Waiting for the Show

Shu Lanzhou couldn't help but laugh.

What so-called affection? she thought.

Du Yifan was hot-tempered and impulsive—always had been. He was the kind of person who never listened to explanations, who clung to his own opinions even when he was dead wrong.

In her previous life, his temper had led their research into dead ends again and again. But in the end, he dumped all the blame on her, accusing her of being stubborn and uncooperative.

This time, she was going to show him what real defiance looked like.

A mocking smile tugged at her lips. "Who said I want to return to Professor Han's team?"

"You—" Du Yifan was at a loss for words again.

It was the first time he realized his anger no longer worked on her. In the past, the moment he lost his temper, she'd back down, apologize, and do everything she could to soothe him.

But now… she talked back. She mocked him!

Fang Ruoshi felt a headache coming on. His brow furrowed deeply. "Lanzhou, don't act on impulse. This isn't a joke. You've studied this field for four years—how can you throw it away just like that?"

"Have you forgotten what you once said? That you wanted to stand at the very pinnacle of this field, to share the highest honors of the medical world with us?"

"I haven't forgotten." Shu Lanzhou's expression calmed. "I'll still climb to the top. I'll still chase that honor. But none of that is tied to my current major."

"What a joke!" Du Yifan laughed coldly. "You think you can switch majors now, leave Professor Han's team, and still aim for the top? You're too naive."

Shu Lanzhou's patience was running thin. "You can all leave now. I've already submitted my withdrawal form. The change of major is also finalized. There's no turning back."

She turned without another word.

Lin Muyao, who'd been silently gloating, finally saw an opening. She hadn't expected Shu Lanzhou to give up so easily.

"Senior Shu, may I ask—what major did you switch to?" she asked sweetly.

"None of your business." Shu Lanzhou's expression darkened. She had no interest in entertaining Lin Muyao.

Lin Muyao was like a leech. She'd latched onto Han Weicheng and his entire team. In her previous life, Shu Lanzhou had repeatedly foiled her schemes, saving her fellow teammates over and over.

And in return? The sweet words from Lin Muyao turned all those teammates against her. They not only humiliated her with cruel words but ultimately forced her out of the team.

This time, she wasn't going to waste effort playing the villain again. Let Lin Muyao play her games—Shu Lanzhou would no longer be the target.

"Senior…" Lin Muyao's smile stiffened, her voice dipped with grievance as she looked pitifully at Du Yifan.

Du Yifan couldn't stand that look. He stormed forward and grabbed Shu Lanzhou's arm. "Muyao asked you a question—why didn't you answer her?"

"If there's something wrong with your head, go treat it. Let go." Shu Lanzhou's eyes flashed with a sharp chill.

She looked at Du Yifan as if he were an idiot.

He froze.

He had never seen this look in her eyes—so full of disdain, of cold indifference. For the first time, he realized she truly looked down on him.

That realization was like a slap in the face, and fury surged up, drowning him.

"Fine, Shu Lanzhou, you've got guts! If I ever care about you again, I'm a damn pig! Come on, Muyao, we're leaving!"

He dragged Lin Muyao off. Fang Ruoshi's expression stiffened slightly.

He glanced at Du Yifan's retreating back, then back at Shu Lanzhou. "Are you really sure you want to leave the team?"

"Yeah." Shu Lanzhou's tone was flat, her eyes tired. "If there's nothing else, I'm going."

"Lanzhou—" Fang Ruoshi tried once more, unwilling to give up. "Don't blame Senior Luo or Professor Han. They never meant to drive you out. If you change your mind, it's not too late. We'd still welcome you back."

A cold laugh escaped her lips. "No thanks."

What do you take me for? she thought. I already died once in that trap. Why would I ever go back?

Back in her dorm, Shu Lanzhou was completely unfazed. She continued reading her acupuncture textbooks with full focus.

Ding Yuejiao couldn't take it anymore. "I peeked at your books—they're all on acupuncture. Don't tell me you really switched your major to acupuncture?"

"Mm-hmm," Shu Lanzhou replied without even looking up.

Ding Yuejiao was stunned. She and Shu Lanzhou weren't super close, but after living together for four years, she'd come to consider her a real friend.

"Lanzhou, acupuncture is the least popular major in our school. You went from the hottest major to the coldest—don't you think that's a bit extreme?"

"Are you sure this is what you want? You won't regret it? This isn't some game—it's your whole future. Don't make a rash decision!"

Shu Lanzhou could see she was genuinely concerned, so she explained a bit more.

"I've thought it through. Switching to acupuncture doesn't mean I'm giving up my original field."

"I just left Professor Han's team. That's all. It's not as dramatic as everyone's making it out to be. I still need an internship. I still need a mentor. Professor Mu took me in at this critical moment, and I'm grateful."

Ding Yuejiao picked up on something. "That Professor Han…"

"I don't want to talk about the rest." Shu Lanzhou gave her a small smile. "Just know—I'm serious. This isn't some spur-of-the-moment thing. I will master acupuncture."

Ding Yuejiao's curiosity was going wild, but she didn't press further. She just mumbled to herself:

"By the way, things are blowing up on the forums. Apparently Senior Luo and Senior Mu aren't on good terms. Everyone's waiting for drama!"

"I figured." Shu Lanzhou picked up her phone. "Thanks."

Ding Yuejiao waved her off. "Don't be so formal. But hey, if you really want to thank me… could you help guide me for the Medical Innovation Competition next month?"

That made Shu Lanzhou pause.

In her last life, she'd still been part of Han's team when Luo Jialin entered that competition. The team requirement was 3 to 6 people. The concept had been her idea, she'd handled everything from start to finish, including the final report.

But her name wasn't on the entry list.

Why? Because Luo Jialin had said she'd already won enough awards. Lin Muyao's résumé was too empty by comparison. To "balance the team," they listed Lin Muyao instead.

They said she had "participated in the process."

And somehow, faced with Luo Jialin's gentle smile, Shu Lanzhou had agreed.

They went on to win the Grand Prize—100,000 yuan in cash.

Lin Muyao didn't give her a single cent.

Worse, no one on the team even thanked her. They acted like she owed it to them.

Shu Lanzhou exhaled slowly. "Have you come up with an innovation proposal yet? Let me take a look."

She remembered that in her previous life, Professor Mu's team didn't even participate in the competition. It was Ding Yuejiao's team that took First Prize.

If she gave Ding Yuejiao the innovation she'd designed in her last life—and offered a few pointers—then maybe Luo Jialin and the others could kiss their prize goodbye.

And once that idea took root, there was no stopping it.

Ding Yuejiao hadn't expected her to agree. She'd only asked on a whim.

Her own advisor was no match for Professor Han. She'd tried multiple times to get into his class, but luck had never been on her side.

Now she was thrilled just to have someone like Shu Lanzhou take a look.

She brought over her laptop. "Here, this is our innovation concept. We're still stuck on how to write the second half."

To Shu Lanzhou's surprise, their idea was very similar to the one she'd proposed in her previous life.

"Is this a team project, or was this your individual idea?" she asked.