Shu Lanzhou looked a little embarrassed from the praise.
"Traditional Chinese medicine works more slowly compared to Western methods. Sometimes there's no use rushing it. But acupuncture can be pretty effective and work quickly too. I saw you rubbing your neck earlier—are your cervical vertebrae bothering you?"
"How about I give you a few acupuncture needles?"
Nan Xi, being a bold and carefree type, actually agreed.
Later on, she even mentioned the experience in a feature piece she wrote tracking the progress of the Mu family's medical research, sharing her entire treatment process in diary form.
And just like that, the promotion of Mu family medicine quietly began to spread, subtly yet effectively taking root!
Unlike them, Lin Muyao felt that she still wasn't high-profile enough. Her reputation hadn't reached the heights she desired, and her influence in the medical field was far from satisfactory.
So, within just a month, her second academic paper was published.
This time, her name started gaining traction within the medical community. Medical journals and websites began to mention her, and she suddenly became the center of attention. Word had it she was strutting through the institute like she owned the place.
Shu Lanzhou only remembered her joint research with Yi Ming when she saw Lin Muyao's new paper. She had been so busy lately that she hadn't contacted Yi Ming or visited the research institute in a long time.
It was time to pay a visit and check in on his progress.
According to her memories from her past life, Lin Muyao still had three to five more follow-up research papers in the works.
Back then, Luo Jialin hadn't returned to the Luo family so soon. He had planned to complete the papers and launch a small-scale research project in his own name—a capstone experiment before graduation.
That experiment had earned him a high-quality thesis, which he leveraged to secure a major role in a large-scale research project at the central institute. He played a crucial part in it.
The Luo Corporation was a medical company. Regardless of the outcome of his project, he was bound to collaborate with them first.
When Luo Corporation acquired those research results, that was the moment Luo Jialin made his triumphant return to the Luo family and took over as CEO of the Luo Group.
With the added weight of his research success and his family background, he would be seen as a rising elite in upper society—talented and well-connected, a combination that would attract countless investments.
The Luo Corporation would rapidly expand and become even more powerful.
In her previous life, if it hadn't been for Lin Muyao's betrayal, he would have succeeded.
Even though she had taken all of his research results, she hadn't abandoned Luo Corporation. Luo Jialin simply lost his identity as a researcher, but the Luo Corporation still flourished.
Now, it seemed like he had severed ties with Lin Muyao. Yet he had still given up on his research and withdrawn from Han Weicheng's project team.
Meanwhile, Lin Muyao would continue to ride on his research findings and, with Han Weicheng's help, rise to fame in the medical world.
Also unchanged was the Luo Corporation's continued investment in Han Weicheng's research.
No surprises there—the same pattern would unfold: one would gain fame, and the other would expand their family's empire.
But this time, Shu Lanzhou was the unexpected variable.
She stepped out of the car and headed toward the central research institute.
It had been too long since her last visit—she had no idea how far He Xin and his team had progressed. She needed to take some time to check on them.
In her past life, this research had taken Han Weicheng five years to yield results.
Although Shu Lanzhou had memories and data from her previous life and could draft theoretical outlines in advance, doing so would cast doubt on He Xin's entire team.
Other things could be anticipated, preempted, or intercepted—but not scientific research. This had to be earned step by step.
She couldn't use her foresight to rob others of their hard-earned achievements. That wasn't the purpose of her second chance at life.
These thoughts accompanied her as she headed up toward the lab.
Before she reached it, she heard a commotion.
"I was the one who applied to use this lab first! Why should I give it up to you?" It was Yi Ming's voice.
"Because the director said so. Because my research is more meaningful and will have greater results. That's why you need to step aside!" That voice was Lin Muyao's.
She continued, her tone dripping with smugness:
"Yi Ming, from what I know, the experiments you're conducting have nothing to do with your research team. I strongly suspect you're using public resources for personal gain."
"You—!" Yi Ming's face flushed with anger, but he couldn't find the words to argue.
Though he had reported the experiments to the institute, they indeed had no direct connection to his team's current project.
Then another voice chimed in:
"In that case, Yi Ming, hand over the lab to Lin. Her experiments have already shown promising results. We can't let your selfishness delay her success!"
"Exactly! Step aside, I'm starting my experiments now!" Lin Muyao moved forward as if to push her way in.
Yi Ming blocked the door, his face filled with rage.
"Hold it right there!" Shu Lanzhou rushed over and yanked Lin Muyao back.
She'd run over in a hurry, her face slightly flushed, breathing a bit fast.
"Who said Yi Ming's experiments aren't related to our project? He submitted a proposal to Professor He and got approval from the institute. Who are you to chase him out?"
Lin Muyao staggered from the pull and turned around, glaring venomously at Shu Lanzhou.
"You again? Why are you always in the way? Oh, I get it now—Yi Ming's research must be for you, huh? Helping you out? Shu Lanzhou, you've got no shame!"
"You used to cozy up to seniors on Professor Han's team. Now that they're no longer useful, you're latching onto others. You really are—"
Before she could finish, Shu Lanzhou slapped her across the face.
"And all you know how to do is spout nonsense?" Shu Lanzhou didn't give her a chance to react.
"My conduct in Professor Han's team is already public knowledge. The entire school knows what happened. If you insist on pretending you don't, maybe go erase everyone's memory first."
She rolled up her sleeves as she spoke, clearly ready to throw hands if Lin Muyao dared say another word.
Terrified, Lin Muyao shrank back instinctively. She had been bullied plenty growing up and had a natural fear of stronger personalities.
Shu Lanzhou turned to glance at the person standing beside Lin Muyao—the very same department head who once tried to poach Wu Cheng and the others from He Xin's team in the cafeteria.
So now he was on their side?
She stared him down.
"Director, I don't know what Lin Muyao told you, but the labs here at the institute aren't granted by authority alone. There's a queue, and there's a process."
"Yi Ming is an intern researcher under Professor He. Every single one of his experiments has been approved."
"You can't just accuse him of abusing resources and strip him of lab access. That right was given to him by Professor He. If you have any doubts, take it up with the professor."
Yi Ming stepped forward.
"Exactly. If Professor He himself says I can't use the lab, I'll leave without a word. But until then, you're wasting my time—get out of my way!"
Lin Muyao, holding her face, glared coldly at Shu Lanzhou, furious and humiliated.
"Who knows if you're just pretending to follow the rules, using this project as an excuse to handle your own business? Professor He's busy with the project; he can't personally check everything!"
She gave Yi Ming a dismissive glance, then smiled as if victory were already hers.
"Fine, if you're not giving up the lab, then let us in. Let us see for ourselves."
"If you're really working on the project, I'll apologize and never ask you to move again. But if you're not, don't think an apology will be enough to settle this!"
She was sure Shu Lanzhou wouldn't be able to stop her today—after all, she'd brought back-up.