Early next year!

Foreign universities had different semester schedules from domestic ones – while one was on break, the other would be in regular session.

What surprised Xia Xiaolan was that the department head asked for her preferences. Wasn’t this usually just a matter of following orders?

Though Xia Xiaolan didn’t know the reason, she wasn’t foolish enough to stay silent when given the chance to make requests: “Department Head, I only have one requirement – I hope to go to an American university. As long as that’s possible, I’m fine with everything else.”

She had promised to help Grandmother Yu find her son.

Grandmother Yu had secretly exchanged quite a bit of money for US dollars. The black market exchange rate between RMB and USD made Xia Xiaolan’s heartache for her.

Xia Xiaolan had heard that there were spots available at American universities for exchange students. If the school advocated for her, it shouldn’t be a major issue.

The department head hadn’t expected Xia Xiaolan to make a request.

He had called her in to show concern, but typically students would just quietly accept the arrangements… Then again, Xia Xiaolan wasn’t a typical student.

The department head smiled: “Going to America as an exchange student isn’t a problem in principle, but the Ministry of Education informed us that Katherine, your English competition judge, recommended you for the UK. Xia, haven’t you considered Katherine’s suggestion? You can’t interrupt your professional studies during your exchange, right? The UK has excellent architecture programs. If we push for it, with Ms. Katherine’s help, you could attend a very prestigious school!”

This was why the department head had called Xia Xiaolan in.

He wanted to show her the department’s regard and care. With their combined efforts, British prestigious universities were opening their arms to Xia Xiaolan – yet she insisted on going to America.

No matter how the department head tried to persuade her, Xia Xiaolan had made up her mind.

The department head had no choice: “I understand. Go back and wait for news. The department will take this seriously.”

“Thank you for your concern, but I have my reasons why it must be America.”

A direct flight from China to America took over ten hours.

Flying from Britain to America might save a few hours, but still took eight or nine hours. Xia Xiaolan was calculated based on future flight times – in the 1980s, it might take even longer.

Under these circumstances, going to Britain would still make it very inconvenient to search in America.

Declining the department head’s goodwill made Xia Xiaolan quite uncomfortable. As she was about to leave the office, the department head called out again: “Xiaolan, you have great talent in architecture. Don’t slack off in your progress… Remember to send my regards to Professor Mao.”

North Ning, South Mao – in terms of professional expertise, Mao Kangshan was incredibly accomplished.

The news that Mao Kangshan had taken Xia Xiaolan as his last disciple spread throughout the entire circle through Zhou Maotong’s mouth.

While current architecture students might be ignorant, those qualified to know already did. The department head didn’t know how to evaluate this – was it good luck or bad?

It would have been even better if Xia Xiaolan had studied under Ning Yanfan.

Old Ning had more influence in the circle.

However, Old Ning’s granddaughter was also in Huaqing’s architecture department. The ’84 class of Huaqing’s architecture department having two female students sharing the spotlight was far beyond the department head’s expectations.

He vaguely remembered rumors of Xiaolan wanting to transfer departments in her freshman year.

How absurd – fortunately, she hadn’t transferred.

Students who ranked at the top of the national college entrance exam would excel in any department!

The department head paced his office. American universities – which American architecture departments were strong? If top-tier schools weren’t possible, they couldn’t send her to poorly ranked ones either. That would be wasting Xiaolan’s talent.

Xia Xiaolan left the troublesome matter for the department head to worry about and happily returned to her dorm to draw.

She had bought a Friday flight ticket to Yangcheng, coincidentally on the same flight as Ji Jiangyuan.

There were several empty seats on the plane, so Ji Jiangyuan moved next to her:

“Harold is returning to America.”

Xia Xiaolan glanced at him, “What do you mean?”

“Something seems to have happened in the Wilson family. Harold has to leave China early. I don’t know what happened, but Harold has temporarily handed over Pengcheng affairs to George and his assistant Bill!”

Xia Xiaolan sat up straight.

“You mean George’s influence is rising in the Wilson family, and since my project neighbors the golf course, I need to be wary of George’s interference…”

“Not just that, George has also bought a Hong Kong decoration company.”

Ji Jiangyuan’s tone seemed somewhat sympathetic, but Xia Xiaolan straightened her back: “Heh, so it’s a pincer attack now.”

Harold had never seemed to take George seriously. George and Ji Ya’s presence in Pengcheng had seemed like clownish antics. What could have happened in the Wilson family for Harold to suddenly entrust the golf course project to George’s supervision?

No, it wasn’t just a pincer attack. Ji Ya had opened a fashion design studio in the capital. Everything these two were doing corresponded to Xia Xiaolan’s business ventures – it was a three-pronged attack, meant to completely block Xia Xiaolan’s path!

Xia Xiaolan’s eyes showed not fear, but intense fighting spirit.

Business competition always meant clearing countless rivals. Having George and Ji Ya’s interference added both pressure and motivation. After successfully driving up Jinsha Pool’s land price, Xia Xiaolan had been walking on air with success.

Ji Jiangyuan’s news brought her back to reality.

“Ji Jiangyuan, thank you.”

Ji Jiangyuan smiled.

That standard smile showing eight teeth was rarely seen on Ji Jiangyuan’s face anymore.

It wasn’t that Ji Jiangyuan didn’t like smiling anymore, but his smiles had become more reserved and subtle.

He was transforming from a campus celebrity into a professional.

While his classmates were still diligently attending classes, Ji Jiangyuan had found a well-paying internship. This time he wasn’t just a high-class companion, earning money by pleasing American businessmen. Whether he was smart enough, whether he was worth Harold paying a higher salary – he could demonstrate his abilities during his involvement with the golf course project.

Thinking of this, Xia Xiaolan extended her hand:

“This is truly a great opportunity, not just for the dollar-denominated weekly salary, but as the starting point of your career. Ji Jiangyuan, congratulations!”

After some hesitation, Ji Jiangyuan shook hands with Xia Xiaolan.

As the plane slowly descended, Ji Jiangyuan’s ears were ringing as he heard Xia Xiaolan’s voice, unnaturally calm: “…I’m grateful to you, but for your future, you can’t tell me anything related to the golf course project anymore. If Harold learns of your actions, it will surely displease him – the loss wouldn’t be worth it. We’re both developing real estate projects. Though Qihang’s scale is far smaller than Harold’s investment, undeniably, we’re in the same industry. Where there’s competition, we’re rivals!”

As for business secrets, Xia Xiaolan would have liked to keep listening if Harold was willing to share. She wouldn’t have reminded the other party.

But she couldn’t harm fellow student Ji Jiangyuan – she wouldn’t be able to face Uncle Tang… Xia Xiaolan felt somewhat guilty. The resources Tang Hong’en had helped her access should have originally belonged to Ji Jiangyuan.