Du Yifan was surprised to see Tian Hua.
He had been sentenced to three years and had only served less than one. During this time, neither his father nor his mother had visited him.
Tian Hua was the first person to come see him in prison.
"Why is it you?" Du Yifan frowned slightly.
Tian Hua chuckled. "Who were you hoping for?"
"Do you think I get to choose who shows up?" Du Yifan gave a wry smile.
Compared to when he had just been sentenced, he now seemed much calmer—at least he could still smile.
Tian Hua straightened in his seat. "Probably not."
"Your mother's been ill for over half a year now and is still in the hospital. Your father's been juggling the company and hospital visits. From what I hear, your family's company may not survive this."
"What did you say?" Du Yifan shot to his feet, agitated. "What about Luo Jialin? Get him here! He promised he'd help protect the Du Corporation! He can't just go back on his word!"
"So that's why you confessed so willingly?" Tian Hua sneered. "I thought so!"
Although he had suspected as much, hearing it confirmed from Du Yifan's own mouth still left him with a bitter taste.
The once arrogant, prideful Young Master Du, the one who saw himself above others—even knowing he'd been set up, he accepted the charges so readily. Tian Hua should've realized something was off.
When it came to profit, they were all just pawns to Han Weicheng. That so-called mentor—he was nothing but a polished beast in disguise, dressing his depravity in elegant robes.
Tian Hua had realized this by their second year on the research team. But this was the game. Han Weicheng's reputation and skills made up for his moral rot.
People clamored to join his team. He cherry-picked students who would benefit him: Luo Jialin with his powerful family background; Tian Hua and Fang Ruoshi with their diligence and ambition; Guo Jialiang, the smooth operator with social finesse; and of course, the ever-reliable Shu Lanzhou.
Only Du Yifan had been forced in—but even then, his family connections proved useful in supporting Luo Jialin, who was Han Weicheng's true golden goose.
Together, they formed the perfect team. Had nothing gone wrong, Han Weicheng would've ridden their coattails to even greater fame, scooping up every research award in sight.
But then came Lin Muyao.
Tian Hua never understood why Han Weicheng brought her in. She had nothing to offer, no connections, no skills worth exploiting.
Until her background was revealed.
The irony made Tian Hua want to laugh. Because of Lin Muyao, Shu Lanzhou—once the quiet workhorse—had awakened. Her departure from the team, coupled with Lin Muyao's foolishness, was what set everything spiraling.
Once Shu Lanzhou ripped off Han Weicheng's respectable mask, the rest of them—his carefully groomed students—became collateral damage.
That was when Tian Hua chose to pull away. He turned down Han Weicheng's offers, opting instead to stay buried in the research institute.
He'd thought that with Lin Muyao's breakdown, the debt he owed that entertainment club would be wiped clean.
He had a decent job now, a future in the research institute. He believed that, with his capabilities, climbing back up wouldn't be hard.
But then the club owner was released from prison—and brought Lin Jiayi along to collect the debt.
Cornered, Tian Hua met Zhang Chengyou—a foreign investor looking to start a cosmeceuticals company in China.
President Zhang promised that if Tian Hua could introduce him to a reliable partner and help secure legitimate suppliers, he would get a stake in the company.
Zhang even fronted him some cash, helping him pay off his debts, and promised him 2% in founding equity once the company launched.
It seemed too easy. No capital, just connections, and he could sit back and collect dividends.
To Tian Hua, it wasn't even a difficult task.
After all, the Mu and Luo families were already business rivals. Shu Lanzhou and Han Weicheng had been at odds for ages—mortal enemies, even.
Tian Hua had never truly clashed with Shu Lanzhou. He hadn't bullied her, hadn't ordered her around. At most, he'd borrowed money from her—and had long since repaid it.
Shu Lanzhou was a smart woman. She shouldn't have rejected such a golden opportunity.
Zhang Chengyou had been clear: he cared about product quality. That alone should've appealed to her.
So why?
Why had Shu Lanzhou turned him down?
"Hey… hey, Tian Hua, say something! What's with that blank look? Tell me—where's Luo Jialin? Why didn't he help Du Corporation? What's happening to my family now?"
Du Yifan's eyes were bloodshot. "And my mom… what about her? Can you tell me something—anything? Tian Hua, please!"
His desperate voice yanked Tian Hua back to the present. Looking at the man who had once been all thorns, now stripped down to panic, helplessness, and exhaustion, Tian Hua couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy.
"Your mother's not in immediate danger. But her condition is complicated, and after everything she's endured, she'll need a long time to recover."
"As for your company…" Tian Hua paused, then said, "I've heard that President Zhang's brother-in-law has taken over Zhang Corp and is actively opposing your father. He's having a hard time keeping up."
"And after what happened with Huang Tiantian, your company took a massive hit. Whether it can survive… that's hard to say."
"And Luo Jialin?" Tian Hua gave a faint, cold smile. "He's barely keeping his own head above water."
"He lost his status as heir to the Luo family. His father took the fall for him and has since been pushed aside by the other uncles."
"In order to stay in the company headquarters, his father had to kick him out of the business. Luo Jialin is no longer the proud, cocky campus heartthrob he used to be."
Du Yifan collapsed back into his chair, stunned. He glared at Tian Hua. "And what about Han Weicheng? He's the one who ruined Luo Jialin! You mean Luo's just going to let that go?"
"Of course not," Tian Hua sighed. "Han Weicheng took the fall, claiming full responsibility. The research project was scrapped, and he left the institute."
"Now the two of them have teamed up to start a medical aesthetics company. They're developing cosmetic medical products."
"…Hah." Du Yifan scoffed. "A medical professor… switching to beauty products? Are you joking?"
Tian Hua shook his head. "I've got no reason to lie to you. That's the truth."
He stood up. "If you need anything, call me. I'll send someone. I'll also try to visit your mother when I can. Don't worry too much."
"What is this?" Du Yifan asked, baffled. "You came here just to tell me this? That's not like you. Why the sudden kindness? What do you really want?"
Tian Hua sighed softly.
"We were colleagues once. Visiting you isn't too much to ask. But you're right—I never do anything without a reason. Of course, I have my motives."
"And?" Du Yifan leaned forward. "Did you get what you came for?"
Tian Hua nodded. "More or less. I got the confirmation I needed."
"So what now?" Du Yifan gripped the edge of the table. "What are you going to do?"
Tian Hua chuckled.
"I'm going to cling to Shu Lanzhou's coattails. Do everything I can to get on her good side. What else? I'm not stupid enough to keep opposing her and end up like the rest of you."
"What did you just say?" Du Yifan was stunned. "You… you're going to suck up to Shu Lanzhou?"
Tian Hua shrugged, unconcerned. "Why not? Didn't you try to curry favor with her once too?"
"Actually, I'm curious…" He took a step forward, turning back. "Back then, did you ever really like her?"