As soon as these words were spoken, all eyes turned to Chris.
Deputy Minister Xu was somewhat puzzled. Of course, he knew who the young woman before him was.
But in his recollection, this matter wasn’t supposed to be her responsibility.
While he understood the situation internally, he couldn’t voice it so bluntly.
He instinctively glanced at Chi Heng. "Perhaps you should discuss this further among yourselves?"
After all, it wasn’t the Chinese side that needed help here—he wasn’t in a hurry.
If Deputy Minister Xu wasn’t rushing, Jiang Si certainly wasn’t either.
She checked the time—it was already over half an hour past the expected end of the workday.
Jiang Si said, "Let’s call it a day and continue another time?"
"No need. I’ll take full responsibility for this matter," Chi Heng declared.
At his signal, his entourage promptly produced the contract that had been drafted earlier.
Chi Heng’s move was undeniably a slap in the face to Chris.
In her panic, Chris blurted out, "Chi, you can’t just hand such an important project to her because of your close relationship! I strongly oppose this!"
"Chris, please control your emotions," Chi Heng said, his expression visibly darkening.
"This decision was made by your father."
"I know, but he doesn’t understand the specifics. You’ve all been deceived by her!"
Originally, Jiang Si hadn’t planned to intervene, but now the other party was practically taunting her to her face.
And even using a word as severe as "deceived."
"Miss Chris, if I recall correctly, today is our first meeting. I’m curious—where did you get such an idea?"
"From hearsay!"
What?
Hearsay?
If she hadn’t been speaking Chinese, everyone would’ve doubted their ears.
"That’s right." Chris, no fool, immediately pointed to the people she’d encountered at the state-run store that morning.
She even repeated the rumors she’d overheard.
"I think their suspicions are perfectly reasonable. Miss Jiang is so young and has never worked in this field before."
"Yet her design proposal is so polished—it’s only natural to assume someone’s guiding her behind the scenes."
As if that wasn’t enough, she added, "And her design concept and overall proposal feel oddly familiar, like I’ve seen them somewhere before."
In Chris’s imagination, her words would surely win everyone’s agreement.
After all, the academic world prioritized seniority.
Which renowned architectural master hadn’t made their mark only in their thirties or forties?
How could a complete novice like Jiang Si possibly achieve this?
That’s why she’d stepped forward without hesitation to voice her opposition!
As for Jiang Si’s eloquent presentation that morning—well, that wasn’t hard to explain.
She’d had two weeks to prepare. Memorizing answers wouldn’t be difficult.
But to her surprise, the crowd’s expressions darkened instantly.
Most of those present today were experts in architectural design.
Admittedly, they’d arrived with doubts.
But design, like mathematics, was black and white—you either knew it or you didn’t!
No amount of rote memorization could fake expertise.
Moreover, what exactly was this "Chris" implying with her last remark?
Was she insinuating that Chinese designers plagiarized?
Even if she wasn’t accusing them directly, in an era where collective honor outweighed everything, Chris’s words were like poking a hornet’s nest.
Just as Professor Li was about to retort, Jiang Si interjected, "Professor Li, let me handle this. Since there are so many reporters here today, they can bear witness."
But before calling for witnesses, there was one thing she wanted clarified.
"Miss Chris, do your words just now represent your personal opinion, or that of the French Embassy?"
Chris froze.
She certainly couldn’t speak for France.
And besides—"It wasn’t me who said it. It was them."
"Really?" Jiang Si wasn’t convinced.
When Chris had made that final remark, the designers from the institute had nearly jumped out of their seats in agitation.
Sure enough, as soon as she spoke, the individuals in question hung their heads in shame.
"We may have muttered a few things in private, but we never accused Comrade Jiang of plagiarism."
Chris shrugged. "Then perhaps I misheard."
"That’s irrelevant. Just answer—are you speaking for yourself or the embassy?"
Cornered, Chris muttered, "Myself…"
"What a coincidence—so am I," Jiang Si said.
Official channels required diplomacy.
But person-to-person? She was ready to go all out.
"Miss Chris, in your culture, you may not yet understand the concept of 'great strides from a solid foundation.'"
"You assume my youth means I couldn’t possibly design this—that’s a flaw in your perception."
"I don’t understand it, but I respect it."
The subtext was clear: she might as well have stamped the word "ignorant" on Chris’s forehead.
"However, designers speak through their blueprints. If you have any doubts about my work, I’m happy to address them."
"Coincidentally, I brought all my drafts today, including the earliest versions."
As she spoke, Assistant Qi handed over Jiang Si’s briefcase.
Professor Li and other officials from the Ministry of Construction added, "Comrade Jiang completed these drafts independently at the ministry. Everyone there can attest to that."
A single blueprint proved nothing.
But from the project’s inception to now, Jiang Si had revised her designs over twenty times.
Many adjustments were even made on-site during construction.
This alone was enough to humiliate Chris, but Jiang Si wasn’t finished.
"Miss Chris, you said my design felt familiar. Could you specify where you’ve seen it before?"
"Which project? Which details resemble mine? Please point them out."
This…
Chris was speechless.
She’d only said it offhandedly.
She hadn’t expected Jiang Si to seize on it.
As the atmosphere grew tense, embassy staff attempted to intervene.
But the moment they opened their mouths, Jiang Si cut them off.
"Excuse me, this is a private matter between Miss Chris and myself. Kindly refrain from interrupting!"
To ensure they understood, Chi Heng translated her words.
The staff exchanged glances.
Since Jiang Si had labeled it "private," they could hardly interfere.
Left with no choice, Chris stammered, "My apologies. Perhaps I misremembered."
"That can’t be!"
Chris blinked. "What can’t be?"
Jiang Si showed no mercy, clicking her tongue audibly in front of everyone.
"So young, yet already mishearing and misremembering things?"
Her tone dripped with disdain.
The message was unmistakable—she might as well have asked, "Are you mentally sound?" outright.
"You—!"
Chris had been in Huaguo for some time now. As the daughter of an ambassador stationed there, she was accustomed to being treated with respect everywhere she went.
When had anyone ever pointed at one tree while scolding another in her presence?
She couldn’t quite articulate the phrase, but that was the general idea.
Furious, her eyes immediately reddened with anger.
Jiang Si, however, remained completely unfazed.
So what if she was the ambassador’s daughter? As if Jiang Si had no backing of her own.
Besides, even if this matter were brought before the United Nations, justice would still be on her side!
Under the skeptical gazes of the crowd, Chris felt both humiliated and enraged.
Yet she couldn’t argue her way out of it, nor could she prove any of her claims.
Seething, she was ready to storm off on the spot.
But Jiang Si wasn’t about to let her off so easily. She reached out and stopped her.
"Miss Chris, isn’t it true that Gaul is renowned for its emphasis on banquet etiquette? Wouldn’t leaving like this be rather inappropriate?"
"What more do you want?"
"Nothing much. You started this, and I’d hate for it to end unresolved."
Jiang Si cut straight to the point. "Apologize!"
For your ignorance, for your arrogance, and most of all—for your prejudice!
No matter how unwilling Chris was,
under mounting pressure from all sides, the matter finally came to an end with her offering an apology.
