"Shu Lanzhou, it's Senior Du. Can you do me a favor?"
Du Yifan's voice, for once, carried a rare hint of humility.
If she'd known it was Du Yifan calling, Shu Lanzhou wouldn't have picked up in the first place.
"No!"
She rejected him without hesitation and was about to hang up.
Du Yifan panicked.
"Wait, wait—don't hang up just yet! I know I wronged you before. I was too full of myself. I deserved what I got—I misjudged people!"
"I'm begging you, please help me. There's no one else I can turn to but you!" he pleaded miserably.
"It's simple, really. All you have to do is come to the police station and sign a paper to bail me out. That's it—so simple!"
He wasn't really out of options. He just didn't want to embarrass himself in front of others.
But in front of Shu Lanzhou? That was different.
Because deep down, he still believed he was better than her.
Even at his lowest, he thought he could look down on her.
After all, she was just a dumb, powerless village girl with no one to back her up!
Just like now, he assumed that as long as he played the pitiful card, Shu Lanzhou would melt and come running to save him.
But apparently, he'd misread the situation...
Shu Lanzhou had half a mind to hang up right away, but decided to be the bigger person. So, she offered a kind reminder:
"Do you not even know the basics of the law? You assaulted someone in public. As long as the victim refuses mediation, you'll be detained. And during detention, there's no such thing as bail."
President Zhang wasn't seriously injured, so it didn't qualify as a criminal case.
There was no bail in the first place!
As long as President Zhang refused to settle, Du Yifan was definitely going to be detained.
And from the look of things, Zhang had no intention of settling.
After finishing, Shu Lanzhou hung up with a sharp click.
The three girls around her stared at her, speechless.
"That was Du Yifan, wasn't it? Let me guess—he wants you to bail him out?"
"How thick-skinned can he be? You guys haven't spoken in forever, and he never even apologized. Now that he's in trouble, suddenly you're his lifeline?"
"Exactly. Don't even waste your time. Let's hit the clothing store!"
Each of them said their piece, effortlessly changing the subject.
Shu Lanzhou, who had still felt a twinge of annoyance earlier, was now completely at ease.
He was just a nobody in her life. There was no reason to dwell on him.
The girls entered a boutique.
This shopping mall, owned by the Ke family, catered to middle-to-high-end clientele. Normally, as students, they wouldn't afford such pricey clothes.
But hey, they had part-time jobs now!
While browsing, Shu Lanzhou spotted a dress she really liked.
She rarely wore dresses, but now that she was in love, she wanted to look pretty too.
She remembered the look on Mu Sida's face that night at the cocktail party when she walked in wearing a princess gown.
That moment left a deep impression on her.
She tried on the dress and brought it to the cashier—only to have someone block her path.
"Senior Shu, isn't this a bit too upscale for someone like you to be shopping in?"
Lin Muyao snatched the dress from her hands.
Why did she have to run into her?
Was Lin Muyao a ghost or what? Why did she keep haunting her everywhere she went?
Shu Lanzhou frowned. "Does this store require a specific status to shop here? Who set that rule—you? And does the store actually care what you think?"
"I didn't set the rules, but Miss Guo certainly can," Lin Muyao said as she held the dress up to the girl beside her.
"Nana, this dress would look so good on you. I heard it's a limited edition from DI's autumn line—one piece per size. This size is perfect for you, wanna try it on?"
Guo Xiaona frowned. "She already tried it on, and now you're holding it up to me? Gross. Take it away!"
"True. It's filthy." Lin Muyao tossed the dress at Shu Lanzhou.
"Guess you lucked out. Hurry up and pay for it and get out."
Shu Lanzhou stepped back, letting the dress fall to the floor.
"Sorry, I've changed my mind. We're leaving."
"You're not buying it because you can't afford it, huh?" Lin Muyao stepped in her way.
"Shu Lanzhou, girls like you from the countryside don't belong in places like this. Just because you latched onto the Mu family, you think you can strut around in high-end boutiques?"
"It's been over a year, and all you've got to show for it is one traditional medicine paper, and that only got published thanks to your team. What else have you done? Nothing. Why should the Mu family keep supporting you?"
Lin Muyao had just published a paper and was riding high on the attention. No wonder she spoke with such arrogance.
"True. I haven't achieved much," Shu Lanzhou said calmly.
"Certainly not at the speed of Lin junior's paper publications. I wish you continued success—and may your digestion stay smooth."
The first part sounded polite, if insincere.
But... what was that bit about digestion?
Lin Muyao didn't get it but assumed Shu Lanzhou was just jealous.
"My digestion's great, thanks. When your research's going well, you eat and sleep like a queen. Unlike someone who's probably suffering from indigestion?"
Shu Lanzhou couldn't be bothered.
"That's none of your concern."
She even gave Lin Muyao a smile before stepping around her to leave.
"Wait!" Guo Xiaona called out.
She had assumed Shu Lanzhou was just another unrefined, unruly country girl—the type to scream and throw tantrums.
But just now, she had to admit—Shu Lanzhou carried herself with more poise than Lin Muyao.
Guo Xiaona bent down, picked up the dress, and said, "If you liked it that much, go ahead and buy it."
"No thanks," Shu Lanzhou shook her head.
"If Miss Guo can set the rules around here, then I suppose this store is under your family. Since you're friends with Lin Muyao, and this dress was in her hands and thrown to the ground, I now find it dirty too."
"I won't be buying it."
She hadn't forgotten that Guo Xiaona was the one who had just called her dirty.
Guo Xiaona didn't expect her to be so bold and was visibly displeased.
"When I say buy it, you buy it. Why so many excuses? Or is it like Lin said—you simply can't afford it?"
Before Shu Lanzhou could speak, Dong Anlan stepped between them.
"Miss Guo, don't make things hard for her. I'll buy the dress."
"You can't even wear it. Why bother?" Guo Xiaona tossed the dress on the counter.
"Don't act like a saint. I know your type. You seduced Luo Jialin, now you're after my brother. He's just too stupid to see through you, but I'm not falling for it. Wrap up the dress—it's on my tab."
Then she turned to Shu Lanzhou.
"You liked the dress, and you tried it on—so take it. Even if you can't pay, I'll gift it to you. But let me give you some advice—choose your friends more wisely."
"Don't hang around with someone like Dong Anlan. Two-timing, morally loose, and clearly untrustworthy—best keep your distance."
"Watch your mouth!" Zhang He lunged toward Guo Xiaona.
"How is she a two-timer? What do you mean her morals are bad? Explain yourself!"
Fortunately, Ding Yuejiao held her back before a fight broke out.
Seeing Dong Anlan's face pale with anger, Shu Lanzhou immediately reached out to support her.
"Don't get upset. Not worth it."
Then she looked Guo Xiaona in the eye.
"If I'm not mistaken, everything you just said came from Lin Muyao's mouth, didn't it? You didn't see any of it yourself, did you?"
"Of course I saw it myself!" Guo Xiaona scoffed, like she was being underestimated.
"Everyone in our circle knows she's been into Luo Jialin for years! He never gave her the time of day. She moped around like a lovesick puppy."
"And now that Luo Jialin finally shows interest, she suddenly latches onto my brother?"
"You tell me—that kind of woman, doesn't she have serious character issues?"