When Xiao Yan heard Zhou Huai'an's name brought into the matter, her heart sank. She knew—she was done for.

Zhou Huai'an was highly respected at the institution. Many supported him, liked him, even admired him. Higher-ups held him in high regard as well.

Most importantly, Zhou was a decorated veteran—each of his honors earned with blood and sacrifice. And now she was being accused of trying to harm his child? How could she ever bear such an accusation?

She couldn't. It was beyond what she could endure.

In a panic, she rushed to explain to Director Chen: "No—no, it's not like that, Director Chen, please let me explain. I never meant to harm her child. I was just angry—I spoke without thinking!"

Director Chen frowned, looking deeply disappointed. "No matter how angry you are, you can't say such things. How could you use such vicious words against a comrade?"

Zhou Xiaoling chimed in, "Yeah! If this were the battlefield, would you turn your gun on your own comrades?"

Xiao Yan stared at her in shock. Since when did this become a political issue? But Director Chen seemed to agree, his gaze cold and full of disgust.

She wanted to explain but didn't know where to start. Flustered, she began rambling: "Director Chen, it's not what you think. I can apologize to Lin Xiaoxiao. I didn't mean any harm. We're all comrades here—I would never do anything to hurt the family of a hero. I know better than that!"

She had no choice. If Director Chen really believed she wanted to hurt Lin Xiaoxiao's baby, she could be expelled from the hospital. If she's sent back to the countryside... how will she ever get into college?

She'd be trapped in the mountains forever—with no way out.

Director Chen had heard enough. What was done was done—explaining now changed nothing. He had always thought highly of Xiao Yan—hardworking, obedient, always the first to arrive and the last to leave, even working unpaid overtime.

But her recent behavior, one incident after another, left him with no choice but to withdraw his protection. "Enough. Xiao Yan, I want you to take some time off. Don't come to work until further notice. The leadership will review this matter and decide how to proceed."

Xiao Yan's heart turned cold. A review by the leadership? They would inevitably side with Zhou Huai'an and Lin Xiaoxiao.

But Director Chen's stony expression told her any further pleading was useless. Gritting her teeth, she turned to Lin Xiaoxiao. "Sis, I was wrong earlier. I hope you can find it in yourself to forgive me. I truly never meant to hurt your child."

Lin Xiaoxiao frowned. "If I hadn't pulled out a dagger, you would've rammed straight into my stomach. Xiao Yan, do you really expect me to believe you were innocent? Why should I forgive you? What's to stop you from trying again when I least expect it?"

"I wouldn't! I really wouldn't!" Xiao Yan insisted, shaking her head desperately.

But Lin Xiaoxiao didn't even look at her. "Xiaoling, let's go home."

Zhou Xiaoling followed, but not before pointing a warning finger at Xiao Yan: "If you ever try anything again, I'll make you regret it!"

As they walked home, it struck both of them that today's confrontation had unexpectedly resolved the Xiao Yan problem sooner than they'd imagined.

"What was she even thinking," Zhou Xiaoling wondered aloud, "spouting such threats right in the office? Was she overconfident or just outright foolish?"

Lin Xiaoxiao agreed. "She's been overly anxious about the college admission quota. Even though official policies haven't been announced, those who are smart are already making moves—and she's one of them. She didn't want me pointing out her mistakes because it could affect her performance review."

Zhou Xiaoling laughed coldly. "With character like hers, she wants to go to college? Then anyone could get in. Can you imagine how many patients would suffer if someone like her became a doctor?"

She shook her head firmly. "You're right—we can't let her test into university.

The disciplinary decision came down quickly. It wasn't just because of the argument with Lin Xiaoxiao—Xiao Yan was also found to have abused medication, altering injection procedures without authorization and causing harm to patients.

Such conduct was deemed unfit for a medical professional. Since Xiao Yan was only a temporary employee, she was sent back to her original youth

When Xiao Yan received the notice, she was stunned. She read it over and over, then went straight to Director Chen's office. "Director, I can explain—the morphine was administered because the patient was in extreme pain. He begged me for it."

Director Chen frowned. "Who's the doctor here—you or the patient? If we let patients prescribe their own treatments, what's the point of having medical standards? It's precisely because our clinic is understaffed and loosely managed that you were able to exploit these gaps. Did you ever stop to think what would happen if something went wrong? Who would be responsible?"

Xiao Yan was speechless. Tears welled in her eyes. "Director Chen, can't you give me another chance? I'll change, I promise."

But Director Chen shook his head. "This decision was made by leadership. It's finalized and stamped. No one can reverse it. Hand over your responsibilities. Don't come in tomorrow.

Xiao Yan refused to leave the office, but Director Chen remained unmoved. Eventually, she returned to her dormitory in tears, filled with hatred for Lin Xiaoxiao—yet powerless to do anything.

She couldn't actually kill Lin Xiaoxiao—that would mean throwing her own life away too.

Xiao Yan refused to accept defeat. She would find a way to test into university. She would rise above this.

Resentful but resigned, she packed her bags and returned to the. To get back on the village party secretary's good side, she brought two bottles of liquor and two tins of milk powder.

The secretary's wife, Yuelian, was suspicious. "Why is Xiao Yan being so nice to you all of a sudden? What's with all the gifts? There must be something going on."

The secretary replied impatiently, "There's nothing going on. Stop overthinking everything. You're the type to imagine problems where there are none."

Yuelian pursed her lips. "There's no such thing as a free lunch. She never came around all those years she worked at the clinic. Why so often now?"

The secretary knew what kind of person Xiao Yan was. "Why does it matter? She's back in the—she still has to answer to us."

Meanwhile, their simple-minded son Hanniù hugged the milk powder and giggled: "New wife... pretty new wife... I want sleep with new wife..."