"Of course not." Xiao Anning adjusted his glasses with a light smile.
"To tell you the truth, our Master Xiang spotted you at the seminar today and immediately took a liking to you. He said it's rare to see young people with courage and a sense of responsibility these days."
"Just the fact that you dared to step forward and treat Elder Long is enough for him to want to mentor you."
"Being a senior in college isn't a problem at all. I'm sure you're planning to pursue graduate studies anyway. If you join our team now as an assistant, you can secure a formal position once you graduate. Saves you the trouble of job hunting."
With full confidence, Xiao Anning took out a business card and handed it to Shu Lanzhou. "Call me when you've made up your mind—or better yet, just come straight to Guoyuan Hospital and find me."
By the time Shu Lanzhou finally found Mu Side's car, she jogged over quickly. "Sorry to keep you waiting! I actually came out early but got held up a bit."
Mu Side glanced toward the distance, where Xiao Anning was still visible, then calmly turned his attention back to her.
"It's fine. Hop in!"
He leaned over to fasten her seatbelt. The girl had clearly rushed over—her breathing hadn't even calmed yet. As Mu Side leaned in, a subtle tea fragrance wafted into his nose.
For half a second, he paused—nearly leaning in closer, involuntarily.
The scent must've come from the hand balm her aunt gave her. Mu Yanning had made it herself, mixing in plenty of medicinal herbs.
Since the herbal smell was too strong, she had masked it with the aroma of tea.
And coincidentally, Shu Lanzhou's favorite flower was the camellia—the tea flower. Now that she was practically radiating this scent, didn't it mean she was destined to be part of the Mu family?
With that thought, the uneasiness Mu Side had felt just moments ago vanished.
After settling back into his seat, Shu Lanzhou handed him a business card.
"Big brother, do you know this person?"
"Xiao Anning?" Mu Side raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn't expected her to bring this up on her own. "He approached you?"
Shu Lanzhou nodded obediently. "He wanted me to join Elder Xiang's team as a medical assistant, but I turned him down."
"Elder Xiang's team is actually more advanced than Professor Han's. Every year, tons of PhD students fight to get in. Why didn't you consider it?"
Mu Side looked at her with teasing curiosity.
"Don't make fun of me!" Shu Lanzhou's cheeks flushed red.
"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Anyway, I'm not going. I'm just a senior—I wouldn't stand a chance against all those PhDs."
"Even if I could get in, I wouldn't juggle two sides like that. I just joined Professor Mu's team—I can't suddenly accept an offer from Elder Xiang's group. Their focus isn't even remotely related to acupuncture!"
Mu Side pulled the car out onto the road, tapping his fingers lightly on the steering wheel.
"Elder Xiang's team specializes in pharmacology. A lot of the new drugs approved in China each year have their fingerprints all over them."
"They've also made significant contributions in cellular medicine. I remember Professor Han had wanted to collaborate with them before, though I'm not sure why that never happened."
"I don't care about any of that," Shu Lanzhou said, tugging her scarf as her breath finally evened out.
"Right now, I'm all in on acupuncture. I just want to stay in Professor Mu's team. No one can lure me away!"
"Alright, alright," Mu Side laughed, reaching over to pinch her cheek gently.
He could tell she meant what she said. Still, the future was unpredictable. People naturally gravitate toward strength and opportunity. If she chose Xiang's team one day, he wouldn't blame her.
It would be her choice, after all.
After handing over the business card, Xiao Anning drove back to Master Xiang's residence.
He was certain Shu Lanzhou would call—if not today, then tomorrow at the latest. An offer like this was too tempting for a college senior to resist.
Truth be told, their team had never recruited an undergrad before. He didn't know what Master Xiang was thinking.
Just because the girl saved Elder Long, he had named her specifically—was she really worth it?
Besides, the emergency actions she took—removing pressure from a stroke patient's brain and elevating the upper body—were basic medical knowledge. Anyone with some training would know to do that. The only reason no one dared move was the pressure of the situation.
She just got lucky—that's all. Elder Long made it through by sheer fortune!
None of them believed acupuncture was what brought him back. That kind of flashy technique did little more than inflict pain—it couldn't possibly be effective!
Clicking his tongue, Xiao Anning pushed open the villa's front door.
"Master…" he started, but stopped short when he saw guests in the living room—it was Han Weicheng and Lin Jiayi. He recognized both of them.
One was a renowned university professor, the other the deputy director of the Central Research Institute.
What were they doing at Master Xiang's house at a time like this?
"You're just in time." Master Xiang waved him over. "These two don't believe Elder Long has regained consciousness. Explain it to them."
Xiao Anning quickly approached. "Deputy Director Lin, Professor Han—what do you mean, you don't believe it? Are you saying you wish Elder Long was still in trouble?"
"N-no, of course not!" Han Weicheng and Lin Jiayi both turned pale with fear.
Even though the Lin family had some standing in Shen City, compared to the Long family, they were nothing. That kind of statement couldn't be made carelessly.
Lin Jiayi looked anxiously at Xiao Anning. "Assistant Xiao, that's not what we meant. It's just… unusual. The hospital hasn't released any news yet."
"That girl who treated Elder Long used to be Weicheng's student. She was always unimpressive and even left the team recently. Then she joined Mu Yanning."
"To say she revived Elder Long through acupuncture—that's a hard sell. Even if I believed it, the public wouldn't."
"Then it seems you've severely misjudged her," Xiao Anning's expression turned cold.
"I just met her. She's nothing like the 'unimpressive' student you described. The fact that she was accepted into Professor Han's team already proves her capabilities."
"Now she's also been taken in by Professor Mu. That alone shows she's got true ability. If she were really so unqualified, we wouldn't have seen her making a move in front of everyone at today's seminar."
Master Xiang nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. That girl dared to act in front of a crowd—not just because she's brave, but because she has a healer's heart. That alone makes her a qualified doctor."
"Professor Han, I don't know why she left your team, but based on what happened today, I'd say you've lost a very good student."
His tone turned icy as he stood up. "See them out."
Even after Master Xiang disappeared around the corner of the stairs, Han Weicheng and Lin Jiayi were still frozen in place.
They had been utterly stunned.
It wasn't until Xiao Anning stood up and reminded them, "This way, please," that they moved.
"Master Xiang, he…" Han Weicheng snapped back to his senses and looked around—but the large living room was already empty.
His face turned as white as a sheet.
He had come hoping Master Xiang would give him a chance—to finally let him take the reins of his own research.
But before he could even say a word, Master Xiang had effectively slapped him in the face!
That student he had dismissed—the one who had left his team, Shu Lanzhou—had now become a "good student" in everyone else's eyes.
How was that possible? It couldn't be!
Han Weicheng's hands trembled.
"Weicheng!" Lin Jiayi was equally shocked. She tugged his arm. "Let's go."
Unlike Han Weicheng, Lin Jiayi didn't care that much about Master Xiang. After all, Guoyuan Hospital had no jurisdiction over the research institute.
Still, even she hadn't expected Shu Lanzhou to be held in such high regard!
"Assistant Xiao, are you saying… you all believe it was Shu Lanzhou who saved Elder Long?" she asked as they stepped outside.