Monde probably hadn’t anticipated that his plan to establish authority over Professor McCarthy would be overturned by two architecture students.

And Chinese students at that…

If he had known, would he have restrained his wife’s behavior?

Xia Xiaolan guessed correctly – Monde wouldn’t fight public opinion. A loss was a loss; fools would persist, but clever people would lie low, quietly gathering strength to seek revenge at the right moment.

Neither Xia Xiaolan nor Ning Xue feared the Dawsons’ revenge.

After Mrs. Dawson’s clownish exit, the Architecture Department quickly returned to peace.

Professor Wen was determined to fight for Xia Xiaolan until the end, but Xia Xiaolan didn’t let him worry further. By the time Professor Wen finished his class, he learned that Xia Xiaolan and her friends had already handled everything!

The brave are invincible – for a long time, Xia Xiaolan was destined to be the protagonist of this story, remembered by Cornell’s faculty and students.

Professor Wen felt admiration, “Kang Shan’s life hasn’t been smooth, but I never expected to gain such a disciple in my later years. You did very well – even if I had intervened, I couldn’t have spoken better than you!”

Not causing trouble doesn’t mean fearing it – with more spirited people like Xia Xiaolan, others would hesitate before discriminating against Chinese people.

But Xia Xiaolan was curious about Monde Dawson’s reaction. She couldn’t reach such a powerful figure, but Professor Wen surely had his sources.

“He’ll leave Ithaca. Finding private support won’t help – neither the Architecture Department nor Cornell University would dare openly support him. You’ve cut off his retreat.”

Professor Wen’s words matched Xia Xiaolan’s guess:

“Then it seems Professor McCarthy is safe too.”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t expect Professor McCarthy to thank her – she had just helped the “Dark Lord” while protecting herself.

She couldn’t help with the behind-the-scenes power struggles, but by defeating Mrs. Dawson so thoroughly, she had disrupted Monde Dawson’s plans.

Sure enough, the next day, department leaders called Xia Xiaolan, Ning Xue, and Jonathan to their office.

They first apologized to the three, admitting the department’s oversight in not immediately expelling the troublemaking Mrs. Dawson.

“Student Heidi has completed transfer procedures with her family’s accompaniment. She won’t appear at Cornell anymore, and such incidents won’t happen again. Let’s put this matter behind us. You two are excellent Chinese students, and after discussion, the department has decided to offer you a scholarship…”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t bother questioning why the department hadn’t resolved this earlier – they probably had their considerations.

At least the Architecture Department hadn’t sided with Mrs. Dawson. Throughout the incident, they never mentioned taking action against Xia Xiaolan and Ning Xue, and now they were offering a “scholarship” – even exchange students could receive scholarships. Was this the department’s way of expressing apology?

As long as everyone could save face, it was fine.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t trying to fight everyone.

“Wonder where Heidi transferred to,” Xia Xiaolan muttered.

Even Jonathan didn’t know this. Xia Xiaolan had said he couldn’t manage both sides – in that situation, Jonathan couldn’t support Ning Xue while also visiting the hospital.

Ning Xue tucked her loose hair behind her ear: “Wherever she goes, Heidi will still study architecture.”

Of course.

After this incident, Mrs. Dawson might become even more obsessed.

Neither Mrs. Dawson nor Monde would let Heidi give up architecture.

“So, we’ll still have chances to meet Heidi, not at school but in other settings… Well, let’s just work hard and try to leave Heidi far behind – that way, we’ll have fewer chances of meeting!”

Xia Xiaolan rubbed her face.

Architects have their circles – her theory about joining circles that she’d told Daisy wasn’t just talk. If she did well and Heidi didn’t, their chances of crossing paths would naturally be small.

Ning Xue and Jonathan agreed with this point.

Just before parting, Jonathan added:

“We might avoid Heidi, but we can’t avoid Monde Dawson, not if we plan to stay in this field.”

This was certain, which was why Xia Xiaolan had that chaotic dream.

If she wanted to climb higher in architecture, she would inevitably cross paths with Monde Dawson. The pyramid gets smaller at the top – the higher you go, the fewer people there are. Xia Xiaolan didn’t know if she could win the Pritzker Architecture Prize or other equally prestigious international awards in the future. She found making money more satisfying… but Master Mao took her as a disciple hoping she would make achievements in architecture.

Not just to defeat Ning Xue.

Not just to win the face of Old Mao.

Old Mao truly wanted to cultivate an excellent architect.

“Can I reach Master Mao’s expectations?”

Xia Xiaolan asked herself, not entirely confident. Before seeing results, she could only work hard quietly.

…

A black sedan drove through the night, leaving Ithaca.

Under the streetlights, the scenery kept receding.

Heidi pressed her face against the car window. She had lived in Ithaca for over two years, never imagining she would leave Cornell and Ithaca town midway.

Ithaca’s autumn was poetic, but Heidi’s mood was like winter. She pressed her face against the window so others in the car couldn’t see her tears.

“You’re reluctant to leave?”

The stern male voice made Heidi shrink her neck, her shoulders trembling.

“Monde…”

Mrs. Dawson didn’t want her daughter scolded, but the man had no intention of stopping:

“You shut up. You couldn’t even handle a few students. With a mother like you as an example, no wonder Heidi became stupid and cowardly.”

Mrs. Dawson’s face went pale.

It wasn’t just the family of three in the car – there was also the driver.

Her husband despised her so openly.

So who counted as clever?

Those female architects from prestigious schools in his studio?

Monde raised his voice, “Heidi, turn around and look at me!”

Heidi dared not disobey her father’s command, hastily wiping her tears.

Monde suppressed his disgust, his voice cold: “You know you can’t stay at Cornell anymore. At the slightest setback, you chose suicide – this lost my face, and yours too. Add your mother’s failure, and you have no face left to stay at Cornell. But this doesn’t mean you should give up everything… Look me in the eyes and tell me, are you inferior to those two Chinese female students?”

Could she match Xia Xiaolan and Ning Xue?

Heidi knew the answer in her heart.

Xia Xiaolan and Ning Xue had already proven their talent.

But Heidi dared not face this answer, much less admit it to her father Monde.

“No, I don’t want to give up. I’m not worse than them. Please tell me what I should do?”