ATLAS TRANSLATES

“Ancient Wind Battlefield?” When Dean Jian spoke seriously, Bai Lian asked for clarification, “A stage play?”

Besides the song “Betting on Wine,” she had composed many pieces for Yan Lu, each with its own unique style.

“It’s an original play called ‘Flowers on the Tree’ by the National Theater,” Dean Jian explained the background. “It was produced before the old dean retired, but they still haven’t decided on the theme song.”

Bai Lian had heard of the National Theater. Yan Lu was currently preparing for their entrance exam.

This was true art — an original play from the old dean.

“Dean Jian,” Bai Lian withdrew her gaze, “you must be joking.”

While she used to see traditional opera performances at palace banquets, she had never watched modern theater and didn’t understand its style or form.

“What matters is the core of the drama,” Dean Jian noticed Bai Lian’s hesitation. “Theater is just another form of performance. Once you read the script, you’ll understand why I recommended you.”

Bai Lian looked up and saw the event organizers waiting nearby. She headed downstairs, “You should attend to your main business.”

As she descended, Dean Jian remained at the top of the stairs.

Bai Lian was probably one of the most difficult people he had encountered in his life.

—

The concert hall was spacious.

Bai Lian paused at the konghou exhibition booth to listen for a while before moving to the next display.

Old Hu followed behind her, only stepping forward to explain things when Bai Lian needed clarification.

His manner was extremely respectful.

He was now Dean Jian’s only assistant, and everyone who knew Dean Jian knew him.

“Mr. Hu,” a middle-aged man approached them and shook hands with Old Hu. His gaze then fell on Bai Lian, “And this is…?”

She wasn’t Liu Shuhe or anyone else he knew.

“This is Miss Bai,” Old Hu answered, then gently introduced to Bai Lian, “This is Director Li, formerly from Dean Jian’s team.”

“Hello.” Bai Lian was very polite.

Given Old Hu’s respectful attitude, even Director Li didn’t dare act superior. He looked at the exhibition booth, listened for a while, then said with surprise: “So you’re Miss Bai. I hear you studied pipa.”

He had stood there hoping to chat, and found they had much in common. Bai Lian knew quite a bit about pipa music, so they talked for a while longer.

Later, they met some people who knew Director Li well. Only then did Bai Lian excuse herself to view another exhibit.

When Professor Jia brought two students over, Director Li was preparing to go backstage.

“This is Yu Ning, whom I’ve mentioned before,” Professor Jia introduced his formal disciple. As for Bai Shaoqi, since she was only a casual student, he introduced her briefly: “This is my new summer student, Bai Shaoqi.”

Both Bai Shaoqi and Yu Ning greeted Director Li respectfully.

Before coming, Professor Jia had already explained to them that Director Li was formerly part of Dean Jian’s team, an elite member of the Cultural Bureau, and also a pipa professor at Jiang Music Academy.

Director Li maintained a formal attitude.

At such occasions, Madam Song stood beside Bai Shaoqi but didn’t participate much in the conversation.

It was clear that Professor Jia was carefully paving the way for Yu Ning. Tonight they had met many industry leaders while following him around.

As both parties were about to leave, Director Li spotted a group through the crowd.

He walked forward, smiling as he greeted them: “Principal, Miss Bai.”

Yin Chang had met Bai Lian and was discussing Jiang University matters with her, asking what she was studying. They both stopped when Director Li called out, “Old Li, I was just about to take Student Bai to see the new piano.”

His tone was familiar with Director Li.

Yin Chang then explained to Bai Lian, “The museum had a treasured piano for many years, but someone bought it last year. Many people regretted not buying it earlier. This year there’s a new piano — not as good as last year’s, but better than nothing.”

Bai Lian wasn’t wearing formal attire like others. Instead, she wore a cable-knit wrap top with butterfly sleeves and a flowing blue skirt, giving off a reserved yet calm aura.

The jade hairpin in her hair gleamed softly under the lights, radiating an elegant beauty like smooth cream. She wore no other accessories.

Even in this gathering of celebrities, standing beside Yin Chang, she didn’t seem out of place. She carried herself with perfect poise.

Old Hu followed two steps behind her, smiling without joining the conversation.

“Oh, you’re going to see the piano,” Director Li smiled. “Then hurry along, I need to prepare for the opening.”

Even after they left, Professor Jia had only greeted Yin Chang briefly. Neither Bai Shaoqi nor Madam Song had spoken a word to Bai Lian, though Madam Song’s gaze lingered on Bai Lian’s retreating figure.

This was the first time both she and Bai Shaoqi had encountered Bai Lian at such an event.

With one hand behind her back, chatting casually with Yin Chang, Bai Lian truly looked like a noble young lady stepped out from a painting — humble yet commanding, more natural than anyone they’d ever seen.

Unlike the other two, Yu Ning remembered her as the beautiful sister she’d met in the elevator.

“Teacher,” Yu Ning watched Bai Lian’s back, “who is that beauty next to the principal…”

“Mind your manners,” Professor Jia withdrew his gaze, smiling as he scolded her casual use of ‘beauty’. “I don’t know who she is, but you should all be polite when you see her.”

Though Director Li hadn’t introduced her, Professor Jia knew this young lady must be significant if she could converse so easily with Yin Chang.

“Be polite?” Bai Shaoqi spoke unconsciously.

Madam Song also turned her gaze from Bai Lian to Professor Jia.

“Yes, didn’t you notice Director Li called her Miss Bai? And the one accompanying her to see the instruments is the principal of Jiang Music Academy,” Professor Jia addressed Bai Shaoqi’s doubt without suspicion, then added the most important point, “Also, did you see who was following behind her on the left?”

Yu Ning and Bai Shaoqi looked back, but Bai Lian and Yin Chang had already gone far.

They could still see Old Hu following respectfully behind Bai Lian, wearing plain gray clothes, unassuming.

Professor Jia said solemnly: “That’s Dean Jian’s chief assistant. Even Dean Jian’s three senior disciples call him Uncle. He holds no less importance in Dean Jian’s heart than his disciples.”

Yu Ning suddenly understood, “No wonder! I saw her going to the recording studio at Jiang Music Academy last time. Teacher, you don’t know her either?”

“There are many people your teacher doesn’t know,” Professor Jia smiled. “You all better be sharp.”

His gaze fell on Bai Shaoqi and Madam Song, who both seemed somewhat distracted.

—

At the Mu family’s Listening Rain Pavilion.

Dong Xiaobai rarely came back. At the precious octagonal table, only occasional soft clinks of soup spoons against bowls could be heard.

The woman sitting in the main seat wore an exquisite custom-made dress. After just two bites, she put down her chopsticks and spoke in a neutral tone, “Great Uncle?”

“Mm,” Mu Yining was used to her attitude. “The ceremony banquet will be at the end of the month.”

Mu Youjun was well-preserved — approaching fifty but looking only in her early thirties. She took a silk handkerchief from the old butler behind her and dabbed her lips gently. “Jiachen’s aunt has returned. I might not have time then. I’ll ask Gao Yi and Ah Chen about it.”

Simply put, besides Old Master Mu, no one in the Mu family was worth her making a special trip now.

“Whatever works with your schedule,” Mu Yining scooped some crab roe soup, sitting very straight. “Your matters take priority.”

Since producing a noble lady, the Gao family’s status had risen dramatically. In Jiang City, they were almost all-powerful except for that one family. No one dared offend them. As for the Mu family, which had almost lost its lineage, the Gao family naturally didn’t take them seriously.

Mu Xianguang didn’t manage affairs, and Mu Yining had his own pride. The Mu family wasn’t the type to curry favor. Even though Mu Youjun married into the Gao family, the Mu family never claimed status as Gao family relatives.

This way, Mu Youjun lived well in the Gao family. After giving birth to Gao Jiachen, her status rose even higher.

The butler had sighed about Gao Jiachen before, thinking it would have been good if he were a Mu family member.

But clearly, he didn’t dare compete with the Gao family for people.

Noble families often intermarried to help each other maintain their legacy.

But the Mu family was declining, while the Gao family…

Over all these years, Gao Jiachen had only been brought back once by Mu Youjun when he was one year old. After that, the Gao family didn’t let him return. The Gao and Mu families remained distinctly separate.

They no longer respected the Mu family.

Ren Wanxuan sat beside Dong Xiaobai, holding her soup spoon. Throughout dinner, she hardly dared lift her chopsticks.

How many etiquette teachers had Ren Qian hired for her in early years?

She used to look down on Shen Qingji Heng’s group for their lack of manners, but now sitting here, she felt uncomfortable under just one glance.

At this table, except for Dong Xiaobai from his scholarly family, the other two were quite formidable.

After dinner, Mu Youjun went to see Mu Xianguang. As she crossed the doorway, she turned slowly with her handkerchief, “Tonight’s crab soup wasn’t quite up to standard. In a few days I’ll have some fresh red-haired crabs sent over — they’re freshly caught and air-shipped. His aunt just received quite a few fresh ones from the Jiang family.”

Mu Yining paused briefly, remembering who Gao Jiachen’s aunt was and how the Gao family’s relationship with the Jiang family depended entirely on that one aunt. “Good.”

Fresh catches from the coastline — few families were wealthy enough to charter their own planes to transport such things.

Mu Yining accompanied Mu Youjun to see the old master.

After they left, Ren Wanxuan finally let out a long breath.

Dong Xiaobai stood beside her, amused by her reaction. “That’s considered your grand-aunt. She’s just like that — the Gao family has many rules. But she doesn’t come back often, so you needn’t be so nervous. Her son Gao Jiachen… is quite an extraordinary figure.”

“Dr. Gao?” Ren Wanxuan blurted out. Wasn’t this the Dr. Gao whom Ren Qian had spent so much money trying to meet in Xiangcheng but couldn’t?

She never imagined such a family would be relatives of the Mu family.

“Oh, so you’ve heard of him.” Dong Xiaobai wasn’t surprised.

—

At Mountain Sea Apartments.

When Bai Lian returned, Jiang Fuli was still in 103, invited by Ji Heng to play chess against Lance. Lance learned Chinese chess quickly — by the time he left last year, he could play evenly with Ji Heng and usually won.

These few days since Lance came to Jiang City, Ji Heng hadn’t won a single game.

Ji Heng specially called Jiang Fuli, who was free tonight, to play against Lance.

“This isn’t fun anymore!” After losing another game, Lance complained in his imperfect Chinese, pressing his hand on the board ready to stand up.

Jiang Fuli sat across from him, loosely holding a white jade chess piece between his right index and middle fingers, unhurriedly raising his eyes. Those noble phoenix eyes fell on Lance with the attitude of a wealthy idler.

The mighty MTR Chief Medical Officer, caught under his casual gaze, choked back his complaints. Wanting to curse but not daring to, he silently sat back down, extremely frustrated as he finished the game with Jiang Fuli.

Starting a new battle.

Ji Heng stood behind Jiang Fuli, holding his pipe, leisurely blowing out a smoke ring.

Bai Lian entered using her fingerprint.

Only she and Ji Heng’s fingerprints were registered for 103.

Lance jumped up when he saw her. “Bai! You come!”

Bai Lian walked over and glanced at the board. Lance was being utterly destroyed. She casually picked up a black piece and placed it.

Across the table, Jiang Fuli: “…”

He smiled silently — well, how could he make his move now?

Ji Heng finally put away his pipe and drawled: “That’s enough for today.”

Lance insisted, wanting Bai Lian to play against Jiang Fuli in his place. Ji Heng scared him off: “Tomorrow I’ll let Ah Lian play Five-in-a-Row with you all day.”

Ah, that would be even more terrifying than Jiang Fuli. Lance quietly returned to the dining table, letting Ji Heng make tea for him to calm his nerves.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t make tea himself — mainly Ji Heng didn’t want him ruining good tea.

Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli took the stairs up.

In the empty stairwell with its echoes, Jiang Fuli was telling her about how Tang Ming nearly drove him crazy today. After he finished, Bai Lian spoke unhurriedly, “Professor Jiang, I think I saw your aunt tonight.”

Many people would stop to admire Bai Lian.

But Gao Shu’s gaze was special — a kind of appreciative yet surprised look mixed with gentle care.

And that qipao, from the same hand as Gao Yan’s daily wear.

Bai Lian recognized her at first glance.

—

Gao Shu had just finished talking with Shi Qingyu.

The car was on its way back.

They encountered Mu Youjun’s car. Mu Youjun naturally recognized Gao Shu’s vehicle and got out to greet her.

Gao Shu sat in the back without getting out. She lowered the window, lazily leaning against the back seat, nodding to Mu Youjun, “Have you tried the crabs I sent?”

“Very fresh. Ah Chen likes them too.” Facing Gao Shu, Mu Youjun naturally couldn’t put on her wealthy madam airs.

“That’s good.” Gao Shu chatted with her briefly before raising the window and having the driver continue on.

Jiang Fuli called, and Gao Shu perked up, sitting straight as she answered the phone.