ATLAS TRANSLATES

After speaking, the Secretary-General left without waiting for their response.

Behind him, the principal and others looked at each other.

Suddenly, someone spoke up, “I’ll go find Teacher Lu, and have Zhang Shize and the others go apologize to Ren Wanxuan.”

The principal sighed, but did not object.

The incident yesterday was indeed Zhang Shize’s fault. Having the Class 15 students go apologize to Ren Wanxuan…

Although it was a bit late, the principal had to think of the bigger picture. For this footage, no one in the entire school could film it except Ren Wanxuan.

The Secretary-General basically represented Ren Qian. This was not just the Secretary-General’s attitude, but Ren Qian’s attitude as well.

The lively and cute Class 15 students did have a good relationship with him, but offending Ren Qian over this small matter would make the promotional video impossible to film, truly not worth it.

**

Outside, the milk tea shop.

Bailian was in the milk tea shop reviewing questions while waiting for Ji Heng to come out.

The milk tea shop was still crowded as usual.

Chi Yundai expressionlessly finished the morning’s work, took off his chef’s hat, and coldly made to leave.

The people in the kitchen didn’t dare say a word to him.

Until Chi Yundai saw Bailian sitting outside, his footsteps pivoted 180 degrees.

“Miss Bai, what are you doing here?” Chi Yundai sat down across from her.

Extremely surprised.

Today, Bailian wore a cyan long sleeve blouse with black buttons done up neatly. One hand held a black pen, the other lazily pressed on a notebook as she leisurely wrote questions.

Hearing this, she calmly raised a brow. “Chef Chi.”

Because he cooked well, Bailian was quite respectful towards him.

“Just call me Little Chi,” Chi Yundai sat across from her, his unapproachable appearance gone as he started complaining to her, “Do you know, I’ve been making cakes for over half a month now.”

He really missed his cases.

Even going back to teach those idiots, he would be willing.

He was nearly forgetting what he actually did for a living.

Chi Yundai was in his forties, a bit older than Chen Ju. Looking at his face, Bailian couldn’t recall his name.

“But don’t you like it?” Bailian listened to him earnestly, fingers writing a line of neat characters.

Chi Yundai sighed, “No, that was before.”

He was paying the price for his reckless youth.

When Ji Heng came to find Bailian, he saw Chi Yundai chattering away at her.

The arrival of a stranger.

Chi Yundai’s face instantly turned cold as he resumed his expressionless appearance.

Bailian introduced Ji Heng to him.

Chi Yundai then stood up gracefully, “Mr. Ji, pleased to meet you, I’m Little Chi, the cake chef here.”

Yet another stranger.

Following Bailian, Ji Heng felt like he had met a lifetime’s worth of people this past month.

“Nice to meet you, Little Chi.” Ji Heng held his pipe, politely greeting him.

Just not very warmly.

Chi Yundai only complained to people he was familiar with. Bailian had praised his cooking last night, and Jiang Fuli’s attitude towards him had improved a bit, so she was unilaterally categorized on his side.

He would complain in front of Bailian, but to others, he was still a cold and ruthless cake-making machine.

“Mr. Ji,” Chi Yundai went back to the kitchen and brought out a bag of freshly baked cakes, “This is a new creation, low in sugar. Please take it home and try it.”

He placed the bag of cakes in Ji Heng’s hands.

Before Ji Heng could react, he bid Bailian farewell and left.

This was Ji Heng’s first time receiving such a little cake. He raised his head, instinctively looking to Bailian.

Bailian tapped her slender legs, leisurely finishing a question. One hand propped up her chin as she lazily smiled at Ji Heng, “The cakes are delicious.”

“I’m going to meet your mother later,” Ji Heng didn’t sit. Still holding his pipe, he stood in front of Bailian. His turbid eyes were very profound. “Will you come with me?”

Ji Heng had decided to go meet with Ji Mulan.

If it were two years ago, Ji Heng would not have possibly met with Ji Mulan.

But now, just because of Bailian, Ji Heng had to meet her as well, moreover, Ji Shaojun said the person Ji Mulan had found this time had better character than Bai Qiming.

He decided to go take a look.

“I won’t go.” Bailian’s wrist rested on the table as her other hand unhurriedly closed her pen cap. She spoke breezily.

Ji Heng nodded, “Alright.”

Bailian didn’t want to see Ji Mulan again, so she went back to the library to find a place to eat with Jiang He.

It was a small restaurant near the school.

She crossed her legs, her slender, fair fingers pulling out the menu tucked under her teacup. She lifted her chin at Jiang He and casually asked, “Anything you don’t eat?”

This wasn’t the first time she had eaten with Jiang He.

But it was the first time she was ordering for him.

Jiang He slowly looked at Bailian.

Bailian didn’t realize the gravity of the issue, only narrowing her eyes slightly.

Jiang He lowered his head and started listing dishes, “Don’t eat celery, potatoes, carrots, lotus roots, cucumbers, bamboo shoots, soybeans, rhizome vegetable…”

A strand of black hair fell at Bailian’s brow. Her fair fingers held a pencil, a few traces of self-doubt in her dark eyes, “…Ah?”

Jiang He silently listed the last one, “…stir fried rapeseed leaves.”

Although he only listed it once, it was still a long string of names.

But Bailian remembered them all.

She looked at Jiang He with a hint of a smile, then randomly ordered a few dishes, avoiding all the ones he listed.

After ordering, she took out her phone, just wanting to complain to someone.

Bai Tongxue: [There are so many vegetables in this world]

At the moment, Jiang Fuli was still busy and hadn’t finished yet. His group members placed his lunch by his desk. He casually set it aside to eat after finishing up. Pressing at his brow bone, he slowly took off his glasses.

His cold gaze looked towards the few group members, frost in his knitted brows, like sunshine on a snowy field. “Growing bacteria in your brains?”

He Wen took the lead in apologizing. “Sorry.”

Don’t ask, just apologize if told to.

“Are you apologizing to me? To Euler. If he knew you would treat his formula like this, he would rather bring this formula down to the King of Hell. ” Jiang Fuli’s tone was icy cold.

He Wen’s head was nearly lowered to the ground.

He, a prestigious little math prince, had his reputation swept to the floor today in the lab.

Jiang Fuli lowered his head to close the documents.

Glancing down, he saw the screen of his phone and took a deep breath.

Don’t get angry. At least He Wen is human.

“Get out. Group meeting at two.” He raised his head, tone cold and clear.

Much calmer.

He Wen and the others fled the office. As soon as they left, He Wen was grabbed by the neck, “Didn’t you say this was how to write it? I believed you so I didn’t double check. How could you betray our trust like this…”

“I didn’t…cough cough…no one…cares about…our savior…?” He Wen awkwardly waved his hand.

Office.

Jiang Fuli opened his lunch box, one hand unlocking his phone to reply to Bailian.

Jiang Laoshi: [What vegetables? You guys eating too?]

Bai Tongxue: [pic]

Bai Tongxue: [What a pity, none of them grew into the kind Little Bird Jiang likes]

Jiang Fuli tapped open the picture Bailian sent, of the two dishes she had ordered.

Jiang Fuli knew Jiang He disliked eating many things. He raised a brow, and slowly typed back:

[Ignore him, just picky. That’s why he grew so short.]

Then he opened Jiang He’s WeChat.

Jiang Fuli: [Smile]

**

Here.

Ji Heng had also met with Ji Mulan.

Ji Mulan was overbearing towards others, but to Ji Heng, she was much more silent.

The two had not properly sat down to talk in nearly twenty years.

This was Ji Mulan’s first time sitting across from Ji Heng. As one aged, it came faster and faster. In Ji Mulan’s memories, Ji Heng still had mostly black hair, a middle-aged man.

But now, sitting across from her was Ji Heng with a face full of wrinkles, eyes not as clear as before.

Especially his hair, almost all white now.

Ji Mulan’s heart involuntarily lurched.

After not seeing each other for so many years, father and daughter were very quiet now.

Twenty plus years, Ji Heng’s state of mind was much calmer. He set down his pipe and cakes, looking at Xu En across from him, “You’re getting married at the end of the year?”

“Yes,” Xu En held Ji Mulan’s hand, sincerely saying, “Rest assured, I will treat her well.”

Old people were good judges of character.

So was Ji Heng.

With one look, he knew Xu En was truly different from Bai Qiming.

Bai Qiming had never come back with Ji Mulan even once after marrying her, yet Xu En had brought Ji Mulan back before even getting married.

“You can probably tell the difference in status between our families.” What Ji Heng was thinking was much more.

Even a minor household in Jiangjing was incomparable to them.

Xu En fell silent for a moment this time.

His mother truly was unwilling.

“Married life is lived by the couple,” Xu En thought for a bit before sincerely saying, “I also won’t be living with my parents. She won’t feel pressure living with me.”

Only then did Ji Heng not speak further.

The atmosphere lapsed into silence again.

Xu En changed the subject. Seeing the cake Ji Heng had placed on the table, he said, “This is cake you bought for A’Meng, right? It looks great.”

Ji Heng glanced at the cake. Bringing up Bailian put him in a much better mood. Head lowered, he slowly opened his tobacco pouch again, “No, her friend Little Chi gave it to me. The tobacco is from Little Chen.”

Little Chi? Little Chen?

Xu En nodded. He didn’t care who this Little Chi or Little Chen was. As long as the atmosphere wasn’t awkward, that was good.

“A’Meng got 450 on her last exam,” Ji Heng slowly said, taking out a cigarette, “She switched from liberal arts to sciences. Her teacher said she’s very clever. Don’t interfere with this.”

450?

Xu En nodded without commenting. He was surrounded by geniuses. A score of 450, if he were to force out words of praise, would be too fake.

But the elderly was very happy.

So he didn’t say anything.

“I’ll go see why the food isn’t here yet.” Xu En smiled and stood up, leaving father and daughter alone in the private room.

After he left, Ji Mulan squeezed her bag, finally saying hoarsely, “Dad.”

“Hm,” Ji Heng lowered his head, slowly folding the transcript and putting it in his pocket. “Is this Xu En’s family better off than the Bais?”

Though it was a question, he had already affirmed it.

Ji Mulan blankly came back to herself. She swiftly dabbed at her eyes.

Resuming her clever and capable beautiful appearance, she replied, “Mm, his family is very well-connected, so I wanted to bring A’Meng…”

“Let A’Meng stay in Xiangcheng,” Ji Heng lit up his tobacco, taking a rough puff.

The smoke obscured his face.

“Dad, you—” Ji Mulan understood instantly.

She had come back this time for Bailian.

But Ji Heng held up a hand, cutting her off. “You said Xu En’s family is well off. He is surrounded by capable people. What kind of days would our A’Meng spend there? There’s a barrier between Xiangcheng and Jiangjing.”

Ji Mulan was stunned for a moment.

“Also,” Ji Heng sighed, “His family doesn’t agree to your marriage, right? If you bring A’Meng over, how will you two have to depend on their charity?”

At this, Ji Mulan fell completely silent.

The Xus actually supported many people. One more person was nothing to the Xus. But everyone supported by the Xus, which one was not talented and brilliant?

In Xu Grandmother’s eyes, Bailian was probably less important than the dogs she kept.

Would she really make Bailian live such a life?

“Then after I marry Xu En…” Ji Mulan opened her mouth.

Ji Heng took another puff of his cigarette, head lowered. “We’ll go.”

“Okay, okay.” Ji Mulan inevitably felt moved. For the first time, she spoke calmly with Ji Heng, and he was even willing to attend her wedding. “I’ll have someone come get you then.”

“We’ll see.” Ji Heng shook his head.

The three of them ate peacefully together.

After sending Ji Heng off, Ji Mulan finally agreed with Xu En to not bring Bailian back to Jiangjing.

“Not going back?” Xu En glanced at her. Though surprised, he didn’t ask anything more, nor did he persuade Ji Mulan to bring Bailian to Jiangjing. Truthfully, Bailian wasn’t some indispensable lab talent. Not yet worth his effort.

“Go to Elder Chen at the lobby. Send over my calling card,” Xu En instructed his assistant. “Convey my recent preferences as a gift.”

**

Monday.

At noon, after eating with Lu Xiaohan and Yang Lin, Bailian returned to the classroom.

Passing by the office, Lu Lingxi had not left yet.

She was arguing with the principal. “You must be joking. Letting Zhang Shize go apologize to her? I’ll ask you, what did he say wrong? That matter before with Ren Wanxuan, Chen Zhuo, Chen Wei using tricks to steal our monitor Jian’s sword, I haven’t even discussed that with you yet, yet you…”

The principal helplessly tried to pacify Lu Lingxi. “We have to think of the bigger picture. If you don’t complete the promotional video task the Culture and Tourism Bureau gave me, what will you do? This wasn’t even said by Student Ren herself, but decided by Elder Ren and his secretary.”

Just an apology, he hadn’t expected Lu Lingxi to react so strongly.

Lu Lingxi knew yelling at the principal was useless.

She fell silent for a moment before calling the Secretary-General.

Only two rings before he picked up.

Lu Lingxi very politely recounted the events, emphasizing Jian. Finally, she said, “Publicizing this is not bad for Student Ren. In the future, Student Ren will also be a spokesperson for Xiangcheng.”

The Secretary-General naturally knew this point.

Moreover, he knew more than the school. This development had been started by Elder Chen.

But his tone was very casual. “You think our Ren family cares about this?”

Lu Lingxi pressed at her brow. “This was also required by the Culture and Tourism Bureau. You don’t want to make things difficult for them either, right?”

“So what?” On the other end of the phone, the Secretary-General glanced at Ren Qian in the conference room, a smile appearing. “What does the Culture and Tourism Bureau asking you have to do with our young miss? Unless there is an apology, our young miss will not cooperate.”

He decisively hung up.

Office.

The principal helplessly looked at Lu Lingxi, then sighed. “Why not just have Zhang Shize apologize?”

Outside the door, Bailian had heard it all very clearly.

She wore a white shirt, casually carrying her uniform jacket. Her black eyes were slightly narrowed, a strand of messy hair lazily draped over her brows. She raised a hand, “Um, does it have to be her?”

The principal and Lu Lingxi were startled.

They looked back.

Bailian looked at them, slightly tilting her head. “Or…as long as they know Liangti calligraphy?”