"I knew it," Luo Jialin sneered, the contempt on her face unmistakable.
"She's just like a machine, memorizing a paper word for word—what's so impressive about that? To think she was once a student of Professor Han… Honestly, she's a disgrace to his name."
"What do you mean by that?" Tian Hua furrowed his brows and turned to Luo Jialin.
"Are you saying Shu Lanzhou did nothing more than recite a memorized thesis just now?"
Luo Jialin waved her hand dismissively. "You don't get it. This isn't the first time she's pulled something like this. That thesis she presented during the team evaluation? It's already been published in the country's most prestigious medical journal."
"And according to Professor Han, that paper was actually ghostwritten by Professor Mu. It was merely published under Shu Lanzhou's name."
Everyone's expression shifted to shock.
"So what you're saying is… they're deliberately propping up Shu Lanzhou? But why?" Fang Ruoshi was puzzled.
Luo Jialin let out a cold laugh. "Why else? Have you all forgotten that Professor Mu once lost to Professor Han?"
"So she's being used as a pawn by Professor Mu to get back at Professor Han?" Guo Jialiang chuckled, half mocking.
Du Yifan snorted. "Whatever she is, we're not letting her outshine us."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stood up and raised his voice:
"Shu Lanzhou, I have a few questions about the innovative project you just presented. Care to explain?"
He moved too quickly—none of the others had time to stop him.
Technically, the judges were allowed to ask questions during the competition, but there was no rule forbidding students from doing so either.
Seeing Du Yifan speak up, the nearby teacher signaled for an assistant to hand him a microphone.
Wearing a look of smug satisfaction, Du Yifan took the mic and asked his question:
"You mentioned using nanobots as a substitute for traditional acupuncture techniques. If so, then what's the point of studying acupuncture at all?"
Shu Lanzhou's eyes briefly flickered with confusion before she fixed a cold gaze on Du Yifan.
"The purpose of acupuncture lies in using different techniques—referred to as zhenfa—to treat various illnesses. Each technique is based on specific acupoints."
"Doctors must first study the functions of each acupoint before deciding on the appropriate method. The so-called nanobots merely replace the practitioner in performing the final clinical step."
"It's no different from modern surgeons using surgical robots during operations. Does that explanation make sense to you?"
Her tone was calm and steady, her logic clear and precise. Not a trace of emotion could be heard in her voice. After her explanation, both students and faculty were visibly convinced.
But Du Yifan wasn't buying it.
The way Shu Lanzhou looked at him—it made him feel mocked, as if he'd just asked a stupid question. As if she thought he was all brawn and no brain, academically unworthy of her.
That's why she rejected him when he confessed. That's why she barely spoke to him in the team.
Especially after he got into graduate school, it was as though she believed it had only happened thanks to her. The contempt he saw in her eyes back then had humiliated him deeply.
He hated this version of Shu Lanzhou.
Du Yifan let out a cold laugh.
"Of course I understand your point. But even if your reasoning holds up, let me ask you this: how much do you really know about acupuncture techniques? Say I have a stomachache—how would you treat it with acupuncture?"
Everyone could tell he was picking a fight on purpose.
After all, Shu Lanzhou had only switched to this specialty a month ago. She might've just started learning the basics—how could she possibly know acupuncture techniques already?
Even as Shu Lanzhou remained unfazed, Du Yifan's eyes gleamed with malicious amusement.
"Shu, I know you've just begun studying acupuncture. Maybe you haven't gotten to treatment techniques yet, so it's okay if you can't answer. I'm just curious—figured I'd ask."
What he really wanted was to hear her say: I don't know. I'm not sure. I haven't learned that yet.
He wanted her to admit, in front of everyone, that she didn't have what it takes. Only then could he discredit her thesis from earlier.
The hall fell silent. Everyone was curious too—after all, switching majors in senior year was beyond unconventional. And from a popular field to a niche one, no less.
Mu Side's expression had turned stormy. He was about to step forward when He Sixin grabbed his arm.
She leaned over and whispered with a sly smile, "Don't be so hasty. She knows the answer. Just wait."
Treatment methods for acupuncture ailments were part of the second-semester curriculum. Even if Shu Lanzhou was a diligent student, there was no way she could learn two semesters' worth of material in a single month.
Mu Side looked doubtful.
But just as he hesitated, Shu Lanzhou stepped forward.
"To harmonize the stomach and relieve pain, we target the mu and lower he-sea points of the stomach. The main points are: Zhongwan, Zusanli, Neiguan, and Gongsun."
As she spoke, she stepped down from the podium and pointed to the corresponding areas on her body.
"Supplementary points: For cold invading the stomach, add Liangqiu and Weishu. For food stagnation, add Xiawan and Liangmen. For liver attacking the stomach, add Taichong and Qimen. For blood stasis, add Sanyinjiao and Geshu. For spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, add Pishu and Guanyuan. For stomach yin deficiency, add Weishu and Neiting."
Finishing, she gave a faint smile toward the audience.
"Does that explanation make sense to you?"
Du Yifan's smug grin froze mid-face. He stared at her in disbelief.
Impossible. This is impossible.
How could she memorize such complex acupoint combinations? It wasn't like she could have just blindly memorized everything—how could she have known he would ask that exact question?
Unless...
Du Yifan's eyes widened as he glared at Shu Lanzhou.
"I don't know anything about acupoints or acupuncture. Even if you said something wrong, I wouldn't know how to challenge you—so let's just say you're right."
Shu Lanzhou let out a soft chuckle. "If you admit you know nothing, then why ask such a question? What was the point of challenging me in front of everyone?"
"Exactly." He Sixin stepped forward.
"What is it—do you think students in niche majors are easy to bully? Or do you think this entire competition is being hosted by your family? No rules apply to you, huh? Just trying to embarrass someone? Stir up drama?"
Her sharp words made Du Yifan's face burn with humiliation.
He wanted to argue, but he couldn't—because everything she said was true. He had wanted to embarrass Shu Lanzhou.
But he couldn't just stay silent, not when He Sixin of all people was putting him in his place.
Before he could open his mouth, a teacher came forward and took the microphone from his hand.
"Please refrain from asking questions unrelated to the innovation project. Sit down," the teacher said sternly, shooting Du Yifan a warning glance before turning to Shu Lanzhou and her team. "You may step down now."
He Sixin reached out and gently took Shu Lanzhou's hand.
"Let's go."
Once they stepped down from the stage, Shu Lanzhou suddenly remembered she'd forgotten to grab her notebook. She turned back, only to see Mu Side already walking toward her with the notebook and the demo equipment in his arms.
"Thanks, Senior," Shu Lanzhou said as she reached for her notebook.
Mu Side freed a hand and—almost reflexively—gave her a light pat on the head.
"You did great up there," he said with a small smile.
"Truly unexpected."
He knew she worked hard. But this... this level of dedication had still caught him off guard.
"You have no idea!" He Sixin leaned in and gave a playful wink.
"On the very first day Lanzhou started learning acupoints, she asked how to treat stomachaches with acupuncture. I guess you could say Du Yifan had really bad luck!"
"Your stomach's not doing well?" Mu Side's reaction was immediate. His face darkened.
"How long has it been like this? Have you seen a doctor?"
He Sixin blinked, suddenly realizing something. "Wait, you're right! I didn't even think of that before—Lanzhou, are you having stomach problems?"