Chapter 48

Seeing Lu Qianchuan, Qin Yan was pleasantly surprised, but when she turned and saw Gu He'an, it turned into shock.

The two men were just staring at each other, as if they were about to spark a fire.

They were at daggers drawn, just a step away from a brawl.

She swallowed hard and hurriedly broke the deadlock, asking, "What... what is going on with you two?"

"Xiao Yan?" Gu He'an's tone was filled with delight; the anger on his face vanished, replaced by a joyous glow as he pushed Lu Qianchuan aside, walked up to her, and asked uncertainly, "Is Dean Shi your mentor?"

"Yes."

Qin Yan had told him about this before, but he hadn't paid any attention to her affairs.

Hearing her confirmation, Gu He'an was even more delighted. "There is a new research project, and Dean Shi set this time for me. Let me in."

Qin Yan remembered that her teacher seemed to have mentioned it, but hadn't it not been decided yet?

"Wait a moment. The teacher is still undergoing acupuncture; he cannot be exposed to wind or speak," Qin Yan said. She then looked at Lu Qianchuan standing to the side and coughed lightly. "Mr. Lu, and you are?"

Lu Qianchuan met her gaze and explained, "I am also here for the collaboration. Dean Shi told me to come and discuss it."

"Then you wait as well." Qin Yan turned, preparing to go inside, but was pulled back by Gu He'an.

Gu He'an said, "Xiao Yan, you must have known I was looking for Dean Shi to collaborate, so you came to find your teacher to help me facilitate the partnership. I knew that your temper tantrum earlier was just you being stubborn but soft-hearted. You love me so much, you would definitely consider things for me."

Qin Yan was so angry she laughed; she couldn't be bothered to waste breath on him and turned back into the office.

Lu Qianchuan, who had been pushed aside, turned his head, his deep, cold eyes looking down at Gu He'an.

"Mr. Gu, do you still not understand Dean Shi's intention? He wants us to compete fairly—survival of the fittest!"

Gu He'an sneered, "I am determined to win this project! I will win, and you will lose!"

He hadn't had much confidence before, but with Qin Yan helping him, he now felt there was no suspense left!

"Heh."

Lu Qianchuan scoffed coldly and turned to walk to the railing, looking downstairs. Meeting the gaze of a man below, he said, "Mr. Gu, the competitors are not just limited to one person."

"..." Gu He'an frowned and looked downstairs, seeing the eldest young master of the Du family, and his expression darkened further.

The Du Corporation was a long-standing pharmaceutical enterprise involved in a wide range of industries. They had previously collaborated with the school on several projects, all of which were done very well. This was why he valued this medical research project so highly.

If Lu Qianchuan alone put pressure on him, it was one thing, but with the Du Corporation involved, he felt a sense of dread in his heart.

Du Linsen walked upstairs and, seeing them, also looked a bit surprised.

"What a coincidence, you two. Mr. Gu, Mr. Lu, Dean Shi asked me to come over. Does Dean Shi mean for us to compete this time?"

"Yes."

Lu Qianchuan met his gaze and nodded in response.

They were all competitors in the same industry. He and Gu He'an didn't see eye to eye, but he felt indifferent toward this Mr. Du. They were both in business, occasionally bumping into each other, just exchanging nods as a matter of courtesy.

Du Linsen's gaze swept over the two of them. Although the Lu Corporation was a rising star, it frequently snatched business away from the Gu Corporation. The two families were considered bitter rivals. Although he was in the same industry, he didn't have much contact with them, and his understanding of them was limited to rumors.

But based on his own judgment, he walked up to Lu Qianchuan and said, "Mr. Lu, why don't we take this opportunity to join hands and bring down the Gu Corporation, and then split the spoils?"

He spoke loudly, not avoiding Gu He'an at all, and even intentionally stirred up trouble.

Looking at Gu He'an, his gaze carried a hint of provocation.

The Lu Corporation had been built up bit by bit by Lu Qianchuan, but Gu He'an had inherited his company. Just a few days ago, he had made such a huge joke of himself, so he looked down on such people, which made him lean more toward Lu Qianchuan.

Lu Qianchuan glanced at Gu He'an and curled his lips. "That's not impossible."

"Anyone can talk big, but things aren't that easy to do. Mr. Du, your childish cold joke isn't funny at all!" Gu He'an glared at Du Linsen, his gaze also filled with hostility.

If these two were to join forces to target him, it would indeed be troublesome.

"You wouldn't be panicking, would you?" Du Linsen asked with a laugh.

Du Linsen's face always carried a faint smile; even when he had a dispute with someone, he remained all smiles, as if nothing could make him change his expression.

Gu He'an couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind and turned his gaze toward the office.

Inside the office.

She took the needles for her teacher, sterilized and cleaned them, and couldn't help but complain.

"Why did you call both of them here? Didn't you say it hadn't been decided yet?"

Shi Laoshi snorted coldly. "I didn't just call those two. I also called the Du family's representative. I said that if you stay at the school, if any dog tries to bully you, I will be able to protect you.

Now that Gu He'an isn't treating you well, even if I have to give him this project, I want him to know that you, Qin Yan, are not without someone to back you up!"

Qin Yan held her forehead; if this continued, the fact that she had registered her marriage with Gu He'an would soon become her dark history.

"Regarding the project, we should still be cautious; it doesn't necessarily have to be given to Gu He'an."

Shi Laoshi looked at her suspiciously, then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he clicked his tongue. "Did your brain suddenly clear up? Are you going to change men? That's fine. Today, first take a look at the Du family's one. If you aren't satisfied with the Du family's, I think that Mr. Lu is also quite good. He looks cold, but he is humble, polite, upright, and elegant. I heard he is also single and has no scandals. I'll go play matchmaker for you."

"Cough... Talk about the collaboration; put interests first, don't talk about feelings."

Qin Yan refuted sternly and then discussed with him, "Let's look at the conditions each side offers first, Teacher."

"Hmm. Call them in; I'll first evaluate the Du family's eldest son for you. If he doesn't suit your heart, then we'll consider that Mr. Lu."

"..."

Qin Yan laughed in anger. Was he not listening to a single word she said?

She went to open the door and said, "The teacher is ready; you may come in."

The office was small and couldn't accommodate too many people, so the assistants of the others didn't enter; only the three men walked in.

Gu He'an walked to Qin Yan's side, using his eyes to ask if she had told her teacher about their relationship.

Qin Yan ignored him and turned to get paper cups to pour them water.

"Sit down and talk. I haven't been feeling well these past few days, but this project is urgent, so I had to invite you all here. I will choose the most suitable one," Shi Laoshi coughed a few times and looked at everyone.

"Having competition is a good thing for this project, but it is you who are suffering, having to work while not feeling well," Lu Qianchuan spoke first, his tone respectful and his attitude sincere, which immediately made Shi Laoshi think highly of him.

As expected of a child raised in a great aristocratic family; his words were pleasant to the ear.

"Grandpa Shi, are you feeling alright?" Du Linsen walked familiarly to Shi Laoshi's side, and seeing his poor complexion, he looked worried. "Do you need me to take a look for you?"

Because his family business was in this industry, Du Linsen had also followed his family elders to learn medicine since he was a child. He was now working at his family's hospital and had a very good relationship with Shi Laoshi.

"I'm fine. Don't make a fuss."

Shi Laoshi saw him reaching out, wanting to take his pulse. He didn't want his condition to be known by too many people, so he pulled his wrist away, changed the subject, and asked, "You are still single, right?"

Du Linsen didn't expect him to ask this and nodded awkwardly.

Shi Laoshi beamed, looking at Du Linsen—tall, talented, upright in character, and well-bred.

"Linsen, do you want a wife?"