ATLAS TRANSLATES

On the weekend. The house manager hadn’t mentioned coming beforehand, so Ji Shaojun was surprised to see him at the door. “Today is Ah Lian’s first day of school. I need to take her there.”

The Ji family always paid attention to every detail of Bai Lian’s life. Before, the Ji family didn’t have such a warm atmosphere. Ji Heng always stayed alone on Qingshui Street. For the entire Ji family, everything had been cold and distant. Ji Shaojun would just take his easel to teach students. Ji Shaorong barely came home, and Ren Wanxuan wasn’t close with the whole Ji family.

Bai Lian seemed sent from heaven, connecting the two cold families together. Ji Heng had gained some vitality, with children running around in his courtyard all day. People in Xiangcheng always believed that no matter how far Xiangcheng’s children flew, the city’s wind would protect them. How coincidental that Bai Lian’s surname was also Bai.

The house manager glanced at Ji Shaojun. He knew that Ji Shaojun valued his niece Bai Lian greatly. “She must have a lot of things for school. Let Xiao Jie drive you there. We happened to prepare the business car today. Also, the young miss mentioned she wants to treat the master and Miss Bai to dinner first.”

Ji Heng had been staying at Shanhai Apartments since arriving. The house manager only learned a few days ago that Ji Heng had come to Jiangjing.

“I’ll go by myself,” Ji Shaojun thought for a moment. Today was Jiang University’s first day, and Jiangjing Avenue would definitely be congested. The subway would be faster than driving. “I’ll take the subway.”

The Jiangjing subway was always crowded. Xiao Jie took Ji Shaojun to the subway station and looked hesitantly at the entrance across the street. “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you?”

“No need.” Ji Shaojun checked the time on his phone, said goodbye to the house manager, and walked directly to the subway across the street. It was still some distance to Jiang University.

As they got closer to the university town, the subway became packed with cheerful parents taking their children to register for school. All the major universities had synchronized registration times.

When Ji Shaojun got off at the Jiang University station, there was even a reception desk set up for new students. They were guiding new students to the school.

Ji Shaojun felt such a lively atmosphere for the first time. After leaving the station, this section of Jiangjing Avenue was completely jammed. Looking at the sun overhead, he walked with light steps toward Shanhai Apartments.

** Shanhai Apartments. Room 303.

In Bai Lian’s room, Shen Qing circled around her suitcase. “Is this all you’re bringing? Are you taking your instrument?”

Even back in Xiangcheng, Bai Lian never lived in the dorms. Although she had rented a place off campus now, Bai Lian still had to follow the dormitory regulations. Shen Qing was helping her pack and felt she wasn’t bringing enough.

Bai Lian lounged lazily by the windowsill. The curtains were drawn back and the window was slightly open. The light was quite strong now. “It’s just registration day. I won’t bring the instrument yet.”

The light illuminated the floating dust in the room, creating a clear path. She squinted as she watched Shen Qing count the items in her suitcase. Everything felt peaceful.

“Alright then. When is Hehe coming back?” Shen Qing paused halfway through packing and suddenly looked up at Bai Lian. “Is Xiao Jiang not coming back today either?”

“I don’t know.” Bai Lian’s gaze drifted to the courtyard below. Ji Heng wasn’t used to Jiangjing’s climate yet. He had set up a wooden umbrella in his small yard, casting a patch of shade.

She stared at the umbrella, but her focus seemed elsewhere. The practice problems Jiang Fuli left for Ning Xiao and the others weren’t difficult for her. Recently she’d been supervising their practice, working on songs requested by Dean Jian and the others, reading papers and reviewing the notebook Master Ma left her. She’d been keeping busy.

But since coming to Jiangjing, Jiang Fuli had been present for everything she did. Even back in Xiangcheng, he would usually accompany her walking through the small alleys of Qingshui Street at night. Sometimes when she studied until dawn, she would occasionally send him a problem or two, and he would always respond promptly. But for the past half month, he and He Wen’s group seemed to have vanished completely. They would only come online to reply to messages at specific times.

In the past, she could brave the hell realm alone, weather countless storms by herself.

Just then, in her line of sight, Ji Shaojun appeared carrying a small bag. Bai Lian snapped back to attention. She turned to look at Shen Qing and smiled lazily, “Uncle is here.”

Shen Qing went downstairs to call Ji Shaojun. Bai Lian picked up her phone nearby and slowly unlocked it, opening WeChat. Class 15’s group chat was bustling with activity, with Lu Lingxi also chatting with everyone.

Bai Lian’s gaze moved to two conversation boxes above. She opened one – her last conversation with Jiang Fuli was on the 20th. She took a photo of the cabbage growing well downstairs in the sunlight and sent it to him, slowly typing a few words—

[School’s starting]

At summer’s end, clouds float in the sunlight. The scene below the window reflects the heart’s feelings. I wonder if you are well?

** 303 Living Room. Ning Xiao’s luggage was already packed. Tang Ming’s parents had arrived a few days ago and were staying at a nearby guesthouse. Today they would take Tang Ming to school. Since no one was taking Ning Xiao, he would go with Bai Lian.

Lu Xiaoxiao would start school in a couple days. Her parents had already arrived and were currently touring Jiangjing. Right now she was holding a camera, planning to film Bai Lian’s journey into school.

Ning Xiao didn’t have much stuff. He planned to get bedding from the school office. He would buy other items from the school store.

Shen Qing had prepared many things for Bai Lian, buying daily necessities days ago. With so many people, they weren’t worried about having too many heavy items.

Today was the first day of registration, and many cars were already parked at Jiang University’s entrance. Worried it would get even more crowded later, Shen Qing and Ji Heng decided to take Bai Lian to register now.

Even though they lived right next to Jiang University, they wanted to formally send her off to school. Bai Lian went along with Shen Qing and Ji Heng’s excitement, cooperating fully.

At Jiang University’s entrance, the Tang family had already arrived. Tang Ming wore a baseball cap and excitedly waved from afar when he saw Bai Lian. “Sister Lian, genius, over here!”

Before he could finish speaking, he noticed Ming Dongheng behind Bai Lian, wearing sunglasses and coolly carrying Bai Lian’s largest black suitcase which contained some of her books. It was quite heavy.

While Bai Lian and Shen Qing’s group seemed approachable, Ming Dongheng was a cold, intimidating figure who kept others at a distance. Upon seeing Ming Dongheng, Tang Ming lowered his hand and stopped waving.

“What are you getting worked up about?” Lu Xiaoxiao had finished greeting the Tang family when she saw Tang Ming’s extremely serious expression.

After Mrs. Tang finished greeting Bai Lian and Lu Xiaoxiao, she pinched Lu Xiaoxiao’s cheek and glanced at Tang Ming, “Xiaoxiao, don’t mind him. He’s always going on about ‘no need’.”

The large group appeared on campus. They immediately drew attention – everyone had striking looks and presence, especially Bai Lian in her new jade-green dress made by Ji Heng.

Three-quarter sleeves revealed a small section of her porcelain wrists. The sunlight shining on her jade-green clothes was dazzlingly bright. Green is usually hard to pull off, but it suited her perfectly, making her skin appear even more fair. Her long eyelashes drooped lazily. This kind of bold yet reserved beauty was devastating.

Not only the various department reception desks, but even new students and their parents couldn’t help but look her way. They whispered among themselves.

Asking if she was some celebrity, noting the man in black T-shirt standing behind her. Though he wore sunglasses, it was clear he was scanning the surroundings. He looked like one of those well-trained bodyguards you see on TV. For a moment, no one dared approach.

Bai Lian and the other three were in the same major. Tang Ming spotted the Physics Department sign among the crowd of signs like a bustling market. “Over there!”

The Physics Department staff had just been wondering if this girl was some newly signed celebrity when they saw her walking toward their direction. A crew-cut male student looked at Tang Ming, Ning Xiao and Bai Lian, stammering, “You… you’re all in the Physics Department?”

“Yeah.” Tang Ming smiled.

The crew-cut student looked at Bai Lian standing lazily behind Tang Ming, his smile refusing to fade. He warmly addressed Bai Lian over Tang Ming: “Junior, I’m Gu Xiaoge, second year Physics major and member of the Student Union Organization Department. Come on, I’ll take you to register at the department! Do you have any luggage?”

Tang Ming: “…”

Under the envious gazes of other Physics Department members, Gu Xiaoge led Bai Lian’s group to register.

Behind them. The upperclassmen waiting for other new students discussed while watching Bai Lian’s group leave.

“Isn’t she prettier than Senior Ming?” “Remove the ‘isn’t’.” “Wait, doesn’t that junior look like the girl who went viral on our school forum last year?” Someone took out their phone to check, “It really is her! She got into our university, and Physics Department too?” “Physics Department? Is she that intense?” “Intense – this year’s top scorer is even more intense. Good thing I took the exam last year, otherwise being in the same year as these people…”

** The registration area was in the grand hall. At this time there weren’t many people, with just a few new students queuing at each department’s desk.

Ji Heng and Tang Ming’s parents stood waiting nearby. Ji Shaojun told Ji Heng about Qi Muyi Ning wanting to treat them to dinner.

“Dinner…” Ji Heng pondered briefly, suddenly remembering something, “They don’t know Ah Lian is at Jiang University now, right?”

Ji Shaojun nodded, “They don’t know.”

If the house manager was already this warm toward Ji Shaojun, how would he act if he knew about Bai Lian? Ji Heng thought pensively, holding a bag containing Bai Lian’s backpack: “Tell them tonight.”

Nearby, Gu Xiaoge took them to the Physics Department registration desk, briefing the three new students in advance, “Have your ID cards and admission notices ready.”

There were still two people ahead. Gu Xiaoge chatted easily with the Physics Department Student Union members, “These three are from Beicheng, all got into our school.”

He then introduced Bai Lian and Ning Xiao, “This is our department’s third-year senior and our Student Union’s President Bai. Hehe, hope you all can pass the Student Union selection. Don’t worry, junior.”

“President Bai,” Gu Xiaoge turned to ask Bai Shiming, “Isn’t that Liang Wuyu also in our department? Let us know when you see him – we must get him into our Student Union.”

“Not yet.” The Student Union President finished registering the previous person’s information and took Tang Ming’s ID and test admission ticket, entering Tang Ming’s ID number and admission ticket information into the computer for verification.

Seeing Tang Ming’s exam scores, he looked up at Tang Ming and smiled, “Welcome to the university.”

Next was Ning Xiao. Bai Shiming paused when he saw Ning Xiao’s scores. After completing the registration, he took the initiative, “Ning, add my WeChat. It’ll be easier to find me if you need anything.”

He took out his phone. Ning Xiao added him.

Seeing this, Gu Xiaoge glanced at Ning Xiao. Bai Lian stood at the back, without an admission notice, only presenting her ID and test admission ticket.

Nearby, Gu Xiaoge chatted with the talkative Tang Ming, “It’s not easy getting into Jiang University in your year, junior. There are two monsters above.”

“Ah,” Tang Ming scratched his head, “Really?”

Bai Shiming took Bai Lian’s ID and admission ticket and entered them into the computer. The Physics Department had few female students, so he looked at Bai Lian more carefully, noting that her ID was from Xiangcheng like the two male students before her. He pressed enter.

He saw Bai Lian’s entrance score— 750.

He had known this year’s top scorer exceeded Liang Wuyu. Many thought Liang Wuyu had made a mistake this year, but he only now learned she had surpassed him with a perfect score. Bai Shiming couldn’t help but look up.

Bai Lian raised an eyebrow. She stood in front, fingers leisurely tapping her phone screen, lazy eyes falling on him.

Bai Shiming was the first to directly experience it – from the perfect score top student, from the senior master, this kind of pressure that stood at the peak looking down on all— A gaze that commanded all under heaven.