Shu Lanzhou shook her head awkwardly. "I didn't know I could claim reimbursements, so I never have."
"None of your seniors told you?" He Sixin's voice rose slightly, her brows furrowed tightly. "I don't believe for a second they didn't know you were footing the bill yourself."
"In the end, it's all about saving the team budget so they can get a bigger share. Every single one of them acts all righteous, but they're no better than Han Weicheng."
"Jie!" Mu Side cast a warning glance at her and motioned toward the next room. "Mind your own business."
He Sixin stuck out her tongue playfully. "What, like I wouldn't say it to his face? He's trash, and anything he teaches is bound to be trash too."
"Senior!" Shu Lanzhou looked embarrassed, a thin sheen of sweat forming on her forehead.
He Sixin turned and patted her shoulder. "Of course, our Lanzhou is a good one. Otherwise, she wouldn't have run away from all that."
"Let's eat first, we'll head back in the afternoon." Mu Side's gaze lingered briefly on Shu Lanzhou before he turned and left the room.
The three of them walked together to the cafeteria.
He Sixin made a dramatic gesture. "Order whatever you want—it's on me today."
"I've got it!" Shu Lanzhou wasn't strapped for cash anymore—not after getting 110,000 yuan back from Tian Hua.
Before the other two could object, she had already walked up to the food counter.
They were early; the cafeteria wasn't crowded yet. Shu Lanzhou turned back toward them from the serving window.
"Any dietary restrictions, seniors?"
The two of them shook their heads in unison. "None. You choose. We're not picky eaters—just get what you like!"
After Shu Lanzhou grabbed a tray and started selecting dishes, He Sixin leaned over and pulled Mu Side's hand away.
"Why'd you stop me? Lanzhou obviously doesn't have much money—we shouldn't let her treat us."
"Trust me." Mu Side's eyes remained fixed on the petite girl in the distance. "If she wants to treat you, let her. You can return the favor later."
He Sixin didn't fully grasp what he meant, but her cousin was always a step ahead when it came to reading people. She figured it was best to trust him.
The university cafeteria had a wide variety of dishes. Shu Lanzhou could eat a bit of everything, regardless of region, but she wasn't sure about the other two's tastes.
So, she decided to keep it simple and ordered one best-selling dish from every food stall!
As the cafeteria aunties filled her plates, Mu Side and He Sixin stepped up to help her carry the food.
They found a seat by the window. Six dishes and a soup in total—not a small amount!
He Sixin brought over three bowls of rice. "Not sure how much you eat. Let me know if you want more."
"I eat a decent amount." Despite her slim frame, Shu Lanzhou could eat quite a lot. She'd been undernourished in the past due to irregular meals—that's why she never put on much weight.
Mu Side had a solid appetite too, and He Sixin wasn't the type to watch her figure obsessively. For three college students, six dishes were just right.
They ate and chatted about their competition project. Soon, the cafeteria filled up with students coming in after class.
That was when Luo Jialin and his group walked in.
Tian Hua and Guo Jialiang flanked him. As they entered, all three immediately spotted Shu Lanzhou and the others by the window.
Just then, Mu Side said something that made Shu Lanzhou smile faintly.
She had a naturally gentle face, and dressed in bright colors today, she looked noticeably more vibrant. That soft smile gave her a serene, almost timeless beauty.
Luo Jialin frowned slightly.
He couldn't recall ever seeing this side of Shu Lanzhou before. She looked like a little daisy blooming in spring—common, perhaps even plain at a glance—but still beautiful enough to catch the eye.
So she could smile like that. Why had he never seen it?
Tian Hua and Guo Jialiang had noticed too.
"Wow, Shu Lanzhou really has skills. Look how quickly she latched onto Mu Side. Senior, she used to care about you the most—we all knew she liked you."
Guo Jialiang looked at Luo Jialin with a sympathetic expression. "And to think you always looked out for her. Turns out she's just another shameless flirt."
"Do you even know what shameless flirt means?" Dong Anlan stepped out from behind them and blocked Guo Jialiang's path.
"First of all, Shu Lanzhou never liked Senior Luo. And even if she had, so what? She's in the same team as Senior Mu—grabbing a meal and chatting is completely normal."
"So how does that become flirting in your twisted mind?"
Guo Jialiang puffed up indignantly. "She never used to dress like that or smile like that. If that's not flirting, what is it? She's just a shameless—"
Smack.
Dong Anlan slapped him hard across the face.
"Filthy words from a filthy mouth. After everything Lanzhou did for you guys—loyal and sincere to a fault—this is how you repay her?"
"You bitch! You dare hit me!" Guo Jialiang raised his hand to strike back but was yanked backward by Luo Jialin.
"That's enough!" Luo Jialin's cold gaze landed on Dong Anlan. "So it's you. What—think this will make me remember you?"
"Don't kid yourself. I, Luo Jialin, would never be interested in a woman who's all looks and no substance."
"Come on, Jialiang. Let's go."
"You—!" Dong Anlan's lips trembled with rage.
"Lan-jie." Shu Lanzhou came up behind her and gently held her back. "Don't waste your anger on people like them. They're not worth it."
When Luo Jialin saw Shu Lanzhou, the coldness in his eyes deepened. He didn't say another word and turned to leave.
"Apologize." Mu Side stood with his arms crossed, blocking his path.
Luo Jialin was used to wearing white and flashing gentle smiles to everyone, while Mu Side typically wore black sportswear and rarely smiled at all.
The two campus heartthrobs—one in black, one in white—stood silently in the busy cafeteria, locked in a tense standoff.
"I suggest you stay out of this," Luo Jialin said with a slight frown. "She won't get you anywhere, and she'll never help you beat me."
Mu Side gave a low chuckle. "I never rely on others. Only weaklings think like that."
"You—" Tian Hua stepped forward, only to meet a cool glance from He Sixin. "What, you want to fight for him? Need a beating too?"
Everyone in school knew that Professor Mu and Professor Han were rivals. Naturally, their students didn't see eye to eye either.
But the two groups had always kept to themselves. Their fields were different, so they rarely crossed paths. Until now.
This was the first time a full-on confrontation had happened.
Spectators whispered to one another—judging by the tension, a fight might break out any minute!
Shu Lanzhou stepped in front of Mu Side and He Sixin, blocking their direct line of sight. She looked straight at Luo Jialin, eyes cold.
"Luo, I think you've misunderstood me in the past. Since we've got an audience today, let me clarify."
"When we were in the same team, I did a lot of things for you—getting hot water, wiping down tables, organizing files."
"But all of that was because, during my freshman year, you helped me as a senior. Later, you recommended me for the selection exam for Professor Han's team."
"I was grateful. That's why I respected you after I joined. But that respect and obedience were never because I liked you."
"I know my place. I would never fall for someone who isn't even on the same level as me."
Her voice was cold, devoid of emotion.
Luo Jialin had never cared whether she liked him or not. But somehow, when he looked into her eyes—completely devoid of warmth—his heart twisted painfully.
Just a little at first.
But as she continued speaking, that pain spread throughout his entire body.
To the point where he could barely stay on his feet.