Jonathan left the hospital, walking slowly as his anger gradually subsided. He couldn’t let anger control his emotions.

Heidi’s suicide had caught everyone off guard. As before, from a friend’s perspective, Jonathan was worried about Heidi… but now, he should be more concerned about Ning Xue. He pondered Mrs. Dawson’s words – those threats seemed laughable, but perhaps Mrs. Dawson could follow through.

America wasn’t truly fair. Nowhere in the world was.

Although Mrs. Dawson was merely a beauty pageant trophy wife, her husband, Mond Dawson, was—

Jonathan quickened his pace, deciding to find Ning Xue.

But Ning Xue wasn’t in the library or at her residence. Someone told Jonathan that Xia Xiaolan had invited her out.

Jonathan was surprised. Xia Xiaolan had returned from China.

Was this why Mrs. Dawson was particularly angry earlier?

But Xia Xiaolan and Ning Xue didn’t interact much usually.

Perhaps Heidi’s situation had given them something to talk about. Jonathan followed the directions given to him and found Ning Xue passed out drunk on the table.

Xia Xiaolan, who had once out drunk countless clients, had overestimated her current alcohol tolerance.

Finding Scholar Ning too rigid while sober, she had gotten Ning Xue drunk and had quite a few drinks herself.

Even drunk, Ning Xue neither acted wild nor became talkative… The ice flower remained an ice flower, much to Xia Xiaolan’s disappointment. All that alcohol wasted.

“Jonathan, you’re here! Perfect timing – I was wondering how to get Ning Xue home. You’re her knight in shining armor, can I entrust her to you?”

Xia Xiaolan suppressed a hiccup, feeling somewhat tipsy herself.

Jonathan supported his drunk girlfriend: “I think I need to take both of you home. You’re in no condition to drive! What made you decide to drink? Ning never touches alcohol.”

Jonathan agreed with Ning Xue’s principles.

He had once invited Ning Xue to a bar, only to be firmly rejected and lectured instead.

If it was for architecture’s sake, then fine, don’t drink!

Yet here was Ning Xue, completely drunk.

Considering America’s sexual openness, Xia Xiaolan became wary of Jonathan. Ning Xue was drunk because she had plied her with alcohol. If Jonathan took advantage… Well, Jonathan seemed reliable, but you never know someone’s true nature. Not every young man had the self-control of her husband Zhou Cheng.

“Let’s take Ning Xue home first, then I’d like to talk with you.”

The topic would naturally be Mrs. Dawson.

Mrs. Dawson’s tantrum had left quite an impression on Xia Xiaolan.

People who acted so brazenly were either brainless or truly had backing. Xia Xiaolan figured Mrs. Dawson was somewhere in between.

Even McCarthy had called Mr. Dawson a “distinguished alumnus.” Xia Xiaolan wanted to understand just how distinguished he was.

Rather than asking Ning Xue, better to ask Jonathan.

After all, Mr. Dawson had almost become Jonathan’s father-in-law…

Jonathan felt uncomfortable under Xia Xiaolan’s gaze.

Someone who could love someone like Ning Xue would naturally have extreme reactions to Xia Xiaolan. She was very beautiful, a hottie even by American standards, but to Jonathan, she seemed like someone who could spawn mischief at any moment.

If Ning Xue couldn’t handle Mrs. Dawson’s words, perhaps Xia Xiaolan could.

Once this thought emerged, Jonathan couldn’t suppress it.

“I wanted to talk with you too. Let’s chat on the way.”

Jonathan placed Ning Xue in the backseat, fastening her seatbelt. Though he didn’t speak much, his movements were gentle, and he looked at Ning Xue with focused attention.

Xia Xiaolan began to reconsider her earlier judgment. She couldn’t assume their feelings weren’t deep just because Jonathan and Ning Xue hadn’t been together long.

These two might not break up after all.

Any couple in the world was the same – all reasons for breaking up could be summed up in three words: “Not enough love.”

Not enough love leads to overthinking.

With sufficient love, they could face all difficulties together.

As Xia Xiaolan’s thoughts wandered, Jonathan suddenly spoke:

“I just came from the hospital. Have you seen Mrs. Dawson at school? She was very angry when she returned to the hospital tonight, saying if she couldn’t drive Professor McCarthy away, she’d drive you and Ning away.”

Only returned to the hospital tonight.

So Mrs. Dawson had waited at the administration office for several hours?

Xia Xiaolan recounted everything that had happened that day, how Mrs. Dawson had thrown a tantrum, how Ning Xue had responded, and how Xia Xiaolan had answered.

Jonathan frowned, “So that’s what happened. You and Ning angered her.”

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t too concerned, “So what if we did? Would you be happy if Ning Xue just stood there while someone pointed fingers and insulted her? Even if Ning Xue could endure it, I couldn’t control my temper. I came to Cornell to study, not to endure discrimination and insults from a crazy woman. She thinks Chinese students don’t deserve to study at Cornell. Well, she’s bound to be disappointed. I’ve already contacted a lawyer. I doubt she has the power to terminate the exchange student program between Cornell University and China’s Ministry of Education?”

The Ministry of Education wouldn’t lose face like that.

Cornell University wouldn’t do such a thing either.

It would severely damage Cornell’s reputation.

“I’m not saying you were wrong. I’m just trying to think of solutions. You’ll return to China in two months, but Ning will continue studying at Cornell. She plans to complete her undergraduate studies, possibly pursue further education, and work at a top architectural firm – this is her plan for the future! I’m worried Mrs. Dawson might interfere with her plans.”

“A beauty pageant contestant like Mrs. Dawson doesn’t have that ability. Arrogant women without real power usually have powerful men behind them. Tell me, just how distinguished an alumnus is Mr. Dawson?”

The question caught Jonathan off guard.

“You don’t know?”

Xia Xiaolan looked innocent, “How would I know? I just returned to campus and went straight to the administration office. I only learned that Heidi’s father was a distinguished Cornell alumnus from Professor McCarthy, and he didn’t finish explaining!”

Jonathan wanted to take back his earlier assessment.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t always plotting mischief – she was truly carefree.

“Heidi’s father is Mond Dawson. Have you heard this name?”

Xia Xiaolan pondered, “It sounds familiar. Give me another hint, and I might remember.”

“…!”

Jonathan was completely speechless, “You don’t know Mond Dawson?”

“It’s quite familiar…”

“You might be more familiar with his work. Mond Dawson, Cornell University’s distinguished alumnus, and founder of Dawson Studio, Heidi’s father – the 1984 Pritzker Architecture Prize winner. Do you remember who Mond Dawson is now?”

Holy crap!

Now she remembered!

The renowned architect Mond Dawson.

Xia Xiaolan’s expression turned sour, “I finally found Heidi’s one redeeming quality – she’s Mond Dawson’s daughter. I don’t think many people in the school even knew that.”

Being low-key was Heidi’s only virtue, haha.