“Am I overthinking it?”

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t sure herself.

Earning Xia Xiaolan’s trust wasn’t easy. She didn’t just listen to what people said; she watched their actions.

Even with chosen business partners, Xia Xiaolan would observe them for a long time. She didn’t know Ye Xiaoqiong well enough to trust her completely. There was still a long road ahead – they would see how things unfolded!

Xia Xiaolan rushed to the airport. Only after settling down in Washington did she tell Zhou Cheng about Ye Xiaoqiong’s call.

“Uncle and the others should be processing Zhou Yi’s overseas paperwork now, right? Let’s wait until she comes to America to discuss everything!”

Zhou Cheng had been in close contact with his family recently and knew Zhou Yi was working hard studying English – truthfully, if Zhou Yi had put in this effort two years earlier and had something to focus on, she probably wouldn’t have fallen for Yuan Han so easily.

But it wasn’t too late to start now. Zhou Yi was only in her twenties, prime years for energy and learning ability.

Of course, it was never too late to pursue self-improvement at any age.

“You can focus on your Washington business trip. I’ll handle things here.”

Xia Xiaolan gave a soft sound of agreement.

She actually knew that Zhou Cheng had just been promoted to Deputy Squadron Leader and needed to adapt to his work, coordinating relationships up and down the chain of command. It wasn’t easy for him.

Unlike her, an old cucumber painted fresh, Zhou Cheng was truly only 23 years old. Everyone’s life experience was cumulative, and it was naturally more challenging for someone as young as Zhou Cheng to consider all aspects of his position!

She was trying to share his burden in her way.

However, for the path Zhou Cheng had to walk, Xia Xiaolan could only offer minor help. She couldn’t possibly pull him down and roll up her sleeves to take over.

Even if Xia Xiaolan were willing, Zhou Cheng wouldn’t allow it.

She felt things were fine as they were now – no need to be a mother hen, making their relationship more relaxed.

So when Zhou Cheng told her to focus on her business trip, Xia Xiaolan put Zhou Yi’s troublesome matters out of her mind as soon as she left the airport. She needed to meet up with Hoffman. As the design team’s creative lead, Hoffman had been in Washington recently.

GMP was one of the few architectural firms capable of providing comprehensive design services. While smaller firms might only handle architectural design proposals, GMP was different – from architectural design to construction and even interior decoration, GMP could provide full service to clients.

This was why Hoffman had stayed in Washington after winning the bid.

Even team members like Xia Xiaolan had to make frequent trips to Washington!

When Xia Xiaolan arrived at the site, Hoffman was discussing with the construction engineers. The land Wilson Hotel had purchased was an abandoned factory. It wasn’t uncommon for factories to fail during the recent economic depression, especially since city planning no longer allowed factories in urban areas. After Wilson Hotel bought it, demolition work began, and by the time GMP won the bid, the site had been completely cleared.

What Xia Xiaolan saw was an open area restored to its natural state, with construction machinery already in place and a buzzing chorus of work sounds.

“Mr. Hoffman.”

Hoffman and several others were huddled around a table looking at blueprints – these were the latest construction drawings, with more still being drafted at GMP. Xia Xiaolan’s trip to Washington was partly to deliver some of these construction drawings to Hoffman.

The heads gathered around the table suddenly looked up, and only then did Xia Xiaolan notice that Harold was also present, wearing a hard hat.

What does a billionaire look like in a hard hat?

No matter how handsome someone is, once they enter a dusty construction site, they can’t maintain their polished appearance.

Similarly, Xia Xiaolan, wearing a hard hat as she walked over, was also somewhat dusty and disheveled.

With their appearances less striking, everyone seemed more authentic.

At this point, Hoffman was less concerned about the client’s thoughts. While clients provided the money, once the design was finalized and they appeared at the construction site… they were frankly superfluous. Hoffman feared Harold would try to direct professionals without expertise!

“Xia, did you bring the drawings?”

Xia Xiaolan handed the case to Hoffman, who took out the drawings and spread them on the table, casually saying:

“Come look with us.”

Of course, Xia Xiaolan needed to look – she had drawn some of these plans herself.

She was grateful that before going abroad, Old Mao had forced her to draw the office building plans for Huo Chenzhou by herself. Without that experience, despite gaining some recognition at GMP, if she couldn’t draw construction plans, she would likely have been sent back to square one.

Xia Xiaolan leaned in to look.

The only space was next to Harold, so she had to squeeze in beside him.

Among the eight or nine people discussing with Hoffman, Xia Xiaolan was the only woman. The construction field was truly unfriendly to women – female architects were rare, and those who came to construction sites even rarer!

While Xia Xiaolan listened attentively, Harold became distracted as soon as she came near.

What brand of perfume was this, overpowering the surrounding dust and dirt, persistently finding its way to his nose?

He took a sudden deep breath, the fragrance so strong it made breathing difficult.

Xia Xiaolan and the others didn’t notice Harold’s behavior, not even when he left.

Harold walked outside, removing his hard hat. His assistant asked if he wanted to return to the hotel, and Harold ran his fingers through his hat-flattened hair.

“No need, I’ll wait in the car for a while.”

His car was parked nearby.

Harold got in and smoked two cigarettes, occasionally glancing in Xia Xiaolan’s direction.

Xia Xiaolan was completely immersed in work. Harold waited for a full three to four hours until Hoffman decided the communication goals were met and dismissed everyone.

“Stay in Washington for two more days as my assistant.”

Hoffman’s statement caught Xia Xiaolan by surprise.

She immediately agreed without hesitation: “No problem, sir, I’d be delighted!”

Only fools wouldn’t be pleased.

Matthew might be willing to hire an assassin to eliminate her for the same opportunity.

It was like when Ning Yanfan had called her to be his “assistant” at Daguan Garden – clearly intending to teach her things.

It seemed it wasn’t her imagination; Hoffman had truly changed his attitude toward her.

Xia Xiaolan walked out smiling, when suddenly a black car’s window lowered, revealing Harold’s puzzled face.

The sudden rush of air from the lowering window brought that fragrance that nearly knocked him over. Harold held his breath, looking serious:

“I have a question for you, could you answer it?”

Xia Xiaolan replied helplessly: “Of course, you’re our firm’s client, and I’m just an intern!”

Xia Xiaolan’s meaning was clear – she would answer any work-related questions as a major client deserved, but personal matters were off-limits.

Harold pretended not to understand:

“What brand of perfume do you use?”

“Huh?!”

What kind of question was this?

Would she wear perfume to a construction site?

No, as a straight-laced woman, she wouldn’t wear perfume not just at construction sites, but anywhere unless necessary.

Harold asked with such a serious expression, Xia Xiaolan considered it harassment:

“…Harold, I consider this workplace harassment. You don’t want me to answer your question; you want a letter from my lawyer.”