Shu Lanzhou glanced at everyone around her and said,
"I found out about this by accident. Lin Muyao takes her mother's surname — her mother is none other than Lin Jiayi, the deputy director of the Central Research Institute."
"Remember the morning of the campus competition over a month ago?"
"I remember." Ding Yuejiao nodded. "You came back to the dorm injured that day. We asked what happened, but you said it was a long story and never brought it up again."
"Was your injury... connected to the Lin family?"
Shu Lanzhou shook her head. "There's no hard evidence yet. But I don't believe I would be kidnapped for no reason. Other than Lin Muyao, I can't think of anyone else I might have offended."
"Kidnapped?"
The others gasped in shock.
Ding Yuejiao grabbed Shu Lanzhou's hand.
"You mean... you were kidnapped that night? And your injuries were from those people? Then you—"
She didn't dare imagine what Shu Lanzhou had gone through.
"I'm fine." Shu Lanzhou reassured her, pressing her hand gently.
"Senior Mu and the others saved me. Those people didn't manage to hurt me. I'm telling you all this so you'll understand — Deputy Director Lin may not be as kind as she appears."
"Once our project kicks off, there's a good chance we'll have to deal with her. Everyone needs to stay alert and not fall into any traps."
"In short, while we shouldn't harm others, we must protect ourselves. Agreed?"
Wu Cheng frowned and said seriously,
"You're right. When I rejected Deputy Director Lin just now, her face turned ugly. I'm afraid she already sees me as ungrateful. We'll definitely have to be careful from now on."
The other two seniors nodded.
"Thanks for the warning, junior. We'll be extra cautious."
Ding Yuejiao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"To think something so serious happened, and you didn't even breathe a word. You really are... Anyway, thank goodness you're okay! Come on, let's go eat something good to cheer you up!"
"Yeah, let's go!"
Yi Ming grabbed Shu Lanzhou's bag for her and cheerfully urged everyone along.
Shu Lanzhou felt a bit awkward and tried to take her bag back, but Yi Ming wouldn't let her. He was so lively — hopping every few steps — that Shu Lanzhou couldn't catch up. She had no choice but to let him be.
When they were almost at the restaurant, someone suddenly grabbed Shu Lanzhou's arm.
"Who's that guy?"
Du Yifan pointed at Yi Ming. "Why is he carrying your bag?"
Shu Lanzhou laughed coldly.
"And who are you? What gives you the right to question me?"
"Shu Lanzhou, don't be ungrateful!"
Du Yifan's face darkened. "I'm only concerned about you. You're a girl — how can you just let some random guy carry your bag?"
"Is he your boyfriend or something?"
Shu Lanzhou's face turned cold.
"So that's why you chased after me? Because I'm a girl? I thought you just wanted someone you could boss around to do your homework!"
Publicly exposed, Du Yifan's face flushed with anger.
"You're spouting nonsense! You're a few years younger than me — how could you even help with my assignments? I pursued you because—"
He abruptly fell silent.
Looking at the girl before him, Du Yifan suddenly felt dazed.
Compared to when they first met, Shu Lanzhou had grown even more beautiful. Her bright eyes, her neat, fashionable outfit — she was graceful and elegant now. Not the scrappy tomboy he remembered, but a young woman impossible to look away from.
Especially that unintentional, dazzling smile — it stirred something inside him.
He swallowed hard and was just about to speak when Shu Lanzhou cut him off sharply,
"Don't even say you liked me. I'm not worthy of your so-called affection.
In your eyes, I was just the only girl in Professor Han's team. Dating me would've been a trophy — proof that you were the best among the group!"
"You never cared who I really was — what I looked like, how I dressed, whether I was pretty or not.
The only things you cared about were: one, that I was obedient and easy to control; and two, that I could keep up with the team's academic pace and endlessly support you without question."
"Du Yifan, your so-called 'concern' was nothing but selfish possessiveness. And I want no part of it!"
Having said that, she pushed Yi Ming — who had circled back to their side — toward the restaurant entrance.
"Senior, go on in."
Yi Ming gave Du Yifan a long look, then turned back to Shu Lanzhou.
"If you need anything, call me."
With that, he disappeared into the restaurant.
"Let's go too," Ding Yuejiao pulled Shu Lanzhou along.
Once again, Du Yifan grabbed Shu Lanzhou's arm.
"It's not like that!
Shu Lanzhou, you're wrong about me — I never used you, never wanted you just to help me!
I genuinely thought you were adorable. That's why I pursued you!"
Du Yifan had never seen Shu Lanzhou so fierce and unrelenting before — he was stunned into silence.
Facing more and more curious stares from passersby, he grew desperate to explain himself.
He wasn't the kind of guy who would exploit a girl to boost his own status — he had never even thought about it!
"Oh, well, thanks a lot then," Shu Lanzhou sneered, shaking off his hand.
"So, according to you, everything I did for you was just me being stupid — helping you willingly without realizing it?"
"Enough!"
Du Yifan's face went white as he jerked his hand back.
"The past is the past — what's the point of digging it all up?
If you're still mad at me, fine, I'll apologize!
Just… you're too naive, Shu Lanzhou. Don't go dating someone recklessly.
You're supposed to focus on your research — you're not good at seeing through people!"
He looked at her almost pleadingly, desperate for her to agree.
But Shu Lanzhou suddenly chuckled, as if remembering something.
"You're worried about me? That's why you're acting so concerned?"
"But if I remember correctly, didn't you once say that if you ever cared about me again, you'd be—"
She didn't finish the sentence, but the meaningful look she gave Du Yifan made his face go even paler.
Tilting her chin slightly, Shu Lanzhou said coolly,
"Save your concern.
I don't need it.
From now on, stay out of my sight — unless you want to risk hearing something that'll really crush your precious pride."
This time, she didn't give Du Yifan another chance to grab her.
She walked around him and strode into the restaurant.
A few steps behind, Ding Yuejiao tugged at her sleeve and whispered,
"Du Yifan once said if he ever cared about you again, he'd be... what?"
"Probably a certain kind of animal," Shu Lanzhou said with a sneer.
"But honestly, I don't think he even deserves to be called that."
Ding Yuejiao blinked mischievously,
"A pig? Or a dog?"
Shu Lanzhou didn't answer.
Meanwhile, outside the restaurant, Du Yifan stood frozen, staring at the spot where Shu Lanzhou had disappeared.
She's changed.
She's really changed.
For the first time, he truly felt it — Shu Lanzhou was no longer the same girl he once knew.
He didn't even know why his chest hurt so much.
It wasn't her harsh words that hurt him — it was seeing someone else carry her bag, realizing that she might belong to someone else.
He didn't even like her that much — so why did it hurt so badly?
Tian Hua dragged him away, scolding,
"You idiot. You genuinely cared about her, but you had to act all bossy. Didn't you realize? She's completely different now!"
"Why?"
Du Yifan clutched Tian Hua's sleeve in anguish.
"Why can she walk away so cleanly, so decisively?
After all these years... did she really only have hatred left for us?"