Time to Break the Habit

Shu Lanzhou looked at Guo Jialiang coldly, a flicker of hatred flashing through her eyes—so quick it could have gone unnoticed.

In her previous life, it was his relentless insults that had pushed her into depression.

After she broke ties with the five senior students, Guo Jialiang acted like Lin Muyao's guard dog, snapping at her whenever he got the chance.

He accused her of being shameless, of coveting Luo Jialin even after he became Lin Muyao's husband. He dug up old diary entries she'd written during her school days, pages filled with admiration for Luo Jialin, and made sure the whole academic circle knew about them.

He even went as far as spreading vile rumors—that she'd slept with the village chief to afford her college tuition, and that she had only landed a spot in the competitive major by selling her body.

Those lies destroyed her reputation. She couldn't hold her head up anywhere. And eventually, it broke her spirit completely.

"My business has nothing to do with you," Shu Lanzhou said icily. "Leave. And don't come looking for me again."

Startled, Guo Jialiang's hand slipped, and a bag of snacks dropped to the ground.

"Don't pretend to be noble," he sneered. "I know you're poor. You probably can't even afford snacks. Luo Jialin and Lin Muyao were being kind—just take it."

With that, he turned away. "What bad luck… How did I put up with someone this stupid for so long?"

"Don't mind him, Lanzhou," Fang Ruoshi bent down to pick up the snacks. "Guo's always had a foul mouth, but he's only saying this because he cares. He's worried you'll have a hard time finding a job later."

Shu Lanzhou turned her head and stared at him. Her gaze was icy, piercing—and unsettling.

"If you have something to say, say it."

She was tired—tired of this endless entanglement, tired of their fake concern, tired of their manipulative games.

Funny, though.

In her past life, she trailed after them, constantly wishing they would notice her—say a kind word, maybe even smile at her once.

But all she got in return was disdain and impatience.

And now, after she'd finally left the team and made up her mind to cut them out of her life, here they were—trying to reel her back in.

Were they seriously that pathetic? Did they really only know how to treasure something after it was gone?

Well, too bad. This was just the beginning.

Fang Ruoshi softened his tone. "Lanzhou, don't treat me like this. I can't take it. We've always been closest… have you forgotten?"

"So?" Shu Lanzhou laughed, anger rising in her chest. "What do you want me to help with?"

Fang Ruoshi licked his lips.

"It's nothing serious. You know Professor Han just launched a new research project—there's a lot to prep for. And with the upcoming competition, I'm swamped."

Shu Lanzhou remained silent, just staring at him with a slight, knowing smile.

Flustered, Fang Ruoshi's cheeks flushed. "Lanzhou, your leaving the team had nothing to do with me. It was Luo Jialin who pushed for the public apology, and Professor Han who made the final decision."

"I did try to talk them out of it. But you know I don't have much influence on the team. No one listens to me."

Playing the victim—Fang Ruoshi's greatest skill.

In her previous life, every time he spoke with that pitiful tone, claiming he had no choice, Shu Lanzhou would drop everything to help him.

No matter how hard the task, she'd take it on for him.

And in the end? She was just his stepping stone, his free labor.

Not this time. She wasn't going to fall for it again.

"If you're not going to say it, I'm leaving," Shu Lanzhou said, turning to walk away.

"Wait!" Fang Ruoshi panicked, shocked that she would actually leave without begging him to explain—without even a second glance.

This wasn't like before. Normally, she'd coax him, ask what he needed.

Now?

He scrambled after her. "Okay, okay! Just don't go."

He shoved the snack bag back into her hands and finally blurted it out:

"I'm preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam. I need your help organizing the study materials—should be ready in about three weeks."

Ha.

Where did he get the audacity?

Had he already forgotten that he was the first one to tell her to apologize to Lin Muyao?

Shu Lanzhou lifted her eyelids and said coldly, "I don't have time."

"How could you not have time?" Fang Ruoshi snapped, voice rising in disbelief. "You're not working with Professor Han anymore. You don't have to handle any coursework or competitions. Organizing some notes wouldn't take you that long!"

Shu Lanzhou laughed. "Then why not find someone else to help you? I'm not interested."

She had actually tried to be polite. But if he didn't know when to quit—fine, she'd stop holding back.

She was too softhearted. That had to change. Especially with them.

"You're willing to help Du Yifan, but not me?" Fang Ruoshi shouted. "Aren't we both your seniors? Why the double standard?"

Shu Lanzhou had a sharp retort on the tip of her tongue, but when she saw his livid, flustered face, she decided he wasn't worth it.

Still, since he brought up Du Yifan…

She smiled faintly. "If I remember correctly, you and Du Yifan are in the same major, right? I've already organized those materials once. You should just ask him for them."

Then she let go of the snack bag. "I don't accept unearned gifts. You can take these back."

And without giving him a chance to respond, she turned and vanished into the crowd.

She was sure of one thing—Du Yifan would never give Fang Ruoshi the notes.

Despite pretending to be a team, the five of them were constantly vying against each other behind the scenes. Everyone wanted to earn Professor Han's favor.

They were still in school, but what came after graduation—what kind of job, what kind of connections—depended on how well they stood out now.

Du Yifan may seem loud and goofy, but when it came to real competition, he was more ruthless than anyone—terrified of being outshined.

Back then, she was just a fool who never thought about any of this. She just wanted to help them all.

Now? Never again.

The path outside the dorm was growing crowded. After being rejected, Fang Ruoshi stood frozen, his mood a swirling mess of frustration and confusion.

He couldn't understand—why did she reject him?

He'd already lowered himself so much, swallowed his pride to coax her.

Even if they hadn't helped her this time, she shouldn't have held such a grudge!

It wasn't the first time they'd clashed. In the past, she was always the one to apologize first, always the one trying to make things right.

Why was it different now?

Was it because of Lin Muyao?

Was she jealous? Still angry because of that?

If so, then wasn't she being petty?

She had made a mistake, after all.

Fang Ruoshi fumed silently as he walked back. In the end, he still thought—he had to rely on Shu Lanzhou for this.

Fine, he'd coax her again. Eventually, she'd soften. She was always so sentimental—she wouldn't stay mad forever.

While Fang Ruoshi was still scheming how to win her back, Guo Jialiang had already returned to the lab.

As soon as he walked in, Lin Muyao rushed over. "Did she take the snacks?"

"Relax," Guo Jialiang said with contempt. "Luo Jialin bought them—of course she took them."

A flicker of darkness crossed Lin Muyao's eyes. "And did she agree to help Fang-senior with the study materials?"