ATLAS TRANSLATES

The manager respectfully led Xiao Bingwen inside.

He had just gone downstairs to prepare the cake when he saw Jiang Fuli’s profile, dimly lit by the lights. The relaxed smile on his face disappeared. “Young Master Jiang,” he greeted.

Jiang Fuli lazily tilted his head, his pale eyes sweeping over Xiao Bingwen. His usually imposing phoenix eyes were gentler today as he nodded slightly at Xiao Bingwen before continuing to watch Bai Lian take photos.

Xiao Bingwen sat tensely beside Xu Nanjing, not daring to look around. He asked quietly, “Why are they all in Jiangjing?”

He was referring to Lu Xiaohan and the others.

“They all got into schools in Jiangjing,” Xu Nanjing replied. Lu Xiaohan had told him she got into the Media University.

“How are they all such good students?” Xiao Bingwen was surprised.

The Xu family had been busy with the old master’s birthday celebration lately. With the recent partnership deals, Xiao Bingwen hadn’t had time to rest. He was here today helping plan Bai Lian’s birthday.

As they were talking, Jiang Fuli checked his phone – Ji Shaojun said they had arrived.

He turned off his phone and went to open the door.

Xu Nanjing also stood up, saying softly, “It should be Sister Ah Lian’s grandfather arriving.”

Once Jiang Fuli left, Xiao Bingwen relaxed and stood up, looking at the private room door. “Miss Bai’s grandfather?”

Soon after, the door opened again.

A group of people entered from outside.

Two elderly men walked in front – one with his hands behind his back, the other holding a pipe, chatting with each other.

Behind them followed the steady Ji Shaojun and a nervous-looking Shen Qing.

Jiang Fuli was speaking quietly with the manager.

Looking at Ji Heng and then at Director Jian who was chatting happily with Ji Heng, Xu Nanjing took a moment to process it.

He knew Director Jian. His mother had worked hard to get an introduction through Old Master Chen, but in the end Bai Lian already knew him personally.

He was a representative figure in Chinese traditional music.

So the person next to him must be Bai Lian’s grandfather?

Why did he seem so familiar with Director Jian too?

The two were chatting and laughing like old friends who truly understood each other.

[Continuing with seamless translation without breaks…]

When the two approached, Xu Nanjing finally reacted. He put down his wine glass. “Director Jian, Grandfather Ji, Uncle Ji, Auntie, hello, I’m Xu Nanjing.”

The private room was brightly lit.

Bai Lian, who was taking photos with Jiang He and helping Lu Xiaohan, seemed to sense something and looked over. She immediately spotted Ji Heng and Shen Qing.

She had left Xiangcheng at the end of June and hadn’t seen Ji Heng for a month and a half, only video calling.

They had video called just two nights ago, with Ji Heng still in his familiar courtyard.

Unexpectedly, he appeared in Jiangjing today. Bai Lian stood up. “Grandfather?”

At her call, Lu Xiaohan turned around surprised. Upon seeing Ji Heng, she put down her camera and ran over excitedly. “Grandfather, Grandfather, why are you here!”

“Mm.” Ji Heng, usually stern, showed a rare smile. He greeted Lu Xiaohan before looking at Bai Lian – she hadn’t lost weight and seemed in good spirits.

He nodded.

Finally, he looked down at Jiang He beside Bai Lian and smiled again. “You’ve grown taller.”

Tang Ming and Ning Xiao also hadn’t seen Director Jian and Ji Heng for a long time. “Grandfather, Director Jian.”

Compared to the reserved Bai Lian, Lu Xiaohan was sunny and outgoing. She hugged Ji Heng’s arm that wasn’t holding the pipe. “Grandfather, how long are you staying this time? Is there hope for my Warring States robe?”

“Warring States robe?” Ji Heng looked at her with interest.

“Grandfather Jian and I want to make a video that needs a Warring States period robe,” Lu Xiaohan explained. “I haven’t been able to find what I want online.”

As she spoke, Director Jian added, “That’s right.”

The group gathered together and chatted casually.

Beside Xu Nanjing, Xiao Bingwen finally came to his senses. He didn’t know Ji Heng, but…

“Nanjing,” he looked at the elderly man with his back turned, standing straight with a strong artistic aura and naturally commanding presence. “That’s Director Jian, right?”

He knew Liu Shuhe well, so naturally recognized Director Jian.

In his impression, even with Liu Shuhe, Director Jian maintained a strict attitude. His requirements for students were very high. Though he had carefully selected his three students, Director Jian still wasn’t completely satisfied with them and remained stern.

Besides classes, it was impossible for his students to even invite Director Jian for meals.

How was he here today?

“Yes,” Xu Nanjing had met Director Jian before and wasn’t surprised. What surprised him was why Ji Heng, Lu Xiaohan and the others were so familiar with Director Jian. “Sister Ah Lian plays the guzheng well. She and Director Jian are friends despite their age difference.”

Now Xiao Bingwen was truly surprised. “Friends despite their age difference?”

Was Bai Lian that good at playing the guzheng?

He couldn’t help but look at Bai Lian and the people around her.

Lu Xiaohan put down her camera, having found out that Ji Heng would stay here for a long time. “So you’ll be staying long-term?”

“I’ll stay for a while.” Ji Heng put down his pipe.

Everyone sat around the tea table.

Xiao Bingwen sat beside Xu Nanjing, with Director Jian across from him and Jiang Fuli also at the table. He felt quite uncomfortable, while Lu Xiaohan, Ning Xiao and their group seemed much more at ease.

They called Jiang Fuli “Brother Jiang” and Director Jian “Grandfather Jian.”

Even if he told others in their social circle about this, they probably wouldn’t believe it.

Outside the private room, the manager brought in two more people.

One with yellow hair, one with red hair.

The scene was quite lively.

Lu Xiaohan looked up and saw Mao Kun and Xiao Wu. “Brother Mao, you’re a bit late. Xiao Qi didn’t come?”

She looked behind them but didn’t see Xiao Qi.

Xu Nanjing put down his wine glass and looked at the yellow-haired one in the middle, immediately recognizing him as the spirited young man he had seen once from afar at the Qingshui Street intersection.

Why was he in Jiangjing too?

“Ah, Director Jin came, he’s settling in those masters.” Mao Kun wore slippers and casually greeted Bai Lian and Ji Heng. “Grandfather, Sister.”

Mao Kun often competed with Director Chen for washing bowls.

Ji Heng had a deep impression of him. In his eyes, these were all lively younger generation.

“You’re working in Jiangjing now?” Ji Heng asked Mao Kun to sit down quickly.

Having just arrived in Jiangjing to such liveliness, surrounded by the children’s chattering voices, Ji Heng’s smile was very apparent.

When Director Chen came with his wine that he had collected for decades, the group was sitting together lively.

His status was now very different. After returning this time, his promotion to head of Yunxiao District was certain.

Of course, Director Chen had good timing. After Yunxiao District’s strict crackdown, leadership was replaced from top to bottom. With his achievements at this time, submitting a report to return was perfect timing to take over the top position.

Xiao Bingwen naturally knew this. His father now wanted to join his faction.

He quickly stood up and politely greeted Director Chen. “Director Chen.”

Director Chen nodded at Xiao Bingwen, then after greeting Jiang Fuli, Ji Heng and Bai Lian’s group, he said to Ji Heng: “Uncle Ji, we must have a good drink together today.”

Indeed, they hadn’t seen each other for a long time.

The group chatted extensively.

Bai Lian had Jiang He on her left and Jiang Fuli on her right, while beside Jiang He was Shen Qing, who was peeling shrimp for Bai Lian and Jiang He.

“They want me to take over the branch.” Ji Shaojun sat beside Shen Qing, telling Ji Heng about recent developments.

Ji Heng held his wine glass and nodded at this news. “It should have been yours anyway.”

Ji Shaojun poured wine. “They want to hold an ancestral recognition ceremony.”

After taking Ji Shaojun out for a trip last time, most people in their circle knew of his existence.

“What ceremony?” Director Chen was always very interested in Bai Lian’s family matters and looked up when he heard Ji Shaojun speak.

“Not sure yet,” Ji Shaojun looked at Director Chen. “I’ll tell you when it’s confirmed.”

He spoke briefly about this before returning to the topic of fishing.

Meanwhile, Director Jian was discussing the guzheng with Bai Lian. “‘The Great Desert’ – I think you could play it.”

Bai Lian held her chopsticks, her expression lazy. “Can’t practice it, can’t capture her feeling.”

“Her?” Director Jian didn’t understand who Bai Lian meant by “her,” but continued his usual topic: “See how high your standards are for yourself? You really suit our guzheng school. Sure you won’t consider taking over?”

Bai Lian remained silent.

Across from Director Jian, Xiao Bingwen couldn’t help himself – taking over as a leader in guzheng? Just how talented was Bai Lian?

As they talked, beside Ning Xiao, Jiang Fuli also put down his chopsticks and lowered his head to quietly ask Ning Xiao and Tang Ming, “Have you signed your contracts?”

His tone always carried a kind of casual detachment.

“Signed with the Physics Department,” Ning Xiao answered.

Jiang Fuli nodded slightly. His wrist rested on the glass table, pale fingers tapping intermittently.

The sound wasn’t loud but made Ning Xiao and Tang Ming tense.

After a while, Jiang Fuli spoke. “You know about Jiang University’s Tongfeng class, right?”

Tang Ming wasn’t very clear, but Ning Xiao, who had been in the provincial team, had heard of it. Being clever, he understood Jiang Fuli’s meaning as soon as he mentioned this.

“Brother Jiang, you mean…”

“Mm,” Jiang Fuli’s tapping fingers stopped, his voice light and casual. “I collected previous years’ questions for you last night. Tomorrow you’ll do the problems.”

Though it was summer break, Tang Ming and Ning Xiao hadn’t stopped practicing problems.

While Bai Lian was frequenting libraries in Jiangjing, the two of them had reached the overall rankings in Xiangcheng with their points.

For them, practicing problems had become normal.

Siwei Club had many entertainments. Xu Nanjing had originally wanted to invite more people to liven up the atmosphere, but Jiang Fuli had said the Ji family didn’t like too much excitement. So Xu Nanjing didn’t invite others, not even Gao Yan, only bringing her gift.

During the festivities, Xiao Bingwen quietly went out and helped the manager bring in the cake.

A four-tier cake.

It was decorated with lifelike rose petals on top.

The lights were turned off, leaving only the candle flames on the cake burning.

Bai Lian stood in front of the cake, the candlelight making her face hazy. She looked at the cake while hearing Lu Xiaohan and Tang Ming’s voices.

Jiang Fuli stood across from her, quietly watching her through the candlelight.

Since she came to Xiangcheng, she had met Jiang He.

Lived on Qingshui Street.

Then transferred her household registration and stayed in Class 15.

Since coming to Xiangcheng, all these people were still around, none missing except Zhang Shize. Everything else had passed like scenes in a galloping horse show.

Meanwhile.

Downstairs.

Assistant Yun parked the car and looked back at Academician Ma in the back seat. “Academician Ma, is this the place?”

As he spoke, Assistant Yun looked at Siwei Club’s nine steps. Though he liked to join Academician Ma for tea breaks during academic lectures, he hadn’t seen this kind of scene before.

Always in Chang’an District, but with Yunxiao District’s recent big events, Assistant Yun had heard about it too.

Academician Ma had just finished work. For researchers, finishing work at eleven or twelve at night was normal.

Today he had left the research institute early.

“This is it,” Academician Ma looked at the Siwei Club building, then checked the address Jiang Fuli had given him before telling Assistant Yun: “Wait for me here, I’ll just deliver something and come back down.”

He picked up an aged black notebook and a USB drive from beside him and got out of the car.