ATLAS TRANSLATES

Back when Mu Qiong didn’t return from the snow mountain, the Dong family was very understanding. They let Mu Shao take the Mu family name and join their family registry.

Mu Shao indeed leaned more towards the Mu family’s way of linear thinking.

“She studied calligraphy?” The Mu family didn’t pay much attention to such matters. Butler Lou hadn’t asked much about Wan Xuan’s background. Mu Yining smiled as she listened to Dong Xiaobai for a while before explaining her meaning, “When will you come back? Take some time to meet with Shao Jun and the others.”

Ji Shaojun was also studying painting before this, so he had common topics with Dong Xiaobai.

“Alright, I understand,” Dong Xiaobai smiled.

“It seems your family really appreciates Wan Xuan?” Mu Yining could tell he was in a good mood.

“Not exactly. Many in our family write well, and Wan Xuan’s style and technique are quite lacking,” Dong Xiaobai paused briefly before continuing seriously, “But she is your niece.”

They only had one son, Mu Shao, and since Wan Xuan was considered Mu Yining’s niece, he naturally treated her more leniently, with some bias.

After hanging up the phone, Mu Yining’s brows furrowed slightly.

Wan Xuan was different from Ji Shaojun and Shen Qing. Although Shen Qing openly displayed her worldliness, she was also terrifyingly clear-headed and hadn’t done anything inappropriate since coming to Jiangjiang.

Butler Lou looked at Mu Yining and reassured her, “Don’t worry, Miss Wan should be fine.”

“I hope so,” Mu Yining pressed her brow, “But I really hadn’t expected that she happened to have studied calligraphy, coincidentally hitting the Dong family’s sweet spot.”

“Many people from Xiangcheng study calligraphy.”

—

The problem left by Academician Ma was quite difficult.

Even Bai Lian took two days to barely calculate it.

On Friday, Ding Wenyang, Ning Xiao, and Bai Lian’s group were still eating at the cafeteria next to the Physics building.

She habitually wore one Bluetooth earphone, listening to professional terms and academic texts being read at a slow pace while eating.

Ning Xiao sat on her left, while Xu Zhiyue sat on her right.

At the table, mainly Ning Xiao and Liang Wuyu were discussing the quantum theory paper. Ding Wenyang listened from the side, growing increasingly surprised. The team had discovered that although these two had taken the college entrance exam like everyone else, they weren’t any weaker than anyone in the national team.

Ning Xiao had rigorous logic, while Liang Wuyu was clearly very familiar with various experiments and papers.

The two worked well together, and there was no need to worry about their literature reports during team meetings.

This put pressure on Ding Wenyang and the others.

“With you two here,” Ding Wenyang took a sip of soup, “our literature report next week will definitely get a B.”

“Yes, with Bai Lian doing the presentation,” another person looked up and thought, “as long as you don’t get nervous in front of Professor Zhou and the others and can handle the pressure, B+ is simple.”

After these days together, they could naturally see that among these five people – Xu Zhiyue, Ning Xiao, and Tang Ming all followed Bai Lian’s lead.

Ding Wenyang looked at Bai Lian thoughtfully.

“It’s already Friday. Let’s try to finish all the literature review this weekend. Also, don’t forget one thing,” Ding Wenyang remembered Academician Ma’s problem and couldn’t eat anymore, “that topology problem – do you all have any ideas?”

Xu Zhiyue shook her head.

Liang Wuyu slowly picked at the vegetables in his bowl, “Solved a bit, but stuck halfway.”

Wang Xin looked up, “I have no ideas either.”

Tang Ming glanced at Bai Lian. She held her chopsticks in one hand while casually scrolling her phone with the other, eyes downcast, making no comment.

He lowered his head and continued eating his rice without saying anything.

After finishing lunch, they arrived at 307.

Tang Ming finally took out his backpack from under the table, retrieved his rough solution process, walked to the middle, and handed it to Ding Wenyang.

Ding Wenyang was talking with other team members, while Wang Xin was discussing the topology problem with Gao Yuan and others in front.

He was stunned for a moment when receiving the A4 paper from Tang Ming before realizing it was for the topology problem.

“Study it yourself first,” Tang Ming told him, “I’ll go back to review the literature.”

Ding Wenyang spent the whole noon calculating with paper and pen, still not completely finished. Before afternoon electromagnetics class, he looked up in shock and moved his position from the middle to beside Tang Ming.

Tang Ming was collecting data on his computer. Seeing Ding Wenyang move over, he looked up and greeted: “Hi, brother.”

—

Weekend.

Bai Lian, Ning Xiao, and the others didn’t stay at school. Every weekend Zhang Shize would come back, and Shen Qing would also come over from the neighboring district.

The Shanhai Apartments would be very lively at this time.

Shen Qing held a measuring tape, taking Bai Lian’s measurements.

“You’ve lost weight,” Shen Qing measured Bai Lian’s waistline while recording the measurements.

Jiang Fuli sat on the sofa wearing a white shirt, his fingers casually resting on the armrest. Without cufflinks, his sleeves were rolled up twice, revealing slightly bony wrists, his phoenix eyes raised lazily.

His other hand held a teacup. Hearing this, he nodded in agreement.

Ji Heng and Jiang He sat on the small carpet beside them playing Go. Jiang He casually placed a piece and then looked up at Ji Heng. Ji Heng held a black piece, expressionlessly looking at Jiang He: “…”

Beside them, Bai Lian had finished being measured. Ji Heng handed the black piece to her and took the measurements Shen Qing had recorded. “Alian, you’re performing with a spear, right? Any requirements for the costume?”

Bai Lian bent down, unhurriedly placed the black piece on the board, and deliberately took another one, “White would be good, keeping it simple.”

White?

Ji Heng had originally planned to prepare a red performance outfit for her.

“Alright.” Ji Heng walked to the courtyard, lowered his eyes to light his pipe, thinking about the performance outfit.

By the glass door, Bai Lian sat cross-legged opposite Jiang He, holding the last black piece between her middle and index fingers, making her fingers appear even more fair. She placed the black piece in position, saying unhurriedly: “Little Bird Jiang, watch carefully.”

“This move is called the Cabbage Formation.”

Across from her, Jiang He: “…”

Beside them, Jiang Fuli on the sofa put down his teacup and came over to appreciate Bai Lian’s Cabbage Formation, “Not bad, use this next time.”

Speaking of cabbage, Shen Qing asked Ji Heng: “Is the cabbage in the flower pot outside ready to eat?”

“…”

After finishing the game with Jiang He, Bai Lian looked down at her phone – there was a friend message.

Ding Wenyang.

Ding Wenyang: [File]

Ding Wenyang: [You’re a Jian Shen fan too!]

He sent the literature that the research group needed to discuss. Bai Lian told Ji Heng she was going to the third floor – she needed to start working on the PowerPoint for Ding Wenyang’s file.

After she left, Ji Heng added some tobacco to his pipe.

His gaze turned to Jiang Fuli.

Jiang Fuli came out holding Jiang He’s Rubik’s cube.

“What did she say?” Ji Heng was asking about whether Bai Lian would attend the full-month celebration.

He felt that Bai Lian’s family relationships were distant, and she got along well with those friends. Ji Heng couldn’t help thinking that after he passed away and all of Bai Lian’s friends had their own families, how many people would still be by her side then.

Xu Wenyao and Xu Zhiyue got along well with Bai Lian.

Ji Heng hoped that Ji Mulan’s child would get along with Bai Lian, so she wouldn’t be left completely alone.

“She has a welcome party at the end of the month,” Jiang Fuli casually turned Jiang He’s Rubik’s cube in his hands, “If she can’t make it, she won’t go.”

“When is the welcome party?” Ji Heng wanted to go watch too.

“The afternoon of the 30th.” Bai Lian didn’t know the time yet, but Jiang Fuli had already found out in advance.

Ji Heng blew out a smoke ring, the smoke spiraling upward, “I’ll tell Xu En.”

—

Study.

When Jiang Fuli came in, Bai Lian had just opened PowerPoint, with only the words “Quantum Theory” written on the cover.

“Literature report?” Jiang Fuli leaned on the desk, bent slightly, thought for a moment, “I have a template, I’ll copy it to you. You can just fill in the content.”

Researchers often needed to make reports, so Jiang Fuli wasn’t surprised.

He was used to his own set of templates, simple and clear.

Jiang Fuli took out his computer and sent his usual literature report PowerPoint template to Bai Lian. He sat in Bai Lian’s spot, turned his head slightly, “Let me demonstrate it for you.”

He opened the data report compiled by Ding Wenyang, Liang Wuyu, and the others.

Just glancing at the abstract, his brows furrowed.

He would criticize He Wen’s papers for a long time, but looking at what Ding Wenyang, Ning Xiao, and Liang Wuyu had compiled made him question his own understanding.

Bai Lian leaned against him watching his operation, catching his expression in her peripheral vision, “…They’re only freshmen, Professor Jiang.”

Jiang Fuli kept a stern face as he filled in the PowerPoint, pointing to a copied line, “Look, this data is a textbook error.”

Bai Lian: “…”

Jiang Fuli finished the entire PowerPoint and stood up to give Bai Lian the seat, “Want to try?”

“I won’t change yours,” Bai Lian sat down and opened the paper Academician Ma gave her, “I’ll try with this one.”

Jiang Fuli took a look – spatial two-photon state amplitude.

It was clearly from Academician Ma.

He put one hand in his pocket, watching Bai Lian write the abstract and conclusion, finally feeling his eyes had been cleansed, “Very well written.”

—

Tuesday morning was Academician Ma’s class.

Ding Wenyang’s group had completely mixed in with Tang Ming. Early in the morning, he brought A4 papers to 407 – they had to submit their answers to Academician Ma today.

He specifically waited at the entrance for Bai Lian and Tang Ming’s group.

“Wang Xin, how’s your problem solving going?” As soon as Ding Wenyang came in, he went to where Wang Xin was sitting with Gao Yuan, where several people were quietly discussing something.

Seeing Bai Lian and Ding Wenyang, they stopped and greeted them.

Wang Xin stood up to explain, “No clue at all.”

Ding Wenyang’s expression changed slightly. Wang Xin was the genius of their group, but these past few days, while Liang Wuyu and Tang Ming had been sharing their understanding of Academician Ma’s topology problem, Wang Xin had barely spoken.

Everyone wanted to leave a good impression on Academician Ma. Though he definitely wasn’t taking students now, just one recommendation letter from him would open doors anywhere.

Ding Wenyang looked at Wang Xin but said nothing more.

Friday.

At 7 PM, it was Tongfeng Class’s bi-weekly meeting and public literature report.

Tongfeng Class was very popular on the forum.

Countless alumni had inquired about where Tongfeng Class’s bi-weekly meetings were held.

“It’s in the lecture hall of the Comprehensive Building,” Kong Wei and Yu Simin both brought their phones since Jiangda had basically no classes on Friday nights. “People from the school paper are going to report on it, and many people on the forum want to go cheer you on. We’re going to cheer for you too.”

She specifically brought her hand flower.

Bai Lian took her computer and went to the lecture hall with them.

—

School of Finance Building.

Bai Shaoqi was discussing promotion for the welcome party with student union members when Song Min looked at his phone and stood up from the study room with his books.

“Where are you going?” Bai Shaoqi followed with her phone.

Song Min said quietly, “Physics Comprehensive Building lecture hall. Tongfeng Class is having their public meeting today.”

Tongfeng Class? Bai Shaoqi paused slightly – the class Bai Lian was in?

She followed Song Min to the Physics Comprehensive Building. The lecture hall here was very large, with the tiered classroom able to hold four to five hundred people simultaneously.

Because of Bai Lian and Ning Xiao’s group, Tongfeng Class was very popular this year. The back of the tiered classroom was already full of people, all eyes on the students sitting in the middle rows.

Almost all gazes contained respect.

Everyone knew these were the intellectual ceiling of Jiangda.

Wang Xu and Pei Jin were also among the observers in the back row. Seeing Bai Shaoqi and Song Min, they recognized them and lowered their voices: “You came too?”

Jiangda school paper reporters had been filming on site.

Song Min asked about the reason for the crowd’s unusual expressions.

“See that first row? The one sitting there is Dean Huang,” Wang Xu explained to Song Min, “Dean of the Physics School, Academician Ma’s second disciple. We met him last time. He came to listen to Tongfeng Class’s meeting!”

This academic atmosphere was indeed very inspiring.

But the crowd of observers in the back could also make people nervous.

Bai Shaoqi’s gaze fell on the girl sitting in the last row.

The first group had already gone up to speak, overall neither humble nor arrogant, discussing academic papers that were basically not what normal undergraduates studied.

Dean Huang and Zhou Wenqing didn’t give them high scores, mostly C’s and D’s.

This was Bai Shaoqi’s first time hearing such reports. She turned to Song Min and said: “The scoring seems quite low. I wonder if my sister can keep up.”

Not just her, most of the observing students also wanted to know how Bai Lian and the other freshmen would perform.

Middle section, last row.

After Gao Yuan’s group finished their literature report, Dean Huang looked up and rarely nodded, “Very good, giving you a B+. This research exceeds what you can currently study.”

Bai Lian’s group was last.

However, since Gao Yuan’s group went on stage, Ding Wenyang’s group had stopped discussing.

Because Gao Yuan’s group chose the exact same topic as Ding Wenyang’s group. Not only that, they had added optimizations to Liang Wuyu and Ning Xiao’s ideas, discussing every detail and step further.

Zhou Wenqing smiled and said to Dean Huang: “On to the next group.”

Dean Huang also nodded.

In the last row, Ding Wenyang’s face turned pale. Each meeting’s grade counted toward their final score. Besides that, today there was a crowd watching and school paper reporters.

More importantly…

Zhou Wenqing and Dean Huang were both here! It was bad enough that their group had the same topic as Gao Yuan’s group, and even the same data. Worse yet, Gao Yuan’s group had optimized it.

What’s more, Gao Yuan’s group presented first, creating first impressions. Others would probably think this group had borrowed Gao Yuan’s group’s data and topic.

Ding Wenyang’s gaze fell directly on Wang Xin beside him, hands clenched tight, “I’ll go explain to Professor Zhou.”

“Will he listen to you?” Tang Ming stopped him, his brow showing visible presence, “Teachers only care about results, and we don’t have much credibility.”

“But the data is ours…” Ding Wenyang naturally knew this. The probability of choosing the same topic was basically zero, and the other side did even better than them.

This group delayed going on stage, and the observing students in the back had already started discussing the situation.

Bai Shaoqi narrowed her eyes slightly: “What’s wrong with them?”

Song Min also frowned.

In the back row, Liang Wuyu looked up. He was a bit more familiar with Zhou Wenqing, “I’ll tell Professor Zhou we won’t present this time.”

Going up to present now would be very stressful.

Bai Lian unplugged her Bluetooth earphone, took out her computer from her backpack, and stood up in her neat and clean cyan dress: “No need. When the professors ask questions later, you don’t need to answer. Leave it all to me.”

Fortunately, she had made two PowerPoints.