Running into a fellow student in a foreign land, Ning Xue wasn’t particularly warm towards Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t discouraged – this was exactly how Ning Xue should be, like a flower blooming on a high cliff! It seemed Ning Xue truly belonged at Cornell University. Cornell’s undergraduate architecture program had been ranked first in America, and they recruited students from around the world, no more than Huaqing’s architecture department… With such talented peers gathered, Ning Xue must have found new rivals.

Ning Xue quickly walked past with her new classmates, discussing Professor McCarthy’s assignment as part of a study group.

Xia Xiaolan was also taking Professor McCarthy’s class. Her schedule largely overlapped with Ning Xue’s – Ning Xue had to take certain courses for credits, while Xia Xiaolan, here for a one-year exchange, naturally wanted to take classes from renowned professors to make her time abroad worthwhile.

“So we’ll still have to interact?”

Distracted by Ning Xue, her bicycle handlebar tilted, causing several thick textbooks to fall from the basket.

As Xia Xiaolan was about to bend down, a pair of hands had already picked up the books for her.

Golden-brown hair, gray eyes – though Xia Xiaolan wasn’t short, she still had to look up at him… She estimated that he was even taller than her Chengzi.

He was incredibly handsome.

Handsome men with high bridges and deep-set eyes were everywhere in America, especially noticeable at New York airport. After all, it was America’s largest city, where beautiful people from around the world flocked to pursue their “American Dream.”

“Architecture major? Hi, I haven’t seen you before. I’m Danny, Hotel Administration.”

Hotel Administration was Cornell’s flagship program.

While Architecture ranked first in America, Hotel Administration could compete for first globally.

Since Danny was friendly, Xia Xiaolan didn’t keep her distance. “I’m an exchange student from China. You can call me Xia – our Chinese names are usually difficult to pronounce correctly.”

Self-deprecating humor was indeed a good way to break the ice. Danny couldn’t help but laugh, pointing to the group behind him:

“We’re all heading to lunch. Would you like to join us?”

Xia Xiaolan had planned to explore the campus more or walk around town.

But with Danny’s warm invitation, and knowing she couldn’t avoid interacting with other students forever, she readily agreed.

Her spoken English was good, and she wasn’t introverted, so she quickly joined the conversation.

Making friends in America was very easy – you could chat with anyone you liked, and being reserved wasn’t considered a virtue but rather something to be avoided. Danny’s group had seven or eight people, mostly from Hotel Administration.

Before Xia Xiaolan had mixed with her architecture classmates, she had already integrated into the Hotel Administration circle.

This was unexpected even for her.

The Hotel Administration program had a high proportion of attractive students. Danny’s group’s lunch was at the school cafeteria, which had cheap student buffets that they all claimed weren’t good.

“The burger combo is decent,” Danny said, offering to pay for Xia Xiaolan’s meal since she was a new friend.

Oh right, everyone split the bill here – Dutch treatment was the norm, and Xia Xiaolan was prepared for this.

She didn’t offer to treat everyone – friendship wasn’t built on spending money.

Besides, what money could she throw around in front of Danny’s group?

Instead of the cheap buffet, they chose a $3 burger and sandwich combo. Xia Xiaolan didn’t think they were particularly poor.

But she insisted on paying her share – these were the social rules here, and she didn’t want others to think Chinese students were cheapskates.

“OK, OK, it’s your call!” Danny didn’t insist.

As Xia Xiaolan was new, everyone’s attention focused on her during lunch, all showing interest in her story.

Learning that Xia Xiaolan was only staying for a year’s exchange, a girl named Nancy expressed regret: “Xia, you should try to stay and finish your undergraduate degree here. Cornell’s architecture program is amazing – you’ll get everything you want here!”

Did China have any good universities?

These people had absolutely no idea.

America’s strength was unmatched worldwide, and naturally, their universities were the best – Americans had this confidence.

“Thanks, Nancy. I’ll consider it.”

Finish undergraduate studies at Cornell?

That might work for someone unattached like Ning Xue, but Xia Xiaolan couldn’t completely abandon her promising situation back home.

One year was already the limit – any longer would disrupt her career plans.

Exchange students were government-funded – how could Chinese students survive long-term in America without full scholarships? Danny noticed Xia Xiaolan’s worn watch and dramatically changed the subject:

“Xia, you’re coming in as a sophomore, so you have to take Professor McCarthy’s required course? God is my witness, he’s the demon king of your architecture department! His requirements are hell-level difficult. I know a friend who said the price of getting an A from Professor McCarthy was losing half his hair!”

Xia Xiaolan unconsciously touched her ponytail. She wasn’t lacking in nutrition – her hair was black and shiny, and she was quite satisfied with it.

Lose half?

Could she drop Professor McCarthy’s class now?

Danny wasn’t joking. Professor McCarthy’s “reputation” had spread beyond the School of Architecture – even the Hotel Administration students had heard of Professor McCarthy’s insane… no, strict standards!

Nancy also gave Xia Xiaolan a sympathetic look.

The contrast makes happiness more apparent. Nancy suddenly felt grateful for studying Hotel Administration. She and Danny discussed their previous holiday internships at some Wilson Hotel, which caught Xia Xiaolan’s attention.

Which Wilson?

Could it be that coincidental?

But there were so many “Wilsons” in America, so Xia Xiaolan didn’t pursue it. She was more worried about tomorrow – she had Professor McCarthy’s class then, which was terrifying.

After parting with Danny’s group, Xia Xiaolan returned to the Wen residence.

Professor Wen saw she had already bought her textbooks and couldn’t help sighing, “I forgot to tell you you could buy used textbooks.”

“Time is of the essence. We can talk about used textbooks next semester. Today I heard Professor McCarthy is very strict – do you know anything about him?”

Professor Wen paused, “I almost forgot you’re taking McCarthy’s class… How would you describe your teacher’s temperament?”

Mao Kangshan’s temperament?

Like a firecracker that ignites instantly, though he was unusually mild with Xia Xiaolan – this wasn’t Xia Xiaolan’s conclusion but Senior Zhou Maotong’s nostalgic observation.

But even with his reduced aggressiveness, while Mao Kangshan was usually easy to get along with, once he entered teaching mode, he still often scolded Xia Xiaolan until she was utterly defeated.

“So…”

“So Professor McCarthy is the caustic version of your teacher in his prime.”

Add a caustic attribute to Mao Kangshan?

Xia Xiaolan’s scalp was already tingling, “What should I do?”

Professor Wen pulled out a book titled “Structural Elements” from her newly purchased textbooks.

“My suggestion is to preview Professor McCarthy’s work before class. You have 15 hours until your first class with him.”