Shu Lanzhou once struggled to understand Fang Ruoshi.
He could clearly empathize with her—every time he looked at her, his eyes brimmed with guilt and remorse. Even the way he called her name carried a touch of helplessness and pity, his hesitant tone often made her mistakenly believe he would finally step forward to help.
But he never did. Not once. Not even when she was at her most desperate, when she had no one else to turn to—Fang Ruoshi had never lent her the slightest bit of help.
For a long time after she went to prison, Shu Lanzhou believed all of Fang Ruoshi's guilt and regret, all his helpless pity, had been nothing but a performance—an act put on just for her. He merely wanted her to let go of her hatred. After all, he had come from humble beginnings, and even if she was now his enemy, he couldn't afford to make another one.
But living life a second time, Shu Lanzhou realized just how wrong she had been—absurdly wrong.
Perhaps Fang Ruoshi's guilt and remorse were genuine, remnants of a conscience not yet dead. But his helplessness and pity—they weren't for her. He merely saw himself in her. The bruised and battered boy who had suffered in the dark, that's who he pitied.
He hadn't reached out to save her because he was greedy and cowardly.
Just like how he couldn't break free of the Ji family—even if they left him torn to pieces, he endured it with cold indifference.
Because he couldn't bear to lose what the Ji family gave him—the status, the money, and Ji Chuyun.
When Shu Lanzhou realized who was calling, her instinct was to hang up.
But the pleading voice on the other end made her pause—this wasn't sympathy, just curiosity. She wanted to see what Fang Ruoshi would choose this time.
Compared to their past life, this time around he was even lower in status and influence. Ji Chuyun would likely treat him even worse.
She loved the thrill of dominance. The more someone resisted, the more she enjoyed breaking them. Her whip wasn't just a prop for "spicing things up"—it was a real weapon when her interest waned.
Shu Lanzhou was genuinely curious. Would Fang Ruoshi have the courage to throw everything away and stand on his own for once?
If he had even a shred of that courage, Ji Chuyun might actually respect him.
"Please, don't hang up. Just let me say a few words." Fang Ruoshi's voice was low, hoarse, and blurred—he'd been crying.
"I really had no other choice but to call you." He didn't wait for a response. "I know you hate me—for not speaking up for you during the Lin Muyao incident, for not taking your side later on."
"But I was powerless. You know that. No one would've listened to me. I couldn't afford to offend either the Lin family or Professor Han."
"If I hadn't listened to them, I probably would've been kicked out of school…" His voice broke with a quiet sob.
Maybe it was because he was behind a phone, unseen and unheard, that he felt less ashamed about crying.
Shu Lanzhou was growing impatient. "That's all ancient history now. No point bringing it up again. If you have something to say, spit it out. If not, I'm hanging up."
"No, no, wait!" Fang Ruoshi panicked. "I do have something to say. Lanzhou, please, I'm begging you. Can you forgive me? I was awful to you—I yelled at you, treated you like garbage."
"I was wrong. I was so, so wrong. I never should've trusted Lin Muyao. I never should've hurt you just to stay on their good side. I'm sorry."
Shu Lanzhou let out a short laugh. "You say you were just trying to 'go along with them,' but the truth is, you always looked down on me, didn't you? We came from the same background, but you used me to feel superior."
"So, what now? You've lost that false sense of superiority, and suddenly you grow a conscience and call to apologize?"
"I…" Fang Ruoshi was momentarily speechless. Being seen through so clearly by her left him flustered and humiliated. Even through the phone, he could feel her calm and disdainful gaze.
It was a terrible feeling—like being chewed on by thousands of ants. Not enough to kill, but unbearably painful.
And humiliating.
So much so that he almost couldn't bring himself to say what he had planned to.
But he took a deep breath and forced himself to go on. No matter how humiliating it was, if it could change his situation, then being looked down on was a small price to pay.
After all, she had made it. She'd caught the attention of the Mu family, married Mu Side, and now everyone envied her.
"I really just wanted to apologize. And… if you could, please help me one more time. Just once. I swear, just this once."
If oaths were legally binding, half the world would be in jail.
Shu Lanzhou chuckled softly. "And how exactly do you want me to help?"
Because he couldn't see her expression, Fang Ruoshi mistook her laugh for forgiveness.
He'd always known Shu Lanzhou had a soft heart. And now she was living well, with the Mu family backing her. Helping him should be an easy favor, right?
He sounded more relaxed. "It's not a big deal, really. I just want to join Professor He's research group. Can you maybe put in a word for me?"
Ha…
Thick-skinned didn't even begin to cover it.
Had he forgotten how he got into the institute in the first place?
If it weren't for Ji Chuyun's donation and Professor Han's recommendation, his qualifications wouldn't have even scratched the surface.
Now he wanted into He Xin's team? Delusional.
Even without considering that the team's project was already halfway done and had made real breakthroughs, He Xin would never have taken someone like him anyway.
Character was a valuable trait. Too bad he didn't have any.
Listening to him sob and beg her to put in a good word to join their research team, Shu Lanzhou didn't feel the satisfaction of revenge—only a deep, abiding disappointment in human nature.
"What made you think I'd ever speak up for you and help you join Professor He's group?" Shu Lanzhou's voice was cold, laced with unhidden contempt.
"I've told you before—people must take responsibility for their choices. From the moment you chose not to believe me, we stood on opposite sides."
"If it weren't for your current desperation, I doubt you'd ever call to say 'sorry.' And since it's not sincere, I won't forgive you—much less help you."
"Fang Ruoshi, think long and hard about what happened to Guo Jialiang and Du Yifan. You… had better take care of yourself."
The moment she hung up, Shu Lanzhou felt a twinge of softness in her heart.
But she didn't regret it.
If that final warning could make Fang Ruoshi wake up and refuse to be Han Weicheng's accomplice, then Han would have one less pawn to do his dirty work.
She'd consider that a good deed.
The call didn't affect her mood much. After enjoying food and chatter with her friends, she returned to the Mu house with Mu Side in the afternoon.
Compared to her peaceful day, Fang Ruoshi's was falling apart.
After being rejected, he hurled his phone across the room, his throat releasing a growl of hopeless fury.
"Why? Why won't you help me? You're no different—you climbed up by clinging to rich people too. What makes you so righteous?"
"You just got lucky—lucky enough to land the Mu family, lucky that He Xin's research succeeded. If things had gone the other way, it'd be you begging me right now!"
"Shu Lanzhou, you damn bitch, just you wait. I don't believe the Mu family will protect you forever!"