Xia Xiaolan understood better than anyone that friends should be of equal social standing.

However, her friendship with Ning Xue wasn’t quite there yet. They were just classmates, and regardless of why Ning Xue was being friendly with her, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t simply ignore it.

Fundamentally, it wasn’t like Xia Xiaolan was desperately trying to befriend Ning Xue. The way Ning’s mother spoke made it sound as if she was trying to separate some poor boy who was clinging to the Ning family… Xia Xiaolan found it utterly disgusting.

“Auntie, you don’t understand your daughter.”

Having lived two lifetimes, Xia Xiaolan had enough insight to know that the academic genius was quite aloof. Ning Xue wasn’t the type to care about family background. The genius probably chose friends based on intelligence, willing to converse more with smart people and avoiding interaction with fools—whether this standard was right or wrong aside, at least it wasn’t based on family background.

Xia Xiaolan felt that Ning’s mother’s words were demeaning to Ning Xue.

Madam Ning remained unmoved, “Ning Xue has been too sheltered by her family to see how calculating you are. Girls like you with poor backgrounds desperately trying to climb up the social ladder will try to use anyone who might help you, regardless of gender. Haven’t you already attached yourself to the Zhou family with that pretty face of yours? Go focus on pleasing the Zhou family and stop bothering Ning Xue!”

What could Xia Xiaolan possibly want from Ning Xue when she already had the Zhou family’s backing?

After much thought, Madam Ning concluded that Xia Xiaolan was trying to use Ning Xue as a stepping stone to get close to Ning Xue’s grandfather.

For an architecture student like Xia Xiaolan to try getting close to Ning Yanfan, she was truly calculating!

With prejudice already planted, Xia Xiaolan saw no point in arguing further with Madam Ning. This person was clearly taking Ji Ya’s side, and even if Xia Xiaolan talked herself hoarse, Madam Ning would just think she was making excuses—Old Mr. Ning might have shown her kindness because of Grandmother Yu, and Xia Xiaolan was genuinely grateful for that.

But to suggest that she needed to cling to Ning Yanfan to establish herself in the architecture field, Madam Ning was being too presumptuous.

“I apologize, I won’t trouble your household anymore.”

Xia Xiaolan had carefully prepared gifts, only to be brutally rejected. She couldn’t take the gifts back, so she left the Ning residence empty-handed with grace.

Ning Xue’s mother stared at the pile of things in the living room, her expression fluctuating.

She wanted to throw everything out, but given Xia Xiaolan’s calculating nature, she might ask Ning Xue if she had seen the gifts, and then she would have trouble explaining to Ning Xue.

As a mother, how could she not think for her daughter?

Madam Ning feared Xia Xiaolan getting too close to Ning Xue, not just because she worried about Xia Xiaolan taking advantage of Ning Xue… As a mother, she knew her daughter’s thoughts best. If Ning Xue still wanted things to work with Ji Jiangyuan, she certainly couldn’t associate too much with Xia Xiaolan.

Madam Ning thought for a moment and called Ji Ya:

“Young girls these days are so crafty. Just look at her background—to be able to get close to the Zhou family, how calculating must she be? Xue’er has been learning architecture from her grandfather since childhood, focused entirely on her studies. How would she know the wickedness of human nature? She even considers that girl a friend. The other day, the sun must have risen from the west—she actively invited me to go shopping on the weekend. I thought the girl had changed. But when we got there, I nearly died of anger. It turned out to be a clothing store owned by Xia Xiaolan’s family!”

There were even several female architecture students helping at the store. Being able to get university students to work at a private shop, Madam Ning was secretly alarmed at Xia Xiaolan’s capabilities.

Being well-connected was a trait that could be seen as either positive or negative, but for a country girl to have such an ability made Madam Ning very wary. When Ning Xue actively invited her shopping, and in front of several architecture department female students, Madam Ning had to smile and buy several pieces of clothing from the store, though it made her want to vomit just thinking about it.

Ji Ya’s voice was languid, “She even said she’d make me kneel on Chang’an Street to apologize to her. I thought she had some real capability, but just running two clothing stores is supposed to make me afraid?”

Madam Ning couldn’t help but laugh, “That’s just empty boasting, running into your hands.”

The clothing store was well-decorated.

Like the store in Xiushui Street, Ning Xue said there was another one in Xidan.

Even if she relied on the Zhou family’s support, being able to achieve this much showed some capability.

But while the Zhou family could make the Ji family bow their heads domestically, if they rolled up their sleeves to compete in business, Xia Xiaolan’s modest assets probably wouldn’t be enough.

Ji Ya used to earn dollars abroad.

If Ji Ya’s money wasn’t enough, wouldn’t George help?

George was also devoted; since Ji Ya couldn’t go abroad, George seemed to be planning to stay in China long-term. Thinking of Xia Xiaolan’s behavior earlier, Madam Ning couldn’t find fault with it, but this made her even more annoyed. She had her ulterior motives in making this call to Ji Ya:

“If you can’t go abroad for a while, have you considered moving your business back to China? The other day I saw something in a magazine about Chinese fashion brands, the policies are different now.”

On the other end of the phone, Ji Ya’s voice, which had been languid, showed some spirit:

“You mean that Luna? How can it represent Chinese fashion? A bunch of country bumpkins who’ve never been abroad, copying designs and mixing everything up messily.”

If it weren’t for Hong Kong celebrity Wang Mingming wearing it during the Spring Festival Gala, Ji Ya wouldn’t have given a second glance to a Chinese fashion brand like Luna at this level.

Madam Ning’s words stirred something in Ji Ya.

She was frustrated that Tang Hongen restricted her from going abroad, making everything unpleasant while staying in China, and her overseas business was temporarily stalled. Unable to deal with Tang Hongen, Ji Ya could only vent her anger on Xia Xiaolan.

Because of the Zhou family’s presence, Ji Ya couldn’t openly antagonize Xia Xiaolan.

Now it was perfect—of all the industries Xia Xiaolan could choose, why did she have to go into fashion?

As Madam Ning said, she had run right into Ji Ya’s hands.

…

When Xia Xiaolan returned home, she didn’t mention anything about Madam Ning’s hostility. When Liu Fen asked, she just said Old Mr. Ning wasn’t home, so she left the gifts and came back.

Even Grandmother Yu couldn’t detect anything unusual in Xia Xiaolan’s demeanor, showing that CEO Xia had indeed improved in her self-cultivation.

That evening, Xia Xiaolan was also dragged by Liu Fen to wait in front of the television for the program to air. Xia Xiaolan thought since she was number 17, she probably wouldn’t have much screen time in the first episode.

As Xia Xiaolan expected, the first episode was an overview of the National College English Competition, starting with the written finals where 20 contestants emerged successfully, introducing these 20 contestants and the oral examination judges, and then the episode abruptly ended.

Even so, Xia Xiaolan felt her screen time was excessive.

Xia Xiaolan guessed it was preferential treatment for the first-place winner, though the national audience didn’t know the competition results yet. However many viewers “Follow Me” had, that’s how many would watch the finals.

It was because Xia Xiaolan was eye-catching—although her written test only ranked 17th, she received more attention than others.

Catherine wasn’t exaggerating; Xia Xiaolan was really about to “become famous”—with her television appearance, those close to her were proud and happy for her, while those who held grudges were quite unhappy!

Like Ji Ya.

Her previously wavering thoughts immediately solidified into determination.

“George, I want to move my studio back to China.”