Zhen Wenxiu was still behind Ning Xue and hadn’t heard the earlier conversation. She only heard Ning Xue saying that Xia Xiaolan couldn’t modify the design.

Zhen Wenxiu found it ridiculous. What design modification? Surely Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t be presumptuous enough to want to modify the old master’s design? If that was the case, Zhen Wenxiu could only say that Xia Xiaolan’s previous successes had made her overconfident!

What qualifications did Xia Xiaolan have? So what if she was from Huaqing University’s Architecture Department? If a freshman could modify the old master’s design, then… Though Zhen Wenxiu wasn’t in architecture herself, she knew her father-in-law’s standing in the field.

Xia Xiaolan’s arrogance would make people laugh their teeth off.

Zhen Wenxiu placed the fruit on the desk. “Xue, come out quickly. This is very impolite. How could Student Xia make such a disrespectful request? Don’t just hear half the conversation and get upset. Your grandfather will handle this himself.”

Ning Yanfan frowned. “Who let you in? Xue, do you think it’s right to eavesdrop on my conversation with others?”

Zhen Wenxiu was furious. It was one thing for the old master to yell at her, but now he was scolding her daughter for an outsider’s sake.

“Wait a moment, Student Ning Xue. I don’t want you to leave with any misunderstandings. Professor Ning, may I say a few words to Ning Xue?”

Xia Xiaolan took the initiative to explain.

“Go ahead.”

Since Ning Yanfan had agreed to let Ning Xue stay in the study, Xia Xiaolan would have said this even if Ning Xue hadn’t questioned her:

“Ning Xue, you need to understand. Dongfeng Holdings asked me to modify the Nanhai Hotel’s interior design plan. I requested to see the original design, not knowing it was Professor Ning’s work. After reviewing it, I found that the design was integrated perfectly with the hotel’s architecture. It didn’t need modification, and that’s what I told Dongfeng’s people.”

Xia Xiaolan’s explanation didn’t soften Ning Xue’s expression:

“But you eventually agreed, otherwise you wouldn’t be at the Ning residence today.”

“No, after learning Professor Ning had designed it, I refused Manager Huo from Dongfeng Holdings, even though he claimed he had already obtained Professor Ning’s consent. With businesspeople like him, I’m not completely trusting.”

As soon as Xia Xiaolan finished speaking, Zhen Wenxiu muttered, “Your family is just small business owners too.”

Xia Xiaolan turned to look at her:

“Auntie, yes, we are small business owners. As you must have heard while standing outside, my mother sells clothes, my uncle does renovations – we’re all small business owners. We earn our profit through quality and service. I don’t think the ‘small business’ status needs your special emphasis… My respect for Professor Ning comes from his reputation and ability. I’m explaining to Student Ning Xue out of regard for our friendship as classmates. But I didn’t invite you to judge me and my family freely. The next part of our conversation involves ‘small business’ trade secrets – may I ask you to step out for a moment?”

Xia Xiaolan’s repeated use of “you” sounded more sarcastic than respectful.

Zhen Wenxiu’s face turned pale with anger. “Father, look at how she’s speaking!”

Ning Yanfan’s face darkened. “You said it yourself – let me handle my affairs. Get out!”

Zhen Wenxiu left the study gritting her teeth, and Xia Xiaolan closed the door right in front of her.

“Alright, let me continue about the previous matter. I was also worried about being deceived by Manager Huo from Dongfeng Holdings. At the time, I politely declined, wanting to personally visit Professor Ning before making a decision. Without confirming with Professor Ning, we wouldn’t take on this project.”

Ning Xue remained expressionless: “What’s the difference? Even if Manager Huo deceived you, you knew my grandfather would agree to your request, given Grandmother Yu’s connection. You only saw the benefits, without considering how people would judge my grandfather once this news got out.”

People would say Ning Yanfan was getting old.

His abilities were declining.

His designs no longer had value.

They could be modified by a university freshman.

Building authority was difficult, but destroying it was easy. All it took was someone like Xia Xiaolan walking into the Ning house – how could her grandfather refuse such a request? Because of Grandmother Yu’s relationship, he would even have to help clean up Xia Xiaolan’s mess afterward. What Xia Xiaolan was doing would stir up a hornet’s nest in the architectural circle – only her grandfather could shield her from the consequences.

Ning Xue was incredibly smart. Her unwillingness to waste time on interpersonal relationships didn’t mean she didn’t understand them.

She was truly disappointed in Xia Xiaolan now.

The fact that Xia Xiaolan’s family ran small businesses had never affected Ning Xue’s perception of her, but now she suspected that Xia Xiaolan had become accustomed to measuring friendships by their potential benefits.

No matter who showed kindness, Xia Xiaolan could calculate it, figuring out how much profit that kindness could generate.

Both Xia Xiaolan and Ning Yanfan could see that Ning Xue was about to explode with anger.

Ning Yanfan was somewhat surprised. He had thought Ning Xue didn’t care about Xia Xiaolan, but she did – given Ning Xue’s personality, she wouldn’t get angry if she didn’t care.

Xia Xiaolan decided to properly calm down the bristling academic genius:

“Ning Xue, you’re right – I do value benefits greatly. You might not know this, but for some things you were born with, I had to work hard to earn: the right to be your classmate, the right to settle down in Beijing… Money isn’t evil; it depends on how you use it. If it can provide a stable, comfortable life for me and those I care about, why should I refuse it? But money isn’t everything. If I don’t earn from the Nanhai Hotel project, I have other ways to make money. Have you considered – if I flatly refused Dongfeng Holdings’ request, would they simply abandon their plan to modify the design?”

Dongfeng Holdings would still modify the design.

There was nothing wrong with the original design – Dongfeng Holdings was using it as an excuse in their power struggle with other Hong Kong shareholders.

Dongfeng Holdings wanted management rights to the hotel. This was a battle between capital interests, and Ning Yanfan’s design was unfortunately caught in the middle… Dongfeng Holdings wasn’t even in the architecture business. They paid for Ning Yanfan’s design, and notifying him of how they would use it was already a courtesy extended to a master architect.

Would they abandon their business plans for an architect?

Don’t be ridiculous – even designs from the world’s most famous architectural firms could be discarded.

“Xue, you haven’t been exposed to these business matters, but Xiaolan is correct. If it’s not her making the modifications, Dongfeng Holdings will clear away any obstacles to protect their initial investment. If my design becomes an obstacle to their success, it will naturally be cleared away too!”

Having seen the ups and downs over decades, what couldn’t Ning Yanfan understand? That’s why when Dongfeng Holdings’ people previously sought his opinion, he readily agreed – why create unpleasantness on both sides when they would do it anyway, whether he agreed or not?

Respect can only be given voluntarily by others; it can never be forced.

The architectural circle respected him, but outside that circle, others didn’t have to acknowledge him. Since they paid for it, they could treat his design however they wanted!

“Grandfather, I understand, but it could be anyone except her-“

Xia Xiaolan interrupted Ning Xue again, “You’re wrong. It had to be me. I’m here to verify Dongfeng Holdings’ claims with Professor Ning, and also to represent my uncle’s company in inviting Professor Ning to oversee this project as our design consultant!”