Xia Xiaolan’s invitation completely caught Ye Xiaoqiong off guard.

“I thought your studies in America…”

“I have some personal matters to handle back home, so I’ll just take a few days off here.”

Ye Xiaoqiong was thrown off rhythm by Xia Xiaolan.

Should she go to Pengcheng with Xia Xiaolan? While Ye Xiaoqiong’s mind was still hesitating, her body was more honest: “Yes, I was going to scout ahead for Second Young Master anyway, this just means going a few days earlier. I have some business to handle first, and might need to return to Thailand first – shall we meet up in Pengcheng?”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t mind – whether they traveled together wasn’t important, what mattered was Ye Xiaoqiong’s decision.

Sending Yuan Han to Pengcheng would make things quite lively there.

Xia Xiaolan admired Ye Xiaoqiong’s plan – this wasn’t just making Zhou Yi suffer, Yuan Han would suffer the most in the end. All that effort to get close to a Hong Kong heiress who turned out to be a prostitute… no, no, thinking about it further made Xia Xiaolan want to vomit.

Pan Baohua didn’t want to hear any of this either.

But his good hearing meant he caught everything.

After Ye Xiaoqiong left, Pan Baohua clicked his tongue: “Women’s thoughts are so complicated, making simple things complex – isn’t it exhausting?”

To Pan Baohua, dealing with unfaithful men was simple – nothing was a problem.

Xia Xiaolan thought for a moment, “It’s not that women’s thoughts are complicated, it’s that without making simple things complex, they can’t vent their resentment. I think very few people can truly let go of hatred magnanimously. Putting down the butcher’s knife leads to enlightenment, but there aren’t many enlightened people in this world.”

What could Pan Baohua say?

It wasn’t just women who had complex thoughts – hadn’t Jiang Wu hated him and chased him like a mad dog back then?

In this life, no one could escape the four elements of “gratitude, grudges, emotions, and feuds.”

Xia Xiaolan went to New York again for the theater renovation.

This time, she happened to meet Mrs. Wilson.

Though “happened to meet” wasn’t quite right – a society lady like Mrs. Wilson wouldn’t normally appear at a construction site. The unfinished theater was dusty and messy everywhere – Mrs. Wilson wouldn’t normally go there.

She was deliberately waiting for Xia Xiaolan.

Something major had happened in her friend Cui Yiru’s family that involved Xia Xiaolan, so Mrs. Wilson certainly wanted to look into it.

“Xia, could we talk privately?”

Xia Xiaolan wanted to say no, but Mrs. Wilson immediately grabbed her hand, clearly not allowing refusal.

GMP’s people were watching from the side, all thinking she and Mrs. Wilson were close – after all, Mrs. Wilson had specifically requested her for the theater renovation.

“Please speak, Mrs. Wilson.”

Mrs. Wilson pointed outside, walking out with Xia Xiaolan.

“Has Tina contacted you recently?”

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “I haven’t seen Tina for a long time – she wasn’t even at the ball that night!”

Better not to mention the ball.

Everything started that night, things went off track. Whether it was Cui Yiru questioning Harold, or Fern fighting with Harold, none of it matched their personalities or Mrs. Wilson’s purpose for hosting the ball.

It was truly a nightmarish ball.

“Oh God, that was the worst ball I’ve ever hosted, it was a mistake. But I’m talking about something else – what you told Cui.”

Xia Xiaolan blinked:

“You mean I shouldn’t have told her that Fern and Tina’s grandmother never gave up looking for them, that the old lady is waiting for a reunion in China? Mrs. Wilson, is that what you think – that bringing them this news was a mistake?”

Mrs. Wilson choked.

Of course, Xia Xiaolan wasn’t doing anything wrong. The Wilsons had learned the full story these past days, and when they heard Zhang Jiadong planned to accompany Cui Yiru back to China, they thought Zhang Jiadong was being impulsive.

Mrs. Wilson had a poor impression of China. Her attendance at her son’s wedding there with old Ivan had been terrible.

A backward, barbaric country controlled by authoritarianism!

Mrs. Wilson took a breath, trying to maintain her elegance:

“I mean you could have been more tactful, given them time to adjust, rather than suddenly appearing like this. It’s brought huge changes to Cui’s family. Just look at Tina – she completely can’t accept this reality, now she’s avoiding family, won’t see anyone… Under these circumstances, do you think she’s fit to return to China and meet relatives?”

Xia Xiaolan nodded slightly: “Indeed she’s not suitable. But Mrs. Wilson, I’m just someone responsible for finding people and delivering messages. As you know, I study architecture – I’m not skilled in psychological counseling. I have no way to help adjust Tina’s emotions.”

Compared to her friendship with Zhang Jiadong, Xia Xiaolan’s status was too light. Mrs. Wilson dropped her warm and kind facade, actually questioning Xia Xiaolan and blaming her for causing internal conflicts in the Zhang family – but Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t indulge Mrs. Wilson, directly bouncing the responsibility back.

It was true – what did Tina’s acceptance have to do with Xia Xiaolan?

From start to finish, it wasn’t Xia Xiaolan who had hidden Tina’s background. Was Xia Xiaolan supposed to be responsible for the little princess’s bad mood too?

Mrs. Wilson was surprised:

“Xia, how can you talk like this? I thought we were friends! I thought you and Tina were friends!”

“No, Mrs. Wilson, you’ve misunderstood something – we’re not friends. You’re GMP’s client, you hired me through GMP’s office – that’s our real relationship. Employment relationships have always lacked equality.”

Mrs. Wilson was dumbfounded:

“If not for friendship, why would I insist on having you handle the theater renovation? You’re just an intern at GMP!”

Xia Xiaolan remained calm, “I’ve done all my required work conscientiously, and you approved my design proposal… I’ve taken this commission very seriously. I dare say I’ve earned your commission fee, and GMP’s office has maintained its usual service standards. If you have any dissatisfaction with the theater renovation commission, you can complain to GMP’s office – after all, you’re the paying client.”

Xia Xiaolan had never neglected any client, regardless of who they were or why they sought her design proposals. Once a commission contract was settled, she always put her heart and soul into fulfilling the client’s requirements.

The theater renovation was no different.

Money for services, done conscientiously – Mrs. Wilson had approved her proposal, but now brought this up as leverage of personal debt against Xia Xiaolan… Mrs. Wilson underestimated Xia Xiaolan’s temperament.

“You, you’re really rude!”

Mrs. Wilson angrily accused Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan shrugged and spread her hands, “Sorry, I just told the plain truth. Perhaps you’ve lived in high society too long and aren’t used to hearing ordinary people speak truthfully.”