Hmph, so this was the extent of his ability – truly poor professional skills, only excelling at creating conflicts, what a petty person.

Sensing the malicious gazes watching for her reaction, Xia Xiaolan sat down nonchalantly.

Crying was out of the question.

She had never liked using tears as a weapon.

Cry for sympathy from a group of people?

Better to fight back with fists and kicks to earn respect!

Gong Yang clenched his fists in anger.

That Nie Weiguo went too far, giving President Xia such a harsh welcome.

Ning Yanfan frowned. Before the meeting even began, he directly questioned Xing Lixin: “Group Leader Xing, isn’t there an issue with this seating arrangement?”

Xing Lixin hemmed and hawed.

Nie Weiguo had stirred up trouble, putting considerable pressure on Xing Lixin. He dared not confront Ning Yanfan, but many people had privately approached him, questioning why an undergraduate student received an invitation. This undergraduate wasn’t like Ning Yanfan’s granddaughter – she had no reputation in the industry.

No one had heard of “Xia Xiaolan.”

She was famous among students. After the English competition finals broadcast, anyone who watched the program would recognize the champion.

But aside from Ning Xue, what students would attend a symposium?

The unknown Xia Xiaolan had somehow received an invitation.

Many people objected to Ning Yanfan giving her this opportunity. Xing Lixin couldn’t offend Ning Yanfan but also feared public outrage, so he tacitly allowed Xia Xiaolan’s seat to be arranged at the back.

Now that Ning Yanfan questioned this, the diplomatic Xing Lixin couldn’t answer publicly.

Nie Weiguo looked around, “Professor Ning, is there a problem with the seating arrangement? Please tell us who should move forward and who should move back. Since Professor Ning has objected, Group Leader Xing will surely comply!”

The seats were already arranged, with classroom tables fitting eight people per row, leaving exactly one extra spot.

They could fit nine people per row, so isolating Xia Xiaolan was intentional.

Everyone knew this, including Ning Yanfan.

But after Nie Weiguo’s comment, how could Ning Yanfan ask someone else to move back so Xia Xiaolan could move forward?

This despicable person truly had a knack for being offensive!

Xia Xiaolan shook her head at Ning Yanfan, signaling him not to dwell on this.

This was an unspoken rule that couldn’t be challenged openly. Fixating on it would play right into Nie Weiguo’s hands.

The meeting chair cleared his throat, ignoring the silent confrontation below. He spoke about “reshaping the creative environment,” “prospering architectural creation, correcting uniformity,” and “creating new Chinese socialist architectural styles” to outline the meeting’s purpose, then officially declared the First Modern Chinese Architecture Creation Academic Symposium open.

He introduced several heavyweight guests, including Ning Yanfan.

Equal in standing to Ning Yanfan was Mao Kangshan, known as part of architecture’s “Northern Ning, Southern Mao” duo, a thin, dark elderly man.

Just as Mao Kangshan took the microphone, Nie Weiguo couldn’t contain himself:

“Professor Mao, I have a request, would you be willing to hear it?”

Mao Kangshan’s eyelids drooped, appearing half-asleep.

Unlike Ning Yanfan, Mao Kangshan was famous for his good temper. He smiled pleasantly, “Little Nie has something to say? Don’t rush, the symposium runs for three days.”

The good-natured Mao Kangshan’s single sentence shut Nie Weiguo down.

However, Nie Weiguo always picked on the easiest targets. Knowing Mao Kangshan’s good nature, he persisted:

“Professor Mao, by the time it’s my turn to speak, the meeting will be half over. I believe we should confirm participants’ qualifications before the symposium officially begins.”

Wow, Nie Weiguo must have eaten gunpowder today, clearly determined to fight Ning Yanfan to the bitter end.

“Who do you think lacks qualifications?”

Nie Weiguo smiled without warmth: “Professor Mao, I think at a minimum, participants should be working professionals. Having students attend seems too frivolous—”

Mao Kangshan interrupted Nie Weiguo:

“If you’re referring to Ning Xue, have you read her two papers published this year? Her only disadvantage is her young age, but her professional level fully qualifies her for this symposium. Our meeting’s purpose is to discuss new architectural styles, break conventions, and give young industry successors opportunities to express opinions, which can inspire us as well.”

Mao Kangshan’s words earned applause.

This was a master’s cultivation – viewing issues with inclusivity. Whether Ning Yanfan was pushing his granddaughter forward was none of Mao Kangshan’s concern.

The false couldn’t become true, and the true couldn’t become false!

Ning Yanfan was already quite elderly – let him protect his granddaughter’s career if he could. Mao Kangshan only recognized Ning Xue’s demonstrated talent and professional level.

“I would never doubt Ning Xue, whom Professor Ning personally trained. I’m referring to someone else—”

Swish!

All eyes turned to Xia Xiaolan. The venue became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Even with thick skin, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t endure this. She simply stood up:

“Hello, Professor Mao. Deputy Director Nie must be referring to me. He believes that as a student attending the symposium, I lower the overall standard and that Professor Ning recommended me out of favoritism.”

Mao Kangshan’s drooping eyelids made him look drowsy:

“Oh? Then do you believe you’re qualified to attend?”

How should she answer this question?

Xu Yuejin was truly nervous for Xia Xiaolan.

Say she was qualified, and Nie Weiguo surely had prepared numerous difficult questions.

Say she wasn’t qualified, and she’d lose face to stay. Ning Yanfan recommended an unqualified young girl to the symposium – how could he maintain face before someone of Mao Kangshan’s stature?

Xu Yuejin secretly worried: had Mao Kangshan been bought by Nie Weiguo? Were they working together to trouble Xia Xiaolan and embarrass Professor Ning?

Impossible – how could someone of Mao Kangshan’s status collaborate with a petty person like Nie Weiguo?

The entire venue waited for Xia Xiaolan’s answer. She smiled brightly, showing no panic:

“I hesitated greatly when receiving the invitation. As an architecture student, what qualifications did I have to attend with all the distinguished teachers here? But I couldn’t bear to miss this learning opportunity, so I came thick-skinned! Professor Mao, you’re giving young architects a chance to speak. Though my experience is shallow and foundation weak, I have some ideas I’d like to exchange with everyone… Deputy Director Nie questions my qualifications, but I’m not angry – he’s my senior from the same school and department, and everything he does is out of care for me. Senior Nie, I won’t disappoint you!”

Nie Weiguo felt a surge of suppressed anger.

Care? Nonsense!

Constantly saying “Deputy Director Nie,” afraid others wouldn’t know his deputy position.

Such nonsense – Nie Weiguo’s obvious harassment becoming “care.” Mao Kangshan’s drowsiness vanished instantly, suddenly becoming energetic:

“Oh? I see the work Professor Ning submitted for you is the renovation design plan for Pengcheng South Sea Hotel. Why don’t you tell everyone about it, let us see if you deserve Professor Ning’s recommendation!”