After seeing the situation in Gulou, Liu Fen frowned.

Xia Xiaolan consoled her mother: “There’s always a way forward. If Ji Ya wants to open shops next to ours, we’ll see who’s better at business. You’re not lacking confidence, are you? Ji Ya might have lived in America and may surpass many locals in lifestyle and entertainment, but in business skills, she probably can’t match you!”

Liu Fen felt embarrassed at the praise.

“You silly girl, you know your mother has little education…”

Xia Xiaolan spoke seriously: “Managing a large enterprise needs education, but education isn’t just about academic credentials – it’s about the manager’s experience and relevant knowledge. Don’t underestimate yourself. Look how we’ve expanded Blue Phoenix, now planning to open five branches at once. We started from scratch in Beijing. Compare that to Aunt, who already had an established customer market in Shangdu, yet still only had one clothing store. You’re more capable than Aunt!”

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t just flattering.

Liu Fen was less outgoing than Li Fengmei and more introverted. When they partnered in Shangdu, Li Fengmei could be the store manager greeting customers while Liu Fen quietly managed the cash register.

However, with Xia Xiaolan’s positive influence, Liu Fen wanted to improve herself. Starting from the same point as her sister-in-law, Liu Fen had now surpassed Li Fengmei.

Managing several stores wasn’t like running a large enterprise, and wasn’t she doing well?

Ji Ya’s studio positioning seemed strange – she could outbid them for Wang Mingming, but were her other comeback strategies just about throwing money around?

Unless Ji Ya lowered her high-end standards to match domestic consumption levels, her business wouldn’t grow!

Xia Xiaolan doubted whether Ji Ya would be down-to-earth.

Liu Fen was encouraged by her daughter. As a mother wanting to protect her child, should she fear Ji Ya and let Xiaolan face her alone? No, this wasn’t just Xiaolan’s battle – it was a challenge for both mother and daughter.

“I’m not afraid of her. I’ll confirm the new store locations tomorrow and have your uncle send people to start renovations.”

Liu Fen couldn’t believe it – would Ji Ya open a store next to each Blue Phoenix location? Even if she did, so what? If not Ji Ya, there would be others. Each business operates independently, and success depends on ability!

Min Xiaoju drove Xia Xiaolan back to school on time, where she ran into Ning Xue at the gate.

Ning Xue had also just come from home.

Though Xia Xiaolan hadn’t taken Ning Xue to see Jinsha Pool last time, Ning Xue didn’t seem angry and spoke naturally:

“Congratulations on Cornell University. It’s a great school, one I’ve always liked. Xia Xiaolan, you should try to stay at Cornell and transform from an exchange student to a full-time student. Graduating from Cornell would transform you completely!”

Xia Xiaolan could hear the sincerity in Ning Xue’s tone – both congratulations and expectations were genuine.

But Xia Xiaolan felt troubled.

She could accept being an exchange student for just one year.

But completing undergraduate studies at Cornell… she didn’t have that time. She couldn’t manage domestic business for several years. Currently, making money is her first love, and architecture is only her second.

“Thanks for your kindness, but you know my situation – I have family responsibilities. Going abroad for several years, I’m afraid I don’t have that time.”

Ning Xue was speechless.

In the prime of youth, unmarried, how could she talk about family responsibilities?

Was Xia Xiaolan unable to let go of the business, or was her boyfriend Zhou Cheng?

If Ning Xue had such an opportunity, even if it was more than just a boyfriend, even if married, a husband should support her pursuit of her dreams. Men who didn’t understand or support this weren’t compatible – Ning Xue wouldn’t choose such a man as a husband!

Her look of regret made Xia Xiaolan’s skin crawl.

“Well, I’m heading back to the dorm. Nice moonlight tonight, enjoy your walk, Classmate Ning Xue.”

Xia Xiaolan ran faster than a rabbit. Ning Xue looked up at the sky – the night was lit only by street lamps, without a trace of moonlight.

Ji Jiangyuan slowly emerged from behind a pillar. Ning Xue frowned:

“Ji Jiangyuan, why do you always like eavesdropping?”

“I don’t want to eavesdrop, but meeting Xia Xiaolan is awkward now. I just wanted to avoid her when I saw her, didn’t expect you two to start talking. Ning Xue, your way of speaking isn’t appealing. Why do you always try to plan others’ lives? You mean well, not wanting to see Xia Xiaolan waste her talent, but how do you know she won’t succeed following her path?”

This was why Ji Jiangyuan always avoided Ning Xue.

When Ning Xue spent a summer vacation in America during high school, Ji Jiangyuan hosted her as his family wished.

Ning Xue had a very high IQ, learning everything quickly, but her EQ was low. She probably thought Ji Jiangyuan had potential but wasted time on guns and horseback riding, always wanting him to focus more on academics… After several encounters, seeing Ning Xue gave him headaches. He didn’t need a friend planning his life earnestly!

Now, with Zhen Wenxiu and Ji Ya being close, Aunt Zhen looked at him like a son-in-law. Ji Jiangyuan feared the Ning family truly wanted to match him with Ning Xue. He knew how to speak pleasantly but chose to speak these harsh truths to Ning Xue.

Ning Xue glanced at him, seemingly seeing through his childish behavior, and skipped his topic entirely:

“Ji Jiangyuan, I’m going abroad. What are your plans? Do you think developing in China would be better?”

Ning Xue had always planned to study abroad. Perhaps inspired by Xia Xiaolan’s Cornell exchange program, Ji Jiangyuan had thought Ning Xue would finish undergraduate studies first, but she was moving ahead!

Ji Jiangyuan shook his head, “I don’t have such plans for now. Staying in China is fine.”

Ning Xue sighed inwardly – young Ji Jiangyuan had already lost his drive for advancement. Was he staying because he couldn’t leave his current part-time job, needing money to repay the “nurturing bill”?

Ji Jiangyuan’s family situation was complicated.

At the wedding, Mayor Tang had declared that no member of the Ji family should appear before him.

Ji Jiangyuan couldn’t please both sides – between his parents, he had to choose one!

Ning Xue recalled her mother Zhen Wenxiu’s recent words, “Aunt Ji is planning some fashion show in Beijing and renovating shops everywhere. Is she targeting Xia Xiaolan? Is that why you feel awkward meeting her?”

Ji Jiangyuan’s earlier words had affected Ning Xue. Her grandfather often said she didn’t understand worldly troubles. Was Xia Xiaolan unable to study abroad peacefully because Ji Ya wouldn’t let her go?

Ji Jiangyuan sneered, “My mother has always lived life like a game. She has talent and taste but could at best be a designer. If she’s competing with Xia Xiaolan in business, I don’t fancy her chances!”

A fashion show in Beijing?

Probably only Uncle George would believe in his mother’s ideas and think such an approach would work.