Worse Than a Dog

"Senior Tian, how generous of you! Seems like you're not short on cash. So, how about paying back the money you owe me?" Shu Lanzhou's face was cold, her smile tinged with mockery as she fixed her gaze on Tian Hua.

Tian Hua came from a modest background but was a scumbag through and through. In her previous life, Shu Lanzhou hadn't seen his true nature—duped by his seemingly hardworking, studious exterior.

She'd thought he was an honest, diligent scholar who poured his heart into research. So when he borrowed money under the pretense of needing it for materials or equipment, she never questioned it.

She had handed over nearly all of her scholarships and prize winnings to him. If it weren't for that, her bank balance wouldn't be stuck under 20,000 yuan.

In her last life, when disaster struck and she desperately needed help, she had gone to Tian Hua. But not only had he turned her away, he'd humiliated her in front of a room full of people—men and women alike.

Through the open door, she'd seen the truth. Tian Hua's apartment was reeking of booze and smoke. Expensive alcohol bottles lined the table, each worth over 10,000 yuan. Dozens of scantily clad women lounged on the couch.

And Tian Hua himself, utterly drunk, had his hand on a woman's bare waist—looking nothing like the scholarly gentleman she thought he was.

That's when it all clicked. Back at school, he'd been sneaking out to bars and clubs, surrounding himself with women who rotated more often than his outfits. And every time he was low on cash, he came running to her.

She had been nothing but his personal ATM. And the worst part—he'd never once intended to pay her back.

Tian Hua stiffened. He never expected to run into her here. "Junior, don't make a scene. Can't you see I'm shopping with my girlfriend? We'll talk at school."

"Just pay me back and I'll leave. I won't bother you two anymore." Shu Lanzhou had no intention of letting him off. She was getting her money back today—no matter what.

The woman beside Tian Hua frowned and looked Shu Lanzhou up and down. "And who's this? What makes her think you owe her money?"

Tian Hua gave a soothing smile. "Her name's Shu Lanzhou. She's my junior from school. Her family's not well-off, and back in our team, we all looked after her. Don't worry. Go ahead and pick something out. I'll handle this."

But the woman didn't budge. She shoved Tian Hua aside and stared Shu Lanzhou down.

"So you're the one who leeches off all the senior guys like some blood-sucking parasite. You don't even look that special. How'd you get them all wrapped around your finger?"

"Must be real good in bed."

Smack!

Zhang He stepped forward and slapped the woman hard across the face. "If you don't know how to talk like a human, then shut up. Say one more word and I'll make sure you can't speak again."

The woman was stunned, staring in disbelief. "Tian Hua! Are you just gonna stand there and watch them hit me?!"

"Leeching off others? A parasite?" Shu Lanzhou let out a laugh, her eyes ice-cold as she pointed at Tian Hua's throat.

"Senior, have you ever seen a real vampire? They'd sink their teeth into your neck, drain every last drop of blood from your body until you couldn't speak another word."

She stepped forward, unwavering. "I still have every message you sent asking to borrow money. Every transaction. Want me to pull them up now and go through them one by one, or will you transfer the 110,000 yuan to me right here?"

That was the total amount Tian Hua owed her—two semesters' worth of scholarships and a 50,000 yuan prize from her last competition.

From the moment she joined Professor Han's team, she'd been earning 1,500 yuan a month as a medical assistant. Every scholarship, every competition prize—she had saved every cent.

But Tian Hua had lived it up on her money—booze, women, luxury. And now he dared to insult her?

He wasn't just shameless. He was less than a dog.

Tian Hua's face flushed with fury and shame. He shoved the woman beside him aside.

"Don't talk nonsense. She's my junior—smart, hardworking, even our professor praises her. All of us seniors liked her. How the hell did that get twisted into something so dirty?"

"Only someone with a filthy mind would think like that. I can't believe this is who you really are. Hu Jiali, we're done. I'm breaking up with you."

"You—" The woman stared at him in disbelief. "But you—"

"Get out!" Tian Hua growled, shoving her toward the door. "Don't make me hate you."

Shu Lanzhou grabbed him by the arm. "We're not done here, senior. I still haven't been paid."

"Exactly. Settle the debt first. I'll deal with this trashy woman," Zhang He said, dragging Hu Jiali toward the exit.

Dong Anlan and Ding Yuejiao blocked Tian Hua's path.

"Senior, our Lanzhou is kind and straightforward, but she's no fool. You've clearly got money—so why haven't you paid her back?" Ding Yuejiao crossed her arms and glared.

Dong Anlan chimed in, "Why not just pay her back? After all, she's no longer relying on your so-called generosity."

"With that money, she won't need to come begging anymore."

Tian Hua's face darkened. He turned to Shu Lanzhou. "I've always protected you. Do you really have to humiliate me like this? Can't we talk privately?"

He reached out, thinking she'd soften up if he played nice—like always.

But he miscalculated. This time, Shu Lanzhou had no interest in playing nice.

"Whatever needs to be said can be said right here. Anlan and Yuejiao aren't outsiders. They know everything already," she said, stepping out of reach.

Tian Hua took a deep breath, his expression worsening. "Lanzhou, be reasonable. I'm not refusing to pay. I just don't have the money right now."

"You've got money to buy clothes for your girlfriend, but not to repay me?" Zhang He returned and shot him a withering look.

Tian Hua scowled and turned his glare on Shu Lanzhou. "When did you become like this? You're seriously not going to give me even a shred of respect? You really want to settle this here?"

"Respect doesn't pay the bills," Shu Lanzhou said calmly. "This isn't just about the money anymore. That woman's words crossed a line. I always treated you well, senior. I never expected you to talk about me like that behind my back."

She looked at him, eyes full of disappointment. "Since you clearly look down on me, let's cut ties. Either transfer the money now, or I post the loan evidence on the school forum."

Tian Hua was a man obsessed with his reputation. He wouldn't dare let this go public. She would get her money back.

"Are you seriously going to force me like this?" he ground out, jaw clenched. "After nearly three years on the same team, you're just going to throw it all away?"

Zhang He stepped between them. "And did you ever value those three years? That woman couldn't have made all that up. You clearly said those things about her. And now you expect Lanzhou to just forgive and forget?"

"You've got some nerve!"

Ding Yuejiao grabbed Zhang He's arm. "Don't waste time on this loser. Make him pay and get out. From now on, our Lanzhou doesn't recognize this so-called senior."

"Shu Lanzhou!" Tian Hua's fists clenched as he stared at her in disbelief. He never imagined she'd actually let her friends humiliate him like this.

She used to be the one who defended him and the other seniors. When had she ever let him lose face like this?

His gaze swept over the three girls, finally landing on Dong Anlan. Wasn't this the girl who had been humiliated in public by Luo Jialin after confessing her feelings?

And yet… here she was, standing by Shu Lanzhou.

He never expected them to take her side.