The roommates were coming.
She needed to arrange internships for the roommates!
This wasn’t a challenging task at all.
If they were willing, Xia Xiao Lan could bring them all to the construction site in the commercial district. This month’s feature will be in “Domus,” next month in “A+U,” with a major interview scheduled for the project’s completion. Everything had been arranged for Xia Xiao Lan—AIA had decided against sending additional personnel, the museum design had been finalized with minimal anticipated revisions, and construction was already underway.
Over just two months, without any assistance, Xia Xiao Lan had completed this “design” independently.
Now that construction had begun, she could certainly delegate tasks. Architects managed design and construction—they weren’t expected to personally operate excavators for foundation work or lay bricks and apply cement themselves.
In essence, from the day the design was finalized with Master Xu Zhong Yi and his son, this design process—jointly overseen by AIA, “Domus,” and “A+U”—was effectively complete.
What remained was magazine coverage, allowing time for development, enabling the name ‘Xia Xiao Lan’ to garner attention and recognition!
This process might require several months.
In this vast world, with its first-world nations, developing countries, and underdeveloped regions, not every architect subscribed to premier publications like “Domus” and “A+U,” nor could everyone access new issues immediately… While economic disparities existed, the pursuit of advancement never ceased, and they would find various ways to access these journals.
They might not see the ’87 issues until ’88.
But that was inconsequential.
‘Xia Xiao Lan’s’ meteoric rise would inspire hope in many young architects.
She wasn’t from a developed nation.
She was young.
She was female.
Yet she could still shine like the bright moon!
On the design confirmation day, Xia Xiao Lan found time for other matters. For instance, the television drama that Luna had commissioned Director Wang to film—while Xia Xiao Lan concentrated on drafting design plans, the production team had already completed preparations and commenced filming!
The script perfectly aligned with Xia Xiao Lan’s requirements, balancing positive messaging with dramatic elements, featuring an engaging and controversial story, and seamlessly incorporating Luna’s brand placement… With Chen Xi Liang providing generous screenwriting compensation, Director Wang and his writing team thoughtfully considered what advertising would resonate with viewers. The solution was integrating the Luna brand into the narrative—Director Wang planned to film a story about fashion entrepreneurship.
The protagonist was a rural woman who loved sewing and working with sewing machines. After facing life’s adversities, she decides to seek opportunities in the city with her daughter, marking the story’s beginning.
It featured career advancement, renewed romance, and various challenges.
After reviewing it, Xia Xiao Lan felt mixed emotions:
“It’s a quality script, bound to succeed.”
She recognized reflections of her mother Liu Fen’s experiences, her journey, Chen Xi Liang’s story, and even glimpses of Bai Zhen Zhu and others within the narrative.
Many details weren’t something writers could simply fabricate—Chen Xi Liang must have provided substantial source material to Director Wang during the script’s creation.
Xia Xiao Lan didn’t feel her privacy had been violated; not just her, but all entrepreneurs from the eighties and nineties would find familiar experiences within this story!
Hearing Xia Xiao Lan’s assessment, Chen Xi Liang felt relieved. With filming already underway for nearly a month, if Xia Xiao Lan had disapproved, Chen Xi Liang would have had to restart despite potential objections from the production team and increased investment costs.
“By the way, the Hong Kong lady boss who purchased Elegance wants to meet you. She’s called several times at the company. Would you like to meet? Her surname is Yu, and she mentioned you’ve met before!”
With the surname Yu and a previous meeting, it must be Lady Yu from the Spring Banquet.
Xia Xiao Lan had planned to visit Hainan Island, but meeting Yu Shi Hua wouldn’t hurt.
“Agree to meet. Ask when she’s available!”
Business was like this—there were no permanent friends, nor should competitors be immediately classified as enemies due to market rivalry.
Yu Shi Hua responded quickly, inviting Xia Xiao Lan to meet at the golf club Yu Shi Hua had also become a club member.
This was natural; Hong Kong businesspeople frequently traveled to the mainland, with Shenzhen likely being their most frequent destination. Everyone needed a proper venue for social interactions. While the South Sea Hotel had been suitable, a recent armed suicide incident had made some people uncomfortable, causing them to avoid conducting business there.
Besides the South Sea Hotel, the golf club was now Shenzhen’s most prestigious venue, making Yu Shi Hua’s membership entirely reasonable.
After arranging the meeting time with Yu Shi Hua, Xia Xiao Lan invited Chen Xi Liang to join.
They waited in the lounge for just a few minutes before Yu Shi Hua arrived.
“Young Xia, may I call you that?”
“Sister Yu, please don’t be so formal. Let me introduce—”
“That’s Luna’s President Chen, I know.”
Xia Xiao Lan smiled, seeing no need for false courtesies as she waited to hear Yu Shi Hua’s purpose.
Yu Shi Hua had come to make peace.
She felt no guilt about acquiring Elegance—having bought it, she couldn’t possibly return the business to Xia Xiao Lan.
Yu Shi Hua suggested that with the mainland market being so vast, allowing Elegance and Luna to develop independently would be beneficial for both.
“In ten years, it might truly be the golden age for mainland original fashion brands. We could establish our foundations before others rise, rather than engaging in cutthroat competition now. No single brand can monopolize all profits. Young Xia, don’t you agree?”
Young Xia found this reasonable.
President Xia had other thoughts.
She wasn’t sure of Yu Shi Hua’s allegiances—what if Xia Zi Yu had sent her to deceive them?
No single company could dominate the entire market, and the ideal situation would be for everyone to develop independently without interference. Xia Xiao Lan generally agreed with this view, and Yu Shi Hua was astute in observing that China’s original fashion brands would indeed enter their golden age around the millennium.
But so what!
Xia Xiao Lan couldn’t possibly bear Luna’s development plans to Yu Shi Hua.
Currently, Luna holds the advantage, allowing Xia Xiao Lan and Chen Xi Liang to maintain their stance.
It was Yu Shi Hua who sought peaceful coexistence; Xia Xiao Lan and Chen Xi Liang weren’t afraid of competition.
So while maintaining cordial pleasantries, they would continue their planned strategy, unmoved by Yu Shi Hua’s friendly overtures.
They shared drinks and meals, with Chen Xi Liang affectionately addressing her as “Sister Yu” throughout.
Yu Shi Hua smiled wryly:
“Young Xia, I won’t beat around the bush anymore. I know you don’t trust me now, which is a good quality—too much trust in business leads to exploitation. I want to tell you something: you’re good friends with Zhao Hui, aren’t you? He’s going through difficult times now, could you help him?”
The sudden mention of Du Zhao Hui caught her off guard.
Xia Xiao Lan exchanged a glance with Chen Xi Liang, who stood up and stretched, “I’ll go play some golf, you two chat.”