Tian Hua couldn't help recalling how decisive Shu Lanzhou had been when demanding her money back—it was so different from how she used to be. A chill ran down her spine.
"This is seriously scary. The more I think about it, the creepier it gets. I'd better keep my distance from her from now on."
Guo Jialiang curled his lip in disdain. "A woman like that? You have to stay away from her. God knows when she'll stab you in the back and make you count the money she robs you of."
But the one who took this the hardest was Fang Ruoshi. He still refused to believe the claim that Shu Lanzhou was Professor Mu's undercover agent.
"I'm going to ask her myself!"
"Senior!" Lin Muyao grabbed his arm. "Do you really think she'd admit it even if you asked her now? She's been acting for years—do you think she'd just blurt out the truth?"
Luo Jialin nodded in agreement. "Muyao's right. We underestimated Shu Lanzhou before. We can't afford to keep making that mistake."
"Even if she's good at acupuncture, there's no way she can compete with us in cell biology. Graduating with a double major? Not happening. And this competition? They're not even going to place."
But as soon as Luo Jialin finished speaking, someone nearby suddenly cried out.
"Oh my god! I just saw the finalist list—Mu Side's team made it! Their project got selected!"
"…"
Du Yifan slumped back in disbelief. "That's impossible! They're from such a niche field. All they did was create a machine to mimic acupuncture techniques. How is that innovative?"
"Maybe the judges were biased? Trying to save face for Professor Mu?"
Lin Muyao bit her lip in frustration, her face going pale—They made it. They actually made it! Shu Lanzhou's luck was off the charts!
"Getting into the finals doesn't mean anything," Luo Jialin growled, clenching his fists. "It's Professor Mu's team's first time participating. It's not that surprising they got shortlisted!"
Though he didn't say it outright, he clearly agreed with Du Yifan—he believed the judges had played favorites.
After hearing the results, the group looked uneasy, none of them wanting to linger at the venue any longer.
They hurried away, and behind them, murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.
"Honestly, I think Luo Jialin's team isn't as innovative as Wu Cheng's."
"Yeah, even just looking at the concept, Luo's project really doesn't stand out."
"I actually think Mu Side's team's idea is interesting—just kind of niche. Not sure if the judges will give it much weight."
"Hard to say. Guess we'll see how it plays out."
"Another drama incoming…"
…
Lin Muyao, who had been walking at the tail end, caught bits of the discussion. Rage clenched her fists tight. Suddenly, she turned and walked in the opposite direction from her team.
She didn't stop until she reached a quiet grove where no one was around. Pulling out her phone, she dialed a number.
"Dad, do you not love me anymore?" Her voice trembled with a sob, and just the sound of it could melt a heart.
On the other end, the middle-aged man was already on his feet, worried sick.
"How could I not love you? You're my precious daughter—there's no one I love more."
"Tell me, who dared to upset you? I'll make them pay."
Lin Muyao's voice turned hoarse. "Hmph, if you really loved me, how could you mess up something so simple? I was humiliated in front of the entire school today."
To her, as long as Shu Lanzhou was in the spotlight, it meant she herself had lost face.
After all, they were the only two female students who'd ever been in Professor Han's team. And now, she was still in the team—while Shu Lanzhou had been kicked out.
So why was Shu Lanzhou the one everyone was talking about? Why was she the one basking in glory?
What did that make Lin Muyao? Who was she, if not the one who deserved the spotlight?
She wouldn't accept it. She couldn't. She hated being overshadowed by Shu Lanzhou!
"She's back at school already? The girl you asked me to deal with?" He Chengdong's heart skipped a beat.
"Wait here. I'll make a call."
Lin Muyao hung up and wiped the corners of her eyes.
Her biological father was a major player in Beijing—taking care of some country bumpkin girl should've been a piece of cake. No way Shu Lanzhou could keep getting lucky.
She thought Shu Lanzhou had just narrowly dodged a bullet, completely unaware that Shu Lanzhou had returned from the brink of death.
At the Police Station
Shu Lanzhou stepped into the interview room.
"What time did you leave the hospital yesterday evening?" Officer Yan, a female officer, asked as she looked up.
Shu Lanzhou thought back. "A little after six. Because of today's competition, the professor told me to head back early. The doctors got off at 5:30, but there were still patients, so it got delayed. I left the hospital a little past six."
"Have you walked through that alley before?" Officer Yan asked as she jotted notes.
Shu Lanzhou nodded. "I had, a few times—with senior students. There used to be working streetlights. But last night, I realized the lights were out."
"I got scared and decided to change my route. I had just turned around when someone bumped into me. Before I could react, I felt a sharp pain at the back of my neck. When I woke up, I was already tied to a bed…"
She carefully recounted everything that happened in the abandoned warehouse, not leaving out a single detail.
When she finished, the officer handed her the transcript for confirmation and signature.
As she signed, Shu Lanzhou couldn't suppress the question weighing on her mind.
"How did you find me? If you hadn't shown up when you did, I might have…"
She trailed off, unable to voice the terrifying possibility. Her hand trembled as she clutched the pen.
"Thank you—for notifying my professor and my senior. I truly mean it."
Officer Yan gave a small smile. "You don't need to thank us—it's our duty. Actually, it was your senior who made it possible for us to find you so quickly."
"He noticed you hadn't returned to the dorm and couldn't reach you by phone. He immediately called the police, then went searching along your usual route with a friend to help narrow down your path."
"By the time you managed to call us, we were already en route. That saved us crucial time. If you want to thank anyone, thank your senior."
"…"
Shu Lanzhou had thought her own quick thinking had saved her.
But now she realized—no matter how clever she was, she'd been powerless in the face of real danger.
The only reason she was standing here unscathed, the only reason she hadn't been hurt by those monsters, was because of Mu Side.
He had saved her.
A tingling warmth stirred in her chest, like someone gently wrapping her heart in their hands—comforting yet hard to bear.
In just a month or so, the kindness he'd shown her… she didn't know if she'd ever be able to repay it all.
She stood. "Officer Yan, what kind of sentence will the people who kidnapped me get?"
"That depends on the investigation. The court will decide based on our findings. But either way, kidnapping is a serious charge—they won't walk away from it."
The officer gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder, praising her for being strong, brave, and smart.
Shu Lanzhou hesitated, then asked, "What if they were ordered to do it? Would the person behind it be punished too?"
"If that's true, the one who gave the orders will face even harsher charges," the officer replied, escorting her to the door. "Go home now. Don't dwell on this. Once we have more, we'll let you know."
Shu Lanzhou nodded and was just about to go find Mu Side when a young officer came running.
"Officer Yan, the suspect's phone won't stop ringing. Should we answer it?"