Lin Xiaoxiao gave Li Guohao a perfunctory greeting and hurried home. She might keep Luo Caixia's poisoning to herself, but she had to tell Zhou Huai'an about Li Guohao.

After all, they worked in the same unit. What if some hidden enemy was poisoning people, and Zhou Huai'an got caught in the crossfire?

Back home, she pulled Zhou Huai'an—who was in the middle of washing clothes—inside and told him about Li Guohao's possible poisoning. She still didn't mention Luo Caixia.

Zhou Huai'an looked surprised. "Are you sure?"

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded. "Positive. I'm just not sure what kind of poison it is. It doesn't seem immediately fatal, but who knows over time."

Zhou Huai'an frowned in thought. "Stay home. I need to go to the unit. I might be back late—don't wait up."

Before Lin Xiaoxiao could respond, he was already heading out the door. She could only murmur an "Okay" to his retreating back.

Around nine that night, after a shower, Lin Xiaoxiao was getting ready for an early night when Zhou Xiaoling showed up.

She bounded in cheerfully. "Sis, I'm here to keep you company! Big brother came and asked me to stay with you."

Lin Xiaoxiao glanced at the dark sky outside and chided Zhou Huai'an inwardly. How could he let a young woman walk alone at night? Doesn't he worry about her safety?

Zhou Xiaoling didn't seem to mind. "Why worry? I was a soldier."

Lin Xiaoxiao still disapproved. "Don't do it again. You never know when trouble might appear. If you ran into a few thugs, even a trained woman might not manage."

Zhou Xiaoling giggled and linked arms with her. "Hehe, I get it, Sis. You're worried about me. I'll be more careful next time."

Lin Xiaoxiao smiled faintly. "Have you eaten?"

"Yes, yes. I already showered too."

Lin Xiaoxiao had been exhausted, but Zhou Xiaoling's arrival woke her up completely. They lay in bed chatting idly.

The next day at the medical station, Lin Xiaoxiao heard that Li Guohao had been called back to the unit for questioning overnight.

Two doctors who didn't live in the residential compound but knew Li Guohao were discussing it.

What puzzled Lin Xiaoxiao was how they'd found out so quickly.

Curiosity got the better of her. "How come I didn't hear about this?" she asked, joining them.

One of the doctors laughed. "You wouldn't have. Our cafeteria worker, Comrade Luo, was also called in. I knew there was something going on between them."

"Absolutely! Once I forgot my keys and came back to the office late. I saw them talking by the back wall. If they had nothing to hide, why meet somewhere so secluded?"

Lin Xiaoxiao was amazed. Well, I'll be. She thought she was the only one who'd discovered the affair, but apparently, everyone knew.

And was Li Guohao and Luo Caixia's questioning really just about their improper relationship?

The doctors continued gossiping—after all, compared to official business, people were always more interested in salacious rumors.

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't join in further. Back in her office, she wondered, Is this all Zhou Huai'an's investigation turned up?

Before noon, Luo Caixia returned, seemingly unruffled, and went back to work in the cafeteria.

Lin Xiaoxiao was baffled. How is Luo Caixia so composed? Even after being exposed, she's staying?

At lunch, Zhou Huai'an came home and briefly explained the situation with Li Guohao and Luo Caixia. Their investigation hadn't uncovered anyone behind Luo Caixia.

It meant only one thing: whoever was pulling her strings was well hidden. To avoid alerting them, they could only charge Li Guohao and Luo Caixia with an improper relationship. Li Guohao was reprimanded, but since Luo Caixia wasn't employed by the Second Institute, they had no authority over her.

Lin Xiaoxiao was confused. "Luo Caixia is that clever? Who's behind her, and what do they want?"

Zhou Huai'an avoided the classified details but patiently explained, "It's possible Luo Caixia has been manipulated since three years ago."

Lin Xiaoxiao gasped. Three years—that was a sensitive number. "Could it be related to what happened to Zhou Xiaocheng?"

Zhou Huai'an nodded. "It seems unrelated, but everything is connected. The ultimate target is the research projects at the Second Institute."

Lin Xiaoxiao had a quick temper, but she was fiercely patriotic. No one was allowed to speak ill of her country. She snorted angrily. "So Luo Caixia is a traitor! Traitors don't deserve a happy ending!"

Zhou Huai'an looked at her childlike indignation and gently smoothed her hair. "Don't worry. They won't last long."

Lin Xiaoxiao perked up. "Does that mean we might hear news about Zhou Xiaocheng soon?"

Zhou Huai'an couldn't say for sure. "Maybe, maybe not."

When Li Guohao was called back to the unit overnight, he first thought it was an emergency.

Then he remembered he was only in logistics—what emergency would involve him?

When he arrived and saw Luo Caixia there too, he felt a chill. Their relationship was out in the open.

He was sure his career was over.

To his surprise, the leadership only gave him a criticism session, let Luo Caixia go, then had a "heart-to-heart" with him. They expressed disappointment in his "lapse in judgment" and urged him to correct his behavior.

Then they sent him home to "reflect" and write a self-criticism report.

Li Guohao couldn't believe it was that simple. He'd seen others make similar mistakes and end up stripped of their positions and sent back to their hometowns.

Anxious and uneasy, he returned home. Seeing Dong Hongmei lying on the kang, he glared at her darkly. "Did you report me to the unit? Are you happy now?"

Dong Hongmei sat up in surprise. "I didn't! I didn't say a word."

Li Guohao wanted to grab her by the hair and beat her again. "If not you, then who? Now the whole unit knows! Forget a promotion—I might not even keep my job! Dong Hongmei, after all these years of providing for you, this is how you repay me?"

Dong Hongmei panicked. "I haven't left the house these past two days. I didn't tell anyone." She began to cry. "No matter what, I'd never want to harm you."

Li Guohao didn't believe her. "Then who was it?"

"Lin Xiaoxiao! She's the one who took me to the hospital. Maybe she told Zhou Huai'an? You know how clever Zhou Huai'an is, even if he seems quiet."

Terrified of Li Guohao's rage, Dong Hongmei threw Lin Xiaoxiao under the bus without a second thought.

Hearing Lin Xiaoxiao's name, Li Guohao paused. "Lin Xiaoxiao? Why would you tell her anything!"

He remembered running into Lin Xiaoxiao yesterday evening—how she'd looked at him as if he were something filthy. Gritting his teeth, he snarled, "So it's Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhou Huai'an, is it?

Don't blame me for what happens next."