Fang Ruoshi met Ji Chuyun's eyes, eyes that held a flicker of disdain and cold rage. He realized—this woman wasn't joking.
"I'm sorry, I was wrong before. I shouldn't have ignored the way you treated me… Actually, actually I liked you too. I just felt I wasn't good enough for someone like you, so I distanced myself on purpose."
Ji Chuyun let out a laugh. "You liked me? Please, you mean you liked my money, right? Fang, did you not hear me tell you to kneel?"
"Stop it," Fang Ruoshi frowned slightly. "I've already apologized. I promise I'll treat you well from now on, be loyal to you."
Ji Chuyun stood up. "You won't kneel? Fine, then get out. Let's pretend we never met today."
"You…" Fang Ruoshi's face flushed red in anger. "What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Can't understand plain speech?" Ji Chuyun turned her back to him. "Listen carefully. I like obedient men. If you want my help to get into the research institute, you'll do as I say."
"Otherwise—forget the institute—I'll make sure you can't survive a single day in Shen City. Believe me?"
Looking into her eyes, cold and bloodthirsty, Fang Ruoshi finally realized—she wasn't bluffing. She was deadly serious.
From the moment he agreed to Lin Muyao's proposal, escape was no longer an option. Ji Chuyun would never let him go.
All the disdain and rejection she'd endured from him in the past—she would make him pay back tenfold.
Fang Ruoshi had once thought Ji Chuyun was simply upset over being rejected, that she just wanted to give him a taste of humility before settling into a peaceful life with him—after all, she liked him.
But only much later, when he was covered in bruises, tormented to the point of wanting to die, did he finally realize just how wrong—how fatally wrong—he had been.
With Du Yifan and Fang Ruoshi joining the research institute, the tension within Han Weicheng's team began to settle.
The institute's two major research projects were both progressing vigorously, though neither had yet produced any groundbreaking breakthroughs.
Spring passed into winter. In the blink of an eye, a year went by. Shu Lanzhou successfully graduated from university and received her graduate admission notice in the same major.
Ding Yuejiao was also staying for graduate studies, and the two arranged to register together. At the registration desk, they bumped into Lin Muyao.
Word had it she, too, had received a graduate admission—into Cell Biology, still under Professor Han Weicheng.
"Senior Shu, what a coincidence!" Lin Muyao said smugly. "You graduated with a double major. Why didn't you switch back to your original field?"
"Oh, I get it—it's because the Mu family wouldn't let you, right? Seems like Professor Han was right after all. You're just a tool chosen by the Mu family. No autonomy whatsoever!"
Shu Lanzhou ignored her and instead turned to Ding Yuejiao. "I heard your team is throwing a celebration for your final thesis publication from the research project?"
"That's right!" Lin Muyao puffed up proudly. "Thinking of coming? Too bad—I'm not inviting you!"
"Shu Lanzhou, feeling regretful now, aren't you? Leaving Professor Han for Professor Mu might've seemed like a good move, but what's your future really going to be?"
"Everyone knows Mu Medical, but no one remembers Shu Lanzhou. But me? I'm different. Professor Han cares about nurturing his students. I'm only going to shine brighter in the medical field."
"So bright, it'll blind you. From now on, I'll be someone you'll never catch up to—no matter how hard you try, you'll always be beneath me. Understand?"
So confident?
Shu Lanzhou smiled. "So, when's the celebration?"
"Hah! You're not seriously thinking of coming?" Lin Muyao scoffed.
"Fine, I'll humor you. It's this Friday, right after we submit our findings for the awards. But you won't even get in. Want me to send you the location anyway? See if they'll even let you through the door! Hahaha…"
She walked away, her face full of mockery.
"She's so full of herself!" Ding Yuejiao stamped her foot.
Shu Lanzhou chuckled. "Why get angry?"
She raised her voice slightly, calling after Lin Muyao: "Lin Muyao, I'll make sure to send you a gift on that day. You'd better accept it properly!"
"Who wants your stupid gift!" Lin Muyao snapped back, glaring over her shoulder.
"You're trying to butter me up now? Too late! No matter what you offer, I'm not helping you. Just give it up!"
Shu Lanzhou laughed and pulled Ding Yuejiao along. "Too bad it's on Friday. I was hoping they'd at least enjoy one last peaceful meal."
The people around Lin Muyao looked confused. "What did she mean by that? 'Enjoy a meal'? What is she planning?"
"Don't worry about it," Lin Muyao waved it off. "She's just putting on an act, trying to save face. My results are out, my work is up for an award—whatever she tries now is too late!"
She didn't take Shu Lanzhou's words seriously at all.
"Shu Lanzhou, how can you stay so calm?" Ding Yuejiao huffed. "That Lin Muyao is so arrogant now. I heard from the seniors she's practically walking all over people at the institute."
"She's got some results, and Professor Han shielding her… if she actually wins that award, we'll never hear the end of it. Her nose'll be in the clouds forever!"
"Don't worry," Shu Lanzhou said with a sly smile. "She won't win."
"How do you know that?" Ding Yuejiao asked, eyes wide.
"I heard most of the judges are old classmates of Professor Han. As long as her work's halfway decent, even with flaws, she might still—"
"Han Weicheng's influence doesn't stretch that far," Shu Lanzhou interrupted with a confident grin. "Alright, don't stress about it. Let's go register. We're meeting Dong Anlan and the others for dinner later!"
A month ago, Dong Anlan had gotten engaged to Ke Beichen shortly after receiving her graduation certificate, which had finally made Luo Jialin give up for good.
Zhang He, after completing her internship, received a formal offer from Mu Medical. After careful thought, she accepted—though she did request a transfer to a different department. A wise move.
That evening, four close friends—roommates of five years—gathered at a hotpot restaurant to celebrate graduation and the start of new chapters in their lives.
They were excited. Shu Lanzhou and Ding Yuejiao had gotten into grad school. Zhang He had landed a job. And Dong Anlan had both a job and a fiancé.
"Anlan, congratulations!" Shu Lanzhou raised her glass. "You're the first of us to get engaged. Wishing you happiness always!"
Dong Anlan beamed, raising her own glass. "If you want, you could be next! I think Senior Mu is more than ready!"
"Don't tease me! Drink!" Shu Lanzhou's cheeks flushed red as she downed the glass in one go.
Maybe it was the joy in the air, or just the mood of celebration—but all four girls drank a bit too much.
Dong Anlan called a driver to send Zhang He home—she now lived in a dorm provided by Mu Medical.
The other three had their boyfriends come pick them up.
As each of her friends got into their cars, Shu Lanzhou turned and flung herself into Mu Side's arms. "Hug!"
"Are you drunk?" Mu Side cupped her face gently. "How much did you drink?"
Shu Lanzhou's face was red as a tomato. "I'm not drunk! Don't talk nonsense, hmph…"
She wriggled out of his embrace and stumbled forward, half-walking, half-skipping.
"I haven't felt this happy in so long! Nothing bad happened this time… They're all different from before. Everyone's doing well. Everything's getting better!"
"Slow down! Be careful!" Mu Side laughed softly, watching her fondly. "What, have you lived their lives before?"