Shu Lanzhou was in high spirits. Halfway through dinner, she lifted her glass.
"Yiming, there's something I need to apologize for. When I approached you for that small research project, it wasn't really to pad my résumé—it was to use you against Lin Muyao."
She blurted it all out in one breath, afraid that if she paused even for a second, she'd lose the courage to speak.
"Lin Muyao's paper—was purely theoretical. She never actually conducted any experiments, let alone did any real research."
"That topic was actually an old assignment from Professor Han Weicheng, handed out years ago. It was so minor that no one paid much attention to it."
"To get it done, we all just used theoretical analysis to simulate the experiment and barely managed to turn in our reports."
"I was shocked when I saw she'd used it as the basis for a published paper. I knew something was off the moment I read it. To verify my suspicion, I came to you."
"My original intention was only to prove she'd faked the research, get evidence to embarrass her, and expose Professor Han's negligence as a mentor. I never expected you to achieve such a breakthrough."
"Yiming, I'm sorry. I really am. For using you like that. This drink is my apology."
She raised the glass and downed it in one go.
The alcohol burned as it went down, and her face flushed bright red from the sting.
Yi Ming looked slightly annoyed—but couldn't bring himself to stay mad.
"How did you use me? You handed me a golden opportunity and even ran around helping with the publication. Now you're helping me enter it into a competition!"
"Professor He said the experiment was comprehensive enough to qualify me as a legitimate researcher. I've got one foot in the door now—and that's all thanks to you."
Shu Lanzhou grinned cheekily. "As long as you're not mad. Don't worry—leave the rest to me. If nothing unexpected happens, you'll probably even win an award."
"Then I'll be waiting." Yiming lifted his glass in return and drank it.
Something else seemed to sink into his stomach alongside the sharp heat of the liquor.
"If there's ever another opportunity like this," Wu Cheng chimed in smoothly, "feel free to use me. I'd be honored."
Shen Mo echoed him. "Same here. Seriously, feel free to use me more."
That one line had everyone laughing.
And more than that—it eased the tension in the room. Wu Cheng and the others finally understood what Shu Lanzhou had been after with all her maneuvering. Their doubts had been cleared.
They'd been worried she might have ulterior motives.
Shu Lanzhou ended up drinking too much. She hadn't planned on it, but everyone was warm and enthusiastic, and her mood was so good—it was hard to say no.
Just as the group was getting ready to leave, the private room door was flung open and Han Weicheng barged in, fuming.
"Shu Lanzhou, you ungrateful traitor! Helping outsiders to attack your own junior? Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?"
He was furious, lashing out with no regard for decency.
"I deeply regret ever accepting you as my student. You've thoroughly disappointed me!"
Mu Side moved to step forward, but Shu Lanzhou caught his arm and stopped him.
She was clearly tipsy, her steps unsteady, but her tongue was still sharp:
"Hic..." She let out a hiccup. "I haven't been your student for a long time, so why are you yelling?"
"Ohhh, I get it. Professor Han, you're embarrassed, aren't you? Because Yiming's paper made you lose face?"
"Hehe, good! You should be embarrassed. What, were you hoping Lin Muyao would bring you glory? Her? A girl who plagiarizes research and climbs up by stepping on others? Dream on!"
She shot Han Weicheng a scornful look, then stumbled and swayed on her feet.
"Careful!" Mu Side rushed forward to catch her, glaring coldly at Han Weicheng.
"Watch your words. Shu Lanzhou isn't someone you can insult at will. Say one more thing, and I won't be polite."
"You—" Han Weicheng was always one to protect his image. Selfish and spineless, he'd never dare stand up to someone stronger.
"I won't waste time arguing with you all. A bunch of drunken students acting out of line—this is utterly disgraceful. Watch yourselves."
He turned his gaze to Yiming.
"Yiming, this project was originally my idea. I'm glad you've made some progress. If you run into any issues with the follow-up, feel free to consult me."
"As for Shu Lanzhou stealing the team's research—I won't press charges. She's still limited in what she knows. I hope you'll consider that."
He assumed Yiming had only just started and hadn't actually achieved much yet.
Shameless old bastard!
Before Yiming could respond, Han Weicheng turned to leave.
He'd only come to stir up trouble, to drive a wedge between Yiming and Shu Lanzhou while putting himself in a favorable light.
"Stop right there!" Shu Lanzhou shouted, her voice sharp. "I'm not done talking. Who said you could leave?"
She was clearly drunk.
Han Weicheng ignored her—but found his way blocked.
It was Ke Beichen and Wu Cheng. Tall and imposing, one on each side, they completely covered the doorway.
"What's the rush?" Ke Beichen crossed his arms and looked coldly at Han Weicheng. "Let's hear what she has to say."
Say your piece, then walk off? Not that easy.
Shu Lanzhou swayed her way in front of Han Weicheng and looked him straight in the eyes.
"I'm no traitor. You and I haven't been on the same team in ages. And if I'm a 'dog' like you say—then you're an olddog."
Everyone in the room sucked in a breath.
Damn. The girl was drunk and fearless—cursing out her professor like that?
But... it was so satisfying. That bastard deserved every word.
He Sixin burst out laughing. "Couldn't agree more."
"Right?" Shu Lanzhou lifted her chin. "I'm not lying. Everything I said is true. And as for your accusation that I stole a team project—also wrong."
"I noticed something was off with Lin Muyao's data and went to Yiming to verify it. Turns out, he was already writing a rebuttal to her paper."
"All I did was suggest he hold off—finish the experiments first, then use hard evidence to slap her in the face."
"And it worked. Because otherwise, no one would've found out that you and your student used fake theoretical data instead of real experiments to win fame."
"It's shameless. Absolutely shameless!"
"Hehe... Professor Han," she added with a hiccup, "don't you think I'm amazing? I exposed your little scheme. You and your student, fooling the public for your own gain."
She swayed again. "Sorry... I drank a bit much. But I'm not drunk. I'm really not."
"Don't think you can yell at me just because I've been drinking. I'm not alone now... someone's got my back. So you better stop!"
Han Weicheng's face turned green, then white.
"This was just a minor project. None of you did any proper experiments at the time—so what Lin Muyao did wasn't wrong!"
"The truth is, you couldn't handle leaving the team and picked a fight to make her look bad. You're manipulative, Shu Lanzhou. I can't believe I ever taught you!"
"You're shameless!" Shu Lanzhou put her hands on her hips. "Even more shameless than before! Yes, it was a small project. But Lin Muyao shouldn't have used that kind of paper to gain fame or enter competitions."
"And you—after realizing its potential—tried to poach Yiming for yourself."
"Don't tell me... you were planning to claim the credit for his work? You keep emphasizing it was your project—so you can steal his success later, right?"
"Professor Han, you really have no shame!"