“Young people, don’t focus too much on immediate benefits. Foster won’t pay too much for your work, but Foster sees your talent. If you change your mind, you can call me.”

Mr. Dick gave Xia Xiaolan his business card with suggestive words.

Of course, he wasn’t suggesting anything inappropriate—he just thought Xia Xiaolan and the others would regret their decision.

Foster Architects would be an excellent workplace even for Cornell architecture graduates.

Having their work noticed first, establishing contact—wouldn’t working at Foster after graduation be the natural progression?

Dick believed these young students would think it through and make the best choice.

Of course, if they later contacted him wanting to sell the work, the price wouldn’t be the same as now!

As an industry veteran, Dick appreciated talented youth.

As a junior partner at the firm, Dick thought like a pure businessman, calculating every detail.

Xia Xiaolan accepted the card and saw Mr. Dick off… They truly couldn’t sell the design rights. Mr. Dick didn’t believe her words—it sounded like a joke in the American architectural industry context. First Daisy’s group didn’t believe it, but now Dick didn’t either.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t argue. The card could be useful—she wouldn’t stay in America, but what if Richard and the others needed this contact in the future?

Having a connection to a Foster Architects partner was valuable networking.

After seeing him off, Xia Xiaolan returned and ran into Ning Xue.

Both were startled.

Ning Xue suddenly smiled, “Xia Xiaolan, the C·W competition is just the beginning. I look forward to our next competition together.”

Winners needn’t be too proud.

Losers needn’t be too dejected.

It was just a school competition—without Wilson Hotel’s sponsorship, C·W’s standards wouldn’t have been so high. Afterward, Ning Xue carefully studied Xia Xiaolan’s group’s work. The two firm judges must have been key to “Electronic Plaza’s” victory—it matched their preferences.

Hearing that even Foster Architects’ Mr. Dick came to campus wanting to buy the “Electronic Plaza” design rights showed his clear preference for it.

Ning Xue felt some envy—not for Dick’s favor, but for Xia Xiaolan’s practical opportunities.

Speaking of world-class architectural firms, Ning Xue aspired not to British Foster or American P&W, but to German GMP!

Xia Xiaolan thought for a moment and replied seriously:

“Then you’d better be careful—next time we meet in competition, I’ll still give it my all to win!”

She couldn’t help it—Old Mao’s pride upon hearing the news was unforgettable. As a filial disciple, Xia Xiaolan wanted to make Mao Kangshan happy a few more times.

The two passed each other in the hallway.

Daisy was confronting Heidi, drawing many onlookers.

The “Sky Forest Garden” only took third place in the C·W Design Competition, while “Electronic Plaza” won first!

Heidi couldn’t attack Daisy for not being the main creator, as she played a similar supporting role in the “Sky Forest Garden” design team.

When both were supporting players, Daisy’s contribution seemed more valuable… Daisy wasn’t bragging about winning now, but about “Electronic Plaza” being built.

Heidi naturally didn’t believe it.

When Xia Xiaolan entered, Daisy was arguing with Heidi:

“What I’m saying is true! Foster’s Mr. Dick even wanted to buy our rights. Heidi, your apology to us is already settled!”

Heidi gritted her teeth, “Wait until you get an A from Professor McCarthy! Everyone knows Mr. Dick was just being polite at the ceremony…”

Xia Xiaolan interrupted their argument:

“I just saw Mr. Dick off—he left me his card. Many people saw him come to Cornell. Heidi, you can stick to your view that everything is Daisy’s lie—that Mr. Dick didn’t want to buy the rights, that Professor McCarthy won’t give Daisy an A, that ‘Electronic Plaza’ isn’t being built in China… You know, lies can work temporarily through sophistry, but they can’t fool everyone forever. We’ll prove each fact you want to see!”

Heidi’s face darkened.

Xia Xiaolan added, “But you’ll apologize before our designed Electronic Plaza is completed. After all, this semester is ending, and Professor McCarthy will grade me and Daisy’s group. Care to guess if the professor will give an A?”

This wasn’t hard to guess.

“Electronic Plaza” was Xia Xiaolan’s group’s major assignment this semester. Now it had won the C·W Design Competition championship, competing against the entire architecture school. If Professor McCarthy didn’t approve of this level of work, no one would get an A from him this semester!

Heidi was just being stubborn now.

Apologizing now would let everyone laugh it off and move on—the campus had so many new things happening daily, who would keep focusing on some architecture students’ bet?

Heidi’s choice to remain stubborn is related to both her personality and current state.

Unable to refute Xia Xiaolan’s words, Heidi angrily pushed through the crowd and ran out.

Though Heidi left, the onlookers didn’t disperse.

Everyone was interested in Daisy and Xia Xiaolan’s news.

Did British Foster Architects want to buy the “Electronic Plaza” design rights?

Even more explosive was news of it being built in China… How was that possible? Was China’s architectural regulation that loose? Student work could be directly built. Hey, better get close to Xia and see if China has more such demands!

The students were too enthusiastic.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t know how to explain.

Should she just tell everyone not to be naive?

No country would let architecture students build randomly. “Electronic Plaza” being built wasn’t because it won the C·W Design Competition, but because of Xia Xiaolan personally.

This Electronic Plaza wasn’t Xia Xiaolan building with her own money, but she was guiding Du Zhaohui’s construction.

It could only be built with industry leaders like Mao Kangshan acting as technical advisors domestically.

The students’ enthusiasm was one thing, but after hearing about Dick’s visit, Professor McCarthy had someone call Xia Xiaolan to his office. In her time at Cornell, this was Xia Xiaolan’s first time entering the Dark Lord’s office.

She didn’t think the Dark Lord called her in for scolding—after all, she hadn’t done anything wrong lately, and the C·W competition had brought him some glory.

Understanding this didn’t stop her heart from beating nervously.

“Professor, you wanted to see me?”

McCarthy sat in his swivel chair, facing the window:

“Beautiful campus, isn’t it?”