“Excellence Award winners…”

Daisy truly feared hearing her group’s work announced.

Yet also feared not hearing it.

Would they win a top-three prize, or leave empty-handed?

The tense atmosphere made people forget to breathe.

She wanted to chat with Xia Xiaolan, but seeing her holding hands with Zhou Cheng while watching the stage, Daisy didn’t want to be a third wheel.

With each work announced, applause filled the venue.

The judges would critique each work’s strengths and weaknesses. Though the C·W Architectural Design Competition had limited reach, the judges approached it very seriously.

Their evaluations were fair—praising bright spots generously while pointing out shortcomings.

The works winning Excellence Awards might be immature with minor flaws, but their overall quality was already very high.

Cornell University’s architecture program truly deserves its reputation as America’s strongest undergraduate program.

Mr. Dick, the Foster firm partner, gave witty critiques that everyone appreciated.

As she listened, Daisy forgot her nervousness. Mr. Dick’s critiques hit key points, much like being in a professional class.

Moreover, when discussing certain winning works’ shortcomings, he would mention mistakes that mature architects would never make in real firm bids—these insights were unavailable in school. Not just Daisy, but others listened intently too.

Awards ceremony?

Beyond awards, it was also a vivid teaching session.

Xia Xiaolan listened with great interest. Though she had practical experience, she had been self-taught from the start.

Her designs had technical support, with others working hard to fill any gaps.

In China, they completely relied on manpower to bridge gaps. The difference from world-class architectural firms showed not just in architects’ salaries, but in precise design mastery, evident from Mr. Dick’s critiques!

And Mr. Dick was just a junior partner at Foster firm.

The self-taught Xia Xiaolan felt greatly inspired.

She whispered to Zhou Cheng:

“Earlier, Du Zhaohui wanted me to help design the electronics accessories plaza. He suggested I establish my architectural firm. Do you think this idea is feasible?”

Xia Xiaolan had already sent word back to China, asking Mao Kangshan to inquire.

If she could invite some capable senior colleagues to join, it would certainly make things easier for her.

Zhou Cheng held her hand, not answering immediately but considering carefully: “A general needs soldiers to fight battles. Without people under you, even your greatest abilities would be solitary valor.

If you plan to make architecture your profession, purely wanting to reach the peak in this field, I’d advise staying abroad, finishing university, and joining a large firm like Foster in due course. Others have already established mature models—once you enter a major firm’s platform, everything would fall into place naturally.”

Xia Xiaolan chuckled, “Are you speaking from your heart?”

The words sounded nice, but why didn’t she quite believe them?

Would Zhou Cheng consider letting her finish university abroad and work at a major firm like Foster?

Such a separation wouldn’t be just months, but several years, perhaps longer.

To end their long-distance relationship, Zhou Cheng would have to retire early!

Zhou Cheng remained perfectly calm, smoothly qualifying his statement:

“I was speaking hypothetically. Your dream was never just to become a top architect. Shining on someone else’s platform? No, the Xiaolan I know would only build her platform, completely yours. It might take years or decades to rival world-class firms, but the entire firm would center around you, serving you, saving you much energy.”

Save energy for what?

From the start, he noticed Xiaolan’s view of money differed from most people.

“Frugality” was practically engraved in the bones of all contemporary Chinese people—they wouldn’t take transport for distances they could walk. Not just the poor, but even those better off would save where possible.

Xia Xiaolan would never do things this way.

When she could take a car, she wouldn’t walk.

Later, when she could fly, she wouldn’t choose the train.

Comfort wasn’t the main factor—she didn’t mind hard seats on trains, but it was about saving time and energy.

Most people thought money should be saved to accumulate more.

Xiaolan spent freely where worthwhile, making money through earning rather than saving.

If establishing a firm that followed his wife’s commands could save her energy, it was quite necessary! At worst, they’d lose some wages, and they might not even lose money. Not only did Zhou Cheng support Xia Xiaolan’s idea, he was thinking about what resources he could offer—at minimum, he could help the firm secure some business.

Xia Xiaolan leaned closer to Zhou Cheng, muttering softly: “Did your ability to be so likable come naturally?”

She just asked his opinion, and here he was, advising while flattering her!

Zhou Cheng laughed.

What abilities in this world came naturally?

Look at those secretaries who kept their leaders comfortable—were they born knowing how to serve? They relied on their intelligence and perception to study and understand their leaders’ thoughts.

Zhou Cheng had never been so attentive to his unit leaders.

Whether leaders appreciated him didn’t matter, as long as he had real achievements.

But with Xiaolan, he yearned to truly understand her, know her, not for flattery… How could it be called love if he couldn’t enter Xiaolan’s inner world?

They whispered together.

Those around couldn’t understand Chinese.

Ning Xue could understand, but she sat somewhat far away.

Announcing 10 Excellence Award works didn’t take long, but the judges’ critiques consumed time.

A whole hour passed!

Architecture students and faculty listened intently, while newspaper and TV reporters fought yawns.

Too boring.

Harold Wilson wouldn’t give interviews, yet they had to sit through this C·W Architectural Design Competition awards ceremony—they wanted to leave mid-way.

Where was the highlight?

Who designed a competition without a single highlight? How could it have any impact?

Reporters knew such niche professional competitions were small circles entertaining themselves. How many architecture enthusiasts exist worldwide? Unlike football or rugby, non-competitive events required professional knowledge outsiders couldn’t understand—where could highlights come from?

While reporters endured the time, students felt it flew by. In a blink, all 10 Excellence Awards were critiqued.

Daisy suddenly realized:

“Richard, did they not announce our work’s name just now?”

Indeed, after all 10 Excellence Awards were critiqued, their group’s work wasn’t mentioned.

The situation was obvious—either they hadn’t even made the Excellence Awards.

Or—

“We might be in the top three?”

Richard’s red hair seemed about to ignite.

Xia Xiaolan glanced at them, remarking to Zhou Cheng: “This is my team, still a bit naive, haven’t seen much of the world. Don’t laugh at them.”