ATLAS TRANSLATES

Ren Wanxuan endured her shock.

She walked over to the principal’s side to take a look.

The video happened to be playing the moment Bailian wrote the character. Ren Wanxuan had studied Liangti calligraphy. With one glance, she could tell from the brush strokes and transitions, the extremely meticulous layout and structure, who had written that line.

She had barely looked at it for the first time before grasping the “sinew” that Teacher Qiu always talked about.

“What do you think, isn’t Bailian’s writing pretty good?” The principal had his legs crossed. He couldn’t help but speak up, “Isn’t this the state Teacher Qiu mentioned?”

Nowadays when people write, they will often mimic the writing methods of ancient people.

Most will look at the original works to guess what state of mind the ancient masters were in when writing.

The principal recalled the second Bailian was writing.

He felt Bailian seemed to have entered that state at the time. Almost no one in the crowd had reacted yet.

“That kind of state is only due to luck.” Ren Wanxuan looked at the principal but couldn’t respond. She pressed her lips together and stared at the principal before taking a big step back.

She didn’t believe a Bailian she had never cared for could surpass her at every turn.

Forget about the tutoring classes.

Calligraphy had always been what she was most proud of. Praised by the Ren family and First High for so long, she didn’t even take Master Qiu, who was nominated for the Lanting Awards, seriously—

How could she possibly admit Bailian could match up to her?

“It was just a temporary state…” She took out her phone and called the secretary.

“What’s the matter?” The secretary was with Ren Qian at the moment. “Young miss, have you started filming?”

Hearing this, Ren Qian’s voice came through from the other end.

Ren Wanxuan’s fingers tightly gripped her phone. She lowered her eyes and curtly said, “Nothing.”

She abruptly ended the call.

This matter…

Couldn’t let Ren Qian know about it.

Holding her phone, she stood in place for a good while before sending a message to Qiu Boqing.

?Master, did you tell Teacher about the Lanting Awards matter??

At the same time.

The Qiu house.

When Qiu Boqing received the message, he had just returned home.

In the hall, Qiu Xuezheng was discussing something with people from the Culture and Tourism Bureau. Qiu Boqing didn’t disturb them and just stood to the side waiting for them to finish talking.

“Is it really impossible for Xiangcheng to establish a calligraphy association?” The person from the Culture and Tourism Bureau looked at Qiu Xuezheng, rather disappointed. “So many remote places can have calligraphy associations. Our Xiangcheng shouldn’t be that far off, right?”

There were countless calligraphers nationwide.

Aside from the China Calligraphy Association, every little place had their own calligraphy association. Only Xiangcheng didn’t have one.

The Culture and Tourism Bureau had applied to their superiors three times already but kept getting rejected.

“We’re still lacking a little,” Qiu Xuezheng also sighed as he spoke. “Unless someone wins the Lanting Awards. If Xiangcheng’s fame greatly shook the world, then we’d have a chance.”

Winning the Lanting Awards would pave the way forward.

The China Calligraphy Association, and even certain families in Jiangjing, would extend olive branches. It would be much simpler to apply for a calligraphy association for Xiangcheng then.

But whether Qiu Boqing could win the Lanting Awards this year was still unknown.

“I believe little Teacher Qiu can definitely do it.” The person from the Culture and Tourism Bureau looked at Qiu Boqing full of hope.

Qiu Boqing didn’t speak.

Qiu Xuezheng only smiled, then sighed.

After the people from the Culture and Tourism Bureau left, Qiu Boqing looked at Qiu Xuezheng. He pressed his lips, very puzzled. “Grandpa, why didn’t you recommend junior apprentice sister’s work for the Lanting Awards?”

“Her heart is too unsteady right now, she’s unsuitable.” Qiu Xuezheng shook his head.

But Qiu Boqing disagreed. “You should know females are inherently disadvantaged in wrist strength. Her achieving this much is already very good. Aren’t you being too strict with junior apprentice sister?”

“If you say that,” Qiu Xuezheng looked at Qiu Boqing indifferently, “then have you heard of Xu Yajun from Jiangjing? She was actively invited to join the China Calligraphy Association at 18. She’s also female. Why is her wrist strength so strong?”

Hearing this name,

Qiu Boqing immediately kept silent. “How can you compare them? Do you not know who her teacher is?”

It was really unfair to compare her to Ren Wanxuan. He completely disagreed with Qiu Xuezheng’s words.

Qiu Xuezheng shook his head. Qiu Boqing grew up together with Ren Wanxuan since childhood. As senior brother and sister apprentices of the same sect, he naturally admired the outstanding Ren Wanxuan.

**

After school in the afternoon.

Lu Xiaohan walked with Bailian and a bunch of others. “Teacher Qiu is giving a lecture tomorrow. I want to ask Xu Qian to see if she can get us tickets. Are you guys going?”

Zhang Shize spun a basketball casually. “Spare me.”

“Who?” Bailian lazily put on her earphones as she walked.

Lu Xiaohan glanced at Bailian.

Next to them, Ning Xiao quietly spoke up. “Teacher Qiu Xuezheng, a very famous calligrapher from Xiangcheng.”

Even the aloof study god Ning Xiao knew about him.

“Oh, not going.” Bailian lazily replied.

“Ah,” Lu Xiaohan knew Bailian had only been here a little over a month and explained to her, “But he’s Master Qiu from Beicheng, someone from the Beicheng Calligraphy Association. I don’t know who managed to invite this grand character this time for him to return to Xiangcheng.”

After saying this, she looked at Bailian.

Bailian still seemed utterly indifferent.

Next to her, Lu Xiaohan could even hear Bailian quietly reciting an English word under her breath.

?

Pretty awesome.

Okay, Lu Xiaohan also glanced at Yang Lin walking behind them. Yang Lin definitely wouldn’t go either.

Next to First High.

A black car was parked far away across the street.

Jiang He lay on the backseat window, staring at the school gates in the distance.

In front of him, Jiang Fuli’s eyes were slightly lowered as he browsed something on his laptop screen. His cold, sharp face grew colder by the second. Ming Dongheng sat in the driver’s seat, wishing he could get out of the car.

Just then, the phone in his pocket buzzed again.

Ming Dongheng didn’t even dare look in the rearview mirror. He hurriedly took out the phone in his pocket. It was Jiang Xijiao.

“What are you doing?” He cautiously got out of the car and lowered his voice. “Don’t you know Young Master Jiang is looking at the file the Gao family sent him?”

The Gao family was an absolute bottom line for Jiang Fuli that no one dared to cross.

On the other end, Jiang Xijiao didn’t care about Ming Dongheng’s plight at all. He simply said, “The China Calligraphy Association sent an invitation hoping our Jiang could provide a work. I’ve passed on the message. Remember to find time to mention it to him.”

After saying this, Jiang Xijiao directly hung up regardless of Ming Dongheng’s cursing.

His skill at shirking responsibility was quite smooth.

Ming Dongheng’s face was black. He didn’t dare insult Jiang Xijiao, but he dared to!

He pressed on his phone and rapidly complained in their group chat—

?What’s wrong with the China Calligraphy Association??

When did they ever see Jiang Fuli practice calligraphy and dare to make requests?

Inside the car, Jiang Fuli pinched the bridge of his nose and took out his phone, about to call the Gao family. As he raised his head, he saw a woman next to a white car across the way.

She looked to be in her thirties, wearing a beige coat. A purple silk scarf was tied around her neck and she wore high heels.

Extremely fashionable.

Jiang Fuli looked at her face for a long time. Then he glanced at Jiang He. “Who did your Bai sister say she was eating with the other night?”

Jiang He lay slumped on the car window, ignoring him.

“Jiang He.” Jiang Fuli coldly called him by his full name.

Usually when Jiang Fuli did this, it meant he was truly about to lose his temper.

Even Jiang He was afraid. He quietly replied, “Her mother.”

Jiang Fuli’s cold, pale fingers lightly tapped on his phone screen. He looked out the window, pondered for about five seconds, then called Bailian.

“I’m about to come out.” Bailian sounded rather surprised.

Jiang Fuli was extremely breezy. “Go to the back door. Jiang Xiaoniao’s autism is acting up. There are too many people at the front door. We’ll wait for you at the back.”

Bailian knew Jiang He had autism.

She didn’t doubt it. “Okay.”

Jiang He sitting in the back: “…”

The black business car slowly pulled into First High’s back entrance. Although the car was from Jiangjing, the license plate was local to Xiangcheng so it didn’t stand out for daily use.

At the school gates, Xu En sitting in the driver’s seat of the white car looked at that black car.

He paused slightly, rather surprised.

Ji Mulan was calling Bailian but no one was picking up. She suspected Bailian had blocked her.

So she said a few words to Xu En but saw he was spacing out looking somewhere.

“What’s wrong?” Ji Mulan followed his gaze but didn’t see anything.

Xu En came to his senses and shook his head again. “Nothing.”

But he was doubtful in his heart. That car…

He had seen a similar one from a distance in Jiangjing before. The entire body was bulletproof. However, he had never gotten to see who was inside. He didn’t expect there would be a similar car in Xiangcheng too.

**

The school’s back entrance.

Bailian had arrived long ago.

It was already autumn. She had buttoned up her school uniform coat very snugly. The sun had already half set at this time, casting a dazzling red glow.

She stood at the roadside in her uniform, cold and clear, clutching her phone in her hand. Her fingers were also fair. The glow shone through, as if it were a light monochrome painting in early autumn.

Ming Dongheng silently parked the car next to her.

The back door automatically opened.

Bailian stood in place, looking at Jiang He slumped over the back of the seat. She smiled, like the silent figure in the painting had come to life.

“Why are you so weak?” She got in the car and pinched Jiang He’s face.

Jiang He pursed his lips and raised his head.

Jiang Fuli warned Jiang He with a glance, his slender fingers absently tapping on the laptop.

It seemed Ming Dongheng had to go to some fight club to spectate today so Jiang Fuli gave him time off.

Jiang Fuli handled Jiang family matters during the day. He had to go to the research institute at night. Jiang He insisted on finding Bailian.

Ji Heng also knew Jiang He now so he didn’t object to Bailian going back with him.

At the intersection of Qingshui Street.

Bailian and Jiang He got out of the car.

Jiang He immediately tried to head into the alley but Bailian grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and hauled him back, raising an eyebrow. “Not even going to say bye to your brother?”

Jiang He: “…Bye.”

Jiang Fuli’s gaze lightly passed over Jiang He before he said to Bailian, “Call me if anything comes up.”

After all, Jiang He wasn’t a normal child.

Only after Jiang Fuli left did Bailian bring Jiang He into the alley.

The long, winding alley had quite a few workers installing street lamps today.

Bailian was a bit surprised.

But she didn’t think much of it. By the time they reached Ji Heng’s yard, she discovered the yard gate was half open. Ji Heng’s slightly cheerful laughter could be heard from inside.

“Little Chen, you must stay for dinner tonight. I’ll cook!”

As soon as Bailian pushed open the yard gate,

she saw Ji Heng sitting at the stone table holding his pipe. He narrowed his eyes and took a deep inhale from the pipe. “You’re right. This tobacco has no brand but it’s more potent than what I used to smoke.”

Wisps of thin smoke blew out of his mouth.

There was a small pouch of tobacco casually wrapped in a plastic bag sitting on the stone table.

Chen Ju immediately noticed Bailian who had just returned outside. His eyes lit up. “Miss Bai is back.”

Ji Heng’s hand paused. His pace of smoking slowed a bit.

Bailian knew Ji Heng had a big addiction but didn’t want him smoking unrestrainedly. She casually greeted Chen Ju. “I’m going to tidy up a room for Jiang Xiaoniao.”

“That was Shaojun’s old room.” Ji Heng pointed with his pipe at a room in the yard. “I cleaned it up this afternoon. Take another look to see if anything’s missing.”

As the two spoke, Chen Ju didn’t dare interrupt.

Only after Ji Heng asked him, “Any dietary restrictions?”

How could Chen Ju dare trouble Ji Heng to cook for him? He was starting to think of bringing that cake maker over.

He was considering this possibility.

Ji Heng’s old-fashioned mobile phone rang.

It was Ji Mulan.

“I’ve been waiting for her at the school entrance until now but still haven’t seen anyone. Is she skipping class again?” Ji Mulan didn’t even greet him. Her tone was very cold, as if angry.

She was naturally talking about Bailian.

Ji Heng held the phone and walked outside. He raised his pipe to take a puff, then said, “She’s already back.”

“How come I didn’t see her?” Ji Mulan’s voice rose. She wanted to say something more but remembering she had just reconciled with Ji Heng, she said, “What I mean is, I’ve been waiting for her this whole time. Forget it. Xu En just acquired a hotel. We’re celebrating tonight. You two come out first. I’ll wait with Xu En.”

She wouldn’t take Xu En to a place like Qingshui Street.

Xu En nodded slightly. He didn’t have much interest in drinking with Ji Heng and his friend.

**

Wednesday.

Qiu Xuezheng came to First High’s auditorium to give a lecture under the gaze of most students.

The principal personally welcomed him.

Even two reporters came.

“Master Qiu, please sit,” the principal led Qiu Xuezheng to the reception room and personally made tea for Qiu Xuezheng. “Thank you for caring so much about our senior students.”

He was a famous positive example in all of Xiangcheng.

“No need for excessive praise, Principal. I grew up in Xiangcheng too,” Qiu Xuezheng was one of the few who tested out of Xiangcheng and achieved some success. Although he didn’t return often, it didn’t mean he didn’t care about his hometown. “I’m also very happy to do something for my hometown.”

The principal naturally knew this too.

Xiangcheng people, especially the older generation, had great feelings for this place.

The principal tidied the pile of things on the conference table. “We have a few outstanding students this year. I wonder if they might have a chance to soar.”

Just as he spoke, a sheet of paper lightly floated to the ground.

“I heard about this from Principal Ren.” Qiu Xuezheng picked up the teacup and gently blew on it.

Just as he was about to drink, he noticed the paper that had drifted to the ground. He casually glanced at it and immediately recognized the four characters written on it. He froze in place.

“Pa—”

He harshly set the teacup down and picked up the paper. “Who wrote this?”