"Go check on her," Mu Sider gave Shu Lanzhou a glance, then stepped into the office. The door shut behind her with a soft thud.
Shu Lanzhou stood frozen for a couple of seconds before quickly turning and chasing after He Sixin.
Outside the hospital building, Shu Lanzhou, panting slightly, caught up and stopped her. "Sis!"
"What are you doing here?" He Sixin wiped the corner of her eye and forced a small smile. "I'm fine, really. I've been used to this since I was a kid."
"I understand that she's willing to sacrifice everything for the Mu family. And I can even try to accept this profession, to seriously inherit the Mu-style acupuncture techniques. But that doesn't mean she has the right to take away my choices."
"Shu Lanzhou, you know, I was genuinely happy when you joined our team. It meant I might have a chance to escape this field."
"If she doesn't want to promote Mu-style acupuncture to the world, then taking on one apprentice is enough. Why must she keep tying me to her side? Don't you agree?"
Shu Lanzhou pulled He Sixin into a hug.
"I'm an orphan, so I can't really understand what it feels like to have your parents make decisions for you. Most of my life, I've been forced into choices. So now that I finally have a say, I make my own decisions."
"Sigh." He Sixin looked helpless. "Are you showing off right now?"
Shu Lanzhou shook her head. "There's nothing enviable about being an orphan. Having parents who love you—that's what's enviable. Sis Xin, I can see that the teacher really loves you."
"She might be making decisions for you, and maybe her intentions aren't ideal, and I completely understand that you want your own path, your own interests… but—don't fight. Talk it through. You can always have a proper conversation."
"You have no idea how envious I am that you get to be by your mom's side. From the teacher's perspective, she doesn't want to let her family legacy down, and she doesn't want you to end up with nothing."
"If you just run off like this, she'll be heartbroken."
Shu Lanzhou grabbed her hand.
"Come back upstairs with me. Let's talk to the teacher. Whether you want to switch majors or pursue something else, we'll tell her properly."
"Maybe I'm overstepping, but I really mean it when I say I'm willing to seriously study acupuncture. If I can, I'd be honored to take over as her successor."
"You sure about that?" He Sixin looked at her like she was the craziest person she'd ever seen.
"Acupuncture is a niche field. With the way my mom treats it, you might never achieve any real recognition."
"You'll just become a tool for spreading Mu-style acupuncture. You can't make money from it, can't produce earth-shattering research, and definitely can't bring it into the mainstream!"
Shu Lanzhou shook her head. "The teacher just doesn't like media attention. She never said it couldn't be known by more people. If more people become willing to study acupuncture, there's bound to be progress."
"Besides, have you forgotten the project we're working on? The application of acupuncture in surgery—that's a real research direction. With direction, how can we fear a lack of achievement?"
"Don't you agree?"
He Sixin didn't have that kind of courage.
"I don't want to crush your hopes, but I've always felt this was just my mom's fantasy. My dad goes along with it, doing this so-called research, and I don't say anything. But as for real success—I don't dare dream about it."
"Then don't," Shu Lanzhou said, pulling her toward the elevator. "Let time prove everything."
When they returned upstairs, Mu Yaning was already sitting at the coffee table, having her meal.
She looked up lazily as the two walked in. "Didn't you say you were running away? Why come back now?"
Shu Lanzhou anxiously glanced at He Sixin, worried she might start another argument.
But clearly, she didn't understand the dynamic between mother and daughter very well. He Sixin took a bold step forward and plopped down beside Mu Yaning.
"I'm your little sweetheart, remember? If I run too far, you'll get cold. So I came back to warm you up."
"Cut the nonsense." Mu Yaning gave her a sharp look. "Sit down and eat."
He Sixin obediently sat across from her. "Mom, Shu Lanzhou said she's going to seriously study acupuncture. Whether you want to pass it on or expand the field, she'll never leave your side!"
"…"
In other words: stop forcing me to study acupuncture!
Still, she'd made it sound far too syrupy—completely different from how she'd said it earlier.
Shu Lanzhou flushed slightly.
"Teacher, I was wrong before. I was too arrogant. I apologize. I promise from now on, I'll study acupuncture seriously and stop thinking about anything else!"
"What were you thinking?" Mu Yaning looked at her with a flat expression.
Shu Lanzhou braced herself and walked to her.
"I used to work with Professor Han. He always used the media to promote his papers and accomplishments, so I thought it might help acupuncture too."
"I believe one of the reasons why it's hard to recruit students every year is because people don't understand acupuncture. With this recent situation involving Elder Long, we could use the opportunity to raise awareness."
"But I… anyway, I'm sorry. I acted on my own, made a mistake, upset you—it's all my fault!"
Mu Yaning set down her chopsticks. "So, once recruitment numbers go up, you'll bow out and stop wasting your time in this obscure field?"
"No!" Shu Lanzhou's face went pale.
"I never had that intention. From the moment I chose this major, I never thought of it as a stepping stone. I truly want to study it!"
Mu Yaning stood and walked up to her. "Have you thought about graduate school?"
"I have!" In her previous life, Shu Lanzhou had a master's degree. In the medical field—especially in research—a master's wasn't even that impressive. A Ph.D. was often necessary.
Mu Yaning stared at her, not even blinking. "You'd study this field in grad school too?"
"If you'll have me as your student, then yes, I want to continue in this field." Shu Lanzhou met her eyes, unwavering.
She was resolute. She knew exactly what she wanted.
That pleased Mu Yaning. "I'm not forcing you, you know. Don't come blaming me later, like someone else."
"I won't!" Shu Lanzhou broke out in a cold sweat. She'd never seen Professor Mu this fierce!
Mu Sider tugged on her arm and urged her to sit. "Auntie, stop scaring her. Look at her—face white as a sheet!"
Mu Yaning gave him a look, then returned to her meal.
"I'm planning to give everyone a short break soon. Let Wu Cheng and the rest of the team go home for the New Year. Once the equipment arrives, we'll start the next round of research."
"I promised to treat you all to a meal. Let's do it tonight. Come to my place—I'll cook myself."
"…"
That meant she was invited too? Shu Lanzhou looked like she'd just won the lottery.
That evening, Mu Sider drove over to pick her up. The evening traffic was terrible, and the car couldn't get into the hospital, so he waited at the roadside.
Shu Lanzhou had already packed up and come down early, not wanting to keep him waiting. But as soon as she stepped outside the hospital, she was stopped.
The man who blocked her path looked refined, wearing gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose.
"Hello, Miss Shu. I'm Xiao Anning, assistant to Professor Xiang Hua. Our team is currently recruiting assistant interns. Would you be interested in learning more?"
His direct approach left Shu Lanzhou momentarily stunned.
If she didn't recognize him, she might have assumed he was a scammer.
But she had an excellent memory, and unfortunately for him, she'd seen him earlier today at the seminar. And as for the Professor Xiang he mentioned—she'd heard of him long ago.
He was a titan in the Chinese medical community, second only to Elder Long.
Shu Lanzhou's expression was puzzled.
"As far as I know, Professor Xiang's research team is a national-level group that only recruits graduate students. I'm just a senior undergrad. Are you sure you've got the right person?"