The Despicable One

Luo Jialin was a local of Shencheng, born into a prestigious family.

To treat Lin Muyao to a meal, he had booked a private room in the most luxurious restaurant near the school.

As soon as they entered, Lin Muyao threw herself into Luo Jialin's arm. "Jialin ge, why isn't Senior here? Is she still mad at me?"

"How could she be?" Luo Jialin took the chopsticks from her hand. "She's sick and in the hospital. We didn't tell her about the meal!"

Lin Muyao clung to Luo Jialin's sleeve, her face filled with concern. "What's wrong? Is it serious? I want to go visit her!"

"She's always been healthy. Even if she's sick, it shouldn't be serious," Guo Jialiang said, sweetly pouring her tea. "She won't even answer Senior Luo's calls. We tried to visit her, but we couldn't even find her!"

Lin Muyao blinked her eyes, her soft gaze landing on Luo Jialin. "Could it be that she didn't hear the phone? How about we call her again?"

Earlier that morning when she saw Shu Lanzhou, she seemed fine and full of energy. How could she suddenly be sick? Lin Muyao believed that Shu Lanzhou was faking it, trying to gain sympathy from the seniors to avoid her punishment.

Fang Ruoshi, a bit worried about Shu Lanzhou, said, "Senior, try calling her again. Maybe she really didn't hear it."

"You're the only one who's worried about her!" Guo Jialiang snorted. "I think she's doing it on purpose. This morning, she used Senior Luo's medal to apologize to Lin Muyao, and now she won't even answer Senior Luo's call."

"Can't you see? She's deliberately throwing a tantrum with Senior Luo, still blaming him for making her apologize to Muyao!"

The medal incident had already made Luo Jialin feel uneasy. His anger had subsided a little after learning Shu Lanzhou was sick, or he wouldn't have helped her organize the materials. But now, as the topic was brought up again, combined with the fact that Shu Lanzhou hadn't answered his call, his anger flared up once more.

"We're here to eat. Don't worry about her. She's the only girl in the team. We've pampered her too much, and now she's forgotten her place. She's becoming more and more unreasonable."

"This incident is a good lesson for her so she doesn't act without regard for the consequences in the future."

Since Luo Jialin had spoken, no one else dared to say much.

However, Fang Ruoshi still felt uncomfortable. He had known Shu Lanzhou the longest, and his entry into the team was partially due to her, so he didn't want Shu Lanzhou to be hated by everyone.

"Lanzhou just got a bit stubborn. She wanted to join the team so badly that she made a mistake. But now she's apologized and received her punishment."

"I believe she won't hurt Lin Muyao again in the future!"

Lin Muyao sneered inwardly: She knew these straight-laced men wouldn't give up on Shu Lanzhou so easily, especially Fang Ruoshi. She had heard that both he and Shu Lanzhou came from humble backgrounds, and they had always been the closest!

Looks like she had to find a way to make Fang Ruoshi hate Shu Lanzhou quickly, so that he wouldn't always defend her and speak well of her in the future.

"Senior Fang is right. I believe Senior was just impulsive when she slandered me. After all, you've all been a team for so long, and the five seniors have always taken care of her."

"I suddenly joined the team, and you've all been kind to me. It's only natural that she would feel uncomfortable. I understand that, so I don't blame her!"

Lin Muyao's words were sincere, and her expression full of guilt, making the men around her feel moved.

"Senior Muyao is so understanding," Guo Jialiang pushed the dish in front of her. "You've lost weight these past few days. Eat more."

Luo Jialin also placed a piece of meat in her bowl. "If only Lanzhou were as understanding as you, she wouldn't have done such things!"

For a moment, the group was enjoying their meal and having a good time, forgetting all about Shu Lanzhou.

But not long after, Luo Jialin received a call from Professor Han Weicheng:

"Do you know that Shu Lanzhou wants to leave the team?"

"What?" Luo Jialin's voice darkened, causing the room to fall silent. "Did she tell you this in person? Could it be that she was just angry?"

Professor Han's tone was stern.

"If she's serious, I'm not asking you, but she sent an email to me. I'll forward it to you shortly. Go ask her if she's really thought it through."

"My team doesn't need someone like her—someone who has no moral integrity and is always throwing tantrums. Who does she think she is, challenging me like this? My team doesn't need her!"

Professor Han was clearly furious.

In his eyes, the fact that he had kept Shu Lanzhou in the team was already a huge favor to her. And now, she dared to leave the team? To him, it was sheer ingratitude.

His research team represented the pinnacle of domestic research in this field, and not just anyone could join. Now that Shu Lanzhou was quitting, he wouldn't be kind about it.

Luo Jialin hung up the phone and saw the email forwarded by Professor Han—it was indeed Shu Lanzhou's request to leave the team!

His brow furrowed deeply, and a surge of anger welled up inside him.

Originally, he should have been pleased that she was leaving, especially after she had embarrassed him in front of everyone. But why did he feel no happiness at all when he saw her withdrawal request? Instead, he felt a dull ache in his chest.

Something felt wrong.

"What's wrong, Senior?" Lin Muyao tugged at his sleeve.

Luo Jialin threw the phone on the table.

"Shu Lanzhou wants to leave the team. She just sent Professor Han an email. Professor Han is very angry and wants me to check if she's serious."

"Has she gone mad?" Du Yifan jumped up. "She worked so hard to get in, and now she just leaves? What does she want?"

Guo Jialiang sneered.

"I knew it! She's throwing a tantrum. She probably wants to get Muyao out of the team, thinking that we can't do without her. How arrogant!"

"Being part of the country's top research team is a dream for many interns. I don't believe she'll just leave like this!" Tian Hua also didn't believe it, siding with Guo Jialiang.

Fang Ruoshi, however, didn't see it the same way. When he saw the email, his face turned pale, and his breathing became shallow.

"When has Lanzhou ever joked about serious matters?"

Hearing him, everyone recalled that Shu Lanzhou was always serious and never joked about these things. She was always meticulous and professional in her work.

"Could she really want to leave?" Luo Jialin's voice was soft, almost a whisper, and the light in his eyes dimmed.

He didn't even realize his hands were shaking! Something fleeting passed through his heart, something he couldn't hold on to. Then, he heard Lin Muyao's voice.

Lin Muyao was almost in tears.

"It's all my fault. Senior must want to leave the team because she hates me. I'll go talk to the professor. This withdrawal request shouldn't be approved. If anyone should leave, it's me."

"Compared to me, who just joined, Senior has worked with you for years and knows the team better. She's more in sync with all of you, even if I pass the exam, I still can't compare to her!"

Lin Muyao was nearly seething with anger. Although Shu Lanzhou hadn't been kicked out of the team yet, she could tell that the professor and seniors already disliked her.

Even if she stuck around, she would never be welcomed. Lin Muyao had already figured out how to make Shu Lanzhou the true scapegoat, forced to do the hardest work while receiving the least benefit.

As long as she kept the seniors and professor on her side, Shu Lanzhou would eventually wear out everyone's patience and leave in disgrace.

But now, what was going on?