ATLAS TRANSLATES

Mu Yining immediately spotted Ji Heng walking in front, holding his long pipe. Tang Ming was by his side.

As expected, Mu Xianguang didn’t come.

The cold wind carried Tang Ming’s cheerful voice: “Grandpa, look at that duck flying!”

Ji Heng looked up and took a puff from his pipe, smiling. “That’s a speckled goose.”

The Mu family estate was located in a garden area. Many protected wild birds would nest there, and Ji Heng could identify them at a glance.

Beside them, Butler Lou walked on Ji Heng’s left, unusually quiet.

Mu Yining was surprised by Butler Lou’s indifference. She straightened her clothes and went forward to greet Ji Heng, “Uncle, you’re here.”

Looking up, she finally saw Bai Lian and Jiang Fuli walking at the back.

Bai Lian wore a green cloak and held a black ebony box in her left hand. She was tapping it against her palm while talking lazily to the person beside her.

Under the sunlight, the white jade hairpin in her hair seemed to flow with blue light.

“You’re having dinner with my aunt tonight?” Jiang Fuli had his hands in his windbreaker pockets, his delicate eyebrows lowered, showing his displeasure. “Since when did you two become so close?”

He was the last to know they were having dinner together.

Ji Heng stopped and greeted Mu Yining, then said to Jiang Fuli, “Little Jiang, this is Yining.”

Jiang Fuli raised his eyebrows slightly and nodded to Mu Yining, his tone noble yet cold: “Hello.”

After the greeting, he continued discussing with Bai Lian about why they were going out to eat and why he knew nothing about it.

Seeing how he barely spoke to others most days, Bai Lian thought even Gao Shu wouldn’t dare mention such trivial matters to him. “Stop talking, Young Master Jiang,” Bai Lian gave him something to do by placing the ebony box in his hands. “Hold this for me.”

Jiang Fuli glanced down at her, took out his hand to hold the box, and stopped asking questions.

Ji Heng held his pipe and looked at Mu Yining who was still standing there. “Aren’t you going in?”

At these words, Jiang Fuli also raised his eyes slightly, his light gaze falling on Mu Yining.

Though Mu Yining had seen all sorts of people in their social circle and used to often see Old Master Chen, being under Jiang Fuli’s gaze now made her feel chills down her spine. “Uncle, please go ahead.”

—

In the Ancestral Hall.

Not knowing Ji Shaojun had gone to receive business partners, the Mu clan leader and others were chatting with Dong Chuan and Mu Youjin, until Ji Shaojun brought three people in.

Chen Ju, walking in the middle, rarely smiled. After becoming the head of Yunxiao district, his intimidating presence became even more obvious.

Ren Wanxuan, who had met Chen Ju before, immediately recognized him from their meeting in Xiangcheng. She put down her teacup, “Mr… Mr. Chen?”

The surname “Chen” indeed drew attention.

Clan Leader Mu and Dong Chuan all looked over. Dong Chuan immediately put down his teacup and stood up from his chair, both surprised and respectful: “Master Chen.”

As the eldest young master of the Dong family, who could claim some relation to the Jiang family, he naturally knew Chen Yongkun.

Moreover, who didn’t know now who had promoted Chen Yongkun?

Hearing Dong Chuan’s voice, Mu Youjin looked up. Though the Chen family had no connection with the Gao family, Mu Youjin knew this newly promoted Master Chen was close to Jiang Fuli.

In the past two months, Gao Yi had met with Chen Yongkun more than once. Recently, many people in Jianjing wanted to build connections with Chen Yongkun. Even many from the Jiang family sent generous gifts to him.

But Chen Yongkun was extraordinary – he wouldn’t accept anyone’s gifts, lived a simple life, and handled matters with minimal effort.

These people found it difficult to establish connections with Chen Yongkun.

Mu Youjin was very surprised to meet Chen Yongkun here – this was truly unexpected.

She put down her teacup and stood up, very politely saying, “Mr. Chen, why are you here too? We met before at the Xu family.”

Behind her, Butler Gao, who hadn’t spoken much with the Mu family members, also looked up, surprised that Mu Yining now had such connections to invite Chen Yongkun.

He respectfully greeted Chen Ju.

A crowd had gathered around Ren Wanxuan’s area, several layers deep inside and out.

Chen Ju’s gaze fell on Mu Youjin’s group, while his peripheral vision caught Shen Qing’s lonely situation, with only Mu Shao entertaining.

As people familiar with social situations, they could tell what was happening.

Not only was he not close to Mu Youjin, but knowing Jiang Fuli disliked the Gao family members, even if he had been close to the Gao family, he would have to become distant after today.

Chen Ju merely nodded politely in their direction.

As for Dong Chuan, he didn’t know him, so he didn’t greet him.

Then he walked with Director Feng towards Shen Qing and Xu En, stopping before them and warmly greeting Shen Qing: “Sister-in-law, you arrived quite early.”

At the table, Shen Qing was only familiar with Xu En, and Ji Mulan didn’t pay much attention to her.

Although Xu En was considering her feelings, there were two other business partners nearby, and Xu En couldn’t attend to everyone. Shen Qing couldn’t find much to say.

Sitting in the grand hall surrounded by powerful figures, she felt very awkward.

Fortunately, Mu Shao beside her often spoke with her, so she wasn’t too uncomfortable.

Now that Chen Ju and Ji Shaojun had arrived, Shen Qing felt relieved. She stood up, “Little Chen, you’re here so late.”

Chen Ju smiled, “I was handling some matters, sorry I’m late! I’ll drink three cups as punishment later.”

Xu En stood up. He was familiar with Chen Ju and wasn’t so formal, so he greeted the other two: “Director Feng, Chairman Liao.”

This side was full of laughter and conversation.

Chen Ju’s way of greeting Shen Qing showed he was making an appropriate social gesture.

Nearby, Mu Youjin and Dong Chuan’s group fell silent.

After learning who Chen Ju was and inquiring about Director Feng and the others’ identities, the Mu clan leader also felt uneasy. He wanted to go over, but since he hadn’t greeted Shen Qing’s group earlier, he couldn’t find an excuse to go now.

He felt regretful. Who could have known that Shen Qing and Ji Shaojun, who had been so quiet since returning to the Mu family and kept a low profile, would know such people?

Even the Gao family’s butler couldn’t help but lower his head and quietly ask Mu Youjin, “Madam, is the Mu family so familiar with Master Chen?”

Mu Youjin was also confused. How could she know that Shen Qing, who seemed like a simple commoner at first glance, would know Chen Yongkun?

And be so close to call him brother?

Dong Chuan watched Chen Ju sit with Shen Qing’s group and looked at Ren Wanxuan, asking: “Wanxuan, should we go greet your uncle and aunt?”

Ren Wanxuan looked up, not yet able to respond to Dong Chuan.

At the entrance, Assistant Wang brought in Ji Heng’s group.

Ji Heng wore a gray robe and held a large pipe, his hand behind his back. Beside him, Tang Ming, who had been chattering constantly, also fell quiet upon seeing so many people in the hall.

Most people didn’t recognize Ji Heng.

Behind them were Lu Xiaohan and Ning Xiao. Ning Xiao held a gift box and was characteristically gloomy, rarely speaking to others.

Jiang Fuli held Bai Lian’s ebony box, lazily following her pace with lowered eyes, walking unhurriedly.

He seemed quite relaxed today, standing tall and elegant, his expression indifferent.

But as soon as they entered the great hall, starting from the entrance, the people who had been laughing and greeting each other fell silent, radiating outward from Bai Lian’s group as the center.

This change in atmosphere was keenly felt by Chen Ju, who was talking with Xu En’s group.

He looked toward the door and quickly stood up.

Director Feng also found it strange and looked over with him, immediately spotting the two distinguished figures. He coughed and hurriedly put down his teacup to stand.

As he stood, Liao Guangxuan, who hadn’t met Jiang Fuli before, also stood up.

Everyone at this table stood up, and Mu Youjin and Dong Chuan, who had been watching them, also looked toward the door, wondering who else had arrived.

They saw Jiang Fuli at a glance.

Dong Chuan’s usually composed face changed, and he suddenly stood up, no longer speaking to Ren Wanxuan.

He usually maintained his composure, even when meeting Mu Youjin, who was the highest-ranking person Ren Wanxuan had met. His sudden serious expression surprised Ren Wanxuan.

Mu Youjin and Butler Gao also stood frozen in place, staring at the entrance, unable to react.

That group slowly approached.

At Chen Ju’s table, Director Feng and Chairman Liao, who had been quite talkative, didn’t dare speak. But Chen Ju, used to such situations, was the first to break the silence: “Uncle Ji, Miss Bai, Young Master Jiang.”

Director Feng didn’t know Ji Heng, so he smiled, “Student Bai, Young Master Jiang.”

Bai Lian nodded to him.

In the silence, Jiang Fuli very naturally and politely greeted Ji Shaojun, “Uncle Ji.”

This one greeting of “Uncle Ji” undoubtedly dropped a bomb on everyone present.