McCarthy silently flipped through the documents.

Since he was teaching “Structural Elements” this semester, naturally all assignments were structure-related. All students worked towards this aspect – like Jonathan’s group, which effectively combined this semester’s structural elements with last semester’s materials course, showing decent results.

Professor McCarthy firmly believed that poor material knowledge meant structural chaos. If someone couldn’t get different cement grades’ compression strength right, wouldn’t their structural work be full of problems?

Great architects combined creativity with solid professional knowledge – their creative ideas were technically feasible! Architecture students’ wild imaginations stemmed from insufficient professional knowledge – buildings designed by their ideas would mostly collapse. They might look stable, but could they withstand earthquakes and strong winds?

Xia Xiaolan’s group took it too seriously.

As if they had a client commissioning them to design a commercial plaza.

They considered structure and materials and even drew architectural plans.

The complete plaza floor plan, including partial construction drawings – McCarthy believed that given more time, they would produce a full set of architectural drawings… While not comparable to professional firms, this was virtual, without site surveys, as different geology requires different foundation strengths.

But when McCarthy randomly verified two data points, they calculated correctly.

He looked at Xia Xiaolan.

The Chinese exchange student.

Then at Richard’s group.

The redhead with freckles, the chubby one, and the girl with acne.

Their grades under him were consistently below average, getting B or B- depending on performance.

None had ever earned an A.

McCarthy put down the documents and returned to the podium.

“Jonathan’s group, you get an A this time.”

Just as expected!

Heidi shot Xia Xiaolan a smug look.

Heidi had felt jealous of Ning Xue’s excellent performance, though the professor hadn’t questioned her this time. But the group got an A, and as a group member, Heidi shared this grade – meaning she too got an A.

One A didn’t guarantee an A for the final grade.

But Jonathan’s group had earned multiple As.

In contrast, Xia Xiaolan’s group got a B last time. To turn their grades around by finals, they needed perfect performance every time… Hah, with virtual client orders?

What commercial plaza? Who would commission a second-year undergraduate to design one?

Xia Xiaolan ignored Heidi’s showboating. The fool hadn’t realized that Professor McCarthy only questioned Jonathan and Ning Xue, ignoring Heidi because she contributed the least to this assignment – what was there to be proud of?

Xia Xiaolan only cared about her group’s grades.

Time had been tight, and Richard’s group had never handled such a “project” before. While Xia Xiaolan needed their brainstorming, they showed creativity but lacked the professional knowledge of Wang Houlin, who had assisted her before.

They certainly couldn’t compare to Xu Yuejin, the top support from Ning Yanfan’s studio… When designing the Nanhai Hotel proposal, Xu Yuejin had quietly provided input, with strong professional knowledge – truly a professional support for Xia Xiaolan.

So this design only had floor plans, lacking many construction drawings. As the most experienced in the four-person group, yet too lazy to do everything herself, who could Xia Xiaolan complain to?

The design was rough, and who knew if the data had errors?

While Xia Xiaolan remained calm, Richard’s group felt anxious. Their firm simulation had been mocked by classmates, thankfully stopped by Professor McCarthy. Today’s professor seemed so kind – surely he’d give their group a good grade?

Professor McCarthy’s hooked nose twitched, showing no emotion, as if announcing something routine:

“Redhead, your group also gets an A… If your data were more detailed and drawings more complete, with a full design submitted, I might remember your name. In this regard, learn from your exchange student, Xia?”

Ha!

The Devil Professor praising the loser group?!

Wait, did the Devil Professor just call the exchange student’s name?

What was happening today – As being distributed wholesale, along with the coveted honor of being called by name!

Heads turned again-

Xia Xiaolan stood up, “Thank you, Professor. I’ll strive to have you remember all group members’ names and my full Chinese name.”

Professor McCarthy looked disapprovingly at Lyle.

This student must weigh at least 180 pounds, yet he’s crying over one A.

Did he think crying would reduce water weight by a pound… McCarthy snorted, “Don’t get too excited. If you don’t pay attention to what I’m teaching next, you won’t even get a C next time. Your bet isn’t finished yet!”

Poor Lyle.

He cried for two or three full minutes.

His eyes, washed by tears, were clear and admiring.

This naive chubby boy had been deeply moved by Professor McCarthy’s rare show of warmth.

Not realizing that before completely winning Professor McCarthy over with ability, such warmth was just an illusion.

After class ended, Richard’s group had flushed faces: “Xia, we got an A, we got an A!”

Seeing their excitement, Xia Xiaolan didn’t spoil the mood, matching their joy:

“It’s a great start, we got an A.”

With a complete design, they might have gotten an A+.

But without assistance, Xia Xiaolan alone couldn’t produce a complete design.

She couldn’t finish all the drawings or calculate all the data… She needed a team!

Richard’s group was her team, but they were too green – only in the second semester of sophomore year, not even finished with undergraduate studies, lacking much professional knowledge.

If she wanted to form a team at Cornell, choosing from classmates, Ning Xue and Jonathan would be the best choices.

Never mind, she’s only staying at Cornell for a year – don’t complicate things. This semester’s goal was just to get an A+ from McCarthy and help Richard’s group all earn As!

Heidi seemed about to say something, but with Professor McCarthy still in the classroom, she held back.

Unexpectedly, McCarthy beckoned to Xia Xiaolan:

“Come explain this design to me. I know this must be your idea.”

If Richard’s group could improve so dramatically, they would have done it long ago.

Nobody progressed that fast in two weeks – only after Xia Xiaolan joined did they show such improvement.

The change started with Xia Xiaolan, and McCarthy wanted to question her!

Heidi gaped, whispering to Ning Xue:

“The professor believed her simulation!”

Ning Xue pulled away from Heidi’s grip, “No, whatever comes from Xia Xiaolan’s mouth, however absurd it sounds, you’d better learn to believe it.”

Had someone commissioned Xia Xiaolan for another design?

And Xia Xiaolan was bold enough to use this commission as assignment material for Richard’s group – so childish, no wonder Cornell students didn’t believe it.

If Ning Xue didn’t know Xia Xiaolan’s background, she wouldn’t believe it either:

“Heidi, you should at least respect your competitor.”