The overseas phone call lasted two hours, but the phone bill was mere pocket change to both of them – neither would care about that.

Xia Xiaolan valued her reputation, and Kissinger valued it even more.

Xia Xiaolan was a rookie, but before becoming a senior partner at GMP’s New York office, Kissinger was already a renowned architect – how else could he have become a partner? Just by investing money? Like law firms, architectural firms relied on partners bringing in their own client flow – neither industry could grow strong on money alone.

During these two hours, besides cursing Raymond Dawson for his pettiness and Lisa for her betrayal, Xia Xiaolan and Kissinger did discuss practical matters.

An appeal – they must appeal to the AIA.

Missing one award didn’t matter, but reputation was crucial. This wasn’t making a mountain out of a molehill; it was something Xia Xiaolan and Kissinger had to do.

First, Xia Xiaolan would write a personal appeal letter to the AIA, protesting their decision to disqualify her.

Second, Xia Xiaolan would take Lisa to court to determine the true authorship of the theater renovation design.

These two actions would proceed simultaneously.

The second action would force the AIA to take her appeal seriously.

Could they win the lawsuit?

Xia Xiaolan hoped so!

Lisa had been temporarily blinded by profit, cooperating with Raymond Dawson’s claims to take credit for the theater renovation design. Xia Xiaolan didn’t hesitate to sue her.

Lisa had misjudged one thing – Xia Xiaolan wasn’t some poor international student who had to swallow injustice without recourse.

Such injustice – let whoever wanted to accept it do so, but Xia Xiaolan would never compromise.

Why did she earn money?

With money in her pocket, when faced with unfair treatment, she could hire lawyers!

Litigation was time-consuming and expensive, but Xia Xiaolan could afford both.

“You write the appeal letter, and I’ll contact the professors at Cornell’s School of Architecture here in America. Hopefully, they haven’t forgotten you and will be willing to testify to the AIA…”

In New York, at the GMP office, Kissinger hung up the phone.

This was truly a good idea.

But something felt odd.

Wait – if the AIA acknowledged their mistake, with the situation becoming so public, wouldn’t the entire architectural world hear Xia Xiaolan’s name?

A newcomer would thus enter the international architectural scene’s spotlight.

Whether she won the “AIA Rising Star Architect” award would become less important – she would receive even greater attention.

Even while clearing her name, she was maximizing benefits?

That small-minded Raymond Dawson probably hadn’t expected to provoke such a cunning and formidable opponent.

Haha, he deserved it!

…

“Director Xia.”

The call lasted a full two hours, making the handset hot.

Yu Li had come in several times to refill water, always moving quietly to avoid disturbing Xia Xiaolan.

She had caught fragments of the conversation, something about troubles in America regarding an award evaluation.

Xia Xiaolan felt parched after hanging up.

“Come with me to the ‘Luohu Tiancheng’ construction site. Is Teacher Mao there today?”

“Yes, Director Xia. Teacher Mao is there, along with Engineer Wang and others.”

Next week, Luohu Tiancheng will start sales.

Mao Kangshan couldn’t help but worry – he wanted to personally oversee each of Xia Xiaolan’s projects. Xia Xiaolan was very concerned about Old Mao’s health, but according to Madam Song, Teacher Mao’s spirit was better than when he was in Hangcheng while doing this work… Mao Kangshan was willing to continue contributing to the career he loved.

Retirement?

Not possible.

For someone like Mao Kangshan, true retirement would make him ill.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t stop him – she couldn’t drive Mao Kangshan away from construction sites. She could only provide him with comfortable working conditions, limit his daily working hours, and arrange monthly medical checkups.

If doctors said he was weak, he wouldn’t be allowed on site and must rest at home.

Mao Kangshan reluctantly agreed to these terms.

If he didn’t take care of his health, he wouldn’t be allowed to oversee his young apprentice’s work – forcing him to self-regulate.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t going to ‘Luohu Tiancheng’ to cry to her master about unfair treatment – when something like this happened, she needed to inform the old master personally. Coming from her directly would be more objective, preventing him from hearing it through other channels-

But Kong Yongquan and Hou Qi were also there, wanting to discuss the museum project with Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan clasped her hands, “You two will have to excuse me, but I plan to handle the museum project myself!”

Huh?

Xia Xiaolan was already incredibly busy, and the Xu family had only entrusted the museum project to Qihang Firm because of her. Kong Yongquan and Hou Qi knew this, so the museum commission was supposed to be completed by all three of them – now Director Xia was saying she didn’t want their involvement? What was going on?

“Director Xia, has something happened?”

“Yes, Director Xia, did the client have concerns?”

Did they want to work on the project?

They both wanted to desperately!

Though “Luohu Tiancheng” wasn’t finished, the later stages were just following the plan, lacking challenge. Neither wanted to earn money for nothing and preferred doing more work. Put simply, although “Luohu Tiancheng” was Xia Xiaolan’s own company’s project and Qihang Firm only charged a friendship price, the money Kong Yongquan and Hou Qi received was equivalent to three years’ salary at their previous workplaces!

One project equaled three years of work.

With just two such projects a year, who could mock them for leaving their iron rice bowls?

Mao Kangshan interrupted them, “Let Xiaolan speak first.”

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “The client has no issues, and I’m not trying to cut your income. I’ve just encountered some problems…”

She briefly explained the AIA situation.

Hou Qi was shocked: “The American AIA? You almost made it into their Gold Medal selection?!”

“No, not the AIA Gold Medal – it’s a new architect evaluation they just started this year, far less prestigious than the Gold Medal-“

Even so, Hou Qi was too stunned to speak.

An international award, the American AIA – architects in the Chinese architectural circle might never have such an opportunity in their lifetime!

Xia Xiaolan was only 22, not even graduating from university!

People shouldn’t compare themselves to others; such comparisons would disturb one’s mental balance.

Foreign achievements always seemed more impressive, especially globally authoritative architectural awards like the AIA – they were distant dreams for Chinese architects.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t feel that strongly about it; she couldn’t empathize with Hou Qi and Kong Yongquan’s generation of architects.

She didn’t think she was that exceptional or unbeatable in China. While success related to personal effort, the platform was also important. The theater renovation wasn’t her first work – it could be submitted for the Rising Star award because she completed it during her GMP internship, and GMP’s platform could promote her.

Mao Kangshan slapped the table: “Everyone quiet, let Xiaolan speak! What’s so great about an AIA award anyway?”

Though he said this, inside he was thinking: My young apprentice is only 22 and already qualified for an AIA award – that is truly remarkable!

–Wait, my young apprentice’s award was taken away!