“Do you want me to tell you the truth? I’m a bit thirsty right now.”

Tang Xiao Lan counter-asked Matthew.

Without another word, Matthew poured her a cup of coffee.

“Matthew, thank you. I don’t want to hide it… The true feeling is that it’s very troublesome, without any joy at all.”

Matthew: (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

If Xia Xiao Lan hadn’t been holding the cup firmly, Matthew would have wanted to snatch the coffee back. Those who are full don’t understand the hunger of others – how inconsiderate!

Matthew channeled his anger into motivation and repeatedly confirmed with Xia Xiao Lan:

“You can promise me now, for this commission you’ll let me help, we’re a team from Cornell, right?”

From the holiday resort to the theater renovation, Mrs. Wilson had specifically requested Xia Xiao Lan to accept the commission. Matthew didn’t know who would be responsible for the HK clients, but now it seemed that in this theater renovation commission, Xia Xiao Lan must have considerable authority!

Enough authority to choose who would be her assistant.

Xia Xiao Lan saw that Kissinger’s office door had opened and stopped teasing Matthew:

“OK, we’re the Cornell team, I agree to let you join.”

Matthew, this calculating boy, was good at adapting to situations. Until now, he hadn’t done anything to hinder Xia Xiao Lan. Wanting to stay at GMP was a normal desire – what’s wrong with wanting to perform well and get involved in projects?

Matthew was truly a workplace newcomer, working hard to secure a good job for himself. Xia Xiao Lan saw her former self in him.

Kissinger escorted Tang Yuan Yue out.

“Mr. Tang, won’t you reconsider? GMP doesn’t just have Xia, we have many excellent designers. Once Mrs. Wilson’s commission is completed, I’ll immediately have Xia join the resort project…”

Kissinger was such a smooth talker. He’d try any trick to keep Tang Yuan Yue.

But was Tang Yuan Yue easy to fool?

If he hadn’t known that Xia Xiao Lan was only at GMP for an internship, he might have believed it!

At Cornell University, Tang Yuan Yue had specifically inquired and learned that Xia Xiao Lan’s internship was only two months long. This meant her time at GMP wouldn’t even be enough to complete the theater renovation, let alone handle the resort project.

This project was something Tang Yuan Yue had requested from his brother, just as an excuse to create encounters with Xia Xiao Lan.

But extending indefinitely because of Xia Xiao Lan was impossible.

“I regret to decline. I hope we’ll have another opportunity to cooperate.”

Tang Yuan Yue shook hands with Kissinger, who was heartbroken, knowing GMP had lost this client.

But what could he do? He couldn’t split Xia Xiao Lan in half, giving one part to Mrs. Wilson and the other to Tang Yuan Yue.

“Mr. Tang—”

“May I borrow her for a few words? Just five minutes.”

Tang Yuan Yue pointed at Xia Xiao Lan.

“Of course!”

Kissinger winked at Xia Xiao Lan; he still hoped she could secure this commission for GMP.

The assistants following Tang Yuan Yue dispersed, and Xia Xiao Lan accompanied Chairman Tang downstairs.

Tang Yuan Yue broke the silence:

“Are you not going to accept any project proposals related to me?”

Xia Xiao Lan thought for a moment and nodded, “Once bitten by a snake, one fears even a rope for three years. I don’t want Chairman Tang to have any misunderstandings.”

If at first it could be called a coincidence, after she chose to work on Mrs. Wilson’s proposal and Tang Yuan Yue decided to withdraw from GMP, everything became clear. If they hadn’t accidentally met Tang Yuan Yue today, he would have come looking for her at GMP intentionally.

After five months without seeing each other, Xia Xiao Lan had spent her time productively in America, and truthfully, she didn’t hate Tang Yuan Yue as an enemy.

She was just very surprised that a man could be so persistent about a woman he couldn’t have. Five months was long enough, yet Tang Yuan Yue had come looking for her again.

Tang Yuan Yue didn’t understand: “Why can you work with Du Zhao Hui, but won’t accept my commission?”

“Chairman Tang, business and personal feelings are two different things. Young Master Du and I have a clear-cut, mutually beneficial arrangement, while your desire to have me design the resort project isn’t because of my abilities… your commission is mixed with too many personal feelings. I prefer purely professional cooperation; I don’t want this kind of ambiguity.”

In business, there are no permanent enemies, only whether interests can align.

If it’s about benefits, why not keep it simple – complete the job and part ways?

She took 10 million Hong Kong dollars from Du Zhao Hui, but the electronic plaza would earn more than that in the future!

Not only was it a win-win, but Du Zhao Hui would be extremely grateful to her. Xia Xiao Lan didn’t feel guilty earning this money; she wouldn’t feel indebted to Du Zhao Hui!

Tang Yuan Yue’s commission was completely different.

If she were already a world-renowned architect, she would dare to accept any commission as long as she had time. What would Tang Yuan Yue’s intentions matter then? With a world-famous architect at the helm, Tang Yuan Yue certainly wouldn’t lose money!

But now wasn’t the time. If she couldn’t keep things clear-cut, accepting the commission would put her at a disadvantage before Tang Yuan Yue.

Currently, Tang Yuan Yue was in the superior position, she was in the inferior.

A major client to a small intern – she would have to be grateful for Tang Yuan Yue giving her the opportunity to practice, grateful for him using his resources to help her grow… but since she had no intention of accepting his pursuit, better to avoid such entanglements altogether!

Keeping things simple was more satisfying.

Tang Yuan Yue now understood Xia Xiao Lan’s meaning.

Xia Xiao Lan was too proud!

And too clear-headed.

Her pride wouldn’t let her accept “help” from a pursuer.

Did Xia Xiao Lan know that Du Zhao Hui liked her?

That didn’t seem to matter.

What mattered was that cooperating with Du Zhao Hui was in the business management field, an area where Xia Xiao Lan had the advantage. Rather, Du Zhao Hui owed her a favor; she hadn’t accepted his help.

But in the architectural field, with “commissions” falling from the sky like this time, because she didn’t yet have enough reputation… when pursuers created such “coincidences,” Xia Xiao Lan never considered agreeing.

“I understand. Xia Xiao Lan, this approach of yours isn’t cute at all, but it’s forthright. My coming here might have been inappropriate, but don’t write me off completely. America is just your temporary battlefield; you’ll return to Pengcheng eventually. Whether we’re enemies or friends doesn’t need to be decided now. If you can cooperate with Du Zhao Hui, then in business, we’ll certainly have opportunities to work together too, don’t you agree?”

Tang Yuan Yue gave this long speech.

Xia Xiao Lan couldn’t find any logical flaws in it.

“You’re right. Then, until we meet again, Chairman Tang.”

Tang Yuan Yue extended his hand, and Xia Xiao Lan shook it before heading back upstairs.

Not the kind of delicate softness that comes from never having touched spring water – that level of care belonged to pampered birds, to wealthy young ladies.

Xia Xiao Lan could never be a pampered bird; she wasn’t a young lady.

This woman, whose personality didn’t match her appearance at all, made Tang Yuan Yue’s heart itch unbearably.

Previously, there had been some frivolity.

After today’s events, he couldn’t help but become more serious.

Was it the allure of the unattainable?

It seemed not just that.

Tang Yuan Yue only knew that if time could flow backward, he would handle the dissolution of their engagement more carefully.

…

“Mr. Tang really won’t choose GMP?”

Kissinger knew the answer in his heart but still hoped for a miracle.

Xia Xiao Lan shook her head, shattering Kissinger’s hopes:

“I’m sorry, sir, I tried my best, but Mr. Tang has his plans.”