ATLAS TRANSLATES

When Chou Xuezheng left, Department Head Xu had a vague sense of unease in his heart.

Now, as soon as the bureau chief’s words fell, his vision went black.

Cold sweat formed on his back, layer by layer.

“The applicant?” Department Head Xu turned to the secretary-general and Ren Wanxuan who were a few steps away. “Miss Ren, didn’t you say Bailian is just a relative of your family? How did she become the applicant?”

Department Head Xu’s face was darker than the bottom of a pot.

He had finally gotten this opportunity, but unexpectedly, because of Ren Wanxuan’s words, he had offended the most important person here.

Ren Qian, who had been coldly observing from the side, twitched the corners of his lips, also feeling that it was incomprehensible: “She is… the applicant?”

In his eyes, Bailian was someone completely unrelated to the book association, so how did she suddenly become the applicant? How come the Ji family didn’t reveal any news about this?

“Mr. Ren,” the bureau chief’s face also turned cold. He probably understood the whole story. “Today’s launching ceremony will be temporarily put on hold. Let’s see when Miss Bai arrives.”

He didn’t say much to the Ren family members.

He followed closely behind Chou Xuezheng and left.

“Miss Ren! You’ve really caused trouble for me this time!” Department Head Xu glanced at Ren Wanxuan.

The sensational launching ceremony was thus put on hold. Ren Qian pressed his forehead and glanced at Ren Wanxuan, who had her head lowered. He sighed and said to the secretary-general, “Look into this matter.”

** Before lunch, Bailian finally answered Chou Xuezheng’s call.

They met at the coffee shop on the first floor of the library.

It had been many years since Chou Xuezheng had come to such a place. As soon as he entered the coffee shop, he saw Bailian sitting by the window.

There was also a stranger sitting beside her. He couldn’t see the person’s face clearly, but the back view was inexplicably startling.

“Miss Bai,” Chou Xuezheng sat across from Bailian, not daring to look at the person beside her. He only apologized to her, “I just found out about this matter today. It’s also related to me.”

He and the bureau chief had already thoroughly investigated this matter.

Jiang Fuli sat next to Bailian, holding a book on quantum mechanics and reading it. Upon hearing this, his narrow phoenix eyes slightly lifted.

“Rustle–“

His fair and slender fingers turned a page.

Even though he didn’t say a word, the nearly seventy-year-old Chou Xuezheng inexplicably felt pressure. “Old Mr. Ren also said he wants to apologize to you in person.”

Bailian sat inside leisurely, one hand lazily supporting her chin. She quietly listened to Chou Xuezheng finish speaking, her long lashes lightly lowered. “So it was her…”

Chou Xuezheng looked at Bailian, feeling a bit nervous.

“There’s no need to apologize. I can continue and remove both of those names.” Bailian tilted her head and looked out the window, her voice neither cold nor warm.

“Ah?”

Chou Xuezheng didn’t know about the conflict between Bailian and Ren Wanxuan, but Ren Wanxuan was his close disciple after all.

Hearing Bailian’s words, he hesitated a bit.

This was beyond his expectations.

“Department Head Xu is already making arrangements, but Wanxuan… she is Ren Qian’s granddaughter after all.” Chou Xuezheng had considered both sides. Bailian was a student. Although her calligraphy was good, she still needed some luck.

Bailian’s phone rang. It was a message from Ji Shaojun.

Telling her to come over for a meal.

Bailian didn’t want to say more to Chou Xuezheng. She stood up and slightly nodded towards him. “Teacher Chou, I only have one requirement. If you do it, I’ll continue.”

Chou Xuezheng stood up, wanting to follow.

From his seat, Jiang Fuli closed the book and raised his head, glancing at Chou Xuezheng.

Those phoenix eyes were exceptionally light. With just a casual glance, Chou Xuezheng was forced to stop in his tracks.

** Ji Shaojun’s home.

An old six-story building.

An elderly woman on the first floor handed Shen Qing a basket of eggs. She held Shen Qing’s hand, “Xiao Shen, you and Shaojun must help us keep an eye on things. We’ve lived here our whole lives and really don’t want to move…”

“I know, Auntie,” Shen Qing took the eggs and spoke without revealing anything. “Don’t worry, we don’t want to demolish and relocate either.”

“That’s good then.” The elderly woman was skinny and hunched over as she went downstairs.

Most of the people in this area were elderly people living alone.

Some had children who went out to work and didn’t stay at home often. Some had gone out to study and never came back. Others were like the elderly couple on the first floor, without any children or grandchildren.

In the entire old neighborhood, Ji Shaojun was the only highly educated person.

Everyone liked to come to him for advice whenever they had any issues.

Ji Shaojun, who was sitting in the living room, saw the eggs Shen Qing was holding and frowned, “Why did you take people’s eggs? They don’t have children and grandchildren, and life isn’t easy for them…”

Shen Qing put the eggs away and glanced at him. “Then you can go downstairs and drink dew tomorrow.”

There was a knock on the door.

Shen Qing closed the refrigerator door, “It should be Ah Lian and Dad. Go open the door.”

Ji Shaojun quickly got up from the sofa and opened the door.

Indeed, it was Bailian and Ji Heng.

There was also a child following beside Bailian.

“Oh–” Ji Shaojun recognized him. It was Jiang He, whom he had seen that night. He made way and said, “Little friend, you’re here too?”

Jiang He nodded.

He didn’t say much.

Shen Qing had never seen Jiang He before. Seeing such an exquisite child for the first time, she didn’t know where to start. She washed a plate of grapes and brought it out for Bailian and Jiang He to eat.

“Going fishing in the afternoon?” Ji Shaojun saw that Ji Heng had brought fishing rods.

Ji Heng put the fishing rods down. “Xiao Chen discovered a good fishing spot. We’ll go and try it out in the afternoon.”

“Okay, I’ll go too. Let Yongkun eat here in the evening.” Ji Shaojun didn’t have many classes these past two days, and he was also troubled by the demolition and relocation matter. He liked to go fishing with Ji Heng.

After saying that, he went to the kitchen to help Shen Qing.

Ji Heng originally wanted to smoke for a while, but when his gaze swept over Jiang He, he restrained himself.

Ji Shaojun’s living room was small and not well-ventilated.

His old cell phone rang. It was Ji Shaorong calling. He picked it up while holding an empty pipe.

“Dad,” on the other end of the phone, Ji Shaorong’s voice was calm. “Is Ah Lian there?”

“Yes.”

Ji Shaorong paused for a moment. “Ask her if she wants to come to the Ren family.”

Hearing this, Ji Heng frowned. He glanced at Bailian’s side, knowing the intention behind Ji Shaorong asking him this question. Without asking Bailian, he directly replied, “She’s not coming.”

He hung up the phone.

** “Did you hear that?” At the Ren family, Ji Shaorong put his phone on the table and looked at Ren Qian. “She’s not coming.”

Beside him, Ren Qian rarely had a good expression towards Ji Shaorong. “It’s like the great flood sweeping away the Dragon King Temple. A mistake by Little Xu has caused our two families to be in such an awkward situation.” Ji Shaorong looked at Ren Qian without responding.

“Wanxuan,” Ren Qian finally turned to Ren Wanxuan. “No matter what, you have to apologize to your cousin and try to get her to forgive you.”

Ren Wanxuan didn’t say a word and directly went upstairs.

This time, Ren Qian didn’t stop her. Instead, he continued talking to Ji Shaorong, “Shaorong, this matter won’t harm Bailian. According to Teacher Chou, she’s unwilling to go to the China Calligraphers Association. As parents, you should persuade her more. Staying in Xiangcheng is not a long-term solution.”

The opportunity at the China Calligraphers Association was too rare.

Even Ren Qian was thinking that he had misjudged Bailian before. She was indeed extraordinary.

Ren Qian recalled that some time ago, the Ji family had grown distant from him because of the Chen family matter. Then, because of the incident with Ren Wanxuan, things had turned ugly with Bailian… His heart suddenly twisted.

“It’s up to her.” Ji Shaorong wouldn’t make decisions for Bailian.

After saying that, he went upstairs to find Ren Wanxuan.

After Ji Shaorong went upstairs, Ren Qian frowned and looked at the secretary-general, “What’s going on with you and Wanxuan?”

“It has nothing to do with the young miss,” the secretary-general lowered his eyes. “It’s entirely my fault.”

“Enough, I understand Wanxuan better than you do,” Ren Qian pressed his temples, feeling a terrible headache. He knew that this matter was definitely instigated by Ren Wanxuan. “Where is Bailian’s information?”

After learning that Bailian had won the Lanting Calligraphy Competition, he had someone reinvestigate her background.

The secretary-general took out a newly printed piece of paper and handed it to Ren Qian.

“It’s all here.”

Ren Qian scanned through the information from top to bottom.

Bailian was under Ji Heng’s household registration. The information was clear. There was no other information.

It was as ordinary as it could be.

The information could be seen through at a glance. After reading it, Ren Qian put it away.

“Bailian is at her uncle’s place?”

“Yes, her uncle lives in Yongfu Neighborhood, Building 7, Unit 601.” The secretary-general had already anticipated what Ren Qian was going to do and reported an address.

Ren Qian was very satisfied with the secretary-general’s speed. He pressed his brow ridge. “Prepare a bit. You and Department Head Xu need to have a good talk with Bailian.”

** Ji Shaojun’s home.

The door was half-closed.

When the secretary-general and Department Head Xu arrived, Ji Heng had already taken Ji Shaojun to go fishing.

Bailian was watching Jiang He play with a puzzle.

“Mr. Secretary,” Shen Qing took out new teacups and made tea for them. She also glanced at the cramped living room, not knowing where to put her hands and feet. “Please sit.”

She patted the sofa again and again.

The secretary-general coldly glanced at the slightly yellowed sofa cushion without saying anything. He didn’t sit down.

However, Department Head Xu, who was beside him, saw Shen Qing’s appearance and felt much more relaxed.

He took the tea Shen Qing had made and casually put it aside, smiling, “Thank you.”

Bailian slowly helped Jiang He put down a puzzle piece before standing up. She didn’t look at them and just pressed Shen Qing to sit on the sofa. “Auntie, please sit.”

Bailian didn’t sit down. She just leaned against the back of the sofa like that and raised her head. “What’s the matter?”

She used to be quite polite to the secretary-general.

During these two meetings, her attitude was very perfunctory, without any semblance of etiquette.

“I’ll first apologize to you on behalf of the young miss,” the secretary-general put on a sufficient demeanor, wanting to reconcile with Bailian. His expression was gentle. He paused for a moment but still sat down on the yellowed sofa cushion. “I also apologize to you. We’re all one family. She now knows she was wrong and is being punished by Mr. Ren. Miss Bai, can you let this matter pass?”

Department Head Xu also hurriedly spoke up, “Miss Bai, I’m sorry.”

He stood up and bowed to Bailian.

It was a gesture of utmost sincerity.

Bailian lazily leaned against the sofa, one leg propped up like that. She held a cell phone in her hand, and half of her sky-blue skirt was pressed under her on the sofa.

Upon hearing this, she turned her head as if smiling yet not smiling, like a white tiger disturbed by someone.

“Let it pass?”

Her reaction made Department Head Xu’s heart sink.

He originally thought that with Shen Qing’s appearance, this family would be easy to deceive. Who knew that Bailian wasn’t so easily fooled?

“Miss Bai, Teacher Chou is already considering dissolving his teacher-disciple relationship with the young miss,” the secretary-general narrowed his eyes and looked at Bailian, not humbly or arrogantly. “The young miss has also been punished by Mr. Ren to kneel, and her promotional video has been replaced by you. The young miss has already received many punishments, but you haven’t lost anything, right? If you can forgive others, forgive them, so that you can meet each other in the future.”

While the secretary-general was speaking, Department Head Xu sat on the side.

He didn’t interrupt.

The atmosphere gradually became tense.

Jiang He had been doing the puzzle on the side the whole time without raising his head. Shen Qing, however, couldn’t help but grab Bailian’s arm upon hearing this and looked up at her.

Bailian’s eyes didn’t change. She just lightly patted Shen Qing’s arm, then slowly raised her head. “If you can forgive others, forgive them? Why should I have such a thing?”

“You and the young miss are relatives,” the secretary-general suppressed his anger. He knew that Ren Qian wanted to win over Bailian. “You…”

“No,” Bailian laughed extremely nonchalantly and lazily raised her hand. “Your young miss and I are not relatives.”

The secretary-general could no longer pretend. His face instantly turned cold.

He had originally wanted to have a good talk with Bailian and help each other in the future.

He didn’t expect that the other party wouldn’t give him any face at all and was still as obstinate as last time. Did she really think that winning the Lanting Calligraphy Competition meant she could call the wind and summon the rain?

“Miss Bai, I have already been removed from my position and have apologized to you. Is that not enough?” Department Head Xu had never seen someone like Bailian. After coming here and facing Bailian, who lived in a cramped old neighborhood, he really couldn’t muster any other thoughts. “You shouldn’t go too far either.”

Bailian chuckled lightly. “Just because you apologized, I must accept it?”

Realizing that Bailian wasn’t joking, the secretary-general turned around to leave.

Halfway through, he looked back and sneered at Bailian, “Miss Bai, you don’t naively think that with just your calligraphy skills and your background, you can make a name for yourself in Jiangjing, do you?”

Department Head Xu didn’t stop him.

The secretary-general glanced at Shen Qing’s appearance and scoffed. Did she really think that Old Mr. Ren had no temper?

How could Ren Qian, who could sit in this position, be easy to deal with?

The secretary-general was almost mocking as he said, “Bailian, you can prevent the young miss from entering the book association, but have

you forgotten whose territory Xiangcheng is? Have you forgotten that Xiangcheng belongs to the Ren family? What if we don’t agree to the launching ceremony of the book association? Or…”

The secretary-general almost whispered, “I remember you transferred to Xiangcheng, right?”

“Mr. Secretary, wait–” Shen Qing broke free from Bailian’s hand and hurriedly stood up, almost crying out.

The secretary-general laughed coldly and didn’t linger. He just reached out and opened the half-closed door.

There was a tall and indifferent figure at the door.

A knee-length black trench coat.