Neither Xiangmei Lake, Futian Street, nor even the entire Pengcheng could be bought up by Harold alone.

The Pengcheng golf course in her previous life wasn’t nearly as large as 2000 mu. Following that timeline, there should have been more vacant land for Xia Xiaolan to choose from, unlike now where she had to be so fixated on that Stinking Bamboo Valley plot.

Harold had bought up most of the land in that area, over 2000 mu connected in one piece. Xia Xiaolan was trying to survive in the gaps, and just as things were about to be settled, Harold found out.

How did Harold know?

She had underestimated Harold. Though the Wilson family company was a family business, Harold wasn’t the only heir to the Wilson family. The fact that he now held power proved his exceptional abilities!

The extraordinary Harold looked at Xia Xiaolan with a mocking smile:

“So it’s my fault then? My fault for being too wealthy, for buying up all the land around Xiangmei Lake, forcing Miss Xia to reluctantly deal with me just to obtain a small piece of land, using my golf course project as an opportunity to develop residential properties and make a fortune… Miss Xia, you’re truly too clever, but is your poverty my doing? Poverty shouldn’t be your crutch – the idea that we should yield to you because you’re poor doesn’t make sense anywhere in the world!”

Just thinking about how he had voluntarily told Xia Xiaolan about the golf course plans made Harold’s anger uncontrollable.

Despite knowing Xia Xiaolan’s craftiness, he had believed there was some sincerity in their interactions… Harold had never experienced such a Waterloo before. The land was a small matter – the embarrassment of misplaced feelings was the real issue!

Xia Xiaolan felt somewhat guilty under his gaze, but more confused.

Her face slightly reddened. Harold was right – she had always scorned the “I’m poor so I’m right” mentality herself.

She hadn’t been reckless because of her poverty; her lack of capital made her cautious.

What confused her was Harold’s anger – could business talk be trusted?

Was Harold angry because he considered them friends, and she had betrayed his trust?

She never imagined an American billionaire would consider her a friend – wasn’t Harold just trying to flirt with her unsuccessfully?

Xia Xiaolan grew irritated:

“Harold, if my attempt to acquire land by taking advantage of your golf course project has hurt you, then I apologize! I’m not using poverty to reason with you. I came to tell you that buying the land wasn’t meant to cause you trouble. Yes, our resources are unequal, and I wanted to capitalize on the golf course angle – I admit all this! But business isn’t about making enemies. Conversely, my project isn’t without benefits for you – I’m handling a piece of wasteland for you, and people who can afford to buy property now are potential consumers for your golf course. First, you need to understand something: the original landowner didn’t want to sell, and I only learned about this by chance.”

Who knew what the Luo family was thinking?

They didn’t even want compensation, just wanted to keep Stinking Bamboo Valley hidden.

After Harold bought the large tract of land, he marked the boundaries with warning lines, and his people didn’t question the current boundaries.

The Stinking Bamboo Valley plot was right there – if Harold wouldn’t buy it, did that mean Xia Xiaolan couldn’t?

If “I’m poor so I’m right” was wrong, did that mean everything rich people said was right?

Xia Xiaolan had never been one to bow down, and her words to Harold carried a touch of anger: “I just wanted to buy that land. My goal was residential development. When did I ever actively approach you to fish for information?”

Recently, she had been trying her best to avoid Harold.

It was Harold who suddenly appeared and invited her for a walk, and while walking through the overgrown areas, started talking about his golf course plans… Should Xia Xiaolan have covered her ears?

Regardless of Harold’s golf course plans, Xia Xiaolan had already decided to build houses in Stinking Bamboo Valley. Harold’s revelations only made her feel more optimistic about the project’s prospects!

Angry, Xia Xiaolan’s cheeks flushed pink. Harold looked at her face, more alluring than a rose, and felt utterly helpless.

After a while, he waved his hand impatiently:

“If you don’t want to associate with me, I won’t force you. Don’t worry about me taking your land. Your behavior isn’t inappropriate; you just don’t understand… Never mind, there’s no point explaining this to you. Allen, please show Miss Xia out!”

Harold’s form of address for Xia Xiaolan had changed from the familiar “Xia” back to the formal “Miss Xia.”

Xia Xiaolan was relieved to hear Harold wouldn’t take the land.

“Mr. Wilson, goodbye! I will manage that land well. If someday we can be friends, it will be because we’ve earned the right to dialogue as equals. And thank you for your magnanimity!”

There’s nothing wrong with ordinary people being friends with wealthy people when there are no conflicts of interest.

But when an ordinary person trying to become wealthy befriends a rich person with ulterior motives, they must inevitably bow their heads.

This was what Xia Xiaolan meant by not being able to dialogue as equals.

She and Harold were certainly not equals, which was why she rushed to explain when she heard Harold knew about her land purchase.

Now her land was safe.

But from Harold’s tone, their friendship was over.

Friendship?

If unequal status couldn’t accommodate love, how could it accommodate something like friendship?

Xia Xiaolan left the hotel without hesitation. When Butler Allen returned after seeing her out, Harold’s face was completely calm.

“Allen, do you find it strange why I got so angry?”

Allen nodded, “It’s just a small piece of land. If you want it, we could offer money to the city government – they wouldn’t refuse.”

Xia Xiaolan was just a Chinese person with a private real estate company.

No matter how good her plans were, they couldn’t compare to real American dollars.

Allen thought Harold didn’t really care about the land, so why not generously allow Xia Xiaolan to develop it? In Chinese terms, this would be “going with the flow,” effectively bringing both parties closer.

Allen couldn’t understand, but Harold didn’t plan to explain:

“Don’t mind her anymore. No matter how small her land is, once she invests in residential development, she becomes our business competitor. Treat her the same way we treat other competitors – let Bill handle this matter. She’s the boldest young woman I’ve ever met, managing to anger two Wilson family members at once!”

George Wilson was useless.

Harold Wilson was not.

Offending George could be ignored, but offending Harold-Xia Xiaolan would surely regret it deeply in the future.

Harold couldn’t explain his annoyance to Allen. When a man’s pride is wounded, it’s not easily soothed!