The incident of Li Shuang being harmed had always weighed heavily on Teacher Yuan’s mind. Upon hearing Xia Anran’s words, she immediately asked:  

“You know?”  

Xia Anran nodded.  

“Teacher, come with me. I’ll take you to find the answers. Let’s leave one after the other so we don’t draw any attention.”  

Teacher Yuan was upright and unyielding, and her husband was the head of the political department— Regimental Commander Zhou’s direct superior. If Xia Anran wanted to bring Regimental Commander Zhou down, Teacher Yuan was an indispensable part of the plan.  

Seeing how cautious Xia Anran was, Teacher Yuan understood the gravity of the situation. She patiently waited until Xia Anran had left the rehearsal hall for a full minute before following.  

At that moment, Zhou Yuxin was surrounded by her lackeys, basking in their congratulations. When she saw Xia Anran, she wanted to go over and humiliate her, but remembering her uncle’s warning not to cause unnecessary trouble, she restrained herself.  

Xia Anran led Teacher Yuan to the regimental headquarters office. Along the way, she explained everything—how Zhou Yuxin had pressured Liu Mei into poisoning her, how she had tested Zhou Yuxin’s reactions, and how she had obtained the recording.  

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”  

Teacher Yuan was furious, chastising Xia Anran for not speaking up sooner. Xia Anran smiled bitterly.  

“Teacher, with Regimental Commander Zhou involved, we didn’t dare act against Zhou Yuxin or make this public without solid evidence.”  

Teacher Yuan gnashed her teeth in anger.  

“If Regimental Commander Zhou had a hand in this, I’ll report him without fail.”  

Still, Teacher Yuan found it hard to believe that Regimental Commander Zhou could be involved. After all, he was the regimental commander. Even if he favored his niece, surely he wouldn’t do something so reckless.  

Xia Anran said with certainty:  

“Not only did Regimental Commander Zhou know—he participated in it. Do you know why Zhang Lu and Jiang Hong withdrew from the competition?”  

“The day before the competition, Regimental Commander Zhou sent someone to talk to them. After that meeting, they both withdrew under his threats. Just now, he had Liu Mei summoned for another ‘talk’—undoubtedly to force her into confessing that she was the one who poisoned me.”  

Teacher Yuan shuddered at the revelation. She never imagined Regimental Commander Zhou could be such a man!  

What a hypocrite! If he remained in his position, who knew how many more would suffer?  

“Anran, wait here. I’ll go settle the score with Regimental Commander Zhou and save Liu Mei.”  

Unable to suppress her fury, Teacher Yuan was about to storm into the office.  

Xia Anran quickly stopped her, whispering urgently:  

“Teacher, don’t rush. Even if you go in now, Regimental Commander Zhou won’t admit to anything. Let’s wait for Liu Mei to come out first and hear how he pressured her. Then we can confront him—it won’t be too late!”  

Teacher Yuan forced down her rage, but she was so furious that she clutched her chest, breathing heavily.  

Just moments after Xia Anran finished speaking, Liu Mei’s grief-stricken sobs echoed through the hallway:  

“Regimental Commander Zhou, you’re forcing me to die! Wuwuwu… You’re driving me to my death—I can’t go on living!”  

“Liu Mei, don’t be rash!”  

Liu Mei rushed out of the office in tears, with Instructor Chen chasing after her and grabbing hold of the despairing girl.  

“Wuwu… Instructor Chen, don’t stop me—let me die! They’ve left me no way out…”  

Liu Mei was truly resolved to end her life, struggling through her sobs to break free.  

Chen Yu had no choice but to grip her arm tightly.  

“Liu Mei, don’t act impulsively. As long as I’m here, I’ll make sure justice is served.”  

Regimental Commander Zhou emerged from the office, his face deathly pale, his legs trembling with fear. Trying to deflect suspicion, he called out to Liu Mei in a shaky voice:  

“Liu Mei, calm down! If it’s about staying in the army, I’ll grant your request. There’s no need for such dramatics over something so trivial.”  

Teacher Yuan rushed over and embraced Liu Mei.  

“Liu Mei, don’t be afraid. Speak up—I’ll stand up for you.”  

After comforting Liu Mei, Teacher Yuan turned on Regimental Commander Zhou in fury:

“Regimental Commander Zhou, I heard everything! You were trying to drive Liu Mei to her death. I will report this to the higher-ups-you can expect disciplinary action!”

At the sight of Teacher Yuan and her words, Regimental Commander Zhou turned ashen with terror. How did she get here?

Xia Anran walked over, took Liu Mei’s hand, and said while locking eyes with Regimental Commander Zhou:

“Liu Mei, don’t be afraid. We’ll all testify for you. Regimental Commander Zhou can’t cover the sky with one hand-there are authorities above him.”

Realization struck Regimental Commander Zhou, and he pointed at Xia Anran: “You… it was you! You set me up!”

No wonder Teacher Yuan had shown up. No wonder Liu Mei had rushed out in hysterics after just a few threats.

To think I’ve spent my life hunting eagles, only to be outsmarted by a fledgling sparrow!

Chen Yu said coldly:

“Regimental Commander Zhou, I heard everything clearly from the next room. You threatened Liu Mei, demanding she take the blame for Zhou Yuxin and confess to poisoning Xia Anran. When she refused, you threatened to accuse her of ‘moral misconduct’ and have her sent back to her village. How is that not forcing her to her death?”

Xia Anran stared at Regimental Commander Zhou. She had underestimated his ruthlessness. Zhou Yuxin had only threatened to frame Liu Mei for theft, but he had gone straight for destroying her reputation.

If Liu Mei were sent back to her village under such a stigma, death would be her only escape-no wonder she had been so desperate.

Had Xia Anran not prepared in advance, Liu Mei would have had no choice but to take the fall, letting Regimental Commander Zhou and Zhou Yuxin succeed.

Xia Anran’s eyes turned icy. She was glad she hadn’t hesitated. Indecision invites disaster-never bet on a villain’s mercy.

Regimental Commander Zhou glared at Chen Yu, never expecting him to side with Xia Anran. Through gritted teeth, he demanded:

“Chen Yu, what have I ever done to wrong you? Why help her scheme against me?”

Chen Yu’s expression was stern, his voice unwavering:

“I stand with justice. I won’t stand by and watch you harm others.”

Teacher Yuan acted swiftly, immediately calling the political department. Regimental Commander Zhou nearly dropped to his knees begging, but it was useless.

She was determined to fight for justice-for her two students and for Liu Mei.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuxin was still in the rehearsal hall, plotting how to humiliate Xia Anran next, when two disciplinary committee members suddenly entered and ordered her to come with them.

Zhou Yuxin shrieked in panic:

“Why are you arresting me? I want my uncle!”

The committee members replied impassively:

“You’ll see him soon enough.”

Her lackeys were stunned. What’s happening? Zhou Yuxin just got reinstated as lead singer-why is she being taken away?

Will we be implicated too?

With witnesses, evidence, and the recording, Zhou Yuxin had no room for denial. After minimal interrogation, she confessed-even admitting her uncle had threatened other team members for her.

Zhang Lu and two other teammates, seeing Regimental Commander Zhou arrested, came forward to testify how he had abused his authority to force them out of the competition.

Thanks to Huo Ruifeng’s prior intervention and Teacher Yuan’s husband personally overseeing the investigation-along with irrefutable evidence-the case was resolved swiftly.

Regimental Commander Zhou was stripped of his position and detained for further investigation, his crimes including coercion and driving Liu Mei to suicide.

Zhou Yuxin, for poisoning an active-duty soldier, was discharged from the military and awaited trial.

The storm reshuffled the cultural troupe entirely. The organization appointed Teacher Yuan as the new Regimental Commander and Party Committee Secretary, while Chen Yu was promoted from instructor to Deputy Regimental Commander.

Liu Mei, commended for reporting Zhou Yuxin and nearly driven to death by Regimental Commander Zhou, received official reassurances from the higher-ups.

Seven days of field training ended, and Huo Ruiyang returned to base with his soldiers. Fresh from the shower, he had barely stepped into his office when his brother’s call came through.

Huo Ruifeng’s first words were:

“Brother, you’re finally back. Do you have any idea what Xia Anran’s been through these days?”