Although Mu Side agreed it was a good thing, he still couldn't help feeling distressed.
"You're right. There's no need to worry about what others say—we have a clear conscience!"
Shu Lanzhou wiped her tears and nodded.
"Yeah, but the Long family's attitude still matters to me. I'm not some saint who does good deeds and asks for no recognition. If they think I was wrong to save Elder Long, I'd be really upset!"
"Pfft…" She clenched her tiny fist in mock seriousness, completely breaking Mu Side into laughter.
She was clearly someone who had been bullied all her life, yet her heart remained kind and soft. She looked delicate, yet she lived with a resilient clarity.
Like a stray seed thrown into a forgotten corner—give it just a bit of wind and rain, and it would fight to sprout with all its might.
Mu Side was deeply moved by her optimism and strength. He reached out and ruffled her long hair.
"Don't worry. If the Long family can't even tell right from wrong, they wouldn't have become the top household in Shen City."
"Exactly!" All her gloom vanished in an instant. Shu Lanzhou returned to her book, happily waiting for her pork rib rice. As for the reporters downstairs…
Mu Side had already called the police.
At that same moment—
In the hospital where Elder Long was recovering, Long Xingyue handed his phone to the old man.
"Dad, this is the surveillance footage from the day of the event. I suggest you don't watch it—it'll only make you feel worse."
Elder Long smiled.
"I've lived to ninety. What haven't I seen? It's just human indifference, nothing that'll chill my heart. At the end of the day, they were just afraid of getting into trouble."
"You're right." Long Xingyue tapped on the screen and played the video.
"Actually, it was my fault. I shouldn't have left you alone upstairs. But after it happened, aside from not daring to touch you, the others did what they could. It wasn't exactly standing by and doing nothing. Just that…"
"Just what? Since when did you start beating around the bush?" Elder Long glanced at his son.
Long Xingyue looked helpless.
"It's just… there are a lot of people online attacking the girl who helped you. They're saying nasty things. Even some of the doctors present are now questioning her motives."
"What kind of motive do you need to save a life?" Elder Long scoffed and tossed the phone back to Long Xingyue.
"Contact the state media. We can't let this go unchecked. The footage can't be released, but we can at least rein in the public narrative."
Long Xingyue's eyes flickered. "Should we bring Professor Mu into the spotlight? With her credibility, people wouldn't question the girl's intentions."
"No." Elder Long waved his hand. "You know how much Yanning hates the media. Absolutely not. Don't drag her into this."
"Got it," Long Xingyue said, slightly disappointed.
That very afternoon, the official media released a statement recognizing Shu Lanzhou's brave rescue. To protect her privacy, they also issued a stern warning to unethical media outlets.
They even released the police report from the hospital, publicly calling out the reporter who had injured Shu Lanzhou.
By the time Shu Lanzhou finally got to eat her pork ribs, all the reporters downstairs had dispersed. Mu Side walked the officers out and then returned upstairs.
Seeing her happily gnawing on her ribs, oblivious to everything else, Mu Side couldn't decide if he was more relieved or more heartbroken.
"My grandma wants you to spend New Year's at our house," he said suddenly.
Shu Lanzhou was so startled, the rib she had just picked up fell back into her lunchbox.
She looked flustered, mouth full of food that she couldn't swallow no matter how hard she chewed. She nearly choked.
"What's the rush? I'm not going to steal your food," Mu Side said helplessly, handing her a glass of water.
After a few sips, she finally caught her breath. "But… I've never even met your grandmother."
"Then meet her," he said while patting her back gently. "Remember the flowers you brought to my grandfather's funeral?"
"That was his favorite flower while he was alive. My grandma has a whole garden of them in the backyard. When she saw the bouquet, she asked me who brought them."
"My grandma really wants to meet you."
Shu Lanzhou lowered her gaze.
"Oh… but I grew up in the countryside. I don't know much about etiquette, and I've never really spent New Year's with elders. I'm afraid…"
She didn't want to ruin anyone's mood during the holidays. Her first instinct was to decline.
Suddenly, Mu Side took her hand.
"Didn't you call me 'big brother'? What kind of brother lets his sister spend the New Year alone? Be good and come home with me. Auntie already likes you. Trust me, Grandma will too."
He reached out and pinched her cheek.
"You're so adorable. Who wouldn't like you?"
Shu Lanzhou felt truly warmed by his words.
Her eyes turned red. She had insisted on calling him 'big brother' because of a selfish wish—she wanted a family, and every time she said it, it made her feel less alone.
But she never imagined… he'd actually treat her like a real sister.
He coaxed her so gently, even wanted to bring her home. It made her want to cry.
Tears streamed down uncontrollably.
"What's wrong?" Mu Side panicked, fumbling to wipe her tears. "If there's something wrong, talk to your brother, don't cry, okay? If you really don't want to go, I—"
"It's not that I don't want to!" Shu Lanzhou shook her head hard. "I'm just afraid of embarrassing myself… afraid I don't deserve your kindness… afraid…"
Afraid she wouldn't do well and ruin everything.
She had come back to life wanting to live more freely, to not care so much. But deep down, she still did.
She couldn't help it—she cared about the people around her, about anyone who showed her kindness.
Even the tiniest warmth, she wanted to repay it a thousandfold, because she'd received so little of it in her life.
She wanted desperately to hold onto it.
"Don't be afraid." Mu Side pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back in comfort.
"With me here, you don't need to fear anything. The Mu family is easygoing. Just be yourself—no one will judge you. Trust me. Just treat it like your own home, really."
Shu Lanzhou sniffled. "Brother…"
"Hmm?" Mu Side lowered his head. Their faces were so close, for a moment, he was tempted to kiss her right there.
"The ribs won't taste good if they get cold!" Shu Lanzhou blinked, and the tears on her lashes finally fell.
Whatever romantic thought Mu Side had instantly vanished, leaving him half-amused, half-exasperated.
This girl must be missing a nerve somewhere—why is she always thinking about food?
"Alright." He let go of her. "Hurry up and eat before you choke again."
Shu Lanzhou blushed. "Not like I choke every time. And it's your fault anyway."
She gave him a playful glare, then lowered her head and bit into a rib.
"I've loved eating bones since I was little. But we were so poor back then, I was raised on charity meals. Having any veggies was a blessing—if there was even a sliver of meat in the dish, it meant the host was being generous. Let alone bones."
"When I finally got a bone to gnaw on, I ate it so slowly, savoring every bite because it was so delicious. But it smelled so good, it attracted the village dogs. They stole it from me!"
Thinking back on being chased around the village by dogs, she couldn't help but laugh.
"I swore back then—when I had money, I'd eat meat and bones at every meal. Slowly, slowly gnaw on them. No one would be allowed to take them from me."
"But later on…"