As Han Weicheng reached the door, he stumbled, almost falling flat on his face. What do these lowly people know? He sneered inwardly. Once my research succeeds, they won't even be worthy of enjoying its fruits.
Just wait. He would succeed. That was his true pursuit.
"Shulan Zhou, don't be so quick to leave," Han Weicheng called out, stopping her in her tracks. "I've never forgotten my dream. I know exactly what I want to achieve."
"I've been striving for it all along. But I'm powerless. Those prestigious families, those people in high places—they never gave me a chance."
"Do you know how many applications I've submitted for approval? How many reports I've written? And what did they do? Ignored every single one. They look down on people like us."
"You're a smart girl. We were both born into poverty. Shouldn't we help each other?"
"Help your old teacher, won't you? Use your knowledge to join me in achieving something greater. Don't stay with the Mu family just to be used like a tool."
"Trust me—Mu-style acupuncture is ineffective. It's a lie. It can't save lives; it only harms."
"What if I insist on saving lives with Mu-style acupuncture?" Shulan Zhou looked at him coldly, her voice unwavering.
Han Weicheng's face twisted with fury. His aged features contorted as he jabbed a finger at her, roaring, "Foolish, ignorant girl! Don't you care that Mu Side doesn't love you? That he's just using you? When you've outlived your usefulness, he'll toss you out like trash!"
"What will you do then?!"
Shulan Zhou smiled faintly. "First of all, I have my own job, my own goals, and in the future, I'll have a career that's mine alone. Even if I leave the Mu family, I won't live poorly."
"Second, whether he loves me or not depends on whether I love him, or whether I'm worthy of being loved. If I love him enough, I'll work hard to earn his love."
"I believe if I love myself, and love him, if I'm excellent and carry myself with dignity—there's no reason I won't be loved in return."
"And third—about being 'used'—if the Mu family's idea of using me is to give me great teachers, unreserved guidance, a warm home, and a husband who spoils and cherishes me…"
"…then I welcome them to use me even more."
She gave a gentle smile. "Mr. Han, when you broke things off with Aunt Ya'an back then, was it because you thought she didn't love you? Or was it because you believed the Mu family was using you?"
"She was willing to marry you—wasn't that love? She accepted you as a disciple, handed over the entire attic full of medical books to you—is that what you call 'using'?"
"Wasn't that just an excuse you made up when the Mu family fell from grace and you were scared of being dragged down with them?"
"If the Mu family hadn't encountered trouble, if they were still the top medical household in Shencheng, would you really have walked away so easily?"
Don't pretend to be so noble. You said yourself—your hard work and ambition were meant to earn you a better life. Why would someone like you walk away from prestige and power so easily?
The truth was simple: he'd feared being implicated when the Mu family was targeted by the Zhangs. That's why he severed all ties. It had nothing to do with being "used" or "unloved"—those were just empty pretexts.
With those final words, Shulan Zhou turned to leave.
"No! That's not true!" Han Weicheng shouted after her. "What do you know?! How dare you judge me? I loved Mu Ya'an! I would've stayed single my whole life for her! But she lied to me! She used me!"
"She never loved me. She only treated me like a pawn. Why shouldn't I have left her? Why shouldn't I fight back?!"
"I'll prove it—prove that they were wrong! That Mu-style acupuncture is a sham, an outdated fraud, and not worth preserving!"
Han Weicheng let out a bitter laugh. "If you're too blind to see it and won't heed my warning, I can't force you. I just hope—truly hope—you never regret it."
"I hope you do manage to carry on the Mu-style technique," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Mu-style acupuncture is extremely complex and difficult to master. And Shulan Zhou had only started learning recently—how could she ever make something of it?
Shulan Zhou smiled lightly. "Very well, then let's wait and see."
Let's see whose path proves to be right—yours or mine.
Without a backward glance, she returned to the hospital, ignoring the contorted expression on Han Weicheng's face.
This selfish and hypocritical old man—she truly hoped she'd live long enough to see him regret every choice he'd made.
She couldn't help wondering: Would Aunt Ya'an ever return to Shencheng?
It would be far more satisfying if she were the one to personally slap this scumbag in the face.
Back in the hospital lounge, Shulan Zhou soon left the entire matter behind.
She may have walked away cleanly, but Han Weicheng was fuming.
It had been more than twenty years—no one had ever dared expose the truth. Over time, even he had started to believe that he was the victim. That he had been wronged and used.
He had played the victim so convincingly—never dating again, never marrying. But what Shulan Zhou had just said tore that illusion to shreds. She called it what it was—an excuse. A coward's excuse to abandon the Mu family when they needed support.
No. It couldn't be. He hadn't lied. It was the Mu family's fault. They had tried to use him. She had betrayed his love.
Yes. They were the ones to blame!
He had simply refused to be used. Only fools like Shulan Zhou would willingly be used and exploited.
She was a fool. A big fool!
And yet she dared stand up to him—tried to prove the worth of Mu-style acupuncture? Laughable. Delusional.
Han Weicheng slammed his things into the trash can, his rage boiling over.
He, the elder, had humbled himself to bring her gifts and offer an apology. And she, that wretched girl, had the gall to scorn him?
That arrogant little brat—so reliant on the Mu family—would she not regret it when they abandoned her?
How could she so firmly trust Mu Side and the Mu family?
Did she not even care whether Mu Side truly loved her?
Or was she already dazzled by the Mu family's wealth and power, blindly loyal in exchange for a few crumbs of kindness?
What a useless, pathetic fool. She would never make it to the real stage of success!
The thought made Han Weicheng's face twist with fury.
He returned to the research center, face grim. Failing to win Shulan Zhou over meant they'd have to restructure their entire plan. The product launch would have to be delayed.
The more he thought about the financial setback, the darker his expression became.
But before he could even take a sip of water at his desk, Xiao Anning stormed into the office, face like thunder.
"Bad news! Luo Jialin has pulled out—they've officially terminated cooperation with our research center. They're going to develop the product on their own. Here's the termination notice they just sent over!"