"How could this happen?" Lin Muyao was visibly indignant.
"They haven't even finished investigating the cheating allegations—how could the school post the honor roll at a time like this?"
Someone nearby, recognizing their group, couldn't help but sneer.
"Don't tell me you're suggesting that the reason Professor Han's team's scores plummeted is because other students cheated?"
"So what if I am?" Lin Muyao shouted defiantly. "Everyone knows how capable Professor Han is as a teacher. He's never lost, not in all these years!"
"I think some people are just jealous—since they can't beat him fair and square, they resort to dirty tricks to climb higher. Just wait. I believe the school will give us justice!"
"She's gotta be nuts." Someone muttered under their breath as they pulled their friend away.
Even as they left, their conversation continued audibly:
"She's definitely lost it. Everyone knows the exam halls are under surveillance. If anyone's caught cheating, not only do they fail the exam, but they get a major demerit on their record."
"Exactly. And for important exams, they could even be expelled or banned from taking future exams for life. Who would risk that?"
"No kidding."
"Can't handle losing, huh?" One of them shot a backward glance at Lin Muyao's group. "And here I thought Professor Han's team was supposed to be elite. Turns out… not so much."
"Pathetic. Accusing others of cheating—it's laughable."
"What's next, you're gonna claim Shu Lanzhou cheated too?"
"Hahaha…"
"Hey—" Lin Muyao was furious, wanting to retort, but the others were already gone.
Luo Jialin had never felt so humiliated in his life. He just wanted to disappear into the ground.
"That's enough. Just stop talking." Luo Jialin grabbed Lin Muyao's arm, pulling her back. "Or do you want to make an even bigger fool of me? Will you only be satisfied once everyone's seen me humiliated?"
Lin Muyao's face crumpled with hurt and frustration.
"That's not what I meant, Jialin, don't be mad. I just couldn't stand hearing them talk about you like that. I just wanted to defend you."
"Don't worry, once the school finishes the investigation, you'll still be number one. No one can surpass you. Then we'll see if they still dare to laugh at us!"
Luo Jialin lowered his eyes, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
"And if the investigation proves no one cheated?" His voice was calm, almost cold. "Then where will your actions today leave my reputation?"
He couldn't allow his pride to be trampled twice. Lin Muyao couldn't compare to Shu Lanzhou—not even close. Shu Lanzhou knew how to keep her composure over trivial matters like this.
Though he still believed no one could truly surpass him, Shu Lanzhou had said something that stuck with him: "Until the facts are clear, I won't speak lightly—lest I end up slapping myself in the face."
Luo Jialin preferred to let facts slap others in the face—not the other way around.
In his eyes, relying on assumptions and personal bias was immature and reckless—traits unworthy of anyone aiming for greatness.
Lin Muyao had truly disappointed him. She wasn't even close to the quiet, diligent Shu Lanzhou.
Seeing the shadows deepening in Luo Jialin's eyes, Lin Muyao panicked.
"No… no way that's gonna happen. Jialin, you have to believe in yourself. No one's better than you. To me, you're the best—"
"Enough." Luo Jialin's face turned icy as he pulled his sleeve free from her grip.
"From now on, don't meddle in my affairs. If you've got that much free time, spend it studying. You're second in the year, but you're still more than ten points behind first place. Don't forget—the one in first place is Shu Lanzhou."
"…"
A chill crossed his face as he gave them a faint glance. "I won't be joining you for dinner. Put it on my tab—it's my treat for Jia Liang's send-off. Enjoy."
He didn't even bother to give Guo Jialiang face. Without looking back, he strode away.
"Luo Jialin—" Lin Muyao tried to chase after him, but Guo Jialiang grabbed her arm.
"Do you want him to hate you even more?" Guo Jialiang snapped. "Do you even have any self-awareness? Shu Lanzhou would never cling to him like this."
She would quietly follow instructions, complete every task assigned to her, and then look at you with those expectant eyes—hoping, praying, you'd offer her a sliver of warmth.
But none of them had ever given her that warmth. Step by step, they pushed her away—until one day she gave up on them completely and became someone they couldn't recognize.
Guo Jialiang suddenly missed the old Shu Lanzhou. So much so that without thinking, he let go of Lin Muyao's arm, not wanting to touch her at all.
He thought of how Lin Muyao had shared almost everything with him—everything except the final step. And yet even then, her heart had always been set on Luo Jialin. She'd even tried to seduce Luo Jialin right in front of him.
Suddenly, he felt sick.
Compared to Lin Muyao, Shu Lanzhou was a hundred times purer. And yet he'd once used the dirtiest lies to smear her name—just to defend this woman standing before him.
Regret clawed at him—so deep, so sharp, a thousand times stronger than before.
He stepped away from Lin Muyao. "Take care of yourself. Fang Ruoshi, Tian Hua—if you two still consider me a friend, come join me for dinner. If not, don't bother."
With that, he turned and walked out the school gate.
Fang Ruoshi and Tian Hua exchanged glances and sighed, giving Lin Muyao an apologetic look.
"Don't mind them, Muyao," Fang Ruoshi gently tugged her hand. "They're both upset. Let's not take it to heart. We should still go eat."
"Yeah, let's eat," Tian Hua chimed in.
Lin Muyao was already seething. How dare Guo Jialiang—someone who'd only stayed at the research institute thanks to her family's connections—treat her like that? Where did he get the nerve?!
Fine. Just you wait, Guo Jialiang. She'd make sure her mother dealt with him. She'd make him regret it—make him beg her on his knees!
"I'm not going. Eat without me—who cares about his damn dinner!"
She shoved Fang Ruoshi away and stormed off.
She was livid. She'd make him pay.
That night, Guo Jialiang drank heavily. Tian Hua and Fang Ruoshi drank with him. All three got dead drunk.
In the private room next door, however, another group was drinking—for joy.
Ke Beichen raised his glass.
"Shu Lanzhou, this one's for you. For the exam—and for my aunt's investment. Thank you. Truly, thank you."
"Haha…" Shu Lanzhou smiled shyly.
"I'll accept thanks for the exam, but the investment? That's got nothing to do with me. If you're going to thank anyone, thank Anlan. If she hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known."
"Oh, she'll get her thanks." Ke Beichen turned, gazing at the girl beside him with soft affection before looking back at Shu Lanzhou. "But you—you deserve it too. You're different."
He downed the glass in one gulp, then, under the table, gently took Dong Anlan's hand in his.
Shu Lanzhou noticed, but said nothing. She simply smiled. "Yes… different."
She sipped her drink—sharp, burning.
"If you don't like it, don't drink." Mu Side leaned closer, his voice low.
Shu Lanzhou stubbornly shook her head. "No. Even if I don't like it, I have to learn. If I can't drink at all, I'll have no friends."
"Silly girl." Mu Side sighed, reaching over to take her glass, pouring its contents into his own. "Friendship isn't built on alcohol. Trust me—if you don't like it, don't drink."
He did it so naturally, so casually, that Shu Lanzhou couldn't help but feel something strange in the gesture.
"…Wasn't that the glass I already drank from?" Her cheeks flushed as she blinked at him.