"I don't hate her," Shu Lanzhou said, shaking her head.
"I never waste time on people who don't matter. She's not worth even a shred of emotion from me—not even hatred."
"To me, she's nothing more than a stranger. If she crosses me, I'll strike back on the spot."
"In the past, and in the future, I'll settle every score she owes me. But not for your sake—and I'll never be your weapon or your tool."
She tilted her head, eyes falling coldly on Fang Ruoshi.
"Compared to Du Yifan, you're actually the last person who wants to come to me. You're only here because you've run out of options."
"You failed the graduate school entrance exam, got kicked out of Han Weicheng's team, and you're too proud to go back to your hometown. So now, you need a place to hole up for a year and try again."
"You came to me thinking I'm an idiot—expecting me to hand you a spot on my team, give you a salary to tide you over."
"And once a better opportunity comes along, you'll vanish without a backward glance, right?"
She didn't expect him to answer.
"At the root of it all, you both still think I'm easy to manipulate—soft-hearted, dumb, someone you can come and go from as you please."
"But what gave you the illusion that I'm still the same old Shu Lanzhou? That I'm still someone you can bully and control?"
"Just because I have no family? No one backing me up? Because I don't have the kind of powerful background Lin Muyao has?"
Fang Ruoshi and Du Yifan stood there, awkward and speechless.
"We never thought that…" Du Yifan forced the words through clenched teeth. "We really do want to help you."
"You? Help me?" Shu Lanzhou didn't hold back her sneer. "You useless clown. If your dad hadn't donated a fat check to the school, do you think you would've even gotten in?"
"You barely made the cut after stacking every possible bonus point onto your pathetic score. Don't tell me you're unaware of your own mediocrity."
"And you, Fang Ruoshi. You play the part of the diligent, underprivileged student—but deep down, you've been looking for shortcuts, haven't you? Especially now, seeing where I've gotten. You're practically green with envy."
Shu Lanzhou laughed aloud. "Give it up, both of you. I'm not going to vouch for you or help you get into my team. But—"
She paused, a malicious glint flashing in her eyes.
"—considering how 'kind' you've been to me in the past, I'm feeling generous enough to point you in the right direction."
She leaned in, voice low and sinister. "Since it's Lin Muyao who got you into this mess, why not go to her?"
"Don't worry—she'd never dare let her mother find out what she's done. Just use that to threaten her. She'll bend over backward to get you into the research institute."
"…"
Zhao Huanhuan looked confused. "Senior, they've treated you so horribly and schemed against you. Why would you still give them advice like that?"
"If they actually get into the institute, wouldn't that make them your competition?"
"I heard Professor Han's current project is meant to compete directly with Professor He's, too."
Even though some time had passed, Shu Lanzhou still felt like she'd swallowed a fly—utterly disgusted.
What she wanted had never been petty revenge, not a few curses or punches, not even their regret or apologies. She wanted something far more final.
She wanted them behind bars—that's where human garbage like them belonged.
But after her rebirth, everyone was still just a student. No matter how nasty things got, it was still within the realm of moral failing—not enough to cross the legal line.
Unless, like Guo Jialiang, they let themselves be manipulated by Lin Muyao and took that final step into criminal territory.
So she had to throw them back into Lin Muyao's orbit. Only a devil can truly awaken the evil in another devil.
Let them tear each other apart first.
"They're not worthy of being our competition," Shu Lanzhou said, shaking her head. "Huanhuan, take this advice from someone who's been through it."
"In medicine, character is sometimes more important than skill. No matter what, we must never cross the moral line. Only then can we be good doctors."
"I understand, Senior!" Zhao Huanhuan nodded earnestly. "So you're deliberately sending them back to Professor Han? But would he really accept them?"
Shu Lanzhou nodded. "He will. No matter what, they were once his students."
"Oh my god… Before I got into school, I always thought Professor Han was amazing. I even tried to sign up for his class. Thank god I didn't get in."
Zhao Huanhuan patted her chest in relief. "If I hadn't heard it myself, I'd never believe someone like him could produce students like them. What a disappointment."
"Not every professor is like him—obsessed only with grades," Shu Lanzhou said, shaking her head as if to rid herself of the thought. "Didn't you say you wanted to double major? I'll recommend a professor for you…"
Soon after, news came from the research institute.
Lin Jiayi had bypassed standard procedures to admit two researchers—Du Yifan and Fang Ruoshi. Both had joined Han Weicheng's team.
Yi Ming even called Shu Lanzhou specifically to tell her that Fang Ruoshi was pushed in by the Ji family—he had apparently become their live-in son-in-law.
Ji Chuyun had donated a large sum to the institute.
Unlike Luo's investment, this was a pure donation—with no strings attached.
In the end, Fang Ruoshi still married Ji Chuyun. But unlike in the previous life, where he was already a successful researcher by then, this time he'd entered the Ji family with nothing.
And back then, Ji Chuyun had treated him with affection in public, always protective of his pride. With the Ji family's support, his career had soared.
But even so, Shu Lanzhou had once seen the injuries on Fang Ruoshi's body—bad ones.
Now, the power dynamic was different. He had married into the Ji family, and Ji Chuyun had already lost face chasing him down several times.
What would she do now, with her little "pet" finally in hand?
Well, people have to pay for their choices.
In her past life, Shu Lanzhou had approached Ji Chuyun solely to prevent her from becoming one of Lin Muyao's pawns.
Fang Ruoshi had a fragile ego. Being forced into a marriage like this was already the limit. If he was abused again, he'd come to hate Lin Muyao—who pulled the strings.
With him around, Shu Lanzhou no longer had to worry about Ji Chuyun siding with Lin Muyao.
After all, in her past life, Fang Ruoshi had been the only one who dared challenge Lin Muyao for the position of Director of the Research Institute.
Ji Family Residence.
Fang Ruoshi was led into a room by Ji Chuyun.
"Kneel," Ji Chuyun said lazily from the sofa, gazing at the pale, delicate scholar before her.
This was just her type—refined and fragile on the outside, but with a sharp pride at their core.
She'd dealt with too many men like him in business—speaking of virtue, honor, rules… only to turn around and stab you in the back with their thirty-six strategies.
That's why she loved scholars.
She loved using her filthy money to crush the arrogance in their bones.