“Dangerous and troublesome.”

Xia Xiaolan’s eyelid twitched. “Are they the people from Los Angeles?”

When Jim investigated in Los Angeles, he had been chased by Zhang Jiadong’s men. If not for running into people sent by Brother Pan San, Jim might not have made it back!

Though Zhang Jiadong was dead, the gang wouldn’t dissolve so easily. But why would Zhang Jiadong’s former subordinates follow Tina?!

DNA tests had already proven that Tina wasn’t Zhang Jiadong’s daughter, so they couldn’t be supporting her as their young leader. While Xia Xiaolan thought these people meant to harm Tina, Jim shook his head:

“It doesn’t look that way. I think it’s more like protection. I was afraid of being discovered by them, so I couldn’t get too close, but I noticed Mrs. Wilson keeps visiting Tina.”

Tina had developed some misgivings about Mrs. Wilson. It probably started after Mrs. Wilson appeared on the talk show with Lisa. Tina was quite sensitive sometimes – perhaps after being deceived by her “parents” for so many years, she had become particularly averse to deception. Even the slightest hint of inconsistency would make Tina resist.

Xia Xiaolan was certainly pleased to see this – Grandmother Yu’s education was beginning to show results. She was happy for Grandmother Yu!

The further Tina stayed from the Wilsons, the safer she would be. Xia Xiaolan hadn’t forgotten that recorded tape she’d heard, where the Wilsons encouraged Tina to get close to Harold. Xia Xiaolan still couldn’t understand – if it was meant to be a honey trap, Tina was just an inexperienced young girl. What methods could she possibly use to ensnare Harold?

Tina’s rapid promotion was also strange.

Xia Xiaolan thanked Jim and told him to stop following Tina, deciding to speak with Xu Changle herself.

Xu Changle was currently in Shangdu.

Xia Xiaolan called back to China and got straight to the point:

“Did you know that Zhang Jiadong’s subordinates are still following Tina?”

Xu Changle was silent for a moment before admitting: “I knew. I discovered not long ago that these people have been constantly following Tina, including when she returned to China and stayed in Pengcheng. These people were desperately trying to enter the country then.”

“You and Uncle Xu knew about this early on?”

Xu Zhongyi and Zhang Jiadong had an irreconcilable hatred – even with Zhang Jiadong dead, this grudge wouldn’t easily dissipate.

Yet Xu Zhongyi tacitly allowed Zhang Jiadong’s former subordinates to follow Tina?!

“You might not believe this, but their final order from Zhang Jiadong was to protect Tina. I don’t know why, but even after DNA tests proved that Tina and I share the same parents and have no blood relation to Zhang Jiadong, these people haven’t changed their minds… They insist on protecting Tina, regardless of whether she’s Zhang Jiadong’s daughter or not.”

This was why Xu Changle found it difficult to tell Xia Xiaolan about this matter.

He didn’t know how Zhang Jiadong had instructed these people before his death.

Could Zhang Jiadong’s love for Tina have included the possibility that she wasn’t his biological daughter?

Xia Xiaolan was speechless. She really couldn’t understand the love-hate relationship between Zhang Jiadong, Cui Yiru, and Xu Zhongyi. With a normal person’s mindset, it was difficult to understand what abnormal people were thinking.

But this matter felt inexplicably strange to her.

There was a light in her mind that she just couldn’t grasp.

“I haven’t congratulated you on winning the lawsuit yet. Tina also said she’ll return to China in a few days. Will you be coming back together?”

When Xu Changle spoke, Xia Xiaolan seemed to catch onto something: “Tina previously complained about the trial being delayed, saying it prevented her from returning to China quickly. She seemed very concerned about her internship at the golf club. Now I see what’s strange – I’ve won the lawsuit, but Tina’s suddenly not in a hurry to return to China-“

Wasn’t she so concerned about the internship?

Now Tina could return to China early, yet she wasn’t going back.

That was what was strange!

Connecting this with Harold’s current presence in New York, Xia Xiaolan felt a bit alarmed.

“Regardless of why the Wilsons wanted Tina to work at the club, their ultimate goal must be related to Harold. They want to use Tina for something! Now, Harold happens to be in New York, Tina won’t leave, and today my private investigator told me that Mrs. Wilson keeps visiting Tina-“

Mrs. Wilson couldn’t possibly harm Tina.

With Zhang Jiadong’s former men following Tina, and both Xu Changle and Xu Zhongyi knowing about it, the Wilsons must be aware too.

Thoughts jumped around in her mind, but Xia Xiaolan couldn’t catch them or piece them together.

Xu Changle was equally uneasy.

“I’m coming to America right away. Can you keep an eye on Tina for me? Just these couple of days – keep her close and don’t let Cynthia fill her head with wrong ideas.”

Keep her close?

Honestly, knowing Zhang Jiadong’s people were constantly following Tina made Xia Xiaolan a bit nervous.

However, she did have an excuse to keep Tina close for two days to prevent Mrs. Wilson from taking the opportunity to bewitch her into doing something.

“Alright, I understand. Don’t delay if you’re coming to America!”

She decided to personally thank Tina for testifying in court.

Early the next morning, Xia Xiaolan drove out.

Today she had originally planned to take Mao Kangshan and the others to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Being next to Central Park, it wasn’t too far from Tina’s apartment. At Mao Kangshan’s age, reuniting with old friend Professor Wen meant every day together was precious. They would definitely visit the museum together – Professor Wen had even taken leave from school.

The most unexpected was Professor McCarthy. Who knows what Mao Kangshan said to him after the trial, but he wasn’t in a hurry to return to Ithaca and stayed in New York.

Today, these three architectural veterans – two theorists and one practitioner – were going to visit the Metropolitan Museum together. Xia Xiaolan felt the Met should be nervous. Were these three going to appreciate art? They might end up critiquing the Metropolitan Museum building itself!

When Xia Xiaolan said she needed to find Tina first, Mao Kangshan was slightly dissatisfied:

“Don’t take too long, come back quickly. How can you still not understand what’s important!”

Xia Xiaolan needed to design a museum after returning to China, and there weren’t many physical references available domestically. Museum layout and design had their principles. Mao Kangshan actually intended to teach on-site during the visit, hoping to give Xia Xiaolan some inspiration.

If he couldn’t inspire her, there was still his old friend.

Oh, and McCarthy too – he would do, supposedly this hook-nosed man was an expert in architectural structures. They should test his abilities.

Xia Xiaolan had no idea her master had so many thoughts as she drove to Tina’s apartment.

She arrived early, but Tina seemed about to leave.

Before Tina could speak, Xia Xiaolan stated her purpose.

First, of course, was gratitude.

Second was an invitation.

She invited Tina to be their “guide.”

“I want to take Master Mao and the others to Los Angeles for a trip. If you’re willing, could you come with us?”

Los Angeles?

Tina didn’t dare return to her “home” in Los Angeles – that city brought back painful memories.

But was Xia Xiaolan asking for her help?

Ha!

Even the all-capable Xia Xiaolan had moments of needing her help. Just as Tina was about to agree readily, she thought of something else and suddenly hesitated:

“I don’t know if I’ll have time. I need to go out right now – let’s discuss this when I return.”