Ever since joining Han Weicheng's team, forget slowly savoring a rib—just eating a peaceful meal had become a luxury.
Shu Lanzhou shook her head, unwilling to recall those days. They were too foolish. Just thinking about it made her feel humiliated.
"No more of that," she said with a laugh. "At least I've fulfilled my childhood wish. Every day now is filled with joy. Thank your brother for me!"
Mu Side was truly a good, good person—far better than Luo Jialin in every way.
A bittersweet feeling swelled in Mu Side's heart. It was hard to describe—sour, aching, yet warm. Silently, he made a vow to himself: he would treat Shu Lanzhou even better, much better, and help her fulfill all her dreams.
…
Lin Muyao had been having an especially rough time lately. The wounds on her body had barely begun to scab over when she was whipped again until her skin split open.
The pain kept her awake night after night. Venting online was the only way she could release her fury at Shu Lanzhou. But unexpectedly, after just a couple of days, all online content about Shu Lanzhou vanished.
The state media had stepped in to affirm her heroic act of saving someone, and no one dared to slander her online anymore.
Enraged, Lin Muyao smashed her phone and cut herself off from the world for days. Once her injuries eased up and she finally got a new phone, the first call she received was from Du Yifan inviting her out.
It turned out Du Yifan wanted to bring Huang Tiantian home for the New Year. But Huang's family background was lacking, and he hoped Lin Muyao would speak up on her behalf.
Lin Muyao stared at her darkened phone screen and sneered, "Idiot."
She called Huang Tiantian and arranged to meet at a café downtown.
"Lin Muyao!" Huang Tiantian rushed to her the moment she arrived.
Lin Muyao stepped back. "Don't try your seduction tricks on me. Tell me—Du Yifan's planning to take you to the Du family, right?"
"Ah, yes, he mentioned it. But I haven't agreed yet. It all feels a little too fast," Huang Tiantian said, eyes glinting. "But I did look into what you asked."
"Spit it out," Lin Muyao said impatiently.
She'd had Huang Tiantian flirt with Du Yifan solely to stop him from pining over Shu Lanzhou. After their project got signed with the research institute, Luo Jialin kicked her out completely.
How could Lin Muyao accept that? She had no choice but to use Huang Tiantian to spy on Du Yifan and see if she could extract some intel—maybe even find a way back into the project.
Huang Tiantian didn't care about Lin Muyao's attitude. Rich people like her always thought they were better than others. Idiots, the lot of them. Their money and power would all be hers eventually.
"Du Yifan said that for the sake of the project, the institute is planning to buy a batch of new equipment. But there's been a big fight about space—your mom and Professor He from the institute have been going at it."
"Apparently, Professor He's team also plans to launch a new project after the New Year. The institute doesn't have enough space or equipment for two simultaneous projects."
She told Lin Muyao everything she'd learned.
But none of it was helpful to Lin Muyao. That Professor He—wasn't he He Sixin's father? He and her mother had always been at odds. She'd heard Lin Jiayi complain about him countless times.
And she couldn't help with this. Whether it was space or equipment—none of it was within her reach.
Her expression darkened. "That's it? No other info?"
Seeing her reaction, Huang Tiantian realized her intel was useless. "Let me think—"
What the hell did this pampered princess even want to know?
Cursing inwardly, Huang Tiantian grasped at straws. "Oh right! A while back, Du Yifan brought someone from your team—Fang Ruoshi—to the Ke family. I think it had something to do with equipment."
"The Du and Ke families aren't close. If Du Yifan couldn't get through to the Ke family himself, could it be that Fang Ruoshi had some connection?"
Lin Muyao looked surprised. "That's odd. Fang Ruoshi doesn't seem like the type."
"No, it wasn't her. The connection to the Ke family came through a woman named Ji Chuyun. Du Yifan said the Ke family owed the Ji family a favor—and the Ji family, in turn, owed one to the Du family."
"What's that got to do with me?" Lin Muyao was running out of patience. "Do you have anything useful or not?"
Huang Tiantian pouted. "Hold on, the point is—that woman, Ji Chuyun, seems to have taken a liking to your Senior Fang. She was flirting with him the whole time!"
"You're saying Ji Chuyun likes Fang Ruoshi?" Now that was interesting. The Ji family had a powerful position in Shen City, and Ji Chuyun was known for never showing interest in anyone.
If she could pair those two up, maybe she could get some inside info from Fang Ruoshi. He was ten times more useful than that useless Du Yifan!
Lin Muyao's expression finally softened. "Got it. You can go. I'll pay."
"Thank you, Lin Muyao! If you need anything, I'm always at your service!" Huang Tiantian gave a bootlicking smile.
Lin Muyao sneered at her fawning demeanor—just like Shu Lanzhou. Always playing the pitiful card, acting all sweet and helpless, as if the whole world owed them love.
"Stop yapping. Get lost," she snapped, swatting her hand like shooing a fly.
So what if she was born into privilege? Arrogant little brat—so damn annoying! Huang Tiantian turned and left.
After she was gone, Lin Muyao wasted no time. She called Ji Chuyun, her tone shifting from earlier disdain to barely concealed flattery.
"Ji Chuyun? It's me, Lin Muyao. Got time? Let me treat you to tea."
…
In the days that followed, Lin Muyao kept trying to pair up Fang Ruoshi and Ji Chuyun—but unfortunately, Fang Ruoshi had no interest in her.
Eventually, feeling cornered, he vanished before the New Year, blocked all contact, and disappeared entirely.
Furious, Lin Muyao couldn't eat for two days. That bumpkin had the nerve to reject a lady like Ji Chuyun? Was he brain-dead?
Just wait, Fang Ruoshi—one day, you'll regret this!
With the project set to start right after the New Year and no way to join, Lin Muyao had no choice but to swallow her pride and go to her mother.
She hated asking Lin Jiayi for help. Every time she did, she got scolded as useless. She didn't want to be that kind of person.
Lately, Lin Jiayi had been working at the research institute nonstop. Rarely home. So Lin Muyao cooked a few dishes herself and brought them over.
At the institute, she noticed the neighboring building was being vacated. She asked around and learned that the company was moving out and wouldn't return after the holiday.
Due to a sudden lease termination, their rent had been withheld for six months. Disputes dragged on, and the landlord hadn't listed the space for rent again.
Looking at the building just steps from the institute, Lin Muyao had a sudden idea—maybe, just maybe, she'd found a way into the project team.
…
Only three or four days remained until the New Year.
The Mu family, worried that Shu Lanzhou might feel awkward if she came over on the actual holiday, decided to invite her a few days early to help her feel more at ease.
Plus, Mu Yaning had already given herself an early vacation and would be staying at the old Mu residence for a few days. To make tutoring more convenient, she suggested Shu Lanzhou stay over as well.
Shu Lanzhou wasn't the type who liked refusing people. She often felt that saying no was ungrateful.
She packed a few changes of clothes and followed Mu Side to the Mu home. Before going, she stopped by a pastry shop to buy a few delicate treats.
Mu Side originally wanted to tell her it wasn't necessary, but seeing how earnest she was, he didn't stop her.
Strangely enough, the pastries she picked were exactly the ones the family liked best.
When they arrived, Mu Side led her inside.
As soon as they entered the main hall, Shu Lanzhou spotted a kind-looking elderly lady. Seeing them approach, the woman rose to greet them—bringing tears to Shu Lanzhou's eyes.
"Grandma Mu!" she said, hurrying forward. She reached out instinctively for the woman's hand—but hesitated.
That hesitation…