Shu Lanzhou left with a smile, while Han Weicheng stormed off with a grim face.
One headed toward the academic building, the other to the faculty quarters.
That afternoon, the results of the freshman mentor selection were released. As soon as Zhao Huanhuan saw the list on the campus website, she immediately informed Shu Lanzhou.
Relieved, Shu Lanzhou ran to the academic building to find Mu Yaning.
Just as she reached the door of the academic office, she heard Han Weicheng's furious voice.
"Did you all mess something up? How could Chen Qinghe have more students than me? I only got a handful—how's that possible?"
Mu Yaning gave a faint, cold laugh. "So you're suggesting the school tampered with the system?"
"That's absolutely not the case!" Gao Chen looked helpless. "I personally monitored the IT department over the past couple of days. I watched the numbers change in real-time—there was no data manipulation."
"Besides, there's no reason to fake it," he added, glancing at Han Weicheng. "Professor Han, honestly, from a moral standpoint, I didn't support you staying on either. But after a series of meetings with the university leadership, the decision was made to give you one last chance."
"Professor Mu and the others originally opposed the idea. As you know, she's the vice principal, and along with Professor Cheng, they both have voting rights regarding your dismissal."
"But because Shu Lanzhou is now under Professor Mu's guidance, she recused herself from voting to avoid any conflict of interest. That's the only reason you weren't immediately expelled."
"But facts are facts. Your behavior has caused widespread outrage. Most of the students don't want you as a mentor anymore, and the school has to respect their wishes."
"Fine, fine!" Han Weicheng was seething, clutching his chest as anger surged through him. "Don't forget the new academic year is just around the corner. Do you have any idea how many students enroll each year because of my reputation? Aren't you afraid—"
"Oh, give it a rest!" Chen Qinghe finally interrupted, unable to listen anymore.
"You think this century-old university will suffer enrollment issues just because you're gone? Don't flatter yourself."
The two principals nodded in agreement. "Enrollment is the admissions office's responsibility. Since you're no longer employed here, Professor Han, there's no need for you to worry about it."
"If you have so much time on your hands, why not focus on figuring out your next steps in life?" Mu Yaning gave him a pointed look.
"My suggestion? Just retire early—spare the public from your nonsense."
Chen Qinghe added, "Seriously. With that kind of irresponsible attitude, I doubt you could be a competent doctor either. Retirement might be your best option."
They weren't holding back at all—offering their criticism to his face, without the slightest courtesy.
But who could blame them? Han Weicheng had long been notorious for throwing his weight around on campus, always expecting special treatment because of his reputation. His arrogance was outrageous.
Now, he was finally reaping what he sowed.
Still, the two principals looked grim. Even with the situation resolved, there was no sense of relief.
After all, this was an internal scandal, and it inevitably tarnished the school's reputation.
"Professor Han, the university will soon release an official statement regarding the disciplinary decision. You should be prepared," Gao Chen reminded him. "For the sake of the school's honor, we cannot remain inactive."
…
Han Weicheng had been avoiding Luo Jialin's messages because he didn't want to compromise too soon. He didn't believe the school would really fire him.
So when he received the call from the administration, citing mentor selection numbers as the basis for their decision, he immediately assumed it was just a polite excuse—a way for the school to offer him a graceful exit.
That kind of excuse might fool someone like Mu Yaning, he thought.
What he didn't expect was—this time, it wasn't an excuse at all.
The school genuinely intended to respect the students' choice and kick him out.
How dare they!
His face turned ashen, his eyes full of cold fury as he glared at Mu Yaning.
"Heh... After more than twenty years, you finally couldn't hold back, huh? The so-called virtuous and upstanding Mu family—it's all just a farce."
"You've been waiting for this day, haven't you? I should've known when you ignored so many outstanding students and chose Shu Lanzhou instead—it was never about talent. It was always about me!"
"Principals, can't you see? Everything that's happened to me was orchestrated by her. She doesn't care about the school's reputation—she just wants to destroy me!"
"Mu Yaning, you don't deserve the Mu name. I was Elder Mu's most prized student back in the day. If he knew what you've done to me—would you even be able to face him?"
"Shut your mouth." Mu Yaning, furious, slapped him hard across the face, jerking his head to the side.
"You think you have the right to even mention Elder Mu? That man showed you mercy and gave you a second chance—that's the only reason you achieved anything. And what did you do with it?"
"You've dug your own grave, step by step. Who do you blame now? Me, for taking Shu Lanzhou as my student? Or your own underperforming students?"
"Han Weicheng, everything you're suffering now is the result of your own character flaws. You can't blame anyone else—least of all the Mu family. You're not even worthy of speaking our name."
The Mu family had always been constrained by its reputation. Even when things got ugly, they couldn't act too aggressively.
Back when the family faced trouble, Elder Mu had insisted on giving Han Weicheng the choice to stay or leave.
Mu Yayan, the eldest sister, had gone to ask Han Weicheng personally. But no one expected that after seeing him, she'd get into a car accident that very same day.
The engagement was called off, and when she finally woke up, all she said was, "He broke it off. Dad, just let him go. Don't make things harder for him."
Later, she went abroad while pregnant and never returned.
The Mu family kept their word. They never gave Han Weicheng a hard time again. With the prestige of being Elder Mu and Professor Gu's joint protégé, he stayed on at the university and quickly built his own reputation.
Mu Yaning hated him. She always believed her sister's accident was tied to him somehow, but Mu Yayan never spoke about it, nor did she let anyone else confront him.
Years passed. The Mu family transformed its business, and its success grew. The family-run hospital remained their last stronghold, and Mu Yaning devoted herself to preserving their medical legacy.
She wasn't as gifted as her older siblings, and mastering the family's medical teachings had been a long struggle. Eventually, Elder Mu had to bring Mu Side back from abroad to teach personally.
Everyone in the Mu family was focused solely on medicine—on leaving their mark in the field. They had no time to waste on Han Weicheng.
Later, Mu Yaning set her sights on Shu Lanzhou as a disciple, only for Han Weicheng to snatch her away first. Mu Yaning thought it was over.
She never expected fate to bring it all back around like this.
Everything that happened—was destiny. Han Weicheng had brought this on himself. He had no one to blame.
Under Mu Yaning's blazing eyes, filled with rage and deep-seated hatred, Han Weicheng finally lost his bravado.
He realized that while the Mu family might hesitate to strike because of their name, it didn't mean they wouldn't strike at all.
He couldn't afford to provoke her any further.
"You're right… I'm not worthy of invoking Elder Mu's name," he said, his voice full of regret. "I let him down. I failed to guide and discipline my students. I'm not worthy. I don't deserve to be a teacher."
His sudden change of tone stunned everyone in the room.
It was as if that slap had knocked some sense into him.
Han Weicheng bowed slightly to the two principals. "I've let the school down. I've let all of you down. I accept the school's decision."
Then he turned and walked out of the office.
But the look of remorse on his face quickly faded—replaced by a faint, mocking smile.