Just as Shen Mo was about to explain, Shu Lanzhou pulled him back.
She was inwardly frustrated but forced a faint smile. "Vice Director Lin, you're overthinking it. I'm not Lin Muyao—I don't see joining the research institute as some grand blessing."
"I prefer working at the traditional Chinese medicine hospital. As for why I'm here today, I don't think I owe you an explanation."
With that, she turned and left.
Once she was gone, both Lin Jiayi and Han Weicheng looked visibly displeased.
Sensing the tension, Shen Mo quickly made his exit.
"Have someone look into it. I want to know why Shu Lanzhou is really here," Han Weicheng ordered, eyes narrowing as he watched her leave.
—
Unaware that Han Weicheng had taken an interest in her, Shu Lanzhou returned to campus and ran into Zhang He in the dorm.
She looked like she had just gotten off work.
Seeing something was off, Shu Lanzhou rushed over. "What's wrong? Why do you look so pale?"
"I…" Zhang He fidgeted nervously. "It's President Mu… He fainted at the office today. And I—I felt this sharp pain in my chest, like I was being stabbed."
"Shu Lanzhou, I think I'm really in love with him!"
So it had come to this.
Shu Lanzhou sighed. "Did you forget everything I told you? President Mu already has someone in his heart. And that person feels the same way. The two of them are about to reunite. Are you really going to—?"
"No, it's not like that. I'm not trying to come between them. I just… I feel awful! I'm worried about him, that's all!" Zhang He clutched her chest, overwhelmed with emotion.
Shu Lanzhou wrapped her in a hug. "There's nothing wrong with worrying about him. There's nothing wrong with falling in love with him either. Feelings aren't something we can control."
"But promise me—don't do anything that would hurt yourself. You're brave enough to love and hate freely. If you like him, like him openly. I believe President Mu will understand."
What's done is done. Shu Lanzhou suddenly regretted recommending Zhang He for a job at the Mu Corporation.
But then again, if she hadn't intervened, Zhang He would've ended up at Luo Corp like in her past life—cheated by a scumbag out of money and love, and leaving Shen City with hatred and regret.
That wasn't the future she wanted for Zhang He.
She'd been given a second chance at life to live without regrets. Zhang He was her friend, her sister. How could she just watch her get hurt?
Falling for someone you shouldn't is painful, yes—but heartbreak is still better than being ruined by a conman.
Zhang He buried her face in her arms. "President Mu is old enough to be my dad. I always thought what I felt was admiration, respect. I didn't believe it was love—until today…"
"I hate this feeling. I'm working in the general manager's office. If people find out I have feelings for him, they'll start spreading rumors."
Shu Lanzhou finally understood. "So it's not the feelings that scare you. You're afraid of gossip. Afraid people will say you're trying to climb the ladder by selling yourself?"
"This kind of thing happens all the time!" Zhang He said nervously. "I don't believe I'd be treated any differently."
Shu Lanzhou furrowed her brows. "President Mu seems to have returned to the company. Do you want me to ask him to transfer you to another department?"
"No… I…" Zhang He instinctively declined.
Shu Lanzhou gave her a helpless look. "You can't let go? Still worried about President Mu? Then tell me—why did he faint?"
"It wasn't anything serious. Just low blood sugar. He came to quickly after I gave him some brown sugar water," Zhang He's cheeks flushed. "Shu Lanzhou, do you really think I haven't done anything wrong?"
Shu Lanzhou pinched her cheek.
"Let me ask you—did you manipulate President Mu, try to gain some benefit from him, or use him to change your life?"
"No, of course not! I would never do something like that. I was just drawn to his personality, his charm. I…" Zhang He struggled to explain.
But the truth was, she simply couldn't stop herself from falling deeper.
"Then what are you afraid of?" Shu Lanzhou sighed lightly.
"But if you know it's a love that can't be returned, why torment yourself? Are you sure you don't want to change departments?"
Zhang He thought about it but still couldn't bring herself to leave. "No… I'll just admire him from afar. I swear I won't do anything unethical or inappropriate."
"You…" Shu Lanzhou both pitied and blamed her. "You're really just asking for heartbreak."
Just as she was about to say more to comfort her, Shu Lanzhou's phone rang—it was Mu Side.
"You at school?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied. "Why?"
Mu Side's tone was serious. "Is Zhang He with you?"
"She is. Are you looking for her?" Shu Lanzhou was surprised.
"No, it's not me. My second uncle called her and she didn't answer. He seemed anxious, asked me to check if something happened. Is she alright?"
"Huh?" Shu Lanzhou was startled. "Your uncle's looking for her? Something urgent? He's worried about her? What's going on?"
Mu Side also found it odd. "Apparently, just before the end of the workday, the two of them were alone for half an hour…" He paused. "You're sure Zhang He's okay?"
"She seems fine, but I'll ask again. Hold on, I'll call you back."
Hanging up, Shu Lanzhou looked at Zhang He suspiciously.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Zhang He sat up nervously. "Is something wrong? Senior Mu's looking for you? You should go—I'll be fine."
Shu Lanzhou pulled over a chair and sat across from her. "Zhang He, President Mu called you and you didn't answer. Don't you think you should return the call?"
"Huh?" Zhang He tensed and quickly took out her phone. "It's dead!"
She looked distressed as she plugged it into the charger. "Ugh, how did this happen?"
Despite her anxiety, she didn't seem like someone in actual trouble, which eased Shu Lanzhou's worry.
"Tell me the truth. Nothing really happened between you and President Mu? You're alright?" she asked.
"Nothing happened," Zhang He looked confused. "He fainted from low blood sugar. I gave him some brown sugar water. When he woke up, he told me to go home."
"I panicked when I realized how I felt, so I rushed back to campus."
Zhang He wasn't the type to lie or overthink. She seemed honest.
So… nothing really happened during that half hour? President Mu had a legitimate reason to call her?
Shu Lanzhou pursed her lips. "Then call him back. I'll call your senior too."
She stepped into the hallway and dialed Mu Side.
But just as she started explaining about the low blood sugar incident, a loud gasp came from the room.
Startled, Shu Lanzhou rushed back in with her phone. "Zhang He?"
"Shu Lanzhou…" Zhang He stared at her now-lit phone screen, nearly in tears.
"President Mu told me not to tell anyone he fainted, but I already told you! You can't tell anyone else, okay?"
"He said it was too embarrassing…"
"…"
Shu Lanzhou didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I already told your senior."
"Great, just great! If President Mu finds out, he'll think I'm untrustworthy and a gossip. Ugh… He barely noticed me before, and now he'll think even worse of me!"
Zhang He's eyes turned red.
"…"
But Shu Lanzhou was thinking of something else entirely.
A simple case of low blood sugar—why did Mu Ershu go out of his way to tell Zhang He to keep it quiet?
Why didn't he mention it right away, but call her about it later?
Something about this felt… very wrong.