Shu Lanzhou didn't sleep well at all. Every time she closed her eyes, all she could see was the face of the mustached man lunging at her. Half asleep, half awake, she had no idea how many times she'd opened her eyes through the night.
"No...!" She suddenly sat up in bed, and a sharp pain on the back of her hand reminded her that she still had an IV drip inserted.
Mu Side walked over. "Nightmare?"
"Yeah." Shu Lanzhou took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "What time is it? Why haven't you gone back yet, Senior?"
"How could I leave when you're like this?" A flicker of irritation passed over Mu Side's face. "Drink some water and go back to sleep."
He handed her a glass of warm water, his expression strict and scowling.
Shu Lanzhou didn't understand why he was suddenly upset. She took the glass gingerly, apologizing softly, "I'm sorry… I caused you all trouble."
Like a timid rabbit, she'd retreated at the first sign of a scolding. Instead of considering any other possibility, all she knew to do was apologize.
Mu Side suddenly felt a little ridiculous. Why had he snapped at her over a single sentence? She was never someone who liked to bother others. Of course she wouldn't think he stayed because it was his obligation.
Asking such a question was perfectly reasonable. The unreasonable one was him.
He was the one who wanted her to take all his kindness as a given.
Mu Side's expression softened. He gently patted her shoulder and said:
"Didn't you say you're one of us? If that's the case, then it's our responsibility to protect you. How could you say that's causing trouble?"
"Besides, the competition is tomorrow. You can't have anything go wrong right now. Be good and get some rest. Whatever happens, you need to be well-rested first."
So that was it. Shu Lanzhou felt a weight lift from her heart and was finally able to accept Mu Side's concern without guilt.
He was right. They were a team. Just like he looked out for her, she would protect him too.
From now on, she would treat them incredibly well—ten, no, a hundred times better than she ever treated Luo Jialin and the others.
After all, when she was with Professor Han's team, she rarely asked anyone for help. And even if she encountered trouble, they would never help or take care of her unconditionally.
She remembered once in her previous life, she got sick with a high fever. There was an important research event the next day that she didn't want to miss, so she forced herself to attend despite her condition.
But on the way back, she collapsed from exhaustion and ended up delaying a team dinner. Luo Jialin took her to the hospital but scolded her in front of everyone.
He said if she couldn't handle it, she shouldn't have acted tough. Not only did she ruin dinner plans, but she also ruined everyone's mood. She was just a burden!
That was when she learned—back in her past life—that if something could be done alone, never ask others for help. Because help came with resentment.
Seeing her wide awake and lost in thought, Mu Side reached out and turned off the overhead light, leaving only a small lamp glowing by the bed.
"My tone just now wasn't great—not because I thought you were a burden. I was just upset that you treat us like outsiders." His words were slightly awkward.
He wasn't the warm type. He was always distant with everyone—except for Shu Lanzhou. With her, things just never went according to plan.
"Shu Lanzhou, remember—we're a team. Helping and looking out for each other is normal. Don't think of it as trouble."
"No matter what happens in the future, tell me. After all, I don't want your personal issues to affect our team's work schedule."
He said it so seriously that Shu Lanzhou couldn't help but believe him.
Still, her heart was full of emotion. Mu Side was nothing like Luo Jialin. They were both team leaders, but their attitudes toward teammates were worlds apart.
Or maybe it wasn't Luo Jialin's fault—it was her. Maybe she was just too unlikable. Luo Jialin probably just hated her, which was why he always ignored her and nitpicked everything.
When it came down to it, maybe she just wasn't good enough. That's why he looked down on her.
Shu Lanzhou silently made a promise to herself—she would never let Mu Side down. She would work hard, master acupuncture, and never drag the team down or embarrass Professor Mu.
"I understand now, Senior. Thank you!" Shu Lanzhou nodded firmly and obediently lay back down.
This time, she didn't have another nightmare. She slept peacefully through the night until morning.
When she woke up, the IV needle had already been removed. Mu Side was dozing in a recliner not far away.
Shu Lanzhou quietly got out of bed and walked over. Only then did she notice the dark circles under his eyes—he looked like he hadn't slept all night.
A strange, tingling emotion bloomed in her chest, making her heart ache in an unfamiliar way.
She carefully tucked the blanket around him before turning toward the door.
As soon as she opened it, she saw a female police officer sitting on a bench outside.
"You're up. How are you feeling? Anywhere still uncomfortable?" The officer stood and looked her up and down.
Shu Lanzhou shook her head. "I feel fine, not uncomfortable at all."
"The swelling on your face looks like it's gone—hardly noticeable now. Any headaches?" The officer jotted something down as she spoke. "The doctor said even a mild concussion shouldn't be ignored. If you feel anything off in the next few days, come to the hospital right away and inform us. Got it?"
Shu Lanzhou nodded. "Got it. Thank you, officer!"
"Oh, you're such a sweet girl." The officer smiled. "Your friend's inside, right? Have him come with you to the station later so we can take your statement."
"Don't worry, not one of those bastards who hurt you is getting away."
She patted Shu Lanzhou's shoulder. "You're brave and smart. So don't be afraid of what comes next—we've got your back."
Shu Lanzhou had never felt this safe before. Maybe it was the uniform, or maybe it was the unwavering assurance in the officer's tone.
"Yes, I will. But… I have a small request." She held up her hand in a gesture. "I have a competition at nine this morning. It's really important to me. Can I go back to school and attend that first before going to the station?"
The officer was surprised. After going through something so traumatic, this girl was still thinking about a school competition? Her nerves were made of steel.
"Alright, I'll notify the others. You go ahead and compete. I'll send someone to wait for you at the school."
After sending the officer off, Shu Lanzhou turned around—only to bump into Mu Side, who had just opened the door.
A flash of panic flickered in his eyes. But the moment he saw Shu Lanzhou, it softened.
"When did you get up?"
Shu Lanzhou smiled up at him. "Just now. You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't want to wake you. Thanks for staying with me last night—it must've been exhausting. I can see the dark circles under your eyes."
"Mhm, you owe me coffee." Mu Side rubbed his face. "Come on, we need to go to the police station first."
"No need." Shu Lanzhou slung on her backpack. "I already spoke with the officer. I'll give my statement after the competition. Let's head back to school first."
"I'll buy you coffee on the way."
She moved quickly—packed her bag in just a few moments, then reached out to grab Mu Side's hand.
He looked down at the hand clutching his sleeve and couldn't help but smile slightly. He didn't shake her off or remind her to be more reserved. He just let her lead him all the way out of the hospital.
She was only kept for observation anyway—there was no need for discharge procedures once everything checked out.
On the ride back, Shu Lanzhou transferred the hospital fees to Mu Side and asked how he even knew she was there in the first place.
"We'll talk about it later," Mu Side said flatly. "For now, focus on the competition."
Back at school, Shu Lanzhou returned to her dorm to change. Her down jacket had been torn by the mustached man and was filthy from being dragged on the ground.
The moment she walked in, her dorm mates stared at her.
"Did you get into a fight yesterday? What happened to your coat?!"