Kissinger was being remarkably cooperative.

Not only did he accept interviews, but his attitude had completely changed to become warm and welcoming, inviting reporters upstairs to tour GMP’s office environment.

Truthfully, most people didn’t understand architectural firms. Architects featured in magazines like “Domus” always appeared well-dressed against impressive office backgrounds—GMP’s New York office was no different. The office environment was a firm’s facade; if the facade wasn’t impressive, who would expect much from the firm’s capabilities?

So GMP’s office space completely met the reporters’ expectations.

But the architects working inside… Wearing sharp suits? Sorry, those were only for meeting clients. For drawing and design work, suit sleeves couldn’t even be rolled up—completely impractical for architects.

Busy, everyone was so busy.

Kissinger brought them up to his office for interviews, and the thirty-minute session was interrupted several times.

People kept knocking on the door, either asking for Kissinger’s signature or reporting problems with certain commissions.

Kissinger had to communicate with the firm’s architects and deal with clients’ various peculiar demands—this was the daily routine of a GMP partner!

The reporters exchanged glances.

“This is the real firm, as you can see. Not just me, but everyone is busy! We all have lots of work to handle. I don’t have time to suppress anyone. This is America—we’re working in an office building with expensive rent. I wish each day had 48 hours instead of 24. Whoever can create more value for the firm gets my smile… Work should be related to dreams, but if work only focuses on dreams, the firm would go bankrupt!”

Wow, the partner dared to speak his mind.

Was he suggesting that Lisa couldn’t create value for GMP during this controversial time?

A reporter held the microphone to Kissinger’s mouth, “Mr. Kissinger, are you saying Lisa couldn’t create value? Then what value could the Chinese intern recommended by GMP create? It’s said she has very powerful connections, which is why she could intern at GMP.”

Kissinger wanted to smile sarcastically at this unknown source of “it’s said.”

Who didn’t need connections?

Where in America didn’t value connections?

Senators’ children attending Ivy League schools, black drug dealers’ children continuing to roam the streets as gangsters—wasn’t this all about connections?

To break such rules required talent, effort, and luck!

However, he couldn’t speak these harsh truths in front of reporters. The truth wasn’t pleasant and would provoke those who only knew how to waste time watching television, people who had no understanding of what ‘effort’ meant. These people were precisely the “supporters” Lisa had gained through her TV interview.

While Xia Xiaolan wanted him to delay and draw fire, Kissinger had his strategy.

Instead of saying things that could stir up class conflicts, he stuck to the facts:

“Of course, Lisa could create value. She was a very ordinary architect at GMP. You asked if I had any special impression of her. Sorry, I didn’t. But she is an out-and-out thief who claimed an intern’s work as her own and portrayed herself as a victim. Have you seen the renovated theater? You should see it in person. If Lisa truly had such talent, she could bring great benefits to GMP—why would I let such a talented female architect transfer elsewhere? She’s insulting my professional ability, my architectural aesthetic judgment, and my management capabilities!”

“But you and that Chinese intern—”

Kissinger waved his hand, “Sorry if anyone has connections to the plaintiff in this lawsuit, it’s certainly not me. You should interview Mond Dawson, this Pritzker Architecture Prize winner. When GMP wanted to submit award applications, he raised questions. He’s the vice chairman of this year’s AIA Rising Star Architect Award jury—such a conscientious vice chairman. After Lisa resigned from GMP, Mr. Mond’s studio kindly took her in… Honestly, even if Lisa hadn’t resigned, GMP would have fired such a ‘thief’! So stop saying GMP bullied her—she violated professional ethics first. Before GMP could react, she resigned. GMP is already a world-class architectural firm. If working at GMP didn’t satisfy her, perhaps someone else made her some promises.”

What kind of revelation was this?

Both AIA and Mond Dawson were dragged into it.

This GMP partner must have gone mad.

“Mr. Kissinger, could you elaborate? Are you suggesting Mond Dawson orchestrated all this?”

“Is there any corruption in this year’s AIA Rising Star Architect selection?”

Kissinger stood up, “AIA certainly has no corruption. When AIA previously canceled GMP’s submission eligibility, they were deceived by Mond. AIA’s mistake was trusting Mond too much. Fortunately, AIA is willing to correct this error—they’ve decided to reassess Xia’s capabilities. This is the right choice; AIA might truly discover a ‘rising star’ in the architectural world! As for why Mond Dawson would do this, words from my mouth aren’t credible. You should visit Cornell University—there lies the truth you seek. Well, that’s all for today’s interview. I have a meeting to chair. Hope you’ve had a pleasant day.”

No, tell us more!

Why stop at the crucial point?

The GMP partner and Pritzker Prize winner had completely fallen out.

While Mond remained silent, Kissinger had dragged him into the mess.

New York’s architectural circle wasn’t that big—was Kissinger planning never to deal with the other side again?

Lisa appeared on TV interviews, so Kissinger dropped bombshells. New York’s architectural circle was quite lively this year—was everyone meant to become famous together?

…

Kissinger’s interview quickly became news.

New York media might have slightly more integrity than HK paparazzi, but as fellow media professionals, they all had sales targets to meet. Their so-called better integrity was quite limited.

Mond naturally refused all interviews.

Lisa’s lawyer was quite pleased:

“Eric panicked and requested a trial postponement. Now the court date is the 8th. What can he do in these three days?”

Some civil rights lawyers he was.

They’d both attended law school and won cases—whatever tricks Eric knew, he knew too!

Kissinger’s aggressive attitude was good. During these two days before the postponed trial, he would continue arranging interviews for Lisa, determined to cement her image as a victim. Thanks to Kissinger’s aggressiveness—the jury wouldn’t like such an overbearing person.

However, Lisa wasn’t entirely reassured, “What reason did they give for postponing the trial? Did new evidence appear?”

Maybe new witnesses.

Although her lawyer assured her they would win the case and that whatever the other side did would fall into logical traps, Lisa still had concerns.

The lawyer was puzzled: “What are you worried about? We have the client’s testimony—a hundred words from others don’t compare to one word from the client.”