Shu Lanzhou didn't learn about this until half a month later.
The reason was simple—more and more students started attending their acupuncture class, and many of them seemed to be there specifically for her.
She wasn't teaching many classes these days and often assisted Mu Yaaning as a teaching assistant when helping students in class.
At the end of another session, Mu Yaaning left early due to hospital duties, leaving Shu Lanzhou to clean up the teaching materials on her own.
She was just about to finish when a sweet-looking, cute girl rushed over to help.
"Senior, let me give you a hand." The girl moved quickly, tidying up the materials in no time. "I'm Zhao Huanhuan. Here you go, Senior!"
Shu Lanzhou gave her a gentle smile. "Hello, Huanhuan. I'm Shu Lanzhou."
"I know you!" Zhao Huanhuan walked out of the classroom with her.
"I've heard your story. You're so brave and strong. If it were me being bullied like that, I probably would've broken down long ago!"
Shu Lanzhou thought to herself—"Broken down" is putting it lightly. In my previous life, I paid with my life.
"It's all in the past," Shu Lanzhou smiled lightly. "I don't think about it anymore. Life is good now."
Zhao Huanhuan skipped ahead cheerfully. "I can tell—Senior, you have this light around you now!"
"You sure know how to talk." Shu Lanzhou was slightly embarrassed by her praise.
Zhao Huanhuan ran back and hugged her arm.
"Senior, I was actually transferred here. My original major was Cell Biology, but my score wasn't high enough, so I had to switch to Acupuncture."
"But don't get me wrong—I don't look down on acupuncture at all! In fact, because of you, I've grown to really love it. Since we have plenty of time in university, I also want to pursue a dual major, just like you!"
"Who do you think would be the best professor to choose?"
Before Shu Lanzhou could ask more about her plans, someone blocked their way.
"Shu Lanzhou, I've found out the truth about Huang Tiantian. It was all a trap set by Lin Muyao. She wanted to drive a wedge between us and make me hate you!"
Du Yifan appeared, cleaned up and well-dressed—clearly he had put effort into his appearance this time.
But still, he looked ugly. Not because of his face, but because of the filthiness of his soul. That ugliness seeped through from the inside out.
"So?" Shu Lanzhou looked at him mockingly. "What do you think I should do about that?"
The sarcasm and contempt in her eyes stabbed Du Yifan like a knife.
He swallowed his discomfort and humiliation and forced himself to speak.
"I know it was foolish to dream you'd ever be my girlfriend—I'm done with that. I just want a chance to make amends, to make up for the pain I caused you."
Shu Lanzhou picked up on his true intention immediately. "Don't tell me… you want to join our research team? Stand on my side to compete with Han Weicheng's team?"
"That's it, isn't it? I knew you still cared about what we had. You want me to support you unconditionally, to help you take down Lin Muyao!" Du Yifan's face lit up with excitement as he reached out to grab her hand.
"Hey! Can't you just talk without getting all handsy?" Zhao Huanhuan shoved him aside. "Don't you know how to respect boundaries? If her boyfriend saw this, he'd misunderstand!"
Du Yifan's expression darkened and he was about to lash out.
But Shu Lanzhou didn't give him the chance. She pulled Zhao Huanhuan close protectively and looked Du Yifan in the eyes, calm and composed.
"Besides you, who else wants to join our team?"
Du Yifan didn't catch the underlying meaning of her words. He thought she had been waiting for this moment—forcing them to come crawling back to her.
He quickly responded, "Fang Ruoshi too! He got played by Lin Muyao and didn't get into graduate school. But you know he's always been a top student—even with just a bachelor's degree, he could still help you."
"Give him one more year, and he'll definitely get into grad school next time. With the two of us, you won't have to worry about anything. Our research will definitely outpace theirs!"
Where did this man get such confidence?
How could Du Yifan always be so inexplicably self-assured?
If their research depended on these two clowns, the team would be doomed.
Shu Lanzhou replied with a knowing "Oh," her tone flat. "I thought so. Call Fang Ruoshi over too. I don't want to repeat myself."
"Yes, yes, I'll go get him!" Du Yifan was ecstatic. He knew it—Shu Lanzhou would never really reject them.
She only pushed him away before because he hadn't gotten to the bottom of the Huang Tiantian situation and didn't hate Lin Muyao enough.
Now that she knew he loathed Lin Muyao, she would surely want him on her side—why wouldn't she?
He turned and waved at Fang Ruoshi in the distance.
Unlike Du Yifan's shamelessness, Fang Ruoshi still had a shred of dignity. He hadn't dared to come directly, waiting for Du Yifan to plead his case first.
He hadn't expected Shu Lanzhou to give in so easily. So she really is just a soft-hearted, foolish girl who forgets pain the moment the wound scabs over. Has she really forgotten everything that happened before?
Someone like Du Yifan—what help could he possibly be? He'd only drag the team down, hanging around to soak up experience.
As Fang Ruoshi walked up, he looked at the radiant girl in front of him, jealousy flaring in his chest.
They both came from humble beginnings. He had worked just as hard as she had, yet she was now shining so brightly.
She had mentors who valued her, seniors who protected her. Rumor had it she was even dating Mu Sidé—the eldest son of the Mu family. How could she be worthy of that?
Oh right, the Mu family had even taken her in as an apprentice, making her the heir to the Mu School of Medicine.
Even though Mu's Traditional Medicine and Acupuncture weren't particularly impressive, and it was unlikely she'd make groundbreaking contributions in the medical field, she would at least live comfortably for the rest of her life.
And with the Mu family backing her, her social standing would soar far above people like him, still scraping at the bottom.
Fang Ruoshi envied her current life—but he also looked down on her.
To him, she was a spineless woman who gave up her original aspirations and flattered the Mu family just to survive.
Settling for research that would never amount to much, throwing away everything she once stood for. Did she really not regret it?
What happened to the dreams she used to tell him about?
Didn't she once say she wanted to shine in the medical field, to help advance her country's healthcare?
And now?
That fleeting look of disdain in Fang Ruoshi's eyes didn't escape Shu Lanzhou's notice.
She looked up and smiled at the two men in front of her.
"Seniors, even now, deep down, you still look down on me, don't you? A dumb country girl like me couldn't possibly deserve the honor of you lowering your noble heads to ask for my help."
She didn't give them a chance to respond. Her smile vanished, replaced by a cold, piercing glare.
"Du Yifan, the only reason you're willing to humble yourself now is because you're bitter. Bitter about being used by Lin Muyao, and now you want revenge."
"But Lin Muyao's doing better than ever—she has her mother and Han Weicheng backing her. Even with the truth about Huang Tiantian, she's still untouchable."
"You want to join my team not because you care about me—but because you want to use me. You think I hate her and will help you get your revenge."
Du Yifan gritted his teeth. "Don't you hate her too?"