Even though the facts had proven that Shu Lanzhou did have some talent, Han Weicheng still believed it was only because she had once been part of his team.
The research data accumulated within the team and his occasional pointers were what enabled her to write those quality papers. Without his team, she would never achieve anything greater—after all, she was only a fourth-year undergraduate. The path of medical research was long and arduous.
Even if she somehow managed to walk away with the team's past research data, they wouldn't be of much use—she had already switched majors.
More importantly, Han Weicheng was convinced that Shu Lanzhou had no chance of passing her acupuncture exam.
"Fine. I'll agree to your terms," he said, "but I have a condition. For this bet to count, you need to score at least ninety points on today's exam. Not a point less."
Shu Lanzhou cursed him inwardly for being cunning. She'd only been studying acupuncture for a short time—passing was already a stretch, and now he wanted a ninety?
But things had already come this far. There was no backing down.
"Ninety is too high. I can only guarantee a pass," she glared at him.
Han Weicheng shook his head. "Ninety. Not a point less. Otherwise, forget it. As a mentor, I've already done all I can for Guo Jialiang."
He turned, as if about to leave.
Shu Lanzhou couldn't afford to lose this chance to get the research data. She clenched her teeth and stomped her foot. "Fine! Ninety it is. I accept!"
"But verbal promises mean nothing. I want a recording. Don't you dare go back on your word."
Han Weicheng's expression darkened. "I always keep my word."
"I don't believe you," Shu Lanzhou said bluntly. She no longer cared about saving his face and pulled out her phone to start recording.
By the time everything was settled, there were less than fifteen minutes until the exam started. So much for breakfast!
She had just started running when she saw Mu Side riding his bicycle toward her.
He parked in front of her. "Hop on. I'll take you to the exam room."
"What are you doing here?" she asked with a squint and jumped onto the back seat without hesitation.
He handed her a warm breakfast from his bike basket. "Eat while it's hot. We'll be there soon."
"Thanks, ge," Shu Lanzhou grabbed his coat for balance with one hand and stuffed a bun into her mouth with the other.
"You knew you had an exam today. Why are you heading out so late? Were you going to skip breakfast again?" Mu Side chided.
Shu Lanzhou shook her head. "No way. I ran into Professor Han on the way out—he started going on about Guo Jialiang again…"
She quickly filled him in on what had happened.
"I should've just ignored him. What was the point of wasting so many words? He wasn't going to listen anyway. I even missed breakfast because of him!"
"But at least I got the recording. With that, he can't deny our deal. I'll get the research data—and that'll be a huge help to our upcoming project!"
She was quite pleased with herself.
Mu Side pedaled harder in frustration. "It's just research data. Nothing's more important than your breakfast and exam. Don't make this kind of lopsided trade again! And Han Weicheng—making bets with a student? What kind of teacher does that?"
Exactly. He didn't deserve to be a teacher.
"Hehe…" Still, Shu Lanzhou felt happy. Despite the cold weather, Mu Side's broad back shielded her from the wind.
The meat bun was warm and savory. One bite filled her mouth with flavor, and all the unpleasantness Han Weicheng brought had long blown away with the winter wind.
By the time the bike stopped, the exam bell hadn't even rung yet.
Mu Side parked, took the empty breakfast wrapper from her hand, and said, "Go on in. Do your best. Don't stress about it—no one's going to blame you no matter how it turns out."
"Got it." Shu Lanzhou adjusted her collar and smiled. "Thanks, ge!"
She waved as she walked off. "You go to class too. Lunch is on me later!"
Only after her figure completely disappeared did Mu Side turn to push his bike.
"I saw you from way off!" Ke Beichen came out of nowhere and gave Mu Side a friendly punch on the shoulder.
"I was wondering—through all four years of undergrad and almost two years of grad school, I've never seen you get close to any girl. And suddenly there's someone riding on your back seat?"
"I kept looking and looking… and turns out it was Shu Lanzhou. Come on, spill it. You got a thing for her? Why else would you show up first thing in the morning to pick her up?"
Mu Side shoved his hand away. "Don't be ridiculous. She had an exam. My aunt was worried she'd oversleep and asked me to check in on her. Good thing I did—she would've been late for sure."
"Really? Your aunt, huh?" Ke Beichen looked skeptical. "I don't buy it."
Mu Side couldn't be bothered to explain. "Believe what you want. Say whatever you like to me, but don't say anything weird in front of her. She's young, naive, and timid—don't scare her off."
"Oh-ho! Look at you, all protective. Still say you're not interested?" Ke Beichen threw an arm over his shoulder as the two walked away together.
"Come on, tell me—when did this start? Was it during prep for the campus competition?"
Mu Side gave him a light punch. "Enough messing around. Let's talk serious—how's your startup coming? Got enough seed funding?"
"What, you thinking of pitching in?" Ke Beichen grinned.
Mu Side nodded. "Maybe. I've got an idea. About the smart robot we talked about before…"
As their voices faded into the distance, Han Weicheng passed by the front of the exam building.
This was the main path to the faculty office building.
Before he reached his office, Lin Muyao was already waiting for him in the hallway.
"Professor!" she called out, following him into the office as soon as the door opened. "What did Shu Lanzhou say? Did she agree not to demand a public apology?"
Han Weicheng shook his head. "No. Don't get involved anymore. Have Guo Jialiang come see me himself."
"She didn't agree?" Lin Muyao's voice rose, her expression twisted with disbelief. "Is she really going to push Senior Guo to his death? How can she be so heartless!"
She had thought this whole incident—if it couldn't completely expose Shu Lanzhou's improper conduct—would at least tarnish her reputation, make her too ashamed to stay at school.
But who would've thought that idiot Guo Jialiang, thinking he was clever, would drag in Professor He?
It might've been fine if there really had been something between them. But He Xin was Mu Yaning's husband—and father to He Sixin. There was no way such a scandal could be true.
That angle was a dead end. At least they still had the village chief incident. Lin Muyao simply couldn't believe someone like Shu Lanzhou—an orphan with no adoptive parents—could have made it all the way to college on her own merit.
No one would pay for a stranger's tuition unless she had sold herself.
But reality had proven otherwise. Shu Lanzhou had really walked her entire path clean and upright.
This shocked Lin Muyao—and made her furious. Especially after the girls who spread rumors were officially punished by the school. Now she was panicking.
The accusation Guo Jialiang had made had nothing to do with her on the surface, but she was the one who had orchestrated the release of those texts.
If the school decided to investigate thoroughly, it might trace back to her. She couldn't just sit around and wait for that to happen. She had to make Guo Jialiang take full responsibility!
But first, she had to make sure he stayed enrolled.
"Professor, you didn't try harder to persuade her?" Lin Muyao clung to his arm. "Is there really no way to salvage this? Senior Guo's not just facing expulsion—he'll be utterly disgraced!"