Shu Lanzhou was so furious that she burst out laughing, collapsing onto the sofa, unable to recover for a long time.
"To Han Weicheng, losing his reputation is the greatest punishment," Mu Side pulled Shu Lanzhou into his arms and said gently.
"Think about it—he's now like a rat scurrying across the street, reviled by everyone. Who would still trust him? Who would dare hire him again? Even though he wasn't arrested, we've basically rid the industry of a pest."
Shu Lanzhou shook her head.
"It's not that simple. Xiao Anning and Xiang Hua aren't idiots. I don't believe they were unaware of Han Weicheng's actions. If they knew and did nothing, that means they were complicit."
"But once everything blew up, they conveniently dumped all the blame on Han Weicheng. With his obsession over reputation, there's no way he'd willingly take the fall for everything—unless…"
A memory from her previous life surfaced in Shu Lanzhou's mind.
In her past life, the research project they were currently working on had been in Han Weicheng's hands. She had also been part of the team. Although that version of the research was more difficult, they had still succeeded in the end.
Their success had caused a sharp rise in the Luos' pharmaceutical company's stock. The discovery of a new drug and treatment method brought in substantial profits, and Han Weicheng gained considerable fame. But that wasn't his peak.
He used that success as leverage to approach Xiang Hua and proposed a new joint research project.
Shu Lanzhou had heard rumors about that research—apparently, Han Weicheng had once approached Elder Long to collaborate on it. Elder Long, however, had repeatedly turned him down.
Not only did Elder Long refuse, but he also used his influence to alert the relevant departments, blocking Han Weicheng's project from getting approved.
But eventually, Elder Long retired, Xiang Hua rose to power, and the project finally got the green light.
That collaboration catapulted both of them to the pinnacle of the medical world. Later, Luo Jialin also became the leading figure in China's pharmaceutical industry thanks to products developed from that research.
Han Weicheng became one of the most highly regarded medical professors in the country, his status unshakable. Luo Jialin, on the other hand, amassed a fortune. Master and disciple became the ultimate power duo in the medical field.
But no one knew the truth: the research was a complete violation of natural laws. The results they claimed were never achievable. They had been deceiving everyone with unethical methods all along.
That was precisely why Elder Long had so adamantly opposed their project.
Now, Han Weicheng's willingness to take the blame likely came at a price—Xiang Hua and the others must have promised to help him realize that dream of his:
The dream of defeating human aging.
The so-called anti-aging drug.
Shu Lanzhou sat up straighter.
"There's also something fishy about Du Yifan. We weren't sure whether Han Weicheng had started clinical trials, which is why we set a trap for Luo Jialin and had him go ask Han Weicheng for documentation."
"To get those documents, Han Weicheng would have no choice but to begin trials. We just didn't expect he'd choose President Zhang as the patient—and quietly set Du Yifan up as the scapegoat."
"Do you think Luo Jialin knew what was happening when Han Weicheng set up Du Yifan? If not, why would he visit Du Yifan at the detention center after the incident?"
"And if he did know, then does that mean Luo Jialin is also involved in Han Weicheng's cover-up? The Luo family must have taken a hit from all this. If Luo Jialin is still siding with Han Weicheng, then what's the Luo family's stance?"
There were too many tangled threads, and Shu Lanzhou's head was beginning to throb.
"Alright, alright, don't overthink it." Mu Side chuckled and lifted a hand to gently massage her temples.
"I heard the Luos have already removed Luo Jialin from the inheritance list. Originally, his father was also going to be demoted to a branch office, but an earlier contract with the National Hospital saved him."
Shu Lanzhou frowned. "The project's been scrapped—how can the contract still be valid?"
"It was Xiang Hua who signed the contract. Han Weicheng lied, but it doesn't implicate the Luo company. Even if the new drug can't be delivered, the contract covers other medicines too—at least half of it can still be fulfilled. The Luos won't suffer a loss."
Mu Side snorted in disdain. "They were obviously in cahoots from the start. Xiang Hua would never let the Luos take the fall."
"Hmph… not necessarily," Shu Lanzhou said with a glint in her eyes.
"The National Hospital doesn't belong to Xiang Hua alone. I think it's time for Director Long to return. Now that our project is on pause anyway."
Mu Side chuckled and tapped her nose. "You want to mess with the Luos? Need me to do anything?"
"My husband knows me so well." Shu Lanzhou rubbed her hands together. "There's no way I'm letting Luo Jialin walk away with the hospital's pharmaceutical supply rights."
"I'm already mad that they haven't been punished properly. No way I'm letting them make money off this. Don't worry, you don't need to lift a finger—just get the contract ready!"
Mu Side laughed and gently pinched her cheek. "Alright, I'll sit back and enjoy the good life fed to me by my wife."
"Ugh, why do you always have to tell the truth?" Shu Lanzhou smirked and threw herself into his arms.
Mu Side caught her naturally, and just as he lowered his head to kiss her cheek, he shifted back to serious matters.
"You were right before—Han Weicheng wouldn't take the fall for free. From what I've found, after he disappeared from the research institute, he was moved into a place arranged by Xiao Anning."
"There's word that Xiao Anning privately partnered with someone to build a research center. I looked into it—the investor is overseas, but I haven't uncovered their identity yet."
"Not long ago, Luo Jialin also invested in the project. It looks like Han Weicheng hasn't given up on his research."
"…"
Of course. Shu Lanzhou gazed at the ceiling, heart sinking deeper and deeper.
A centipede dies but never stiffens—
No, no, Han Weicheng wasn't worthy of that phrase.
He was the cockroach that just wouldn't die.
Prison was where he truly belonged. They'd underestimated him this time, failed to grasp solid evidence of his crimes—and Du Yifan had ended up as the scapegoat!
Shu Lanzhou gripped Mu Side's hand tightly.
"Whether it's Han Weicheng or Luo Jialin, they probably hate us now. You have to be careful—keep an eye on their every move."
"I've got a bad feeling. Whatever Han Weicheng is planning, it won't be anything good. I'm afraid he's going to drag the entire medical field into chaos."
"Really?" Mu Side looked doubtful. "If Han Weicheng had any sense, he wouldn't go back down that same research path. No matter how brilliant he is, he's no match for He Xin's full team."
"His reputation is in ruins, and his team has scattered. Even if he wants to start over, without years of rebuilding, how could he accomplish anything?"
Shu Lanzhou shook her head. "Exactly. His reputation is destroyed. So what else is there for him to pursue?"
"Money?" Mu Side thought of Luo Jialin. "Now that he's lost his position as heir, Luo Jialin has to find a way to make up for the Luo family's losses—and more."
Shu Lanzhou nodded. "When I was working with Han Weicheng, I knew he'd been secretly conducting research on a project for years."
"He never had approval, so he did everything alone, in secret. If this incident gives him the green light to continue…"
Mu Side's expression turned grim.
"You're saying—he agreed to take the blame in exchange for Xiang Hua and the others securing approval for that research? But what kind of project would be so forbidden, it never got passed—and makes you this worried?"