“First, tell me about the clients. You were at the firm when the Hong Kong clients came yesterday, tell me about it.”

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t agreed or disagreed, but Matthew had already taken her silence as consent and was delighted:

“It was a group of Hong Kong people, they looked wealthy, building a resort in Indonesia… who would vacation in Indonesia anyway?”

Matthew only learned about the place after doing research.

What was strange about vacationing in Indonesia? Bali was quite famous!

In a few years, as China’s economy developed, Chinese people would start traveling abroad. Southeast Asia would become the first choice for most Chinese tourists due to its location and costs.

Southeast Asian countries, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea would be similar for outbound tourism.

Those with more money would go to America and Europe.

“Building a resort in Indonesia, wonder what scale it’ll be.”

Andrew Kissinger had even promised her a bonus, really trying to push Xia Xiaolan to her limits.

She wasn’t short on money, but who would complain about having too much?

Besides, earning while working – Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t refuse that.

But Matthew didn’t know more about the clients.

By afternoon, when the Hong Kong clients hadn’t shown up and Xia Xiaolan was debating whether to call, the front desk’s internal line said someone was looking for her.

It was Mrs. Wilson.

Cynthia smiled at her, “Xia, I have a design proposal I’d like to commission you for. It’s not as big as building a hotel, of course, but would you be able to help?”

Cynthia wanted her to design.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t want to accept – she wanted to keep her distance from the Wilsons.

Right after returning to New York from Washington, Cynthia followed.

With so many architects in America, Xia Xiaolan didn’t know when she’d become so close to the Wilsons that Mrs. Wilson would specifically seek her out.

“I’m sorry, Cynthia, I’d love to accept, but I’m just an intern at GMP, I’m not qualified to take commissions independently—”

“Of course you’re qualified! Xia, you must be tired lately and trying to slack off, haha, quickly take this lady to the office.”

Andrew Kissinger wanted to hit someone.

Who turns away clients who come directly to them?

Big or small, all business earned dollars. Though Kissinger preferred large projects, with the fierce competition among New York architectural firms, if there was idle staff, he wouldn’t refuse any profitable project.

The partner, in an undeniable tone, invited both Mrs. Wilson and Xia Xiaolan into the office.

Xia Xiaolan desperately blinked her eyes, but the partner pretended not to see.

“But what about the Hong Kong clients…”

“Quiet, there’s no conflict. If you don’t want to do it, you can secure the commission and let someone else do it. Guess if Grey would want to?”

Well, Grey had been an assistant for several years, desperate for a chance to design.

Xia Xiaolan could understand Kissinger – if she were the boss, she’d take a bite of meat that came to her mouth.

“Mr. Andrew, I’ve long heard of GMP’s reputation, but this time, I want to specifically request Xia to handle this commission. If GMP assigns someone else, I’d rather switch to another firm. I apologize, but I must state this clearly – I’m not at GMP because I can’t afford other firms, but because Xia and I share a deep friendship, and I trust her.”

Xia Xiaolan wanted to roll her eyes.

Deep friendship? Were they cross-generational friends? Too far-fetched – this was only her second meeting with Cynthia Wilson!

Would Andrew Kissinger care about any of this?

With Mrs. Wilson stating things so clearly, this commission was already nailed down. If she claimed to be cross-generational friends with Xia Xiaolan, so be it – even if she claimed they were May-December lovers, Andrew would shamelessly encourage Xia Xiaolan to date Mrs. Wilson to secure the commission!

“Of course, madam, how should I address you?”

“Cynthia Wilson.”

Another Wilson!

The partner gave Xia Xiaolan a deep look – if they were from the Wilson family, seeking out Xia Xiaolan made perfect sense.

Playing dumb while knowing the truth, for the sake of dollars, Andrew decided not to expose Xia Xiaolan.

“What’s the commission you mentioned?”

Mrs. Wilson pulled out a document.

“Broadway and 53rd Street, I have a theater. It once had its glory days, but now it’s falling behind the times, with declining profits year by year. I want to breathe new life into it.”

“Oh, madam, you want to renovate and redecorate it, correct?”

A theater!

Andrew showed a confident smile, “You’ve certainly come to the right place, theaters are GMP’s specialty!”

Yes, it was GMP’s specialty.

It was a completely unfamiliar field for Xia Xiaolan.

In both her lives combined, had she ever seemed like someone who could appreciate opera?

She’d never been to a foreign theater and had only once accompanied clients to the Wuzhen Grand Theater. The theater was beautifully built… Xia Xiaolan could design a building with no problem, but theaters – she wasn’t confident tackling those.

She knew her capabilities, didn’t she?

On second thought, Mrs. Wilson probably didn’t trust her abilities either, to put her in charge of renovating the theater.

Mrs. Wilson trusted GMP!

As the partner said, GMP was skilled with theater projects.

Mrs. Wilson had achieved her goal while forcing a favor on her… Just like old Ivan, they were truly a married couple, birds of a feather – both cunning old foxes.

Xia Xiaolan was very resistant.

Just then, Matthew, with a face full of smiles, gently knocked on the door, “The Hong Kong clients are here.”

Amen!

Amitabha!

Infinite Heaven!

Xia Xiaolan thanked all the gods and buddhas of East and West in one breath.

“Mr. Andrew…”

Hadn’t he said to arrange for her to receive the Hong Kong clients? This was when she should be put to use!

“Matthew, take the Hong Kong clients to the conference room, and let Grey receive them.”

The partner made an immediate decision.

Xia Xiaolan absolutely couldn’t leave – this theater renovation commission that came specifically requesting her was almost certain, they had to confirm this first.

As for the Hong Kong clients, without Xia Xiaolan there was still Grey, still, other architects – GMP wasn’t just Xia Xiaolan alone—

Andrew Kissinger wouldn’t let Xia Xiaolan leave her seat.

And in his heart, he revised his decision: Xia Xiaolan would handle Mrs. Wilson’s side, leaving the Hong Kong clients for others to handle!

Shortly after Matthew closed the door, he unexpectedly returned – the Hong Kong clients had headed straight for Kissinger’s office.

The lead client pushed open the door first:

“We had an appointment… Oh, Xia Xiaolan?”

It was Tang Yuanyue.

Tang Yuanyue.

She hadn’t expected at all that the so-called Hong Kong clients would be someone she knew!

Were she and Tang Yuanyue so fated?

Xia Xiaolan tried to find some clue on Tang Yuanyue’s face, but Tang Yuanyue wasn’t Du Zhaohui – Xia Xiaolan couldn’t read anything.

Andrew and Matthew were both stunned.

Another client who knew Xia Xiaolan?

So today was destined to be Xia Xiaolan’s shining moment?

Andrew had seen many interns, but he swore he would never forget Xia Xiaolan, this ultimate intern, for the rest of his life.