"It's not as serious as you think," Luo Jialin patted Guo Jialiang's shoulder. "I'll help you with the professor, but you'd better keep an eye out in the future. If you hadn't taught Shu Lanzhou so well, she wouldn't have embarrassed you like this."
Guo Jialiang, his face full of awkwardness, nodded. "I understand. I'll be more careful from now on."
"..."
As they walked out of the lab building, Guo Jialiang's eyes, cold and sinister, narrowed—perhaps only he truly knew that Shu Lanzhou wasn't as foolish and incompetent as she appeared.
She was smart and diligent, and she learned things quickly. When he had first treated her well, he had truly meant it, but unfortunately, she progressed too quickly—too quickly for him to keep up. He feared becoming the most insignificant person in the team and, to maintain his status, he had to constantly use and suppress Shu Lanzhou.
Luckily, Luo Jialin was arrogant and only believed in what he saw. He never realized that it was Shu Lanzhou who had been doing everything behind the scenes for him, thinking that it was all Guo Jialiang's work!
And because of this, Luo Jialin treated him differently from others.
From the first time Shu Lanzhou had helped Luo Jialin prepare materials, and Luo Jialin mistakenly thought it was Guo Jialiang's doing, he had invited Guo Jialiang out for a meal that night and promised to help him in front of Professor Han. From that moment on, Guo Jialiang never stopped taking advantage of Shu Lanzhou.
Rather than saying he had taught Shu Lanzhou, it was more accurate to say that her hard work had made him successful.
But as time passed, his position in the team grew more important, while Shu Lanzhou became increasingly excluded. He realized that he couldn't let it go on like this.
Shu Lanzhou was slow to catch on to interpersonal matters, but she was obedient, well-behaved, and trusted them all. However, she was now in her fourth year, and if she didn't achieve something, she would definitely start to doubt her abilities.
When that time came, all the things he had intercepted from her would be exposed if she went to Professor Han.
Guo Jialiang was about to graduate and wanted to enter a research center and secure a good job. All of this had to be protected from Shu Lanzhou.
That's why, after Lin Muyao's arrival, he helped her push Shu Lanzhou out of the team.
He had originally thought that once Shu Lanzhou left, he could relax and wait for graduation. But now, at this critical moment, Shu Lanzhou had made him lose face. He had no one to blame but her.
Shu Lanzhou, I didn't want to harm you anymore, but now… you leave me no choice!
...
As soon as Han Weicheng returned to his office, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he furrowed his brow and eventually answered the call.
"Dean Lin?"
"How's it going? Did the school agree to handle Mu Yaning's situation? It's okay if they didn't; you don't have to tear things apart with her over it," Lin Jiayi's voice came, lightly amused. "The key issue lies with Shu Lanzhou. I cannot tolerate someone without true talent stepping on my daughter's head. I think you, Weicheng, wouldn't want to see such a situation, right?"
"So, you'll prepare a surprise for Lin Muyao to prevent her from facing unnecessary troubles, right? The time's about up, she should be arriving at school soon."
"I believe she'll be very happy today. Han Weicheng, thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for her. I'm truly happy that she met a teacher like you."
Lin Jiayi's words made Han Weicheng's old face flush red.
He couldn't bring himself to admit he had bungled this situation.
Lin Jiayi was a rare genius. The Lin family had been doctors for generations, and she completed her studies at the country's top medical university at a young age. After receiving her Ph.D., she went abroad to continue her studies and then returned to work at a top national research center.
When the Mu family ran into trouble, Han Weicheng had a falling out with Mu Yaning's sister, Mu Yaan, and during that difficult time, Lin Jiayi was the one who stayed by his side.
Had she not gone abroad later, and had Mu Yaan not been in a car accident and lost her legs, Han Weicheng might have married Lin Jiayi years ago.
For all these years, he had remained single, partly because of the Mu family and partly because of Lin Jiayi.
A woman like Lin Jiayi could only have a child of exceptional quality. Lin Muyao, like her mother, was intelligent, courageous, and poised—someone destined for greatness.
She was bound to follow in her mother's footsteps, entering top research centers and becoming a shining star in the medical field. Han Weicheng would never let anything hinder her path.
He should do everything in his power to ensure her success, and he would never allow anyone to outdo her through improper means!
"Dean Lin, I'm sorry. I may not deserve your thanks," Han Weicheng explained hurriedly. "The school's investigation found that Mu Yaning hasn't violated any rules, and I've personally assessed Shu Lanzhou's abilities."
"In the past, I may have misunderstood her, but she's not as bad as we thought. Her paper was actually well written."
"The paper published in a prestigious medical journal really did come from her, and... she does have some true talent and real knowledge."
Lin Jiayi was silent for a moment. Just when Han Weicheng thought she would be angry and tried to explain further, her laughter came through the phone.
"This is a good thing. It shows that, Weicheng, you are indeed a good teacher. Every one of your students is excellent. Even the least capable one has some real talent and knowledge."
"It's just a pity that, at this critical juncture, she chose to leave such a good teacher. I wonder if she'll regret her decision later."
Han Weicheng felt slightly relieved. Lin Jiayi didn't disappoint him—she was rational, reasonable, and compassionate.
"I've been dedicated to teaching. If she wants to leave, I won't stop her. Whether she regrets it later is her own choice. She has to be responsible for her decisions."
"You're right," Lin Jiayi's voice softened. "If possible, I truly hope Lin Muyao can be friends with her. Although I've never met the girl, if Mu Yaning values her and considers her a person of real talent, she must have some skills."
Han Weicheng snorted lightly.
"She's just a sharp-tongued, opportunistic girl, always scheming and stirring up trouble. With Lin Muyao's position and status, there's no need for her to make friends with such a person."
"Haha... You really overestimate Lin Muyao. But I'll listen to you and not mention the friendship thing with her," Lin Jiayi chuckled, understanding.
"I have only one daughter, and my whole heart is with her. You'll have to take care of her at school in the future, Han Weicheng..."
Han Weicheng's breath caught. He couldn't refuse someone like Lin Jiayi.
She was generous, gentle, and far better than Mu Yaan in so many ways.
"Don't worry. I'll take good care of Lin Muyao, both in her life and studies. I won't let anyone wrong her."
...
After hanging up, Han Weicheng's frown relaxed. Though Shu Lanzhou had surprised him, she was no longer part of his team. He didn't think Mu Yaning's obscure field of study could outdo him; from the start, she was at a disadvantage. If she hoped to rise through Shu Lanzhou, she was daydreaming.
On the other hand, Lin Muyao had defeated the people left by Shu Lanzhou, and he would make sure she stood at the top of the pyramid, leaving Shu Lanzhou to regret her choices.
Standing at the door, Luo Jialin had originally intended to go inside and ask Han Weicheng what had happened, but hearing his conversation on the phone, he waited.
He didn't expect to hear Han Weicheng mention that Shu Lanzhou actually had some real talent.
As for Shu Lanzhou's abilities, Luo Jialin had never taken her seriously. He didn't believe she was truly that capable. Now, he planned to ask Fang Ruoshi and Tian Hua about it, to let Han Weicheng know whether Shu Lanzhou had any true talent after all...