After discussing it with his teammates, Wu Cheng found that, except for two third-year graduate students who would be returning home for work after graduation, the others were all willing to join the Central Research Institute.
At the moment, they were on their way to ask Professor Mu if Ding Yuejiao, who was still a senior undergraduate, could also intern at the institute.
Coincidentally, while heading toward the faculty building, they ran into Shu Lanzhou and He Sixin, and the four of them walked over together.
"This won't be a problem. She can come over with Shu Lanzhou. My project is in urgent need of people," Mu Yanning assured them.
"If the Central Research Institute refuses her because of her academic standing, she can come to the TCM Hospital instead. We have a collaboration, and the project will be conducted jointly. It won't affect your future careers."
Mu Yanning promised firmly:
"But I have one condition: no slacking off under my watch. Everyone must contribute value. If you don't deliver, I won't show any mercy."
"You can count on me, Professor Mu. I'll definitely do my best," Ding Yuejiao said nervously. Still, the thought of working alongside Shu Lanzhou reassured her somewhat.
Wu Cheng chuckled and said, "To avoid any unnecessary complications, I'd like to sign the project proposal right away. What do you think, Professor Mu?"
Mu Yanning laughed at that.
"I heard that Deputy Director Lin from the Central Research Institute approached you. At this point, shouldn't you be feeling a little less rushed than we are? Why the sudden hurry?"
Wu Cheng's smile deepened.
"I'm just starting out in society and know I'm not the smartest person around. I lack a strong sense of resolve and might not resist temptation easily. Since I've already made my decision, I don't want to leave any chance for regret."
His words carried a subtle double meaning. On the surface, he was admitting his own weaknesses, but underneath, he was hinting at his fear that Lin Jiayi might resort to improper means to sway him.
Everyone present knew very well how determined Lin Jiayi was to secure the winning project.
Shu Lanzhou also felt that it would be best to finalize the project documentation quickly. Given what she knew of Lin Jiayi, she doubted the woman would give up so easily. Pressuring the school authorities or privately tempting or threatening Wu Cheng's team members were very much within her capabilities.
Mu Yanning gave Wu Cheng an appraising look — this was a young man with a clear and upright heart.
He had skillfully laid everything out in advance while preserving his own options. Shu Lanzhou had a sharp eye for people indeed; helping him had been a wise move.
"Alright, come with me. We'll go to the principal's office and register the project. As for the formal proposal, I'll have Old He prepare it. As soon as it's ready, I'll let you know."
Wu Cheng clenched his fists silently in excitement.
He knew he had made the right move.
Anyone familiar with the inner workings of academia would know that Professors Mu and Han were not on good terms. Since Lin Muyao was now in Han's team and Lin Jiayi was her mother, it automatically placed Lin Jiayi on the opposing side to Mu Yanning.
If he hesitated now or left even a sliver of opportunity for Lin Jiayi to exploit, he could end up offending both factions at once!
He didn't know what the future held, but all he wanted was a stable chance to stay at the Central Research Institute — a place where he could genuinely focus on research.
Since Shu Lanzhou had helped him forge a connection with the Mu family and he was already interning under Professor He, there was no reason to play the neutral game anymore. Picking a side was inevitable!
Shu Lanzhou breathed a quiet sigh of relief. With the principal as a witness, Lin Jiayi could no longer steal the project away — unless she was truly shameless enough to throw all decorum aside.
Seeing the group heading toward the principal's office, Lin Jiayi practically ground her teeth to dust in fury:
"Damn fools, a bunch of ignorant, penniless students! They really think they've made the best choice? I can't wait to see whether they'll even get their project off the ground!"
Seething with anger, she turned and stormed off toward Han Weicheng's lab.
Half an hour later, Mu Yanning's group exited the principal's office.
"There, you can relax now, right?" Mu Yanning handed the registration documents to Wu Cheng and motioned for him to keep them safe.
Wu Cheng received them respectfully and said, "Yes, I feel much more at ease. Thank you, Professor Mu. I promise I won't let you down."
"Don't say that." Mu Yanning waved him off. "I only care about results."
Wu Cheng nodded earnestly. "Understood."
As it was getting late, Mu Yanning took He Sixin home. Meanwhile, Wu Cheng and Ding Yuejiao pulled Shu Lanzhou along to join them for dinner.
It happened to suit Shu Lanzhou, as she had something she wanted to discuss with them as well, so she agreed.
Wu Cheng first brought Shu Lanzhou to their school laboratory, where she met the remaining members of their team.
"Hello, junior. I'm Shen Mo. I've heard a lot about you from Ding Yuejiao. I've been wanting to meet you!" Shen Mo said warmly.
Shu Lanzhou smiled and shook his outstretched hand. "Nice to meet you, senior."
"And me! Don't forget me! I'm Yi Ming, also a second-year graduate student like Shen Mo," said a cheerful boy beside him.
Shu Lanzhou looked at the lively youth and suddenly thought of something:
"Wait, are you Yi Ming, the one who published that paper on 'Three Key Aspects of Human Disease Prevention' in the leading medical journal a year ago?"
"Wow, you actually know me? I'm honored!" Yi Ming said with a playful wink.
Shu Lanzhou felt a genuine surge of excitement — what a lucky stroke of fate!
She had helped Wu Cheng almost by accident and unexpectedly ended up bringing Yi Ming into He Xin's team.
In her previous life, Luo Jialin's greatest rival in the research field had been none other than Yi Ming.
Every time Luo Jialin's team published a breakthrough, Yi Ming would quickly dissect it with sharp, probing questions in his papers, sometimes forcing them into very awkward situations.
In fact, several major flaws in their research had only been corrected thanks to Yi Ming's critiques, paving the way for their later achievements.
She had once tried to persuade Luo Jialin to bring Yi Ming into their team, but Luo Jialin refused, dismissing Yi Ming as a showboating troublemaker.
Only later did Shu Lanzhou realize the real reason: they were afraid Yi Ming would upset their power balance, exposing their exploitation of her relentless hard work.
Thinking back now, it made her sick to her stomach.
Pulling herself from her memories, Shu Lanzhou looked at the mischievous Yi Ming in front of her and felt genuine joy.
She hadn't expected that after being reborn, she would get the chance to work with Yi Ming!
She reached out her hand again. "It's an honor. I hope we'll get the chance to work together, seniors."
"That's more like it." Shen Mo chuckled as he watched them shake hands. "Otherwise, I would've thought you were playing favorites with Yi Ming!"
"Well, it's not my fault you haven't published two papers for the junior to admire," Yi Ming joked as he nudged Shen Mo.
The group erupted into laughter.
Wu Cheng walked over smiling and said, "The other two seniors have already returned to their hometowns for internships, so I can't introduce you to them. Right now, this is the whole team."
"Shu Lanzhou, looks like we'll be teammates from now on!" Ding Yuejiao said as she hooked her arm through Shu Lanzhou's.
Shu Lanzhou nodded. "Barring any surprises, yes. Our project and yours will be merged into one larger project. Wu Cheng, you've thought about this, right?"
"I have," Wu Cheng confirmed. "That's exactly why I didn't hesitate to turn down Deputy Director Lin."
"To be honest, I'm very interested in Professor Mu's project. I think if we combine it with ours, we might achieve some truly unexpected breakthroughs. I'm really looking forward to it."
Shu Lanzhou hadn't expected Wu Cheng to be so open.
"I'm looking forward to the future of this big project too!"
"Oh, by the way, Zhouzhou," Ding Yuejiao said, puzzled, "you told me before that Deputy Director Lin is Lin Muyao's mother. What's the story behind that?"
In truth, it was Ding Yuejiao who had urged Wu Cheng to approach Professor Mu after Shu Lanzhou texted her — and it was Ding who had suggested registering the project so quickly.
But this little detail… she had no intention of telling Shu Lanzhou!