Shu Lanzhou chuckled.
"An intern who can make Han Weicheng's student suffer twice in a row isn't just any ordinary intern. Just wait—you'll see more people trying to poach you."
"No way!" Yi Ming looked frustrated.
"We've only been at the research institute for a month or two, and we just officially started our internships. These people didn't even know who we were before. The paper's only just been published—how are they suddenly acting like we're old friends? And who was that person? I've never seen them before."
Shu Lanzhou pressed her lips together.
"That's normal. There are plenty of senior researchers at the institute. Each professor has their own research focus, and once the research reaches a certain depth, breakthroughs become harder and harder to achieve."
"They need fresh blood and up-to-date medical knowledge. Your fields are at the very core of fundamental research, and now that you've made such rapid progress…"
Of course she was worried!
"But we're already following Professor He. Isn't it kind of underhanded for them to try and poach us now?" Ding Yuejiao stuck out her tongue.
Shu Lanzhou looked bitter.
"But you're just interns. You haven't officially signed with the institute. Once you do, the choice of which group to join will be yours. Not even Professor He can stop you."
Whether in this life or the last, there were always people with sharp eyes for power. Everyone wanted to make something of themselves, to climb the ladder, to use their internships as a path to staying in Shanghai.
Those varied motivations led to different choices.
He Xin had always had his own fixed team. Even this time, when Wu Cheng and the others joined, it was under a cooperative arrangement.
Whether they stayed or not, aside from their abilities, ultimately depended on their personal decisions. Shu Lanzhou couldn't influence that.
She didn't want to emotionally manipulate anyone. However...
"Still, consider this a personal request," she said solemnly. "No matter what you choose, I hope you'll wait until after our joint research project concludes."
There weren't many teams willing to collaborate on acupuncture research. If members of Wu Cheng's team quit now, it would be a major blow.
"What are you even talking about?" Yi Ming set down his chopsticks.
"We stayed precisely because Professor He was willing to take our entire team. Now that the research has begun, how could we ditch him and join someone else?"
Wu Cheng and the others nodded.
"Exactly, that won't happen. Junior Shu, don't worry. I keep my word. You've helped us so much—it would be heartless of us to leave now."
"Besides, there's still the Mu family... sticking with Professor He won't be a loss for us!"
Shu Lanzhou only half believed the earlier part, but that last sentence? That one was definitely true. Behind He Xin stood the Mu family. As long as these interns weren't stupid, they wouldn't jump ship now.
That's also why, in her past life, no matter how many people tried to poach members of Han Weicheng's team, they never succeeded.
Beyond Han Weicheng's own prestige, he had the backing of the Lin, Luo, and Du families—any one of which could wield significant influence in Shanghai.
If someone really defected, they'd end up blacklisted from the entire medical world.
Relieved, Shu Lanzhou resumed eating.
Not far away, on the second-floor balcony, two people sat watching them closely.
"Didn't you tell me these were just a bunch of nobodies He Xin brought in? That they'd be kicked out of the institute soon, and I shouldn't even bother helping them onboard? Then what is this?" Zhou Yan looked annoyed.
She'd boasted in front of Shu Lanzhou and the others, and now they'd already published a research paper. Her pride was bruised—so much so she couldn't even lift her head.
Lin Jiayi hadn't expected things to turn out like this either.
"You know how He Xin is—always quietly focused on research and pays no attention to the outside world. I thought this time he was duped by Mu Yaning into signing those students. Who knew…"
Who knew they actually had talent? Who knew they'd make progress faster than Han Weicheng's team and even secure a patent? It was infuriating!
"So what are you going to do now?" Zhou Yan asked anxiously.
"Shouldn't you go talk to He Xin again? I heard they're running three joint projects—surely they're short on people. Maybe you could—"
"Enough!" Lin Jiayi waved her hand.
"You know what he's like. It's been nearly twenty years. I've done everything I could, and he still hasn't budged. Sometimes I wonder if he's even a real man!"
"Hah... that's true," Zhou Yan chuckled. "Back when you were young, you had men falling over themselves for you, but somehow you hit a wall with He Xin."
"Tell me—what's so great about that bitch Mu Yaning? Why is he so obsessed with her? Like there's no one else in the world?"
Just hearing her name made Lin Jiayi's face twist with bitterness and anger.
"Don't mention Mu Yaning to me. I will make He Xin regret it. I said it, and I'll do it. That woman will only drag him down. Only I can help him succeed."
"All these years, Mu Yaning has clung to her family's acupuncture methods, and He Xin's been stuck in place because of it. Don't tell me he has no resentment. And now, he's even doing some joint research with her?"
"It's laughable. I'll make sure Han Weicheng surpasses him. I'll prove that the man I support will be the one who reaches the top of this field—who becomes a legend!"
"Then we'll see if He Xin still feels no regret."
Zhou Yan pursed her lips.
"Well, that plan makes sense, but are you sure Han Weicheng is really that capable? After everything that's happened recently, I have my doubts."
"Look at those students." She gestured toward Shu Lanzhou's group. "At this point, Han Weicheng has already lost the first round. They've applied for a patent, and no one even knows if they'll let your team use those research methods. Plus, with the director looking into this, aren't you worried—"
"Worried about what?" Lin Jiayi cut her off. "Han Weicheng's students wouldn't steal data. Those research methods were discovered independently by both teams. Any similarities are just coincidence."
"And I believe the two methods differ in key ways. As long as the investigation gets to the bottom of it, we still have a chance. Zhou Yan, I need your help. As for those students…"
She lowered her voice, leaned in, and whispered something in Zhou Yan's ear.
Zhou Yan smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I manage all the personnel files for the institute. Deciding who stays and who doesn't—that's still within my power."
"I'll tear that team apart piece by piece. Let's see how He Xin reacts then!"
…
Unaware that Wu Cheng and the others had already been targeted, Shu Lanzhou finished her meal, worked late in the lab, and then returned to campus.
Three days later, the institute's investigation results came out.
He Xin brought Wu Cheng and Shu Lanzhou along to meet with the director. On the other side, Han Weicheng arrived with Lin Jiayi, and only Tian Hua and Guo Jialiang came with them.
Surprisingly, Zhou Yan was also present. Why was she here?
The moment Shu Lanzhou spotted Guo Jialiang, she knew the director wouldn't play neutral this time. This was a matter of principle—Guo Jialiang would be punished, that was certain.
What she hadn't expected was how he'd be punished…