Professor Wen and Hu Ying didn’t know about this matter.

Wen Manni called to advise Xia Xiaolan to reconsider, saying ten thousand dollars could pay for missing person advertisements in San Francisco newspapers.

“Unless we can put ads on the front page every day, they might not see it.”

Local San Francisco residents might see it, but what if he no longer lived in San Francisco?

Xia Xiaolan was willing to pay such a high price because she wanted Jim to investigate through the collections Xu Zhongyi brought to America – this wasn’t a simple task.

Wen Manni stopped trying to persuade her.

“You’re coming to New York for the student gathering. Do you have a place to stay? Klaus is always traveling, you can stay at my place.”

“Thank you, Connie. I’ll see how things go Saturday night since I’m going with classmates.”

Xia Xiaolan found it strange that Wen Manni’s husband Klaus seemed to travel frequently – was he really that busy?

This week in Professor McCarthy’s class, Xia Xiaolan was still called “that exchange student” – the demon king still couldn’t remember her name.

Xia Xiaolan silently gritted her teeth.

Others’ warnings were right – until Professor McCarthy found a new victim to torment, he would keep targeting her.

In class, Xia Xiaolan was questioned the most!

But the lesson from the first class, when she was tormented until her hands and feet went weak and she stammered, was unforgettable. She wouldn’t let it happen again.

This week before class ended, Professor McCarthy assigned new homework.

Richard, Lyle, and Daisy huddled together whispering for a while before sending Daisy to speak with Xia Xiaolan:

“Xia, are you still willing to be in our group?”

Xia Xiaolan was puzzled, “If not with you, who else would I group with?”

Daisy was pleasantly surprised.

In just a short month, Xia Xiaolan was no longer the newcomer who had just arrived at Cornell. She adapted to campus life very quickly, and with Danny’s group leading her, she rapidly expanded her social circle.

Although Xia Xiaolan was very busy, her acquaintances at Cornell weren’t limited to the Architecture Department.

The male students in architecture classes also stopped being awkward – they probably finally realized this new exchange student was someone even Daniel wanted to date… These boys at the bottom of the food chain were following Danny’s taste at the top. Rumors about Xia Xiaolan and Danny spread, suddenly making her a popular figure.

If she wanted to join other study groups now, these architecture nerds would welcome her with open arms.

The Architecture Department was full of talented people. Xia Xiaolan repeatedly withstanding Professor McCarthy’s questioning proved she wasn’t weak – she could join the strong team instead of mixing with three “losers” like Richard’s group!

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t oblivious to these undercurrents.

More people greeted her on campus – how insensitive would one have to be not to notice?

But she wouldn’t immediately abandon Richard’s trio.

Honestly, Xia Xiaolan didn’t believe Richard’s group could be that dumb if they got into Cornell.

“Loser” was too harsh a term – early poor performance didn’t mean they couldn’t improve later! Besides, Xia Xiaolan’s collaboration with the three had been fine after initial distrust of her abilities.

Her response left Daisy feeling touched.

Richard was too excited to speak.

Heidi, who was in Ning Xue’s group, came over: “Xia, if you’d like, you can join our group. Aren’t you and Ning old friends?”

Ning Xue’s group included Heidi and Jonathan, the department’s top student!

Jonathan Reese – the only student whose full name Professor McCarthy could remember – calling him the department’s best wasn’t an exaggeration.

Being in Jonathan’s group would practically guarantee Xia Xiaolan an A in this course.

Why could Ning Xue join?

Ning Xue was Heidi’s roommate, and Heidi was Jonathan’s girlfriend… Ning Xue hadn’t shown her brilliance yet; Jonathan was pulling her and Heidi along.

Daisy nearly cried. Richard and Lyle exchanged looks, both extremely dejected.

Compared to him and Lyle, how could Xia refuse a group with Jonathan Reese?

Heidi was also confident.

“How about it? Jonathan agreed, and Ning said you have practical experience in China…”

To resist the demon king McCarthy’s torment, others all wanted to join Jonathan’s group.

Jonathan had always refused – three people were perfect, and accepting other students might lower his grades. Jonathan wouldn’t do something so foolish.

Now he rarely agreed to let Xia Xiaolan join, seeing how quickly she improved – from being one-sidedly destroyed by Professor McCarthy to being able to handle his attacks in just a short month!

In one month, she had adapted.

Ning Xue mentioned her practical experience back home, which Jonathan valued.

Xia Xiaolan was surprised, “Heidi, sorry, but you just heard – I’m staying with Daisy, Richard, and Lyle.”

Heidi was incredulous: “So you’re refusing me? To stay with these three losers-“

Richard’s freckles trembled. Xia Xiaolan was displeased – she appreciated Heidi recognizing her abilities, but calling people losers to their faces was too much.

“Richard, do you think you’re a loser?”

Richard shook his head.

“Daisy, are you a loser? And Lyle, do you admit to being a loser?”

The question was humiliating.

All three shook their heads.

Xia Xiaolan said loudly: “Since you don’t admit to being losers, next time someone calls you that, can you deny it?”

Did good grades justify looking down on those with poor grades?

Rich people discriminate against the poor, and officials discriminate against common people – when did these become acceptable social norms?

The only discrimination Xia Xiaolan allowed was good people discriminating against bad people, the noble discriminating against the base.

Infected by Xia Xiaolan’s passion, the three felt their blood rising:

“We’re not losers!”

Heidi knew she’d gone too far – thinking it was one thing, saying it aloud was another.

But Xia Xiaolan had just refused her, making Heidi lose face:

“Do you want me to apologize? I won’t! If you’re not a loser, prove it with ability! What, you get one B and think you’re capable?”

Don’t joke.

That B probably came after failing twice, when Professor McCarthy didn’t want to fail so many people at once!

“Heidi!”

Jonathan picked up his books from the desk, “You went too far. Let’s go – if she won’t join, don’t force her.”

Xia Xiaolan laughed coldly, “Jonathan, don’t pretend to be nice. The semester is still long – let time prove who can get an A or even an A+ by the end! I hope by then, you’ll suggest your girlfriend sincerely apologize to Richard’s group!”