Power and wealth increase a man’s competitiveness.

Even male birds in nature build beautiful nests to attract females. Humans are merely higher primates, and women instinctively choose stronger males. In primitive society, the standard was bringing home enough prey; in feudal society, it was owning land; in modern society, it’s naturally about power or money.

Having both is even better!

Men with power and wealth naturally know their advantages. Their confidence makes them more at ease around women, speaking and acting with assurance. When compared to a petty, cautious man, it’s obvious whom a woman would choose as a partner!

Li Yong’s thinking wasn’t wrong. Even in China’s inland where values remained relatively simple, a man with urban residency and formal employment was highly sought after in the matchmaking market… With one exception – if a man was exceptionally handsome, things like household registration and formal employment became secondary.

However, some women in the world could obtain what they wanted through their efforts and were extremely addicted to this process of striving. To them, a man’s power and wealth held little attraction.

Li Yong was quite confident, yet he didn’t know that Mr. Harold Wilson had once been equally self-assured.

Money and power?

In America, money meant power; laws were practically established for the wealthy.

The rich could mobilize vast social resources; they could even unite to manipulate elections!

So for someone like him with both power and money, any smooth, reflective surface told Harold that he had also fortunately inherited the Wilson family’s excellent appearance… Yet when this seemingly flawless bachelor encountered Xia Xiaolan, his confidence was shattered!

If Harold knew of Li Yong’s arrogant thoughts, he would surely cast a contemptuous glance, leaving him to interpret it himself.

Talk?

Why should he talk to a mere international student? Wasting time on worthless people completely contradicted Harold’s values.

Everything and everyone in the world could be priced, including “time.”

Couldn’t money buy time?

Normal people had 24 hours daily, sleeping 7-8 hours, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and other trivial matters consuming how much time?

Money could hire people to do these things – wasn’t that buying time?

Spending time on Xia Xiaolan wasn’t a waste. She was pleasing to the eye and very interesting. Harold regretted his previous absolute statements and now sought a subtle excuse to retract them – fortunately, Xia Xiaolan was an exchange student at Cornell University.

What did Cornell University have?

A strong Hotel Management program!

With some thought, there were always solutions.

Harold gazed down at Queens’ night view from the top floor.

He didn’t know why he was doing this; his interest in Xia Xiaolan hadn’t dissipated after returning to China. Perhaps it was stupid Carl’s report, perhaps his first setback in years – Harold didn’t want to examine the reasons too closely. If there was interest, why not approach?

He picked up the phone and dialed:

“Didn’t we previously make donations to Cornell University? Arrange more interactions with the university quickly. Only the Hotel Management program? If we’re in the hotel business, must we only deal with the Hotel Management program? Heh—”

Harold’s single “heh” sent the person on the other end into a string of guarantees.

Solutions came from people’s minds. When the Boss suddenly showed interest, even if he wanted connections with Cornell’s Agriculture College, subordinates had to find internal links. At worst, they could say Mr. Harold had suddenly become interested in American agricultural development… The Boss only needed to make requests; they were the ones handling specifics. They had to prove their worth to receive their salary from Mr. Harold!

…

“Hi!”

“Xia, good luck!”

“Are you confident about winning?”

Too much attention brought both good and bad effects. As Professor McCarthy’s assignment check approached, more people greeted Xia Xiaolan around campus.

They weren’t necessarily malicious, just finding the situation interesting. The betting on Xia Xiaolan and Jonathan’s professional course wager attracted more participants, its influence exceeding the Architecture department and spreading across campus… Xia Xiaolan didn’t mind, but these betters annoying sought attention, greeting her, asking about her assignment progress and confidence, then telling her they bet on Jonathan’s group winning.

They were all bastards!

Only Daniel believed she and Richard’s trio would win.

Even Nancy, while giving Xia Xiaolan encouraging hugs, shyly admitted betting on Jonathan’s group.

“Xia, you’ve been at Cornell too briefly. Next year, if there’s another bet, I’ll bet on you, I promise on our friendship!”

Xia Xiaolan glared, “I’ll be back in China next year!”

Nancy laughed, “Sorry, I misspoke. Then next semester it is.”

The situation was dire.

Even though it was just for fun, Richard’s trio felt immense pressure.

They wouldn’t lose flesh if they lost, but the “Loser” label would stick firmly. Being only in their second semester of sophomore year, they’d stay at Cornell much longer – a nightmare to think about.

Xia Xiaolan told Zhou Cheng about this over the phone.

Zhou Cheng heard her complaining yet enjoying it and swallowed news of his overseas plans. Better not distract her now – it was settled, better to surprise her later.

“Xiaolan, you’re enjoying it. You like Cornell!”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t deny it: “Yes, I like it here. Tsinghua is excellent too, but Cornell is different. I can’t describe it, but this exchange year has been so worth it!”

In China, Xia Xiaolan had many concerns.

At Cornell, she became like an unbridled horse, freely roaming this academically rich yet inclusive institution.

“I’ll bet on you winning. They don’t know you yet – you’ve never lost.”

Women should be gentle, not so aggressive, they’d be more lovable – nonsense, Zhou Cheng loved the constantly striving Xia Xiaolan.

He couldn’t fall behind too much.

Though his advanced studies were less than two years, barely a year and a half, Zhou Cheng was about to take his final exams.

It was equivalent to a college diploma, somewhat inferior to his wife’s education.

But it was just one advancement, and he’d spent less than a year and a half studying. If he maintained his study habits, knowledge would accumulate continuously.

Zhou Cheng hung up and entered the exam room prepared specially for him.

One student, and two invigilators.

“Zhou Cheng, are you ready?”

Zhou Cheng nodded, “I’ve been preparing for a long time!”