Why return to Pengcheng again?

Liu Fen was a bit puzzled but didn’t think too much about it.

Perhaps inspiration had run dry in Shangdu.

For designers, “inspiration” was paramount, so Liu Fen immediately packed everything and followed Xia Xiao Lan back to Pengcheng.

Frank and others: …!

No choice but to follow along. After all, Xia Xiao Lan wasn’t the only architect who moved around. The site survey was complete; she could take the subsequent design work to the moon if she wanted – as long as Frank and his team could get moon travel tickets, everything would be OK!

Frank was willing to follow because he could explore another Chinese city’s cuisine.

Others had no complaints, perhaps because Xia Xiao Lan’s preliminary design draft had somewhat amazed them.

Those fortunate enough to see the initial draft, even if not architects but top architectural journal reporters, how could they not have aesthetic appreciation!

They all felt they were witnessing the birth of a “masterpiece.”

Not every architect’s work could be called a “masterpiece” – most architects simply completed their assigned work for payment.

Even the unreliable Frank, while immersed in Shangdu’s various delicacies, said this while calling his friend Katherine:

“It’s unstoppable, she has talent, and that feeling between cold reality and soft fantasy is captivating! Katherine, can you understand what I mean? Her work is hard and commercial, yet has a unique charm…”

“Frank, are you on drugs again?”

“No, honey, I’m not on drugs! I can’t even find drugs in China. I refuse to continue this conversation with you. I’m heading to the airport.”

The drugs readily available in America were impossible for Frank to find in China.

He couldn’t even find marijuana…

So Xia couldn’t possibly be on drugs either, right?

Her work just felt special, interweaving hardness and softness, very attractive.

Haha, that annoying Mond Dawson had gotten himself such a potentially powerful rival, Frank thought gleefully.

Xia Xiao Lan didn’t know what Frank and others were thinking. She just knew that when she left Shangdu, those seemingly poor architects were very reluctant to see her go.

Well, they weren’t just seemingly poor – they were poor.

Too poor to freely give up work.

And unlike Frank and other foreign visitors on business trips, they couldn’t just follow Xia Xiao Lan at a moment’s notice.

When Xia Xiao Lan offered to pay their travel expenses, they all refused.

“Draw well, Little Xia, you must design this museum well.”

“Don’t rush, calculate the data properly, don’t just focus on making the exterior look good.”

“Little Xia—”

Xia Xiao Lan was both touched and amused, “Everyone, I’ll be returning to Shangdu, The timing is uncertain, but for this project, I’ll be responsible from start to finish.”

Oh, really?

Then who was that idiot who started getting emotional first?

Making everyone feel awkward!

The seemingly poor Chinese architects, most being rather shy, pushed and pulled each other, slipping away as if being chased by dogs.

Frank came running over with a meat bun in his mouth, “Xia, Chinese architects are so adorable, they’re clearly not wealthy, yet refuse your generous offer… very interesting.”

Xia Xiao Lan glared at him, “What do you find interesting about that?”

Chinese architects were poor because China’s economy hadn’t fully developed yet. Xia Xiao Lan didn’t want her colleagues to be so poor, but she couldn’t single-handedly pay salaries to all Chinese architects.

Besides, was it just Chinese architects who were poor?

Not necessarily.

Many highly knowledgeable people lived in poverty, hence the saying “Those who make atomic bombs earn less than those who sell tea eggs.”

This wasn’t something Xia Xiao Lan could change alone; she was just a small cog in the machine.

She was particularly sensitive when Frank, a foreigner, made such comments.

She felt Frank was being out of touch with reality.

As it turned out, Xia Xiao Lan had been oversensitive. Frank stuffed the meat bun in his mouth and dusted off his hands:

“You have an architectural firm, right? Have you considered adding a foreign partner? What do you think about me?”

Frank wanted to be a partner in Qihang Architectural Firm?!

She hadn’t founded a restaurant review website where partners just needed to eat – joking aside, Frank wasn’t just about eating, he did have some capability. Although currently unemployed, it wasn’t because he couldn’t find work; he wanted to give himself a long vacation.

At least, Mond Dawson had once invited Frank to work together… While Mond’s character wasn’t good, his professional level was strong, and such an invitation was enough to prove Frank’s ability.

“Why? Can you give me a reason?”

“…!”

Had he heard wrong? He volunteered to join a small Chinese firm, yet was being asked for reasons.

“Chinese food is delicious, and Chinese people are interesting.”

Seeing that Xia Xiao Lan wasn’t joking, Frank started counting reasons on his fingers:

“More importantly, this work is challenging. I’ve found that Chinese architects charge low fees, but their abilities aren’t inferior. If I could develop some business outside China, I think there would be considerable compensation!”

So Frank wasn’t just interested in eating; he had his ideas.

He wanted to take advantage of Chinese architects’ low fees… This wasn’t impossible. Though a big step, it could be a way for Qihang to develop rapidly.

Foreign monks chanted better sutras – if Qihang could take on more international projects, its domestic recognition would soar.

Flowers blooming outside the wall would spread their fragrance inside – Xia Xiao Lan wasn’t opposed to this.

But she wasn’t completely carried away by Frank’s rhythm, maintaining her business acumen:

“You handle your client resources. For what you bring in, you’ll get a partner commission. Base salary can’t follow international firms like GMP, only my firm’s standard!”

Frank wailed, “Being so stingy will cost you my friendship!”

Xia Xiao Lan shrugged: “So be it. I know you can bring foreign client resources, but without you, I can do it myself. Once I finish the museum design, with two top architectural journals promoting me and AIA endorsement, I can lead Qihang to connect with foreign clients—”

“OK! Stop, it’s a deal!”

It was really too much – architects should just focus on design. Being so young yet so smart, wasn’t this forcing colleagues to their deaths?

On the flight to Pengcheng, Xia Xiao Lan and Frank reached a preliminary cooperation intention. Frank would become a partner in Qihang Architectural Firm. This news needed to be announced at an appropriate time, as obviously, he couldn’t represent AIA to “supervise” Xia Xiao Lan’s design work if he became a partner in her firm.