Shu Lanzhou could still vividly remember the exhausted look on Mu Yanning's face back then—the helplessness clouding her eyes.
It was a kind of despair that came from fighting with everything you had, only to realize you couldn't change anything.
Just one glance was enough to send a chill through her heart.
And thinking back now, wasn't she, in some ways, an accomplice in all of it?
The success of Han Weicheng's team had been inseparable from her contributions. And it was precisely that success which had given Han Weicheng the confidence to go up against the Mu family.
Even after being reborn, Shu Lanzhou still couldn't figure out why Han Weicheng hated the Mu family so deeply. Or why the Mu family, in turn, despised Han Weicheng. What kind of irreconcilable grudge lay between them?
"You'll make money." Mu Side simply assumed she was just scared of poverty—hence her fixation on money. His heart ached a little. He reached out and gently clasped her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Shu Lanzhou lowered her head, gazing at their overlapped hands.
Something about this… felt a little off?
Pinching her cheek was one thing—after all, He Sixin and Dong Anlan both liked to do that. But holding hands like this?
Come to think of it, Mu Side sure held her hand a lot.
Did he think of her as a child who needed to be led around?
But… it didn't really feel that way.
And most importantly—she didn't actually dislike the physical closeness.
Before she could untangle her own thoughts, Mu Side had already let go, casually moving his hand away. Shu Lanzhou followed the movement, looking up at his face.
Known as the "dark prince" of their department, Mu Side's looks were no less striking than Ke Beichen's. Maybe Ke Beichen had the upper hand because of his ever-present smile. Otherwise… the title of campus heartthrob might not have been his to claim.
Shu Lanzhou mused idly.
Mu Side was focused intently on driving, his expression serious and composed, as if that momentary hand-holding had been nothing more than a simple gesture of comfort—without any other meaning.
Maybe she really was overthinking it.
Shu Lanzhou silently scolded herself. A man like Mu Side, with his background, could never possibly fall for someone like her.
Everything he did—every gesture of care—was simply an extension of his kindness and compassion. He was a good man.
A very, very good man.
With that thought, Shu Lanzhou became even more determined to make their research succeed.
But things weren't as simple as she imagined.
When they arrived at the Ke residence, they immediately ran into Du Yifan and a few others.
The moment Du Yifan spotted her, his hand froze on the car door. Then, dragging Huang Tiantian with him, he strode over.
"What are you doing here?" Du Yifan's gaze swept over Shu Lanzhou with clear disapproval. "The Ke family isn't the kind of place a country bumpkin like you has any right to associate with."
"Don't say I didn't warn you—high society has its own rules. Especially families like the Kes, who care about propriety above all else. The people coming and going here are all big names in Shen City."
"If you happen to offend someone, not even your ties to the Mu family will be able to save you."
Shu Lanzhou sighed inwardly. Did she forget to check her horoscope before leaving the house today? How was she bumping into these people everywhere?
"So what?" she shot him a glare and tried to sidestep him. "Mind your own business."
Du Yifan grabbed her arm. "Shu Lanzhou, what's happened to you? You've become rude, unruly, completely ignorant of manners. I must've been blind to ever like you."
"Look at Tiantian here." He pulled Huang Tiantian closer. "If you were even half as obedient and sweet as her, we wouldn't have had to wash our hands of you. Don't you realize—with my and Luo Jialin's connections—"
"Once you graduate, we could've gotten you into any research institute you wanted. You wouldn't have to worry about finding a decent job after leaving Professor Han's team."
"How arrogant of you, Du," came Mu Side's calm voice from behind the car. He was carrying a gift box as he walked over. "I had no idea you and Luo had the power to dictate who gets hired at research institutes."
"I'm genuinely curious—just what exactly is your status?"
Du Yifan had been blocked from view by the car earlier; only now did he realize Mu Side was there. And the car… there was only one like it in all of Shen City—Mu Side's.
The Du family wasn't as powerful as the Mu family. Even the Luo family could only barely match them. The Mu family was an old-money clan with deep roots and an unshakable legacy in Shen City.
Du Yifan ignored Mu Side and glared furiously at Shu Lanzhou.
"I always thought you had backbone, that you were dedicated to your studies and oblivious to the ways of the world. That's why I protected you in the team, made sure no one bullied you."
"I never imagined you'd sink so low—aligning yourself with Han's rival just to graduate, flattering the Mu family, even tagging along to their events."
"Weren't you the one who hated schmoozing? Who didn't want to waste a single moment that could be spent researching? Where's that hardworking, single-minded girl now?"
"When did you become just another sycophant, eager to cozy up to the powerful? Don't you realize—with your background, you're risking trouble you won't be able to handle?"
"And when that happens—do you really think he'll protect you? He's not me. He'd never care for a country girl like you. To him, you're nothing more than a passing amusement."
Mu Side set the gift box down and calmly began rolling up his sleeves.
Shu Lanzhou quickly stopped him. "Leave it to me. Don't dirty your hands."
She turned to Du Yifan, letting out a barely audible sigh.
"You know, trying to explain things to a single-celled organism like you feels like such a waste of breath. But if I don't explain, you'll keep coming around asking for it—and that's even more annoying."
"Actually, forget it." She picked up the gift box herself. "I really, truly hate you. And honestly, I've been wanting to tell you off for a while now."
"My relationship with the Mu family? None of your damn business. Stay away from me. Today, tomorrow, whenever—if you see me, walk the other way. I don't need your 'connections,' and I sure as hell don't need you meddling in my life."
It was the first time Shu Lanzhou had truly lashed out at Du Yifan.
Before, even when her words were cutting, she'd simply kept a cold face—never losing her temper. But this time was different. She was genuinely angry.
Could it be…
Du Yifan glanced at Huang Tiantian beside him, a flicker of triumph in his eyes. He must've been right—Shu Lanzhou had snapped because she saw him with another girl.
He seemed to forget that she'd rejected him outright when he pursued her in the past.
Not that Du Yifan cared. In his mind, there was no way Shu Lanzhou didn't have feelings for him.
He opened his mouth to say more, but Shu Lanzhou and Mu Side had already walked away, knocking on the Ke family's door.
He stepped forward instinctively, but Huang Tiantian grabbed his arm. "Du Yifan, you're staring at that girl again. I'm really going to get mad!"
"No, no, of course not," Du Yifan laughed. "Didn't you see? I was scolding her. She's nowhere near as cute as you. Come on, let's go."
He pulled Huang Tiantian into the car, smugly thinking: I won't go begging Shu Lanzhou. Once she realizes I left with another woman, she'll feel terrible.
Give it time—she'll come crawling back.
After all, how could she give up a perfect boyfriend like me? Someone like Yi Ming doesn't have my status, and Mu Side would never fall for her.
She had no other choice—except me.
Meanwhile, at the Ke family gate, Mu Side and Shu Lanzhou waited for someone to answer.
"You're not a passing amusement to me," Mu Side said quietly, taking the gift bag from her hands. "And I won't let anyone bully you. I'll always protect you."
Shu Lanzhou nodded. "I know. You'd never be like Du Yifan. Besides, I'm such a good girl—of course I won't get into trouble."
Mu Side chuckled softly. "I know."
But Shu Lanzhou's mind was already drifting elsewhere…