Xia Xiaolan wasn’t joking. The news about Grandmother Bai’s illness wasn’t an exaggeration either.

By coincidence, just as she and Jiang Yan were thinking about how to provoke Pan Bohua, news came from Yangcheng that Bai Zhenzhu’s grandmother had fallen seriously ill. While Xia Xiaolan suspected this might be a tactic to force marriage, what if it wasn’t? Bai Zhenzhu wouldn’t dare gamble with her grandmother’s health. She left for Yangcheng immediately after receiving the news, and there have been no updates since. Xia Xiaolan thought she should go to Yangcheng to check on the situation herself.

After all, she and Bai Zhenzhu were business partners and friends. Grandmother Bai was Bai Zhenzhu’s only remaining elder relative, so there was nothing wrong with Xia Xiaolan paying a visit. If it was truly a serious illness, Bai Zhenzhu would need her friends’ support, even if just for emotional comfort. If not… then she would be contributing to matchmaking between Bai Zhenzhu and Pan Bohua.

It was a good time since Qiongdao was still adjusting. People from across the country had started responding to the national call to build the provincial special economic zone. Qiongdao Province needed time to adapt, and various detailed policies were still being formulated. Xia Xiaolan could afford to leave temporarily.

There was also news that the second AIA Rising Star Architect Selection of 1988 had begun! Xia Xiaolan had undoubtedly made it to the shortlist. This was already an unspoken understanding between her and AIA. As for whether she could win the Rising Star award, it depended on whether Xia Xiaolan would face stronger competitors in this round… AIA wanted to make it up to her, and two top journals had been building momentum for her since last year. However, if a new architect appeared who was significantly better than Xia Xiaolan, AIA couldn’t award her the prize amid questioning!

The so-called understanding ultimately relied on Xia Xiaolan’s capabilities. AIA’s real preferential treatment for her probably only extended to overlooking her identity as a Chinese female architect and evaluating her work more fairly and justly. The word “fair” sounds simple, but Xia Xiaolan had sacrificed much to achieve this fairness!

For this nomination, Xia Xiaolan naturally wouldn’t apply under GMP Firm’s name, but rather under Qihang Firm. Architecture firms worked this way – they needed to develop alongside a renowned architect. As the architect grew, so did the firm.

Xia Xiaolan’s original intention was to visit Grandmother Bai, but as soon as she reached Yangcheng, she received another piece of news. A phone call from America was transferred to Shenzhen, then to her.

“Haven’t you been away from the architecture circle for too long recently?” Kissinger’s voice carried a hint of disappointment.

Xia Xiaolan felt a bit guilty: “I’ve been busy with work…”

It hadn’t been that long, had it? She had just picked up some money during the HK stock market crash, got married afterward, then helped Uncle Tang find his sister, and then there was Qiongdao… Well, she indeed hadn’t paid attention to the architecture circle for nearly half a year. Being able to spare some attention to supervise the museum construction in Shangdu was already showing great responsibility.

Xia Xiaolan cleared her throat: “Around July, the museum should be completed. It took a whole year to build—”

“No, that’s not what I meant! Whether it’s completed or not doesn’t affect your eligibility for any awards. Sometimes large projects take several years to complete – does that mean architects don’t do anything else during that time? You designed it, so it’s your work. What I want to talk about is that bastard Monde Dawson – you remember that bastard, right?”

Of course, she hadn’t gotten dementia; how could she forget Monde?

“What’s he done now? Mr. Kissinger, I thought after his last setback, he would keep a low profile for a year or two.”

Kissinger chuckled: “Then you must remember Heidi Dawson, your former classmate at Cornell University. Heidi Dawson has also been shortlisted for this year’s AIA Rising Star selection. What do you think is the reason?”

Heidi?!

Not to look down on her, but Heidi’s level was still quite far from AIA’s standards. However, Xia Xiaolan’s knowledge of Heidi was from before leaving Cornell University. It had been almost two years since then, and maybe Heidi had experienced a breakthrough… Well, this wasn’t the time to joke around, Kissinger would be furious.

She understood Kissinger’s meaning. Monde wanted to put his daughter up against her.

“Mr. Kissinger, have you seen Heidi’s work? What level is it at?”

In response to Xia Xiaolan’s question, Kissinger suggested she look at the latest issue of “Domus” magazine.

That was easy enough. After hanging up with Kissinger, Xia Xiaolan had someone bring her a copy of “Domus.”

As soon as she got the April 1988 issue of “Domus,” Xia Xiaolan understood why Kissinger was angry. The cover featured a photo of Monde and Heidi together.

The title was straightforward: “Dream Continuation: The Daughter of a Pritzker Prize Winner”

This was completely unconcealed.

Well, Heidi’s relationship with Monde would be revealed sooner or later, so they might as well be upfront about it.

When Xia Xiaolan flipped through the article content, she narrowed her eyes.

Was this Heidi’s level?

It seemed more like Monde Dawson had personally stepped into ghost design!

Xia Xiaolan closed the magazine and put it in her bag, then headed upstairs to find the hospital room according to Bai Zhenzhu’s address.

Bai Zhenzhu wasn’t short on money, so she had arranged a private room for her grandmother.

Xia Xiaolan had originally intended to provoke Pan Bohua, but surprisingly, there was actually a young man in the hospital room.

He looked quite decent, rather refined, and could even fill out his loose suit trousers well, He is naturally tall too.

This appearance matched perfectly with what Bai Zhenzhu said about the blind date her sister-in-law had arranged!

Xia Xiaolan remembered he worked in a government office, a university graduate assigned there the year before last.

Grandmother Bai lay in the hospital bed while the young man sat beside it, occasionally leaning down to talk with her, showing considerable patience. Grandmother Bai looked at the young man with joy in her eyes despite her poor condition, clearly very fond of him.

Truthfully, even Xia Xiaolan couldn’t find fault with the young man’s first impression. Chang Ying, Bai Zhenzhu’s sister-in-law, wasn’t just trying to fool her sister-in-law with any random person – this young man’s appearance was quite impressive!

In contrast, Bai Zhenzhu sat by the window, far from the bed, watching her grandmother being affectionate with her blind date, her furrowed brows looking like they could kill flies!

In just a few seconds, Xia Xiaolan had assessed the situation: Grandmother Bai didn’t seem ill but injured, with bandages wrapped around her head. However, Bai Zhenzhu had indeed been brought back to continue her marriage prospects.

“Xiaolan, you’re here!” Bai Zhenzhu seemed to think Xia Xiaolan had come to rescue her.

Xia Xiaolan put down the nutritional supplements she had bought. When Grandmother Bai tried to sit up, she stopped her: “Grandmother Bai, I came to see you, not to tire you out. Please rest well.”

The young man looked up and saw Xia Xiaolan, his eyes full of amazement.

This wasn’t his fault – men with normal orientations usually had this reaction when first seeing Xia Xiaolan.

After a while, he realized they were in a hospital room, and in front of his potential match, his reaction…

“Hello, hello, I’m Gao Huabin. I’m Zhenzhu’s friend.”

Gao Huabin tried to maintain his composure while appearing friendly.

The form of address was interesting too – he was already calling her “Zhenzhu.” It seemed Bai Zhenzhu was resistant, but this Gao Huabin was quite satisfied.

“Hello, I’m also Zhenzhu’s friend. My name is Xia Xiaolan.”