Han Weicheng waved his hand dismissively. "You're the project lead—what's the big deal about assigning someone to the team? No need to report every little thing to me."
He added with a smile, "Besides, Mu Yao is my student. It's only natural she joins my project."
"Wonderful!" Lin Jiayi beamed with delight.
"Though I may be the team lead, you're the real authority when it comes to the research. Who we bring on board is, of course, your call!"
Her deferential attitude completely pleased Han Weicheng.
Their eyes met, and happily hand in hand, they got into the car.
Only after they had left did Xiang Hua's car pull out of the parking lot.
Xiao Anning looked puzzled. "Professor, haven't you always said Han Weicheng is untrustworthy? Why help him now?"
"I'm not helping him." Xiang Hua's expression turned serious.
"Did you forget? Han Weicheng and Mu Yanning are bitter rivals. The Mu family will never tolerate Han Weicheng, and he's just as determined not to let the Mu family rise in the medical field."
"Their mutual hostility benefits me. It keeps them both in check. Besides, for all his moral shortcomings, Han Weicheng's academic skill is formidable. I'm quite curious to see how far he can go."
Xiao Anning's eyes lit up. "I see now. You want to humiliate Long Xingyue—to show him his place and make him realize that riding on Elder Long's reputation doesn't make him some genius."
"Anning." Xiang Hua's gaze sharpened.
"You've been my student for a long time now, yet you're still so impulsive. How many times have I told you? No matter the situation, you must learn to control your emotions. Why do you never listen?"
"Yes, Professor," Xiao Anning replied obediently, but the smile on his face had long disappeared.
Long Xingyue, Shu Lanzhou...
Those who once looked down on him and turned him away—someday, they would all come begging.
The Lunar New Year passed in the blink of an eye.
For Shu Lanzhou, who had lived twenty-two years, this was the happiest New Year she had ever experienced. She tasted exquisite food she'd never had before and stayed in luxury beyond her imagination.
There was someone beside her when the clock struck midnight. Elders even gave her red envelopes.
Not just in this life—even counting her previous life—this was the happiest New Year she'd ever known.
Shortly after the holiday, Ke Ling called to say the equipment had arrived and that they needed to arrange their own transport to the port for unloading.
Although the equipment was purchased under the name of the research institute, the funding had come jointly from two companies, and each project team had its own share.
Until the equipment was officially handed over to the institute, each company's own personnel was responsible for acceptance and transportation.
On Shu Lanzhou's side, the task fell to He Xin, Mu Side, and Shu Lanzhou herself.
Originally, Shu Lanzhou didn't need to be there. But reportedly, Ke Ling had personally requested her presence.
When they arrived at the institute, they saw a truck hauling equipment pull into the courtyard.
Lin Jiayi stood in front of it, waiting for the unloading to begin. Seeing He Xin and the others, she approached with Du Yifan and Fang Ruoshi in tow.
"Old He, I heard you managed to get some equipment through sponsorship?" Lin Jiayi gestured toward the institute.
"If you ask me, our place isn't that big. No need to buy so much equipment. We're all from the same institute—if you need anything for your experiments, you can always use ours."
He Xin chuckled. "No need. It's just that the equipment you bought might not meet the needs of our experiments. A'de, go keep an eye on our shipment—make sure they don't unload it in the wrong place."
Such arrogance, Du Yifan fumed silently. The Du family had invested a considerable sum in cutting-edge gear. He didn't believe for a second He Xin's group had managed to buy anything better!
Lin Jiayi turned. "Then I'm curious—let's see what you all managed to buy. Though I just asked the truck driver, and apparently, you've only got one truckload."
With a faint smile, she walked toward the unloading area.
Shu Lanzhou was about to follow when Du Yifan blocked her path.
"The Mu family really has no shame. I was the one who pulled strings with the Ke family to find a supplier. And now you're just enjoying the benefits. Shu Lanzhou, don't you think you owe me a thank you?"
"You're shameless!" Shu Lanzhou nearly laughed out loud.
Who gave him the nerve to claim he was the one who helped? As if she didn't know—he had exploited the Ke family's debt to the Ji family, dragging Ji Chuyun along to pressure them.
Ke Ling was so furious she smashed a teapot! It was only thanks to Ke Beichen relaying the contact info for Saiwen that she even got through the holiday. That whole story had come from Mu Side himself.
Looking at Du Yifan like he was an idiot, Shu Lanzhou sneered, "Good dogs don't block the way. Move."
"You—!" Fang Ruoshi pulled Du Yifan back, urging him to stay calm. But how could Du Yifan swallow this insult?
"Am I wrong? The Mu family doesn't even deal in foreign trade. Even if they wanted to invest in your project, they wouldn't know how to get the equipment. Don't tell me you didn't take advantage!"
Shu Lanzhou stared at him.
Why hadn't she noticed before how shameless Du Yifan was? He insisted on taking credit for them obtaining the equipment—desperately begging for her gratitude like a clown!
Absolutely ridiculous!
Not planning to waste words on the fool, she sidestepped him—only to be blocked by a middle-aged woman.
"Young lady, aren't you being a bit rude?" Zhou Yan looked at Shu Lanzhou with a smirk.
She'd heard plenty from Lin Muyao about this "Shu Lanzhou" who constantly bullied her at school—just because Lin had taken a spot in Han Weicheng's team, pushing Shu Lanzhou out.
Zhou Yan had assumed Shu Lanzhou was some rich heiress who dared to bully Lin Muyao. Only later did she find out—just a penniless country girl.
A rural nobody, daring to bully Lin Muyao? Who gave her the nerve?
Zhou Yan had been wondering how to put Shu Lanzhou in her place. Now the girl had delivered herself right to her doorstep. And she had just heard Du Yifan call her by name—this had to be the rude girl in question.
"Courtesy is earned," Shu Lanzhou said calmly, her tone composed and dignified.
She recognized this woman—Zhou Yan, head of personnel records at the institute, married to a former director who had since retired. The kicker? She was twenty years younger than her husband.
In her past life, this woman had made Shu Lanzhou's life hell. During her years at the institute, every nasty, exhausting task had been shoved onto her—all under the guise of "helping her gain a foothold" and "being accepted."
As if mopping floors and wiping desks was how a researcher earned respect in a major institute?
Zhou Yan hadn't expected the girl to talk back—especially in front of someone of her status. Even if Shu Lanzhou didn't recognize her, surely she noticed how respectfully the others treated her?
"The Du family put in both money and effort for the new lab equipment. Du Yifan, as their appointed representative, worked tirelessly to find suppliers and trade partners."
Zhou Yan stepped forward, her gaze cold.
"Even if the Mu family benefited, your team got what you needed without a hitch. Isn't a simple 'thank you' the least you could offer?"
"Ridiculous!" a voice snapped.
Ke Ling stepped down from the truck, her face thunderous, and strode over to Shu Lanzhou's side, shielding her protectively.