Sui Yan scratched her head, saying nothing. She simply didn't feel like she was that amazing.
Zheng Xu suddenly shook his head helplessly, as though recalling something: "Speaking of which, there was a young girl who joined our research institute recently. She looks like she just graduated from high school."
The military doctor seemed a bit surprised: "That's quite impressive though."
Zhu Yue curled her lip in disdain: "Impressive my ass, she can't even handle menial work."
Liu Bing Rong also looked disdainful: "Her ability isn't great, but she's very good at flattery."
Bai Heng frowned: "Isn't your research institute usually so high and mighty? How did someone like that get in?"
Zhu Yue sighed: "She was pushed in by the Qi family, so we have to give her some face."
Sui Yan tilted her head with a dazed look, completely clueless about what they were talking about.
Not wanting Sui Yan to know about these unpleasant matters, Zhu Yue hugged her and said, "Never mind all that, let's get going."
Bai Heng pushed over a wheelchair he had prepared earlier: "Sui Yan, be careful now."
Sui Yan was helped into the wheelchair and gently lifted her legs: "Can't Ti Zi come along?"
Zhu Yue pondered for a moment: "How about we set up a resting spot for Ti Zi at the institute next time, so we can bring Ti Zi along then? Sound good?"
Sui Yan obediently nodded: "Okay then, Ti Zi you have to stay home and be good while you wait for me."
Ti Zi lay on the carpet: "Woof woof!"
Hurry back home, Yan Yan!
Although she had just overheard them discussing the girl who recently joined the research institute, Sui Yan never imagined that girl would be Lu Yunling.
The military doctor was the first to notice Sui Yan's odd expression, bending down to ask softly, "Sui Yan, what's wrong?"
Sui Yan lowered her gaze, her mind dwelling on the words Lu Yunling had once said to her.
"Sui Yan, look how happy their family is. They clearly don't see you as part of the family."
"They must think your situation is a burden."
"You only cause trouble for others!"
"With you around, Nian Nian and your brother Qiao Ze won't be happy."
"Nian Nian said you're always clinging to Qiao Ze, but he's your brother after all."
"......"
"......"
"Sui Yan! Sui Yan!"
Sui Yan snapped out of her daze: "Hm?"
Bai Heng and the others looked at her with concern: "Sui Yan, are you alright?"
Sui Yan curved her lips: "I'm fine."
Meanwhile, not far away, Lu Yunling's gaze grew deeper, unconsciously gripping the test tube in her hand tightly with jealousy and resentment.
Sui Yan, you're so lucky to still be alive.
Sui Yan felt Lu Yunling's gaze and looked back at her coldly, as if Lu Yunling was merely an irrelevant person.
Zhu Yue noticed Lu Yunling staring at Sui Yan and shielded Sui Yan, coldly saying: "What are you looking at? Got nothing better to do?"
The others had been minding their own business until Zhu Yue's outburst made them aware of the situation.
Zheng Xu cleared his throat: "Weren't you all wondering whose prescription that was earlier? It was this young lady's."
Liu Bing Rong nodded proudly: "That's right, and she researched it independently too."
Everyone else: "......"
A woman with a gentle demeanor spoke up disapprovingly: "Director, you shouldn't joke about things like this with a child."
Zhu Yue rolled her eyes: "Who's joking? What do you think the three of us have been up to these past few days?"
The normally carefree Zhu Yue was so serious that the others gradually realized something was amiss.
The gentle woman's face turned to shock: "So... it really was this child?"
The military doctor patted Sui Yan's head: "Sui Yan, care to introduce yourself?"
Sui Yan looked at Bai Heng and the military doctor, then slowly took a deep breath: "Hello everyone, my name is Sui Yan."
Zheng Xu beckoned to the military doctor, signaling him to wheel Sui Yan forward as he explained: "This is Liu Hua's daughter. Some of those prescriptions were left behind by Miss Liu, while others were researched by this young lady herself."
As he spoke, everyone seemed to accept this reality.
Seeing Sui Yan in a wheelchair, the others tactfully refrained from further questioning in her presence.
Only Lu Yunling looked at Sui Yan curiously: "Then where's Miss Liu Hua? Why didn't she come?"
Her words made Zhu Yue's face darken.
Before Zhu Yue could rebuke her, Sui Yan's cold voice interjected: "It's only been two months, and you've already forgotten me? You should know better than anyone that my mother has passed away."
Sui Yan slowly raised her head, her gaze icy as she looked at Lu Yunling: "Asking me that in front of so many people, did you just want to see me embarrassed?"
Sui Yan wasn't naive; she simply tended to trust people too easily, which was why Lu Yunling's words had initially affected her so much.
But ever since Lu Yunling had slipped up in front of her, Sui Yan no longer believed a word she said.
Lu Yunling hadn't expected the once meek and timid Sui Yan to say such things, thinking she'd remain silent as before.
She fumbled for an explanation: "No, that's not what I meant... I, I was just..."
"Since you're so unwelcoming to Sui Yan, then she has no need to join your research institute. Sui Yan, how about I fund a lab just for you instead?" Bai Heng's face was cold as he gently addressed Sui Yan.
Before Sui Yan could react, the others at the institute objected: "Young Master Bai, we sincerely hope and welcome this young lady to join our institute and progress together."
"Exactly, Director Zhu, we can't let this child leave just because of that doormat Lu Yunling!"
"An adult bullying a child, how disgusting."
"Lu Yunling has known this young lady for a long time, didn't she always bully her like this before too?"
Everyone clamored in condemnation of Lu Yunling, but that last statement brought a hush over the room.
Lu Yunling's eyes welled up: "I, I didn't, I never!"
Sui Yan supported the military doctor as they slowly stood up. She limped over to Lu Yunling and said, "Do you dare repeat the words you said to me earlier in front of everyone?"
She turned around and looked at the people in the laboratory, saying, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought personal grievances into this. But I don't want to see this person every time I come to the lab in the future, as it might affect my mood. So... Sister Zhu Yue, either she or I will have to leave."
Zhu Yue pushed Sui Yan's wheelchair in front of her and said, "Don't get excited, sit down first. Sui Yan, this isn't considered a personal grievance. I said before that we should look at one's character before their abilities, and Lu Yunling seems to lack both. But I'll be fair, let's have everyone vote. Whoever gets more votes between Sui Yan and Lu Yunling can stay."
She whispered in Sui Yan's ear, "Sui Yan, I'm sorry you have to go through this."
A person like Lu Yunling was never worthy of being compared to Sui Yan in the first place, but now Zhu Yue couldn't show too much favoritism.
