – they were very familiar?

Xu Nanjing was quite confused too. He watched them finish one topic and finally asked Bai Lian, “Sister Lian, you know Dean Jian?”

Dean Jian – even High Yan needed to use Old Chen’s connection to request a meeting.

Was he someone you could just know if you wanted to?

“Mm.” Bai Lian nodded slightly to him.

Very casual and indifferent.

How could she be so detached? Hadn’t she seen how Dean Jian’s other two disciples, Li Jiu and Liu Shuhe, had risen to prominence under his influence? Xu Nanjing: “…”

High Yan glanced at him, implying he was useless.

She and Xu Nanjing sat back down, not interrupting Bai Lian and Dean Jian’s conversation.

When the two discussed fingering techniques, outsiders couldn’t understand. High Yan just watched Bai Lian.

Bai Lian sat very straight in her chair, her left hand resting lightly on the table, her posture proper yet relaxed. This kind of bearing wasn’t necessarily found even among Jianjing’s noble families who received formal etiquette training.

Listening to Bai Lian speak, she could engage with any topic Dean Jian raised, her cultural depth evident in just a few words.

It permeated her speech and bearing.

In a different setting, if she didn’t know Bai Lian, she would certainly have thought Bai Lian was from some noble family.

Only…

High Yan let out a breath. She remembered Xu Nanjing saying Bai Lian was from Xiangcheng, where the economy had remained underdeveloped until experiencing huge changes just this past year.

**

After the meal.

Bai Lian and Dean Jian still walked together, chatting casually.

“When are you coming to the Music Conservatory to pay respects to the founding master?” Dean Jian asked Bai Lian, referring of course to Master Qin Jiu.

The way these two talked seemed more like old friends despite their age difference.

The group said their goodbyes at the entrance.

High Yan looked at Bai Lian and handed her a welcome gift, “At first, I thought you and Dean Jian wouldn’t get along.”

Who knew Bai Lian and Dean Jian were so familiar.

Dean Jian knew who High Yan and Xu Nanjing were and that they were friendly toward Bai Lian, so his attitude had also become warmer.

He explained, “I’ve been looking for her for several days, but she kept saying she was busy studying. This afternoon she said she was studying hard in the library, then tonight I see her here at Madam High’s. Thank you, Madam High, otherwise she might have studied until school started.”

At this, Dean Jian glanced at Bai Lian.

He wanted to say more but saw Jiang Fuli standing tall and jade-like beside Bai Lian, his pale gaze sweeping over. Dean Jian got into the Xu family’s car that was sent to pick him up, feeling dejected.

He bid them farewell.

Jiang Fuli also took his car keys and left with Bai Lian.

After everyone had left.

Manager Lin stared at High Yan in amazement: “Madam, did Dean Jian just say… he’s been looking for Miss Bai for several days?”

And she brushed him off?

Dean Jian was quite distant when speaking with High Yan – he was different from their noble families. Dean Jian represented the traditional music school and was the face of Chinese traditional music internationally.

Old Chen and others greatly respected him, and Dean Jian’s students? They practically worshipped him when mentioning him outside.

Dean Jian’s attitude toward Bai Lian – no one would believe it if told.

It was truly puzzling. The capital had never heard of someone named Bai Lian.

Who exactly was Bai Lian? She was so familiar with Dean Jian it would frighten people at the Music Conservatory.

High Yan was also confused, “You said Dean Jian wasn’t short on students.”

Manager Lin: “…”

Dean Jian and Bai Lian’s interaction was completely like peers.

High Yan looked down at her small fan, remembering Bai Lian had glanced at her fan several times, and instructed Manager Lin: “Order a custom fan, with white jade ribs.”

Her fan had black jade ribs, but she felt pure white jade would suit Bai Lian.

“Mom,” Xu Nanjing stood by the road with one hand in his pocket, still trying to figure it out, “Is Sister Lian really good at guzheng? But I’ve never heard her name.”

High Yan glanced at him irritably, somewhat disdainfully: “What use are you?”

She got in the car, slammed the back door, then instructed the driver to go.

Xu Nanjing was left standing there, looking at Manager Lin with his mouth open.

Manager Lin also frowned at him, “Young Master, you seem not to care about Miss Bai.”

That “Young Master” carried disapproval.

Xu Nanjing: “…”

Fine, fine, fine, he was the clown of the entire dinner, right?

**

Meanwhile.

At the Music Conservatory entrance, Madam Song and Director Yin stood beside Bai Shaoqi, who was speaking with a middle-aged man.

This was Teacher Ning, a performance-level instructor Principal Luo had introduced to Bai Shaoqi.

Director Yin had made time to come and chat with Teacher Ning.

As they were talking, a car stopped at the entrance – black, with a red flag on the left.

Director Yin saw the license plate from the Xing Jiang district and immediately stood straight, looking over directly.

This plate was rarely seen in the Chang’an district, and many people at the school entrance instinctively looked over.

The driver got out of the driver’s seat and opened the back door.

It was Dean Jian.

Seeing Dean Jian, Teacher Ning quickly stepped forward to greet him, “Dean Jian, you’re back.”

“Mm.” Dean Jian seemed to be in a good mood and nodded slightly to Teacher Ning.

Then after thanking the driver, he walked into the school.

After he left, Teacher Ning turned back and looked at Bai Shaoqi, “So young yet winning so many awards – very good. You can come to the practice room tomorrow to study with the other students.”

“Thank you, teacher.” Bai Shaoqi looked away and expressed her thanks.

After finishing with Bai Shaoqi, Teacher Ning said goodbye and walked quickly into the school to catch up with Dean Jian.

Bai Shaoqi watched Dean Jian’s retreating figure, then looked at the Music Conservatory’s entrance arch.

Thinking of that car just now, she sensed Director Yin and Teacher Ning’s reverence for it: “Uncle Yin, the car that brought Dean Jian back seemed quite special.”

“Of course,” Director Yin was still looking in the direction the car had gone, “It can only be those few great families, Dean Jian…”

Which families?

Bai Shaoqi’s heart stirred. Last year she learned the Yin family only lived on the outskirts of Jianjing, a marginalized business.

Looking up again, Director Yin had stopped speaking. Clearly, he wasn’t very familiar with these powers either.

**

At the bar.

At the counter, Xue Chun gripped the cocktail shaker with her left hand, pouring the red liquid into a clear glass full of ice. The scattered light made her whole face look hazy.

Many gazes swept over her.

She pushed the red cocktail in front of Xu Wenyao, “Young Master Xu, drink up and leave quickly, this place isn’t really suitable for you.”

Xu Wenyao wore a white shirt and black pants, his expression gentle but distant.

Very elite manner – since he sat here many women had come to chat him up, but he just looked at text on his phone.

Xue Chun glanced over but couldn’t understand the complex numbers.

Similar to Bai Lian’s style, after all few people came to bars to study.

“You still haven’t paid off your debt?” Xu Wenyao’s fingertips rested on the counter. He always felt Xue Chun was very contradictory – she seemed to move through the bar like a fish in water, but beneath her frivolous surface, he sensed another her standing lonely on an icy peak.

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Because of Bai Lian, they were somewhat familiar. When Xu Wenyao asked why she stayed at the bar, she said she had to repay a debt.

A regular customer beside them laughingly passed Xue Chun some bills.

“Drunk talk, you believe that?” Xue Chun took one bill, casually folded it twice, then leaned forward and deliberately tucked the folded bill between the first and second buttons of Xu Wenyao’s shirt, “I just simply love money.”

After speaking, she stood up straight and left the counter.

Xu Wenyao watched her leave.

Passing by, a familiar boss handed her a cigarette. Xue Chun held it between her lips, and the boss quickly offered a light, joking: “Miss Xue Chun, when will you come mix drinks in our private room?”

Xue Chun lazily blew out smoke, slowly casting him a glance, “I’m off tomorrow.”

She went to the break room where Xiao Wu had just returned, “I’m exhausted. Tomorrow I’ll go see if Miss Bai needs anything else.”

“I’ll go too,” Xue Chun flicked some ash, suddenly remembering, “How much do I still owe Boss Mao?”

Mao Kun had redeemed her from the head waiter, and since then she’d followed Mao Kun’s group, mixing drinks and watching the floor, occasionally helping Xiao Qi with some unsavory business.

If anyone got out of line at the bar, Xiao Wu and Mao Kun would teach them a lesson openly.

Now everyone at the bar knew whose person she was, and no one dared disrespect her. Even the manager was very polite to her.

“Don’t know, sis,” Xiao Wu scratched his head, looking innocent: “I haven’t even finished paying back Miss Bai.”

He hadn’t even calculated how much he owed Mao Kun.

**

The next day.

Bai Lian still went to the school library to study.

Around 6 PM, she left the school gates with Xu Wenyao and Chen Hong. Xu Zhiyue was returning today, so Xu Wenyao had to go home and had invited Chen Hong for dinner.

Bai Lian would ride back to the apartment in Xu Wenyao’s car.

Xu Wenyao sat in the driver’s seat and looked in the rearview mirror, “You really won’t come today?”

“No,” Bai Lian rested her hand on the car window, looking at her phone while talking to Xu Wenyao, slowly saying: “I have friends coming over.”

Xu Wenyao nodded.

In the passenger seat, Chen Hong was quite disappointed to hear Bai Lian wouldn’t join them.

The car had just turned from Jianjing Boulevard onto Siyang Road.

Siyang Road was a small street, usually empty except for people specifically going to Shanhai Apartments.

Chen Hong immediately spotted people fighting a hundred meters away, “Old Xu, should we call…”

He was still speaking when Xu Wenyao suddenly braked.

In the back seat, Bai Lian also looked up, immediately seeing Xiao Wu and Xue Chun in the distance.

She got out of the car.

Xiao Wu with his red hair was stepping on a man in black clothes.

Xue Chun wore black shorts and a white tank top with a plaid short-sleeved shirt over it, standing three steps away under a tree with her arms crossed, watching them fight.

Chen Hong had never seen a fight before. Seeing Bai Lian go over, he quickly unbuckled his seatbelt and followed, “Junior, be careful!”

They walked closer.

Xiao Wu was crying snot and tears, looking up at Bai Lian while sobbing, “Sis, they hit me.”

Chen Hong looked down at the three big men Xiao Wu had beaten down, then back up at the tear-streaked Xiao Wu…

He fell into deep self-doubt.

Seeing Bai Lian, Xue Chun quickly stood straight and reported the situation, “Miss Bai, they were looking for me, thankfully Mr. Xiao Wu was here.”

Brief and to the point.

Bai Lian held a stack of books in her right hand and swept her gaze over the man in the middle, slowly crouching down.

She casually pulled out a book and used the tip to gently lift away the hand of a man covering his face.

She lowered her eyes, her movements unhurried, with a somewhat scattered demeanor.

The man had been forcefully covering his face, but the book touching his hand seemed like a thousand-pound jack, easily moving his hand to reveal his swollen face and shocked eyes.

Chen Hong didn’t know Xue Chun.

Bai Lian glanced lightly at the man, then stood up and gently blew on the book that had touched him.

Only then did she tilt her head slightly to look at Xu Wenyao, her black eyes ink-like, speaking unhurriedly: “Who is he?”

Xue Chun and Xiao Wu both looked at Xu Wenyao in surprise.

Xu Wenyao’s expression was cold as he looked down at the man, quickly recognizing him, “Du Qingyu, Qi Shuyun’s cousin.”

Bai Lian knew who Qi Shuyun was.

Hearing Xu Wenyao’s words, she first looked at Xue Chun and Xu Wenyao.

Then she lowered her head to glance indifferently at Du Qingyu. With Xiao Wu and the others here, Xue Chun wasn’t hurt. Bai Lian put the book back, saying casually: “Fine, I won’t handle it then, you deal with it.”

Xu Wenyao looked grimly at Du Qingyu on the ground, knowing Bai Lian was giving him face, “Don’t worry.”

Bai Lian left with Xue Chun and Xiao Wu.

After apologizing to Chen Hong, Xu Wenyao drove back to the Xu house alone.

**

In Mingfeng District, at the Xu residence.

Xu Zhiyue had only returned from the hotel near Jianjing University in the afternoon. Old Madam Xu had only invited the Qi family for dinner.

Both families wanted to repair relations.

But now the main hall was very serious.

Xu Wenyao looked at Mr. Qi neither humbly nor arrogantly, “Du Qingyu stalked them first, police found records of their stalking.”

Old Madam Xu hurriedly stood up with her cane, interrupting Xu Wenyao, “Wenyao, what are you saying? We’re all family, it’s just a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding.”

As she spoke, she gave Xu Wenyao a meaningful look.

But Xu Wenyao remained unmoved.

Mr. Qi put down his phone. He wore glasses and had a scholarly appearance, but always looked at the Xu family with disdain. “If that’s the case, Old Madam, I think there’s no need for our families to associate anymore.”

Behind him, Qi Shuyun also pursed her lips while looking at Xu Wenyao, her gaze full of disappointment. “My mother just wanted to talk to that bar woman, we didn’t even count them beating Qingyu. Xu Wenyao, you’ve really changed.”

Xu Wenyao calmly looked up, “You broke the law first.”

This time he truly showed no mercy at all.

Qi Shuyun pressed her lips together, “Fine, fine, Xu Wenyao, don’t regret this.”

She turned and left decisively.

Mr. Qi watched his daughter leave, finally glancing at Xu Wenyao, “That bar woman is Bai Lian’s friend? You want to cut ties with the Qi family for them?”

Hearing Bai Lian’s name, the marginalized Ji Mulan’s face darkened, looking up uneasily. Bai Lian did have many unsavory friends – back in North City they were all good-for-nothings.

Xu Wenyao frowned, “You’re a scholar, Lian’s friends aren’t just ‘bar women.’”

Mr. Qi looked at him coldly but said nothing more, leaving directly.

“Mr. Qi, Shuyun!” Old Madam chased after them to explain.

But the Qi family didn’t listen to the Old Madam this time, driving away directly.

When Old Madam Xu returned, she seemed to have aged a decade. She looked at Xu Wenyao, “Do you know Shuyun is going to be Doctor Zuo’s student? And yesterday she attended Miss Liu’s gathering. For some woman from who knows where, you…”

“That’s Lian’s friend.” Xu Wenyao looked at Old Madam Xu.

“What kind of friends does she make?” Top scorer in the college entrance exam was just a title – to Old Madam Xu, how could that compare to Third Young Master Xu and Miss Liu? “Do you know what opportunities our Xu family has lost because of your decision? Go kneel in the back, and tomorrow you’ll come with me to the Qi house!”

No matter how clever Bai Lian was, she was just a college entrance exam top scorer, not yet established. Old Chen might not even return to Jianjing, and she could be crushed at any time.

Speaking of this, Old Madam Xu’s gaze swept over Ji Mulan.

Xu En stood up and looked at Xu Wenyao, “Go upstairs and check on Zhiyue.”

After Xu Wenyao left, Xu En lowered his head to address Old Madam, “Mom, stay at home these next few days, don’t go out.”

Over the past half year, Xu En’s authority in the Xu corporation had far surpassed the Old Madam’s.

Even Old Madam couldn’t sway his decisions anymore.

After speaking, he left with Ji Mulan.

Assistant Xu stayed a step behind Xu En. He had followed Bai Lian to Black Water Street before. Seeing the Old Madam like this, he paused, “Old Madam.”

Old Madam Xu gripped her prayer beads and looked up coldly.

“You should be grateful,” Assistant Xu glanced at her and said softly, “That Young Master handled this today. If it had been Miss Bai…”

He stopped there, lowering his eyes and politely bidding farewell to Old Madam Xu without continuing.

Then he went out to catch up with Xu En.

Old Madam Xu was startled. Assistant Xu was a clever person, valued highly by Xu En – he wouldn’t say such things without reason. “Butler Xu, what did Assistant Xu mean?”