Let it go? Was she suggesting they should have someone beat up Nie Weiguo while wearing a sack over his head to vent their anger?

Xu Yuejin thought that Sister Ning Xue was too naive. The conflict between Nie Weiguo and Xia Xiaolan couldn’t be resolved by beating someone up.

As a newcomer, Xia Xiaolan was bound to suffer this silent injustice. At least she had proven her capabilities and wasn’t shamefully driven from the venue.

In Xu Yuejin’s view, this matter had ended there. Nie Weiguo thought the same.

Xia Xiaolan’s impressive showing had made Nie Weiguo extremely uncomfortable. He cursed under his breath several times, thinking, “How many more years can that old fool Ning Yanfan live? Once he dies, let’s see who will still act as a shield for Ning Xue, Xia Xiaolan, and their lot!”

Let that old fool’s faction stay arrogant for a few more years.

Thanks to Xia Xiaolan’s strong start, the morning’s seminar focused entirely on the creative design of tourist hotels and foreign-oriented hotels.

This wasn’t Nie Weiguo’s strong suit, and he had to watch Xia Xiaolan shine throughout the morning.

True to his reputation as a shameless person, Nie Weiguo managed to sit calmly in the venue as if nothing had happened earlier!

When the meeting ended, as Gong Yang helped collect materials, Nie Weiguo even smiled and asked if he could take the materials back to study.

With several people still in the venue, Xia Xiaolan didn’t return Nie Weiguo’s smile: “Senior Nie, I’m afraid that won’t be possible. I’m planning to write a paper based on this proposal. Once it’s published, you can study it as much as you like.”

Nie Weiguo’s face turned liver-red as he slammed the table: “What are you implying? That I would plagiarize your design?”

Xia Xiaolan expressed surprise, “How could Senior Nie think that way? This proposal has already been presented at the seminar, so you can’t copy it.”

Her words left much to interpretation – if it hadn’t been publicly presented, would Nie Weiguo have plagiarized it?

Considering Nie Weiguo’s reputation, the few remaining people’s expressions changed noticeably.

Nie Weiguo angrily threw down the materials: “How absurd! Sister Xia, you’ve achieved just a small success, don’t be too proud and complacent!”

As Nie Weiguo walked away with his hands behind his back, Teacher Hou patted Xia Xiaolan’s shoulder, “Don’t mind him. He lost face today and wants to get it back from you.”

Xia Xiaolan forced a smile, “Teacher Hou, I understand.”

Seeing the young woman’s low spirits, Hou Qi didn’t know how to console her.

Nie Weiguo was truly excessive. While he was known for his scheming and had a poor reputation in the circle, he had powerful backing – otherwise, he couldn’t have become the deputy director of the design institute.

Reportedly, Nie Weiguo was about to be promoted to director.

“Stay away from him in the future. I see you’re close with Teacher Ning, and Nie Weiguo won’t dare to go too far.”

Xia Xiaolan nodded obediently.

After leaving the venue, Gong Yang said resentfully: “Director Xia, are we really going to let this slide?”

“What nonsense are you talking about? If I let this slide, wouldn’t I just be waiting to be trampled to death? Did you find out about Nie Weiguo’s reputation from all those people sitting in the back rows?”

After checking that no one was around, Gong Yang lowered his voice: “I heard that Nie Weiguo often appropriates the work of newcomers at the design institute. Most newcomers dare not speak up because someone reported him before, but Nie Weiguo wasn’t punished. Instead, the whistleblower was almost destroyed, so naturally, no one dares to report him anymore.”

Xia Xiaolan pondered: “If even you can easily find out such information, Nie Weiguo’s reputation must truly be terrible. Yet such a person can still attend seminars – it seems no one else wants to uphold justice.”

People stayed out of matters that didn’t concern them. Since Nie Weiguo only appropriated newcomers’ work, it didn’t affect established architects with reputation and status, so no one intervened.

But with everyone turning a blind eye, such a despicable person naturally became more brazen.

Otherwise, how could he become so arrogant step by step, now even daring to challenge Ning Yanfan?

Xia Xiaolan smiled coldly – if no one else would handle it, she would take care of it herself.

While Nie Weiguo’s attacks on others weren’t her concern, using her as a stepping stone was unacceptable.

However, this matter couldn’t be handled by Gong Yang, who lacked the necessary capability.

She stopped talking to Gong Yang as she spotted Liu Fen approaching.

“Xiaolan, how was the meeting?”

“Mom, you were worried about that? I did very well, all the teachers liked me, and I learned quite a lot!”

Xia Xiaolan only shared the good news, and Gong Yang supported her: “Aunt Liu, Director Xia truly did well, all the teachers praised her.”

Liu Fen relaxed and became happy.

Being praised by the seminar teachers proved her daughter had real ability.

Her hopes for Xiaolan had always been to study well and secure a stable, respectable job in the future – this hadn’t changed. The business had its ups and downs, but a job provided a monthly salary, and nothing was more stable than a state-assigned position.

Liu Fen supported Xia Xiaolan in taking out a loan and partnering with Liu Yong for hotel renovations.

But how could someone used to handling million-yuan deals be content with a job earning that small monthly salary?

Even if Xia Xiaolan took a job, it would surely be a stepping stone benefiting her business!

After lunch at Jiangcheng University’s cafeteria, the afternoon session quickly began.

Without Nie Weiguo’s interference, the afternoon meeting went very smoothly.

After the first day’s discussion ended, Xia Xiaolan returned to the guest house and called Pengcheng.

The first day was chaired by Mao Kangshan, while Ning Yanfan would chair the second day’s meeting, with Ning Xue also having a speaking opportunity.

After drawing attention on the first day, Xia Xiaolan quietly took notes for the next two days.

She occasionally asked questions, which were usually answered.

Her docile behavior these two days made Nie Weiguo dismiss her even more. With Ning Yanfan not confronting him, Nie Weiguo lay low for two days before becoming smug again.

By noon on the third day, the seminar was about to conclude successfully.

As architects headed toward the conference room, someone was distributing flyers in the hallway.

Everyone was forcefully handed several flyers.

When they saw the contents, everyone’s mouths gaped open with strange expressions.

Xia Xiaolan and Teacher Hou entered together and were also given flyers.

“This is…”

Hou Qi was incredulous.

Xia Xiaolan let out a soft “Ah”: “I wonder if Senior Nie knows who’s spreading these rumors about him?”

Hou Qi’s doubtful gaze swept over Xia Xiaolan. Truthfully, she had thought Xia Xiaolan was behind this since she was the only one who had recently feuded with Nie Weiguo.

But seeing Xia Xiaolan’s bewildered face, Hou Qi dismissed the thought.

Hou Qi knew Xia Xiaolan’s whereabouts these past two days, and after spending time together, she found Xia Xiaolan to be a very likable young woman. How could a girl her age have the courage to do such a thing?

“…Xiao Xia, it seems evil deeds will meet their punishment. We’re in for quite a show.”

Xia Xiaolan expressed disbelief, “Are the things in the flyer true? I never imagined Senior Nie was such a person – he’s completely disgraced Huaqing.”

Hou Qi thought these words sounded strangely familiar.

Hadn’t Nie Weiguo said something similar to Xia Xiaolan in the cafeteria two days ago?