How to spend the prize money?

The excellence award wasn’t worth mentioning, just $2,000 split four ways meant $500 each—enough to make the rest of the semester more comfortable.

Third place was more appealing, $10,000, meaning Daisy could get $2,500.

“I’ll buy a car!”

It didn’t need to be new; she could find a nice used car and still have money left over.

Second place would be even better, with $30,000, meaning $7,500 per person—enough to freely choose a new car.

First place had a $50,000 prize, $12,500 each, enough to cover an entire year’s tuition and other expenses… Daisy’s heart nearly burst just thinking about it.

There were countless other benefits:

Getting an A from Professor McCarthy.

Making Heidi apologize publicly.

Gaining the attention of major firm partners.

“God, I didn’t know I had such endless desires. Xia, did you know we’ll receive the award at the Wilson Hotel!”

Xia Xiaolan knew, of course.

She had already explained to Zhou Cheng who Harold Wilson was.

The Golden Sands Complex had sold out long ago, though the golf course wasn’t finished yet—otherwise, she and Harold would have been competitors. Receiving prize money from the C·W Architecture Competition sponsored by Wilson Hotel didn’t feel strange to Xia Xiaolan at all.

What did it matter if Wilson Hotel sponsored the competition? She hadn’t asked Harold for any special treatment!

If anything was odd, it was how Du Zhaohui had donated millions to Huaqing University to establish the ‘Cheng Rong Scholarship’, which Xia Xiaolan had been consistently winning.

The source of the money didn’t matter; once rules were established, it came down to individual merit.

“Wilson Hotel is quite nice. The final awards ceremony is on the weekend; Zhou Cheng and I want to tour New York too.”

Daisy was perceptive—they were a couple dating, so she and Richard’s group shouldn’t interfere with their intimate time. Instead of riding with Xia Xiaolan, the architecture school had organized buses to take students to New York.

“Xia, see you in New York then. Have a pleasant weekend!”

Daisy waved, emphasizing “pleasant” while winking at Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan felt bitter inside—who would imagine that she and Zhou Cheng were still completely innocent?

When Xia Xiaolan asked Zhou Cheng about booking hotels in New York, she could choose freely, but they needed two rooms!

“You’re a saint with perfect self-control.”

Xia Xiaolan turned away.

Zhou Cheng turned her back, “Don’t talk nonsense. If I were a saint, would I ask for two rooms?”

It was precisely because he might lose control that Zhou Cheng dared not share a room.

“It’s not hard for men to trick women into undressing. Swearing lifelong devotion, being good to her, saying sweet nothings that don’t cost anything—women usually can’t resist persistent persuasion.”

As Zhou Cheng said this, Xia Xiaolan glared at him.

Zhou Cheng laughed, “But when a man has the opportunity and deliberately refuses, what do you think that means?”

Xia Xiaolan pretended to think seriously: “…Is the woman too ugly?”

Zhou Cheng knew she was joking.

He felt they should properly discuss this matter.

Actions spoke louder than words. Zhou Cheng checked that no one was around, then took Xia Xiaolan’s hand and placed it at his waist, letting her feel for herself.

Through the fabric, Zhou Cheng’s breathing grew heavier, his ears suspiciously red.

Breathing roughly, his expression slightly twisted:

“Ugly? No reaction? You know very well there’s only one reason.”

Xia Xiaolan blushed deeply.

Such a bold move from someone usually so pure caught her off guard.

Though she was driving, Zhou Cheng took the ‘wheel’. Did he need to explain that reason word by word? It was only because he loved and respected her, viewing her as precious, that he could control his urge to undress her.

Xia Xiaolan suddenly felt she’d been a bit excessive lately, always teasing Zhou Cheng, verbally stimulating the innocent one.

She thought intimacy was normal—they were both adults who liked each other, couldn’t they be responsible for their actions?

She hadn’t respected Zhou Cheng’s thoughts.

She had a soul from the future, but Zhou Cheng didn’t.

Zhou Cheng firmly believed that “dating without marriage intentions is hooliganism,” and the Zhou family had good values without such messy affairs.

Zhou Cheng could control his physical urges, wanting to save the best experience for their wedding night. Could she, with her mature mindset, not do the same?

“I’m sorry, I won’t tease you anymore.”

She would still flirt, but not with the impulsive thoughts of pouncing on the pure virgin boy.

Flirting needed limits and boundaries!

Zhou Cheng sighed in relief.

Yet felt slightly regretful.

Why agree so readily? If she had persisted a bit more, he would have surrendered!

Seeing Zhou Cheng’s reproachful look, Xia Xiaolan held back her laughter and remained unmoved. The opportunity had passed because Zhou Cheng hadn’t seized it—who could he blame?

When Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng went to New York, Zhou Cheng first delivered Jiang Yan’s information to Klaus.

Though Klaus wasn’t an expert in this field, he could help make connections.

Xia Xiaolan was naturally grateful, “This is a mutual friend of Zhou Cheng and me. She’s a Chinese female military officer. We both hope she can receive the best treatment so her injury won’t affect her life or work.”

“Thank you for your help!”

Zhou Cheng shook hands with Klaus.

Klaus had the well-maintained hands of a surgeon, while Zhou Cheng’s palms had calluses.

“Like playing with guns?”

Men naturally had that gene; liking firearms wasn’t strange. Klaus wasn’t the first person Zhou Cheng had met like this, nor would he be the last.

“We don’t play with guns; we live with them.”

Klaus secretly tested his strength against Zhou Cheng’s. Klaus was a typical fitness-loving elite, with more visible arm muscles than Zhou Cheng.

But when he exerted force, Zhou Cheng’s arm didn’t budge.

In this silent contest, Klaus finally conceded: “Zhou, your physical condition is excellent! Are you staying long in New York? When I’m not performing surgery, we could go to the club together.”

Wen Manni was pouring drinks for Xia Xiaolan at the bar.

Hearing this, she rolled her eyes and whispered to Xia Xiaolan:

“Klaus isn’t stupid, he just thinks like a typical man. Don’t mind him. You two should date as you please—why go to some club!”

Xia Xiaolan smiled, “Connie, it’s fine. I won’t keep Zhou Cheng tied to my side unable to leave. He accommodates me by staying in Ithaca, so I should accommodate him and give him some time for male bonding!”

Zhou Cheng came to America to see her, but Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t be so selfish as to only allow Zhou Cheng to stick with her.

What was wrong with going to the club with Klaus?

Men should have their own interests and social circles. If Xia Xiaolan couldn’t bear to be apart from Zhou Cheng, she should accompany him rather than roughly prevent him from going.