The Scheming Ex-Husband's Courtship-Chapter 568 - 498: Riding the Limelight

For the following month, Mu Chenxi, aside from her class hours, spent all her time in Luo Shangqing’s laboratory, conducting experiments and searching through the paper archives.

Mu Chenxi had studied for so many years, and this time she had put all of her effort into her work, investing her time in experiments, reading, and researching... and sneaking glances at Professor Luo.

She liked to watch how Luo Shangqing handled the medical instruments, wearing a spotless white lab coat, his delicate features as if they were carefully drawn by a skilled hand. Such a person seemed out of place in a lab, more suited to appear on the big screen.

Yet, she felt a tinge of relief that she could appreciate him from such a close distance, unreservedly, as if he were hers alone.

～

The magazine’s visit to the school came a month later, they said it was to conduct a dedicated interview with the students and teachers who had published papers before. It was a sensational event at the school, and everyone was talking about how Qiao Tong from some department was about to become famous after meals and in their leisure time.

Qiao Tong too had received the news two days in advance, she was excited and couldn’t sleep at night. Even before the interview had started, she was already fretting about what to wear on that day.

"You’re going to be a celebrity," a few classmates at the same table in the cafeteria at noon teased her eagerly, "People are already inquiring everywhere, asking who Qiao Tong is. From now on, you can swagger around the school."

"From a magazine feature now, soon you’ll be on TV, in the newspapers, and finding a job won’t be a problem. Maybe hospitals will start contacting you soon."

Qiao Tong modestly replied: "That’s an exaggeration, it’s just a small interview, and the accomplishments I’ve made so far are very modest."

"Pssh," Xinyu, sitting not far away, couldn’t help but spit in disgust and was about to go over when Susu pulled her back.

Susu shook her head: "Forget it, let’s not start a fight. We all know the fourth one is wronged, but we have no evidence. Besides, the school obviously wants to protect its own teachers, she is just basking in Teacher Qu’s glory."

"I just feel it’s unfair for the fourth one, it’s like all the hard work has gone to the dogs in the end."

"Stolen goods will never truly belong to oneself. I think she must often have nightmares, don’t you think, fourth one?"

Mu Chenxi rubbed her nose: "Mhm."

Before the three had left the cafeteria, Qiao Tong just happened to walk over and, upon seeing Mu Chenxi at the entrance, could not help but sneer at the corner of her mouth, showing a victor’s smile.

Mu Chenxi responded to her with an indifferent look, without saying a word.

"Mu Chenxi, can we talk?" Qiao Tong suddenly spoke up.

"Our fourth one has nothing to talk to you about, you little thief," Xinyu chastised her with a thumbs down gesture from the side.

Qiao Tong appeared indifferent: "I am going to be interviewed tomorrow, so I hope you won’t continue spouting nonsense. You’re just a poor student, nobody will believe that you wrote that paper. Even if you go around now saying I plagiarized you, no one will believe it."

Hearing this, Xinyu almost lashed out: "Did you bring your face out the door today? You admit it so readily. Don’t you have any shame for copying someone else’s work?"

"That’s the way the world works, survival of the fittest. I advise you to just be an honest poor student, scrape through graduation, and don’t crack your head trying to push into our top students’ circle, because you are not worthy."

Mu Chenxi, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up: "You’ll soon know whether I am worthy or not."

After saying that, without giving Qiao Tong another chance to speak, she promptly left with Xinyu and Susu.

Qiao Tong stood there, as if the determined and confident look in Mu Chenxi’s eyes as she left was still in front of her. She couldn’t understand where this courage came from, but soon she comforted herself. With Mu Chenxi’s capability, she probably couldn’t stir up any trouble.

On the day Qiao Tong was preparing for the interview, she put on makeup specially, and that morning Qi Hao had sent a text wishing her success in the interview. The eyes of her classmates were filled with envy as they watched her.

Walking down the road, she was all puffed up with pride, feeling that everyone’s eyes were on her, looking up to her.

Arriving at the small auditorium where the interview would be held, she saw that it was filled with school leaders and teachers, as well as some top executives from major hospitals, and her heart couldn’t help beating excitedly.

She felt her future was full of hope, and the steps of success were getting closer and closer to her.

As soon as Qiao Tong entered, she couldn’t help but look towards the two sofas in the middle of the auditorium, already set up with various recording equipment. She immediately adjusted her makeup using a mirror.

"Which class are you from?" A teacher in charge came over and asked.

Qiao Tong puffed out her chest and said proudly, "I am Qiao Tong."

I am Qiao Tong, the protagonist of today.

The teacher didn’t show the appreciative smile Qiao Tong imagined but had a cold expression: "Are you here as an audience member?"

"Audience?" Qiao Tong was somewhat dumbfounded, "Isn’t this an exclusive interview with XX magazine?"

"XX magazine? That’s been turned down by the school, what we’re having now is an interview with SCI."

"Turned down?" Qiao Tong felt a buzz in her head and asked in disbelief, "Why was it turned down? Wasn’t it all arranged before?"

"Is this your first day at school? Don’t you know that all magazines have to make way for SCI? Our school has a student whose article was published in SCI with a very high rating." The teacher couldn’t hide her excitement, "It has been years since I’ve seen such a student."

After the teacher finished speaking, she suddenly looked towards the door: "Here comes the kid, not very impressive-looking, but really quick-witted."

Following the teacher’s gaze, Qiao Tong saw Mu Chenxi. To match the formality of the occasion, she wore a knee-length ruffle skirt paired with a white round-neck thin sweater, emanating a youthful aura the moment she appeared. Beside her stood their school’s number one topic of discussion--Luo Shangqing.

Qiao Tong blinked, not knowing why, but the phrase "a match made in heaven" popped into her head when she saw these two standing together.

Mu Chenxi also saw Qiao Tong, but directly ignored her, taking a few steps back to let Luo Shangqing walk ahead while she dutifully followed him.

The host warmly invited them to take their seats. Mu Chenxi had already received a crash course from Quan Jin before arriving, so the usually free-spirited and energetic girl now appeared delicate and demure, carefully adjusting her skirt when sitting down, her legs naturally together and angled to the side, with a gentle smile always on her young face, making her dimples especially charming.

"This kid wasn’t great in terms of grades before but was willing to work hard," a teacher in the audience kept praising, "I’ve often seen her sitting in the library all day, munching only on bread for lunch. Hard work brings success sooner or later."

"I’ve heard she’s also a good person, or else how could she receive Professor Luo’s favor? You should know that Professor Luo usually only gives lectures and has never taken on even a single postgraduate student. For him to personally come out and guide, it’s clear this kid has some charm."

As the praises piled up, Qiao Tong felt a chill crawling over her scalp.

Looking at the plain face beneath the spotlight, she couldn’t help but clench her fists.

It should have been her sitting there, basking in everyone’s attention today. But why did Mu Chenxi suddenly appear out of nowhere and steal all of her limelight? And with SCI, securing a height so hard to surpass, she was utterly crushed into the dirt in an instant.

"Classmate, are you listening or not? If not, move aside." The impatient teacher next to her pushed her, and Qiao Tong, caught off guard, ended up plopping onto the floor.

Immediately feeling the gaze of the audience upon her, she was so embarrassed she wished the ground would swallow her up, and she quickly scrambled up and dashed out of the auditorium.

Outside, the sun shone bright, but in her world, it suddenly felt pitch black. Her classmates were still waiting for her good news, but now she had no face to return. Under the light cast by Mu Chenxi, her presence seemed to fade away into dullness.

The interview lasted a whole hour, followed by various Q&As and dealing with the hospital’s top brass. After such a lengthy process, Mu Chenxi’s smile almost froze, but fortunately, Luo Shangqing had been by her side all along. Whenever they encountered a tough question, he would take over the microphone and speak with ease. Sitting by his side felt like leaning against a solid mountain, which eased her nerves considerably.

"Ms. Mu, the doors of our third hospital are always open for you," said a leader from the third hospital, obviously very fond of this composed and unassuming young lady, extending an olive branch in a timely manner.

Mu Chenxi was about to speak when Luo Shangqing laughed and said at her side, "Director Liu, don’t fight with me for people. Mu Chenxi has already been pre-selected by our hospital, and it’s just a matter of signing the contract."

Upon hearing this, Director Liu looked crestfallen, "Ah, Doctor Luo, you have the advantage of proximity. Alright, I can’t compete with you."

Mu Chenxi couldn’t help but glance at Luo Shangqing. After Director Liu left, she whispered, "Professor Luo, the threshold of your hospital is so high, can I really get in?"

Luo Shangqing nonchalantly turned his head, "Then we’ll lower the threshold a bit."

Mu Chenxi felt his words rang true. The hospital was owned by the Luo family; whether the threshold was high or low was simply a matter of his royal decree. However, she quickly realized something—was Professor Luo inviting her to be his future colleague?

The thought of possibly working in the same hospital as him after graduation made Mu Chenxi feel that all her recent efforts were worthwhile. Even if she had to endure a few more years of hardship, even to the point of vomiting blood, she wouldn’t have a single complaint.

That evening, to celebrate for her, the dorm suggested going to KTV to sing. Quan Jin said, "Fourth, you were able to publish in SCI thanks to Professor Luo from your family. Invite him too; it’s more fun with more people."

Mu Chenxi, looking at her roommates who were eager as hungry wolves, swallowed dryly: "I’ll, I’ll try."