Lin Muyao's heart skipped a beat. Did Tian Hua start to suspect something?
But then she reassured herself—impossible. After all, when he first started going to that club, the two of them hadn't even met yet!
"You seriously messed up in the head?" Lin Muyao sneered. "Paranoid much?"
Meeting her mocking gaze, Tian Hua felt a bit relieved. Right, how could this have anything to do with her? He'd started going to those clubs as a freshman, and he'd been to nearly every upscale place in Shen City.
Back then, he didn't even know Lin Muyao. Besides, the Lin family was among the city's elite, filled with professors and scholars, many of them in medicine. How could they possibly be connected to some seedy club?
No way. Absolutely not. He was definitely overthinking it.
Tian Hua turned and walked away, expression dim. His life, for all intents and purposes, was set. There were things he couldn't let go of, and his background wasn't strong enough to support anything else. Being tied to Lin Muyao wasn't so bad—she had money, he had brains. It was just mutual exploitation.
Seeing he didn't press further, Lin Muyao let out a silent sigh of relief.
That club Tian Hua frequented had nothing to do with her—but it was connected to He Chengdong. Even though He had been arrested and the club had been investigated, after a brief restructuring, it had reopened.
Tian Hua was greedy—women, booze, gambling—you name it. She'd only needed to mention his name to He Chengdong once to drag him down into that pit. There was no way out now.
Unless he somehow came up with the money to pay back all his debts. But with those women, those drinks, and the endless rounds at the gambling tables, even if he sold himself, he couldn't clear it all.
Tian Hua was destined to be her pawn—her academic workhorse. And honestly, if he weren't at least somewhat capable, Lin Muyao wouldn't have even bothered with him.
The thought made her genuinely happy. Who'd have thought that cheap father of hers, He Chengdong, could actually be useful?
Sure, Guo Jialiang claimed Lin Jiayi had admitted she was Han Weicheng's daughter. But so what? It just meant one more father to add to the list.
As far as Lin Muyao was concerned, if they could boost her reputation, help her shine in the medical world, and surpass Lin Jiayi, then they were all good fathers. Might as well use them all—waste not, want not.
After all, she'd grown up beside Lin Jiayi. The concept of "father" meant nothing to her. She'd never really known what that was supposed to feel like.
So, no—this wasn't a big deal to her at all.
"Where did Senior Tian go?" Fang Ruoshi returned.
Lin Muyao glanced in the direction Du Yifan had left. "He had class. What about Du Yifan? Is he still mad at me?"
"Don't mind him. That's just how he is." Fang Ruoshi waved it off. "Come on, let's go find Professor Han."
Lin Muyao's gaze dimmed. What a shame. If Du Yifan hadn't turned on her, she might have asked the Du family to hold on a bit longer. Might've even helped them out a little.
But now? Du Yifan, you're on your own. Go ahead and let your dad beat you to death.
"Fang Ruoshi, you're the best," Lin Muyao said, voice sweet as honey. "You've always believed in me, always stuck by my side." She smiled gently. "Don't worry, I'll help you with your grad school prep. Whatever materials you need, just ask."
Fang Ruoshi looked relieved. "Thank you, Lin Muyao. I won't be shy about it!"
Shu Lanzhou, meanwhile, had no idea what had gone down after she left.
She found Mu Yanning and handed her the event schedule. "Teacher, can I attend the lecture that day?"
Mu Yanning looked up. "You're my assistant. You trying to get out of work? Want me to stop paying you?"
"No, no! I'll get ready," Shu Lanzhou replied cheerfully.
Mu Yanning chuckled. "You were right before. I can't keep avoiding the media. In this day and age, if we want to accomplish anything, we can't shut them out."
"Is that why you suddenly agreed to Dr. Qin's request?" Shu Lanzhou finally understood.
"Not all media are bad. As long as we do the right thing and leave the reporting to the official channels, the publicity will be good."
Mu Yanning nodded. "Then you'll handle all media communications."
"Wait—so there'll be media at the lecture?" Shu Lanzhou lit up.
Mu Yanning nodded. "It's someone your second uncle recommended. I wasn't going to agree, but he said if I want continued investment, I have to. Isn't that outrageous?"
"Hehe…" Shu Lanzhou grinned. "He's just thinking of what's best for you. You can't let one bad experience make you afraid forever. If Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Mu method are going to grow, we need the media!"
Mu Yanning laughed. "Fine, fine, you win. I'll listen to you two this time."
After they wrapped up, Shu Lanzhou was just about to leave when Mu Yanning stopped her.
"I'm going back to the Mu family home tonight. You're free these days, right? Want to come with me? I have time to tutor you."
Shu Lanzhou's face lit up. "Yes! I miss Grandma. I'll stop by the shop and get her favorite osmanthus cakes!"
That evening, Shu Lanzhou returned to the Mu family estate with Mu Yanning.
As soon as they entered, they saw Mu Side walking out, phone pressed to his ear.
He spotted Shu Lanzhou and pulled the phone away. "Perfect timing. Come with me to a dinner party?"
"Huh?" Shu Lanzhou froze. "A dinner party? Me?"
How could she possibly go to something like that with Mu Side?
"Dong Anlan will be there. I heard Luo Jialin's been harassing her again, and Ke Beichen's worried. He asked me to drop in and keep an eye on things. Honestly, I hate these events."
He looked at her with puppy-dog eyes, clearly saying: I wouldn't even be going if it weren't for Ke Beichen. Dong Anlan's your friend, aren't you going to help her?
"…Okay, I'll go!" Shu Lanzhou couldn't just let Dong Anlan suffer again because of Luo Jialin—not like in her past life.
She rolled up her sleeves, ready to head out.
"Hey!" Mu Yanning grabbed her back. "You're going like that? Carrying osmanthus cakes?"
Only then did Shu Lanzhou realize—she blushed. "Right, I'll go see Grandma first and give her the cakes. Then I'll change!"
"No rush. I'll have someone bring you an outfit," Mu Side said, laughing.
"No need, no need! I've got clothes!" Shu Lanzhou called as she dashed inside.
She'd bought several new outfits with He Sixin over the holidays—plenty she hadn't worn yet!
She rushed to the backyard to see Grandma Mu. She didn't want Mu Side to wait too long, but she also couldn't skimp on respect for elders—so she just picked up her pace.
Once she was gone, Mu Yanning turned to Mu Side, a smirk on her face. "You know her size? Already ordering clothes for her?"
"Of course I do." Mu Side smiled, already sending the message.
Mu Yanning rolled her eyes. "You sly brat. You've really surprised me this time. But let me warn you—at the rate Shu Lanzhou's going, it's only a matter of time before I take her as my disciple."
"When that happens, if she inherits the Mu method—your relationship…"
"It'll only grow stronger," Mu Side replied with confidence. "Auntie, since I was a kid, have you ever seen me treat any other girl this way? Shu Lanzhou… she's different."
"Alright then." Mu Yanning nodded. "As long as you know what you're doing."
In the backyard—
Shu Lanzhou beamed as she held out the box of osmanthus cakes. "Grandma! I came to see you!"
She was sweet-looking, with two lovely dimples when she smiled—utterly charming.
The elderly love pretty, well-mannered kids. Grandma Mu reached out toward her with a warm smile…