Han Weicheng shot to his feet. "What? Say that again—what's he going to do?"
"See for yourself." Xiao Anning shoved the termination letter into his hands. "Weren't you the one who said he didn't have what it takes? That he wouldn't dare cancel the contract with us?"
Xiao Anning slammed the table in frustration. "Han, have you forgotten? His surname is Luo. Behind him is the entire Luo family. Even if he's kicked out, they'd never really abandon him."
"But you—after failing twice in a row, do you think the Luo family will still trust you? They've been in the medical industry for generations. You think they can't assemble their own research team?"
Han Weicheng hadn't expected Luo Jialin to truly sever ties with them.
Failing to recruit Shu Lanzhou was one thing. But if Luo Jialin also pulled out, then even with the Zhang family backing them, it would all be for nothing. They'd just be throwing money into a black hole.
Without sales channels for their developed product, how were they supposed to make fast money?
Han Weicheng's face darkened. "Go find out who's on their research team. Who's heading the project?"
"That's not what you should be doing right now!" Xiao Anning exploded. "Shouldn't you be begging Luo Jialin instead? What's the point of digging up useless intel?"
Han Weicheng slammed his palm on the table. "I told you to investigate, so just do it! Stop spouting nonsense. Don't forget—I'm the head of this research center."
Though the center was under Xiao Anning's name, Zhang Chengyou didn't actually value him. The only reason he'd been picked was because he was from the National Medical Institute and a student of Elder Xiang.
Now, without the institute title and having been expelled by Elder Xiang, Xiao Anning was nothing.
Xiao Anning opened his mouth to retort but said nothing in the end.
Because no matter how bitter he felt, Han Weicheng was the one in charge.
So even if he was fuming inside, he still had to follow orders and investigate Luo Jialin's team.
Shu Lanzhou didn't learn about Tian Hua joining Han Weicheng's team—and working alongside Luo Jialin, Fang Ruoshi, and Xiao Anning on a medical cosmetology product—until three months later.
By then, she had already received her graduate diploma and officially joined the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital as a licensed acupuncturist.
On graduation day, Mu Yanning asked her, "You were assigned to the outpatient clinic instead of the research department. Do you mind seeing patients daily instead of diving into research?"
Shu Lanzhou shook her head. "My dream was always to save more people—like that volunteer teacher. Later I did change my dream and wanted to tackle complex medical problems in the lab."
"But all research has to be grounded in clinical practice. Without real patient experience, locking yourself in a lab is just pointless."
"Teacher, you've never stopped seeing patients. I imagine that's why. I don't think I'll stay in the clinic forever. Once I've gained enough experience, I'll begin research. That's a good thing."
Mu Yanning smiled with deep satisfaction. "I'm glad to hear that. Acupuncture is different from pharmacology. After all, animal skeletons and acupoints differ from human anatomy."
"Clinical practice is vital. I hope you'll see many patients and accumulate real-world experience."
"And the textbook cases don't always match reality. You'll need to constantly refine and adjust your methods through treatment. Always keep that in mind."
Shu Lanzhou nodded obediently. "I'll remember everything you taught me. I'll treat every patient with care and continue improving my acupuncture skills."
On her first official day at work, Mu Side booked a private restaurant to celebrate for her.
They didn't invite any friends—just the two of them—choosing a quiet, romantic private dining spot.
Their table was on the rooftop terrace. Each table was separated by rows of flower beds, and overhead was a transparent canopy draped in fairy lights. When you looked up, the sparkling city lights were just within reach.
Shu Lanzhou loved this kind of lively, warm atmosphere. There was no denying—Mu Side understood her preferences very well.
As the meal wound down, Mu Side finally pulled out the gift bag he'd been carrying all evening. "A little something for your new job."
With a smile in her eyes, Shu Lanzhou opened the box.
Inside was a dazzling platinum pendant necklace. The charm was shaped like a radiant sun, glimmering under the lights. She reached out to touch it, noticing a small raised bump on the back.
"KobeTech's latest invention," Mu Side explained. "Press here, and it starts recording. The footage syncs directly to the cloud. I've already bound it to your phone number."
"There's a charging port on the chain. A full charge gives you thirty minutes of use. Just remember to take it off and charge it every night."
Shu Lanzhou chuckled. "Are you worried I'll get into doctor-patient disputes and decided to prepare me in advance?"
But Mu Side was serious.
"Mu-style acupuncture is highly specialized. Even with patient consent, accidents can still happen during treatment. To prevent another tragedy, we must be prepared."
He was, of course, referring to the medical accident involving Elder Mu. That incident had devastated the Mu family, and it took over twenty years for them to begin recovering from the fallout.
Now they were finally taking their first real step out of that shadow—and caution was everything.
Shu Lanzhou's heart ached. Her smile faded. "I understand. Thank you for the gift, husband. I'll make good use of it."
"Hopefully, you'll never need to use it," Mu Side said, gently squeezing her hand. "Shushu, I want you to be happy at work."
On the way back, the two had a sudden whim and detoured to visit their university one last time. After eight years, it was finally time to say goodbye.
Shu Lanzhou's emotions were mixed. In her previous life, she'd left campus with anxiety and uncertainty. But now, her heart was calm and steady.
Her life was truly different now.
Mu Side held her hand and walked her through the school gates. "Congratulations on becoming an official doctor. And here's an early wish—may you soon become a renowned physician at home and abroad."
"I'll work hard and make it happen. Thank you, husband." Shu Lanzhou rose on tiptoe and gave him a quick kiss. As she turned back around, she suddenly ran into a small group of people helping each other stagger along.
They looked thoroughly drunk, swaying on their feet. When they saw her, they froze in place, all of them turning to stare.
Shu Lanzhou's gaze swept over them lightly, uninterested.
"Let's go." She turned back to Mu Side with a gentle smile. Her delicate face glowed with a serene joy.
Mu Side took her hand and led her to the car parked by the curb. He opened the door for her, shielding her head as she got in.
Once he was seated beside her and the headlights flicked on, the car began to pull away.
Only then did the group seem to wake from their stupor. They stumbled forward a few paces.
Tian Hua stood there, lost and bewildered.
Luo Jialin, Guo Jialiang, and Fang Ruoshi followed a few steps behind.
They muttered in unison: "Shu Lanzhou…"
"It's really her," Fang Ruoshi let out a laugh, slightly tipsy. "She must be here waiting for Senior Luo. She still remembers your birthday."
"She definitely hasn't forgotten you." Fang Ruoshi clutched at Luo Jialin's shirt. "Go beg her. Apologize. Ask her to forgive you."
"She used to care about you so much—she'll forgive you. As long as you love her more than Mu Side does… as long as you love her…"