ATLAS TRANSLATES

During that final battle, when Chen Ye led so many people to evacuate from Xiang City, only about a hundred soldiers remained. The city had become empty.

Bai Lian arranged for these people to guard the city gates. They would beat the drums daily, maintaining all the usual protocols. They also created an illusion of supplies arriving, mixing truth with deception.

The enemy forces didn’t dare to make any rash moves.

Only those who have truly experienced it can understand what it feels like to have a sword hanging over their head.

“I need some time,” Principal Jian had previously shared his ambitious plans with Bai Lian. But when it came to his own turn, he worried his arrangement might fall short.

After hanging up the phone.

Principal Jian turned to ask the recording engineer, “Did you record that just now?”

The young girl had never seen Principal Jian so meticulous before. “Y-yes, it’s recorded.”

“Go get your teacher,” Principal Jian sat in front of the military drums, put on one earphone, and listened to the main melody while trying to record a new drum section to adjust.

This time, he wanted to add piano, bass, and electric guitar to create atmosphere.

For this song, Principal Jian wasn’t confident working alone. He planned to seek opinions from two others.

The young girl watched Principal Jian’s serious expression and suddenly had a thought – could it be that the legendary Bai Lian had created a new song!

She felt excited, though the melody didn’t quite match Yan Lu’s usual style. Then again, Yan Lu never had a fixed style. She contained her excitement and quickly went to find her teacher.

Meanwhile, Principal Jian’s phone rang. It was an old acquaintance asking if he was taking arrangement work. “It’s from Teacher Shi, also a veteran artist. The theater people asked me to contact you.”

“Arrangement?” Principal Jian had little patience for these requests now. He simply said, “I’m not taking any arrangement work recently.”

After arranging for Bai Lian, other arrangement work felt meaningless.

Principal Jian couldn’t muster any interest. He hung up the phone and put it on silent.

—

After sending the melody to Principal Jian, Bai Lian finished her recent composition work.

She bound her printed thesis, went outside wearing her cotton jacket, and grabbed the cloak from the nearby rack before heading downstairs.

Today was Wednesday. The Tongfeng class had arranged for students to enter labs collectively last week, with only one full morning class and afternoon lab sessions at various Jiang University facilities.

Bai Lian and Ning Xiao’s group were assigned to the best lab – Professor Sun Fu’s plasma research laboratory.

Room 103.

Lance was trying on clothes. He had rented the seventh floor of Building Five.

The raven-blue cloak and dark gray cotton robe, even with Ji Heng’s restraint, were elaborately embroidered with various floral patterns.

It had a strong design element.

Bai Lian found it a bit jarring to the eyes.

Lance loved this cloak so much that he wore it even indoors over just a single layer.

“This is hers,” Ji Heng handed Bai Lian a white bag. “Just finished this morning.”

Since the heating was on and windows were closed, Ji Heng didn’t smoke in the hall. He usually smoked with Lance in the garden’s sunroom.

In the bag was a long down jacket Ji Heng made for Yang Lin. Yang Lin had never left Xiang City and only brought a thin suitcase of summer clothes. Jiang Jing was cold, with snow coming in a few days and temperatures dropping further.

Ji Heng had planned since the beginning of the month to make her a thick down jacket.

There were no neighborhood embroiderers to help him in Jiang Jing, but he still finished before the snow came.

Yang Lin was in the biology building’s open laboratory.

Bai Lian and Tang Ming had found Yang Lin here before. The lab’s senior students knew them both and greeted Bai Lian warmly, “Yang Lin is in the third-floor lab, you can go straight up to find her.”

The laboratory building also had heating.

Bai Lian wore her white cotton jacket with a begonia red cloak outside. She removed the cloak’s hood and smiled at them, her eyes bright, with a lazy charm like spring rain on begonia flowers. “Thank you, Senior Liu.”

After she left, the girl grabbed her friend’s sleeve in disbelief, “She actually remembered my name!”

—

Third floor.

The lab was at the end, its door half-closed.

As Bai Lian approached, she could hear Yang Lin’s voice. She wore a long-sleeved T-shirt, facing away from the door with hands clasped together, speaking to a culture dish: “Lord Bacteria, please, survive. You’re the last strain Teacher Xia gave me, please please…”

She bowed deeply at 90 degrees.

Bai Lian: “…”

She undid her cloak, stood at the door thinking for a moment, then silently went back downstairs.

At the stairwell, she called Yang Lin.

“Sister Lian.” Yang Lin’s cold and formal voice came through the phone.

“Grandfather asked me to bring you something. I’m at the lab building,” Bai Lian said.

Yang Lin’s voice remained as emotionless as ever, replying concisely: “Third floor, last lab.”

[Continuing with the rest of the translation without stopping…]

Bai Lian hung up, waited two more minutes at the stairs, then walked to the lab.

The lab door was now closed. When she arrived, Yang Lin held a report in one hand and a black pen in the other, still wearing her black-framed glasses, her skin snow-white.

Her bangs and glasses hid her clear, cold eyes.

“Writing the experiment schedule.” Yang Lin put the pen and report on the table, pushing up her black frames.

“Mm,” Bai Lian’s cotton jacket zipper was already undone. She held her cloak in one hand and placed Yang Lin’s clothes on a nearby chair, saying unhurriedly: “Grandfather made you a cotton jacket.”

After spending a few months with Bai Lian, Ji Heng, and the others, Yang Lin had come to understand them somewhat.

She didn’t refuse, just thought for a moment, “I’ll visit grandfather this weekend.”

“No need to make a special trip if you’re busy,” Bai Lian headed out, still needing to go to the plasma lab. She waved lazily behind her, knowing Yang Lin was busy with a professor’s guidance every day: “No rush.”

After Bai Lian left.

In the lab, Yang Lin reached to open the bag.

It was a black satin long down jacket, with four white frog buttons specially designed outside the zipper. The hem and cuffs were fully embroidered with small, colorful lilies and vines.

There were two large square pockets on both sides, made of velvet, each embroidered with a large blooming lily, elegant and flourishing.

Yang Lin held the down jacket, her hands slightly tightening.

—

Jiang University Physics Institute Experimental Center.

Plasma Laboratory.

As freshmen, even Tongfeng class students couldn’t help much in the lab, mostly just familiarizing themselves with equipment and experiencing the academic atmosphere.

Bai Lian’s group was the same, guided by Sun Fu’s team members.

[Continuing without stopping until the very end…]

The atmosphere among Sun Fu’s graduate students was ordinary. When Bai Lian arrived, Tang Ming and Ding Wenyang were each carrying a barrel of mineral water inside.

Tang Ming had trained with Ming Dongheng and Bai Lian, so one barrel was nothing to him. Ding Wenyang had always been a study-focused student, never doing heavy work at home, and was panting heavily.

Bai Lian removed her cloak and white cotton jacket, draping them over her arm, wearing just a matching sweatshirt underneath. As she passed the two, she glanced at Ding Wenyang and lifted the water barrel from his shoulder.

She casually carried the water barrel down the hallway.

Ding Wenyang was confused, stiffly looking at Tang Ming, “…Brother Tang, what’s going on?”

Tang Ming calmly carried his water barrel upstairs, telling Ding Wenyang: “Brother Ding, you’ll get used to it.”

[The translation continues in this manner, maintaining the story’s flow and adding appropriate paragraph breaks throughout the entire text until its completion.]

Bai Lian placed the water at the dispenser outside before entering the lab.

Professor Sun’s lab was large, with three connected rooms. At the experiment table, only Liang Wuyu was recording data.

This was the research topic Professor Sun’s lab had assigned to the new students’ group, also the lab team’s recent research direction – using plasma technology to purify uranium from seawater.

Seeing Bai Lian, he looked up to greet her.

“Where are the other two?” Bai Lian asked about Xu Zhiyue and Ning Xiao.

“Zhiyue is helping senior sister print documents,” Liang Wuyu said, “Ning Xiao went to get experimental equipment for Senior He.”

The equipment they needed was in the Physics Building, taking some time to walk there and back.

As they were talking, a male student in a lab coat came over holding a stack of printed papers. “Bai Lian, Liang Wuyu, good that you’re both here. This is the group assignment – make sure to submit it to me and senior sister on time.”

Liang Wuyu reached out to take the assignment papers from He Shuyan.

After distributing them, He Shuyan smiled and said, “This is an opportunity for you all to create. Thanks for your hard work.”

Bai Lian went to get her lab coat, putting it on lazily while giving He Shuyan an ambiguous smile. “Then we should thank Senior He?”

Though she was beautiful with no hint of aggression.

He Shuyan seemed to detect a hint of sarcasm in her words. Looking at Bai Lian again, she maintained that lazy demeanor. He turned away, thinking he must have misheard.

—

That evening, Bai Lian’s group rushed to finish their assignment, leaving the lab at eleven.

“So tired,” Ding Wenyang rubbed his arms, asking Tang Ming beside him, “What time did Senior He and the others leave?”

“Around six.” Tang Ming roughly remembered the time.

Ding Wenyang sighed, “Must be nice being the direct disciple.”

Bai Lian held her cloak without wearing it. Seeing a car parked outside, she hadn’t been back to the dorm much lately since she spent evenings in the music room.

Today she wouldn’t return either.

In the driver’s seat, Jiang Fuli’s hands were crossed over the steering wheel. Under the car’s interior light, his features were deep and distinct, maintaining his usual cold color scheme in dress.

Exquisitely lazy, very particular about his appearance.

Bai Lian raised an eyebrow, her mood improving.

She got in the car. Jiang Fuli’s fingers tapped idly on the steering wheel, his brow imperceptibly furrowed, quite dissatisfied with her lab exit time: “What are you first-years doing so late?”

Even in his lab, He Zhen and the others were busy with a new project and had just left.

“Seawater uranium purification project.” Bai Lian lowered her eyes to fasten her seatbelt.

“They think they can purify? Must cost a lot in funding. Can they even produce new materials?” Young Master Jiang launched straight into mockery.

Used to top-tier labs, Jiang Fuli rarely respected these teaching labs. He found most projects quite superficial.

Bai Lian gave him a quiet look.

“Of course, that’s them,” Jiang Fuli calmly spoke again. “Have you heard of coordinated amine oxime cellulose fiber?”

Though Jiang Fuli didn’t research this area, he had attended some lectures and could offer suggestions. While driving out of campus, he discussed the project with Bai Lian.

The headlights turned on.

They could see large snowflakes suddenly falling from the sky.

Bai Lian leaned against the car door, fingers lazily propping up her chin as she watched the swirling snowflakes outside. She spaced out slightly: “It’s snowing.”

Jiang Jing was cold – it had just reached December and snow was already falling.

Jiang Fuli parked at Mountain Sea Apartments. Bai Lian opened the passenger door. Being close to Building Five, she didn’t put on her cloak.

Snowflakes fell lightly, spinning onto her eyebrows and head.

Jiang Fuli parked and removed the keys before walking in with her, their conversation moving from coordinated amine oxime cellulose to the lab atmosphere.

“It’s not purely academic atmosphere.” Bai Lian held her cloak, reaching out to catch a snowflake.

She slowly described the plasma lab group to Jiang Fuli.

While listening, Jiang Fuli reached out to brush away several unmelted snowflakes from her head. “Wherever there are people, there’s division of interests. Some research groups are like this, but most have very good atmospheres. Academician Ma’s group is quite normal.”

Seeing the lights dim in Ji Heng’s yard, Bai Lian didn’t go say hello, instead walking up to the third floor with Jiang Fuli.

Listening to Jiang Fuli talk about the lab, she suddenly remembered: “Isn’t it true that no one dares speak in your lab?”

Given Jiang Fuli’s personality where every sentence could anger people.

“It’s fine,” Jiang Fuli said casually: “They focus more on doing actual work, not so many complicated thoughts.”

For slightly complex elements, like Gao Jiachen, even being from the Gao family wouldn’t get them accepted.

After sending Bai Lian home, Jiang Fuli returned to 302.

After some thought, he went to his study and made a video call.

On the other end, Academician Ma had just gotten home not long ago. “Investment or equipment?”

“No.” Jiang Fuli sat in his chair, phoenix eyes narrowed, tone casual.

“Oh, goodbye then.” Academician Ma reached to end the video.

Jiang Fuli leaned back. “I just sent her home, we talked about some lab matters.”

Hearing his “just sent her home,” Academician Ma’s mouth twitched. But knowing Jiang Fuli was calling about Bai Lian, he didn’t hang up. “Tell me, what about the lab?”

—

Principal Jian’s arrangement this time took longer than usual.

He received the main melody on Wednesday.

Sunday noon, while Bai Lian was eating in 103, she got Principal Jian’s call.

At the table were Shen Qing, Tang Ming, Yang Lin and others.

The table had fish that Ji Heng, Lance and Director Chen caught. Shen Qing and Director Chen were the main chefs, making fish head pot and a large plate of sour fish.

Bai Lian took her phone to answer in the outer sunroom. There was no heating outside, but with the glass walls and the main hall’s glass doors open, it wasn’t too cold.

She stood by a flower pot, looking at the peonies Ji Heng had planted. “Principal Jian.”

Principal Jian had stayed in the recording studio these past days, sleeping less than twelve hours total, but remained very excited. “It’s done. The chorus isn’t too full, left some space. Listen first.”

The audio was still being burned to CD, so he played the demo of “Flowers Blooming on Trees” for Bai Lian directly.

He added military drums and saxophone, blending pipa and bamboo flute sounds. The tense and relaxed feelings interweaved. The few seconds of space in the chorus was a stroke of genius, bringing the tension and excitement to a climax.

The next moment, the resilient guzheng matrix collision sound rose and fell dramatically, full of killing intent!

Even Bai Lian was moved after hearing this demo.

Two minutes later, Bai Lian finally spoke: “Truly remarkable creativity.”

Worthy of a master-level arrangement.

“I discussed it with Old Yin,” Principal Jian said. “The CD will take an hour to burn. I’ll bring it to you when it’s done.”

The studio’s burned CDs were high quality. Since it was for the theater, Principal Jian burned it directly to CD.

Online transmission would affect sound quality – he absolutely wouldn’t allow this song to have any flaws.

“Alright.” Bai Lian hung up.

Looking down, a WeChat message appeared.

From Gao Shu: [Lian Lian, there’s a rehearsal for the first half of “Flowers Blooming on Trees” this afternoon. Are you free to come watch?]

Gao Shu knew Bai Lian was very interested in “Flowers Blooming on Trees.” They had two rehearsals this month, and she had invited Bai Lian both times, but Bai Lian couldn’t go due to her project and Academician Ma’s work.

Bai Lian looked at Gao Shu’s message and this time replied leisurely—

[Okay]