Xia Xiaolan had never denied being shameless.

But she believed her “shamelessness” was still within acceptable limits.

She had made good money building Jinsha Pool, but she had ensured housing quality—it was a willing transaction between her and the homebuyers.

Asia Mall had existed in her previous life anyway. Xia Xiaolan didn’t need to steal someone else’s opportunity to make money—there were opportunities everywhere these days, and she didn’t need this particular one.

However, the small building was Grandmother Yu’s gift to her. Taking it without any notice was against the rules, wasn’t it?

Generally speaking, Director Xia still followed rules… encountering Chaoyang Real Estate’s disregard for rules naturally made her angry. She was honest about her own shamelessness—just as Zhou Cheng said, not wanting to stay in Shangdu to argue, she’d leave this matter to Xu Zhongyi and his son to handle.

As for herself, she’d naturally return to Pengcheng, first get her own business in order, and investigate Chaoyang Real Estate and Zhu Suizhou’s background while she was at it.

Early the next morning, Tang Hongen also learned about this matter.

Liu Fen was worried, but Tang Hongen thought it was a minor issue and hadn’t planned to delay his schedule for it—it was a small matter. Was he supposed to roll up his sleeves and fight with Shangdu city government officials over the property rights of one small building?

If Tang Hongen got involved, the whole nature of the situation would change.

Old Tang was also returning to Pengcheng with Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng—his time in Shangdu was already squeezed from his precious vacation days.

Grandmother Yu was still staying with Liu Fen and Xia Xiaolan, which Tang Hongen didn’t oppose.

Before marriage, he had promised not to interfere with Liu Fen’s career. For now, ‘Blue Phoenix’s’ base was in Beijing, and Xia Xiaolan hadn’t finished university—Liu Fen wouldn’t shift her career focus… meaning he and Afen would live separately for another two or three years!

In two or three years, who knew who Grandmother Yu would stay in her old age?

By then, maybe Grandmother Yu would be willing to go abroad, or perhaps Xu Zhongyi would have successfully legitimized his business and returned to invest domestically.

“Afen, are you not coming back to Pengcheng with us this time?”

He had to tease her one last time before leaving, making Liu Fen even more reluctant to part.

Her reluctance was 20% for Tang Hongen and 80% for her daughter—Xiaolan would only briefly stop in Pengcheng before returning to America.

Xia Xiaolan saw Liu Fen’s struggle: “Mom, just stay in Shangdu with Grandmother Yu. No need to trouble yourself coming to Pengcheng with me. I’ll only be there for two days anyway, and when I go back to America this time, I’ll be back in just over two months!”

Once December arrived, Cornell would enter exam week.

After finishing exams and getting this semester’s credits, Xia Xiaolan’s year as an exchange student will be complete!

Xu Changle was returning to Pengcheng with the three of them, also worried about Tina—he would transfer from Pengcheng to Hong Kong.

“We’ll get back the property rights to Number 45.”

On the plane, Xu Changle made this promise to Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan just smiled, “Then I’ll have to trouble Uncle Xu and you!”

Was it trouble?

It was clearly what the Xu family should do.

Xu Changle couldn’t quite understand Xia Xiaolan either. Any ordinary young woman would be jumping with anxiety in this situation, but Xia Xiaolan remained remarkably calm—well, she wasn’t ordinary to begin with. In America, she had just seemed professionally capable, and he thought she would become an excellent architect.

Only after coming to China did he realize her talent for making money exceeded her architectural gifts!

Coincidentally, Xia Xiaolan had also started from scratch at 18, the same age as Tina now.

But could Tina replicate Xia Xiaolan’s path?

Even as an extremely doting brother, Xu Changle couldn’t deceive himself that Tina could do it. Xia Xiaolan could endure hardships that Tina couldn’t, and Tina hadn’t shown any business talent so far… Could she manage the company Zhang Jiadong left behind?

From the current situation, she couldn’t.

Thankfully there were professional managers.

Xu Changle pulled back from his wandering thoughts.

When the plane landed again at the familiar Yangcheng Airport, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help asking Tang Hongen:

“Uncle Tang, shouldn’t Pengcheng have its airport by now?”

Pengcheng had been designated as a Special Economic Zone for seven years but still didn’t have an airport. The closest option for flying to Pengcheng was neighboring Yangcheng.

Tang Hongen glanced at her, “The city government has its plans. Don’t tell me you dare to build an airport.”

That was impossible.

Xia Xiaolan could invest her own money and design residential areas and five-star hotels—no one would interfere with that.

But large infrastructure projects like airports were completely beyond her qualification to touch!

Not just construction—she wasn’t even qualified to design them… Mao Kangshan was qualified, but he was too elderly now, lacking energy.

Xia Xiaolan quickly ducked her head: “You’re too sensitive. How could I dare build that? I just thought the transportation was inconvenient and asked casually.”

“You can ask Teacher Mao—he’s now a special consultant for city planning.”

Tang Hongen was giving Xia Xiaolan a hint.

Mao Kangshan had become a special consultant because of Xia Xiaolan—the old man had done so much for her!

Tang Hongen felt that giving Mao Kangshan a house wasn’t enough compensation.

While her future father-in-law said she couldn’t build an airport, Zhou Cheng was very confident in his future wife, boldly contradicting Tang Hongen’s attitude: “Aren’t you planning to establish an architectural firm in China? Projects you can’t touch now, you’ll be able to take on in a couple of years.”

In two years, Xia Xiaolan would only be 23—still young.

If not two years, then wait three to five years. Wouldn’t it be successful to lead such major infrastructure projects before turning 30?

This guy was deliberately opposing him. Tang Hongen closed his eyes to rest, choosing not to watch Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan’s display of affection.

Ah!

He and Afen had only been apart for three hours, and he was already missing his wife.

Xu Changle had even less to say.

What could a single person say?

Xu Changle was 25 this year and had never had a girlfriend. It wasn’t that he lacked charm—his gentle, gentlemanly manner was quite attractive to girls. But before resolving the Zhang Jiadong matter, he was under great psychological pressure and heavy responsibilities. How could he drag an innocent girl into a life under constant surveillance?

Having a girlfriend would only harm the girl.

Now…

Now he had so many things to handle!

He wondered if Tina’s situation in Hong Kong had improved.

…

“Sister-in-law called to say they’re demolishing the small building at Erqi Square in Shangdu to build a mall!”

Li Fengmei was worried.

Liu Yong was also puzzled, “Is that real? Haven’t heard any rumors about it?”

How could they just demolish something without warning?

Building a mall wasn’t something you could decide on a whim—it needed preliminary surveys and land approval, and many people would be involved. How could there be no rumors at all during the process?

Li Fengmei was a bit embarrassed to say.

“Sister-in-law was confused—the survey team had already measured the site before, but she didn’t even ask any questions. It wasn’t until Xiaolan happened to encounter this that we learned about the new mall planned for Erqi Square.”

Liu Yong was speechless.

What could he say?

A well-running shop that was meant for Li Fengmei’s sister-in-law, with so many resources provided to help, yet she couldn’t even pay attention to what was happening. Since it concerned his wife’s family matters, Liu Yong couldn’t comment much, only vaguely saying:

“Xiaolan’s returning to Pengcheng today. We can ask her about it in detail when we see her.”