Liu Mei lunged again to snatch the cup from Xia Anran’s hands, acting like a madwoman.

“No one is allowed to drink it! No one!”

Xia Anran raised the cup high, keeping it out of Liu Mei’s reach.

Li Yanqiu finally reacted, forcefully pressing Liu Mei down onto the bed and shouting at her:

“Liu Mei, what has gotten into you?!”

“Liu Mei, are you having a breakdown?”  

Wen Fangfang’s face was deathly pale, her hand pressed to her chest, thoroughly frightened.  

Tears streaked Liu Mei’s face as she sobbed an apology to Xia Anran:  

“Wuuu, wuuu… She gave me this soda and told me to make you drink it… I didn’t want to, but she forced me! She said if I didn’t do it, she’d… she’d accuse me of theft and kick me out of the troupe! Wuuu… If I get discharged for theft, I’ll never be able to face anyone back in my village! I had no choice, I’m sorry, Anran, I’m so sorry…”  

Now Wen Fangfang and Li Yanqiu understood. Li Yanqiu yanked Liu Mei up and demanded:  

“Who? Who told you to give it to Anran? What’s in the soda?”  

“It was Zhou Yuxin! I don’t know what she put in it—maybe something to ruin your voice!”  

Liu Mei had nothing left to lose. Whether she stayed or left the troupe, she wanted Xia Anran to know who was behind this.  

Wen Fangfang’s face flushed with anger:  

“That’s despicable!”  

Li Yanqiu was even more furious:  

“Let’s go report this to Regimental Commander Zhou! Let him see what his niece has been up to!”  

Xia Anran remained calm and stopped Wen Fangfang and Li Yanqiu:  

“If the soda turns out to be fine, she’ll turn this around on us. We need proof before confronting Regimental Commander Zhou. Does anyone know someone who can test this? Once we confirm there’s something in it, then we’ll go to him.”  

Li Yanqiu kicked a broken bottle on the ground in frustration:  

“What a vile snake! Instead of improving her own skills, she resorts to underhanded tricks. Pathetic!”  

Wen Fangfang took the cup from Xia Anran:  

“I know someone who can test it. We’ll have results in three days. If it proves the soda was spiked and Regimental Commander Zhou still shields Zhou Yuxin, I’ll report it to my father.”  

“B-but… she’ll pin everything on me! W-will I end up in military court?”  

Liu Mei was paralyzed with dread. Zhou Yuxin would never admit to it—she’d be the scapegoat.  

Li Yanqiu scolded her harshly:  

“Serves you right! How could you be so stupid? If Zhou Yuxin told you to poison Anran, would you do that too? If this had been poison, you’d be a murderer!”  

Liu Mei trembled in terror: “Y-you think it’s poison?”  

Wen Fangfang snapped:  

“Now you’re scared? Where was this conscience earlier? If it really was poison, you’d be an accomplice—just as guilty!”  

Liu Mei broke down, collapsing onto the bed in tears: “Wuuu… What do I do? I don’t want to go to prison! I don’t!”  

Xia Anran found Liu Mei both pitiful and infuriating—she’d knowingly let Zhou Yuxin use her as a pawn. Handing her a towel, she asked quietly:  

“That time in the rehearsal hall, when you warned me about my water… Had she done this before?”  

Liu Mei nodded tearfully:  

“I saw her tamper with Li Shuang’s cup. Later, Li Shuang’s voice was ruined. I suspected her, but without proof, I couldn’t say anything.”  

Li Yanqiu’s eyes widened in realization:  

“So that’s why Li Shuang’s voice suddenly gave out! She sabotaged her! How shameless!”  

Wen Fangfang seethed:  

“If Li Shuang were still the lead singer, we wouldn’t have placed last in the competition. Zhou Yuxin sacrificed the troupe’s reputation for her own gain.”  

“Liu Mei, tomorrow you’ll do this… We’ll turn the tables on her.”  

Xia Anran’s chin lifted slightly, her gaze icy. If Zhou Yuxin wanted to play dirty, then she’d fight for that lead role—and win.  

Wen Fangfang and Li Yanqiu agreed with Xia Anran’s plan. Let Zhou Yuxin gloat for one more night!  

Everyone pitched in to clean up. The shattered soda bottle was bagged and hidden in the flower bed outside, to be retrieved when needed.  

The next morning, as soon as the wake-up call sounded, Xia Anran swiftly dressed, neatly folded her bedding, and hopped out of bed, looking refreshed.  

Liu Mei had cried late into the night, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. By morning, she was sporting heavy dark circles under her eyes, her entire demeanor dazed and listless.  

When the strict dormitory supervisor, Director Yan, came to inspect, she checked Xia Anran first. Seeing her properly dressed and her bedding folded to regulation standards, she nodded in approval.  

Chen Yu had also come along today. Noticing how well Xia Anran had performed, he gave her an appreciative glance but said nothing.  

Director Yan’s expression darkened when she saw Liu Mei’s unfinished bedding:  

“Liu Mei, what’s going on? You’re a veteran—why are you still so slow? One point deducted!”  

Liu Mei’s spirits sank even further. Weakly, she replied, “Yes, ma’am.”  

Chen Yu studied her for a moment. Seeing how haggard and distracted she looked, he asked,  

“Liu Mei, are you feeling unwell?”  

Xia Anran raised her hand to report, speaking softly:  

“Reporting, Comrade Liu Mei had a fever last night.”  

Wen Fangfang and Li Yanqiu also spoke up to Director Yan:  

“Director Yan, Liu Mei was sick, which is why her bedding wasn’t done properly. Please be lenient and don’t deduct her points.”  

Director Yan scrutinized Liu Mei. Indeed, her complexion was terrible—her lips pale and chapped—clearly looking ill.  

Though strict, Director Yan wasn’t unreasonable. She said to Liu Mei,  

“Since you’re sick, I won’t deduct points. Go to the infirmary later for some medicine, and you’re excused from morning drills.”  

Liu Mei shot Xia Anran a grateful look. Despite how she had treated her, Xia Anran had still spoken up for her.  

Xia Anran smiled at her. “Rest well, don’t overthink it. See you at the competition later.”  

Liu Mei met her gaze deeply and nodded firmly. “Okay.”  

During roll call, when Chen Yu called her name, Xia Anran responded hoarsely, “Here.”  

Chen Yu couldn’t help but glance at her again. He hadn’t noticed in the dorm, but now her voice sounded rough.  

He grew concerned. She had a competition today—how could she perform with a hoarse voice?  

Zhou Yuxin, hearing Xia Anran’s raspy voice, gleamed with satisfaction, inwardly overjoyed.  

With all her rivals eliminated, the lead singer position was hers for the taking.  

After morning drills were dismissed, Chen Yu returned to his quarters to fetch throat-soothing medicine and sought out Xia Anran:  

“Xiao Xia, your voice sounds strained. This medicine should help soothe it.”  

Noticing Zhou Yuxin’s probing gaze, Xia Anran deliberately replied in a hoarse whisper,  

“Thank you, Instructor Chen.”  

Chen Yu’s worry deepened—her voice was in terrible shape! Concerned that losing the competition might upset her, he reassured her:  

“Don’t take the outcome too seriously. You’re new—even if you lose, there’s no shame in it.”  

“Mm.”  

Xia Anran nodded but said nothing more.  

After Chen Yu left, Zhou Yuxin sidled over, feigning concern:  

“Xia Anran, what happened to your voice?”  

Xia Anran clutched her throat, looking dejected:  

“I don’t know what’s wrong. Last night after drinking soda, my throat felt off. When I woke up, it was like this.”  

This only reassured Zhou Yuxin further. After offering a few hollow words of sympathy, she left to prepare for the competition.  

The competition was held on the auditorium stage. Regimental Commander Zhou, Teacher Yuan, and the other judges arrived early. As expected, Zhang Lu and the two other team members had all dropped out under various excuses.  

Originally, nine were supposed to compete. Now, only six remained—four of whom lacked any real skill. Effectively, this contest had become a duel between Zhou Yuxin and Xia Anran.