Qing Jonathan stopped.

“You want to get an A+?”

This person truly grasped the core issue.

Xia Xiao Lan nodded, “Is that not possible?”

A buzz of discussion arose in the classroom. Daisy lowered her voice: “Professor McCarthy hasn’t awarded an A+ grade to anyone in four or five years. The last student who received an A+ was recruited by Foster + Partners in Britain before even graduating!”

Foster + Partners was unquestionably among the world’s premier architectural firms. Some believed that their series of initiatives since the 1970s were actively reshaping the direction of contemporary architectural design and construction.

Xia Xiao Lan felt her heart skip a beat – she had unintentionally made quite a bold claim. But words spoken were like spilled water; she harbored no regrets. Any academic competition was positive, motivating progress and stirring passion… If Professor McCarthy had never awarded an A+ grade, that would be one thing, but since he had given it to others before, why couldn’t she achieve it?

“Daisy, if we don’t even dare to dream of an A+, then we truly only deserve a B,” Xia Xiao Lan stated.

Her words intensified the classroom discussions.

She didn’t display the typical modesty of other Chinese international students!

Chinese people were traditionally modest – even when capable of something, they would verbally downplay their abilities, always leaving room for uncertainty. Until the final moment, no one would know their true capabilities.

Xia Xiao Lan’s confidence now resembled that of Americans.

“You don’t need to get an A+. If your group all manages to get As for the final grade, I’ll demand Heidi make a public apology. If you achieve an A+, I’ll admire your talent and respect Hua-Tsing University which built your professional foundation!”

Qing Jonathan was a proud person, but also straightforward.

Such professional experts didn’t have complicated thoughts – if Xia Xiao Lan truly led Richard’s group to success, he would acknowledge their excellence!

Xia Xiao Lan felt pleased by his directness – academia truly differed from society at large. At top institutions like Cornell, excellence carried its pride. She appreciated this straightforward simplicity.

Though she had only been at Cornell for a month, she had genuinely grown fond of the university’s atmosphere.

Xia Xiao Lan couldn’t help but smile – not coldly this time, but with light-hearted pleasure:

“Jonathan, just for what you said, you’re an admirable opponent… I mean in academic competition. There’s only one crown for the champion, and I look forward to having you as a rival!”

Qing Jonathan waved his hand, and Heidi hurriedly followed after him.

Ning Xue had remained silent throughout. She had originally intended to invite Xia Xiao Lan to join their group, but Xia Xiao Lan wouldn’t abandon Richard and the others.

Ning Xue recalled her grandfather Ning Yan Fan’s assessment of Xia Xiao Lan: she was someone who knew exactly what she wanted.

Ning Xue slowly walked out of the classroom. “Why am I not surprised? Wherever Xia Xiao Lan goes, there’s always conflict.”

Was Xia Xiao Lan causing trouble?

No.

It was that when some people faced unfair treatment, they silently swallowed it, choosing to endure.

Xia Xiao Lan would always rise and resist. From beginning to end, she pursued equality and respect. The outcry of ordinary people might not attract much attention initially, but as she grew more capable, her words would certainly gain more recognition.

“She’s still loyal to old friends.”

Loyalty could sometimes be foolish.

Water flows downward, while people strive upward. Shouldn’t one leave behind those who couldn’t keep up as they became more successful?

Friends?

Ning Xue muttered to herself, “She’s only known Richard, Daisy, and the others for a month, yet she already considers them friends and companions.”

Being friends with Xia Xiao Lan didn’t seem to require much complexity.

So how had she managed to ruin it?

Ning Xue couldn’t figure it out herself.

Never mind, the past couldn’t be changed. She and Xia Xiao Lan were better suited as rivals.

Xia Xiao Lan was grouped with Richard and the other two, while she was with Jonathan and Heidi. At Cornell University, she and Xia Xiao Lan had become competitors again – perhaps this was their destiny!

The classroom gradually emptied.

Only Xia Xiao Lan and her three groupmates remained.

Daisy didn’t know what to say. Xia Xiao Lan clapped her hands: “Partners, why so little confidence? You don’t want to see me lose face in front of Heidi and Jonathan, right?”

As the initial excitement cooled, Richard, with his red hair, tried to regain his rationality:

“Xia, we’re all touched! You could have joined Jonathan’s study group. Working with Jonathan would make you stronger, getting an A would be easy, and even aiming for an A+ would be possible. You made that bet with Jonathan for our sake! But…”

Xia Xiao Lan sat down in a chair and drew a large circle on a blank paper:

“Richard, these are your elementary school classmates.”

She then quickly drew three more circles inside the large one, each smaller than the last.

“From elementary school to middle school to high school, to getting accepted into Cornell University, see how the circles keep getting smaller? Of your first-grade classmates, how many could achieve what you have?”

Lyle and Daisy unconsciously drew closer. They vaguely guessed what Xia Xiao Lan was about to say, but her approach was novel and interesting, so they wanted to hear more.

Richard naturally moved closest, following Xia Xiao Lan’s logic:

“Elementary school classmates? Some became street drug dealers, others became truck drivers…”

Richard had fallen into unpleasant memories.

He had struggled hard to break free and gain admission to Cornell University.

Xia Xiao Lan pointed to the fourth circle: “This is Cornell University. The day you enrolled, you had already surpassed your former classmates. You entered this circle, excluding those who couldn’t attend university. Do you still think you’re not capable enough?”

Xia Xiao Lan drew a fifth, smaller circle, “This is Jonathan’s circle, the excellent students in Professor McCarthy’s eyes. I imagine Jonathan isn’t outstanding in just one course to earn Professor McCarthy’s recognition, right? Richard, you’ve pushed past how many people to get into Cornell University since your first day of school? Now, you just need to do what you’ve always done – push your way into an even smaller circle, the one where Jonathan is!”

Jonathan’s circle wasn’t the endpoint.

Outstanding graduates would compete with other outstanding graduates in their careers.

If you couldn’t be an outstanding student, Jonathan would graduate and could go to Foster + Partners, could choose American P&W, could go to German GMP!

What about those not as excellent as Jonathan?

Falling behind in school meant different starting points in their careers, naturally leading to increasingly wider life gaps!

Richard broke into a cold sweat at Xia Xiao Lan’s words.

Following her logic, the implications became increasingly frightening. If they didn’t resist being called losers now, would they wait to fight back in 10 or 20 years? No, according to Xia Xiao Lan’s explanation, they were currently separated from Jonathan by the difference between the fourth and fifth circles. If they didn’t rise to chase him now, allowing Jonathan to widen the gap as he advanced to the seventh, eighth… or even tenth circle, how could they ever catch up?

“Xia, tell me what to do, I’ll follow your lead!”