Me! A high-ranking official!

Meanwhile, in the special interview room of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.

This is a windowless, enclosed room. The pale fluorescent light shines on the four white walls, giving them a suffocating bluish-gray hue. The air in the room seems to be frozen, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Zhou Qingyan sat on one side of the long table, his white shirt impeccably worn, his hair tightly pulled back. Despite the exhaustion from the repeated rescues and extreme fatigue, he still sat there with his back straight, exuding a capable and unyielding air despite being on the verge of death.

Across the long table sat Chen Yongjun, director of the First Supervision Office of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, with a young female cadre next to him who was responsible for taking notes.

Chen Yongjun's face was solemn as he stared intently at the manila envelope in his hand, the seal of which had just been torn open.

"Smack."

Chen Yongjun slammed a stack of test reports he had pulled out onto the table and pushed it in front of Zhou Qingyan, breaking the deathly silence.

"HIV antibody test, positive; syphilis serological test, positive."

The brief dozen or so words struck Zhou Qingyan's heart like a series of muffled blows, causing his face to turn slightly pale.

Chen Yongjun's gaze was sharp, piercing Zhou Qingyan's eyes: "The expedited results from the Provincial People's Hospital were procedurally compliant and monitored throughout. Comrade Zhou Qingyan, do you have anything else to explain to the organization regarding this double-positive report?"

Zhou Qingyan's gaze slowly descended, landing on the reports with black and white text on the white paper. The word "positive" stung his eyes, causing him to squint slightly and lose focus. His chest heaved uncontrollably, and even his thin shoulders trembled slightly.

However, just three seconds later, when she opened her eyes again, her expression had surprisingly returned to calm.

"I refuse to accept this result," Zhou Qingyan said slowly.

Chen Yongjun's brows furrowed sharply, and he leaned forward, exuding an invisible pressure: "The evidence is irrefutable, in black and white! Secretary Zhou, are you trying to resist the organization's investigation?"

"It's not resistance, it's skepticism!"

Zhou Qingyan suddenly extended two fingers, pressed them on the report, and pushed it forcefully to the side. With this action, she leaned forward slightly, and in an instant, this female county party secretary in her thirties exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure befitting a person in a superior position.

"Director Chen, I've been working my way up in the system for fourteen years! From a junior staff member in the Municipal Party Committee's Organization Department, I've climbed step by step to the position of Secretary of the Linshui County Party Committee. Every step I've taken has been under the spotlight and magnifying glass of the organization!"

Zhou Qingyan stared intently into Chen Yongjun's eyes:

"In these fourteen years, I haven't even had a formal romantic relationship. My personal conduct is spotless, and this is clearly stated in the investigation files of the provincial and municipal organization departments! You, Chen Yongjun, can verify this by checking the files!"

Chen Yongjun opened his mouth, about to interrupt her with discipline.

"Let me finish!" Zhou Qingyan didn't give him a chance to interrupt, his voice suddenly rising, filled with a surge of anger:

"Now you're telling me I have HIV and syphilis based on a report? Director Chen, you handle cases based on evidence, and I know the rules too. I'm asking you, under what circumstances was my blood sample collected? What was the background of the nurse who drew the blood? How was it preserved during transport? How many people handled it during the journey to the test site? Was there any possibility of malicious contamination or even tampering?"

"Comrade Zhou Qingyan, watch your words!" Chen Yongjun said sternly, "The Provincial People's Hospital is the highest-level authoritative institution in the province, and its quality control procedures are absolutely rigorous..."

"Are authoritative institutions absolutely immune to wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice?!"

Zhou Qingyan slammed his hand on the table with a loud thud, startling the female cadre taking notes nearby.

"Chen Yongjun! You've spent half your life on the discipline inspection front; you know all the ins and outs better than I do! I don't question the authority of the Provincial People's Hospital; what I question is whether this tainted report truly contains my blood, Zhou Qingyan's!"

Pointing to the report, she said, enunciating each word clearly, "I demand a review! And it must be a review in a different location, and a review at a higher level!"

Chen Yongjun seemed to have not expected that Zhou Qingyan would not only remain calm in the face of crucial evidence, but would also raise questions and request a higher-level review. He had seen many people who panicked immediately after the evidence was presented.

That's the instinctive reaction to evidence after making a mistake. Some people have even called for a review, but Zhou Qingyan was different. His tone was firm and resolute. Only a high-ranking, seasoned veteran could have such composure, or someone who genuinely didn't approve of the report.

He took a deep breath, his brows furrowing into a tight knot. He didn't want to hastily label a young cadre like that, and besides, a re-examination was within the reasonable scope of his request: "A re-examination is possible, but we need to go through the proper procedures, which takes time..."

"Then I'll sit here and wait for your procedure!" Zhou Qingyan leaned back abruptly in his chair, let out a cold laugh, and his eyes revealed a resolute determination: "But before we proceed with the procedure, there are a few things I need to say in the record!"

Her gaze was intense: "I, Zhou Qingyan, just arrived in Linshui County yesterday to assume my new post. On my very first day and my very first night! The news that I was rushed to the hospital overnight due to a drug allergy spread like wildfire throughout the county's institutional circles. Immediately following, the whistleblower letter from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and the double positive report from the Provincial Hospital followed seamlessly. Director Chen, what do you call this? This is political assassination! This is someone setting a trap behind the scenes!"

She pointed to the overhead light tube, her tone resolute, revealing a determination to fight to the bitter end:

"Someone wants to ruin my political career with this dirty report! Since they're going to investigate, let's investigate thoroughly! I'm not just going to one institution, I'm going to the capital! I'm going to the national-level infectious disease center! Multiple institutions, back-to-back, conducting simultaneous tests! If the results are still on these two worthless pieces of paper, I, Zhou Qingyan, am willing to accept expulsion from the Party and public office, and to be subject to Party discipline and national law, without a single complaint!"

"But if not..." Zhou Qingyan's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a chilling murderous intent: "I also ask the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to give me, and the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department, a clear and transparent explanation! Investigate clearly whether this positive report was due to a mistake within the Commission for Discipline Inspection, or whether someone in Linshui County was so audacious as to cover up the truth and set a trap for the county's Party Secretary!"

The room fell into a deathly silence upon hearing this.

Looking at Zhou Qingyan's resolute face, Chen Yongjun felt a sudden surge of turmoil in his heart, realizing how difficult the situation was.

Zhou Qingyan is no ordinary cadre; she was parachuted in from a provincial-level government agency. Her logic was impeccable, and her political acumen was frighteningly sharp. Indeed, on her very first day in office, she was accurately exposed for having a serious illness and terminal disease. The timing was too ruthless; even he, a veteran discipline inspector, suspected something fishy was going on.

Zhou Qingyan had long seen through that someone was targeting her, which is why she didn't break down and cry like an ordinary female cadre when she received the report. Instead, she immediately pressured the Discipline Inspection Commission to request a cross-examination at the highest level. This was her right, and it was also her last gamble with her political life.

If this is indeed a setup, then the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection's current actions are tantamount to providing a weapon for the mastermind behind the scenes! If not, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection's hasty investigation of a young, innocent cadre, even if there are regulations to follow, will certainly provide a strong explanation if Zhou Qingyan holds them accountable afterward. This pool of water runs too deep.

Chen Yongjun slowly put the report back into the file folder, gave her a deep look, and stood up.

"Okay, Secretary Zhou, we will immediately request instructions from our superiors to initiate a multi-agency cross-inspection process as you requested. In the meantime, we ask that you continue to cooperate with us."

After saying that, Chen Yongjun turned and left with the female cadre.

With a click, the heavy iron door slammed shut behind us.

Once again, only Zhou Qingyan remained in the conversation room.

The moment the door lock clicked shut, Zhou Qingyan's fierce and resolute aura vanished like a receding tide. He slumped into the chair, exhausted, and slowly lowered his head. He opened his tightly clenched hands, his palms covered in a fine layer of cold sweat, and even his fingertips were trembling uncontrollably.

Heaven knows how much energy and spirit she had just exhausted with that righteous and awe-inspiring counterattack; she subconsciously touched her lower abdomen.

In the car that the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection came to pick her up, taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, she swallowed the dark gold pill that Zhao Jianguo had given her without hesitation.

Zhao Jianguo said that the medicine needs 24 hours to achieve its best effect.

That was her only lifeline, but what kind of medicine was it?

How could a suspended junior staff member in the county government office possibly have access to a miracle cure for such an incurable disease?

She had absolutely no idea whether Zhao Jianguo was trustworthy or not. But this was his only chance to turn things around, a desperate leap off the edge of a cliff, a reckless gamble made in desperation.

Whether her blood was actually drawn or someone secretly switched it during the first test, the result would inevitably be positive. She had mentally prepared herself for this before coming, which is why she was able to put on a flawless performance in front of Chen Yongjun.

But what she was betting on was the second re-examination that had not yet arrived! From the time she delayed, to the time her superiors approved the re-examination in another location, and then to the time her blood was drawn and sent for testing again, the time difference between these events would definitely far exceed the twenty-four hours that Zhao Jianguo had mentioned!

If, thanks to the effects of Zhao Jianguo's mysterious pill, the second top-level test result turned negative...

Not only could she completely wash away this filth that was enough to ruin her life, but she could also take advantage of the wrath of the provincial and municipal discipline inspection commissions to uproot all the monsters and demons in Linshui County who wanted to kill her!

At the very least, those who dared to poison him on his first day in office should be taught a harsh lesson!

"Zhao Jianguo..." Zhou Qingyan bit her bloodless lower lip.

If the medication doesn't work, and if the second result is still positive...

That would be utter ruin; her career, her life, and even her dignity would be nailed to the pillar of shame, never to rise again!