Me! A high-ranking official!

Zhou Qingyan stared intently at Zheng Haiyang, then glanced at the lab report in her hand, growing increasingly panicked, completely unable to grasp the other man's intentions.

Why would you ask your boyfriend? Is it because he suspects you of misconduct or improper favors?

Seeing that she remained silent, Zheng Haiyang raised his voice, revealing an undeniable authority: "Secretary Zhou, please answer truthfully! This is not merely a matter of your personal feelings; it may also involve issues of organizational discipline for cadres!"

Organizational discipline issues!

These six words struck Zhou Qingyan's heart like a heavy hammer. This kind of characterization could be a big or small matter. If not handled properly, the injustice that had just been cleared would immediately turn into another catastrophic disaster!

She took a deep breath and could only grit her teeth and vaguely reply, "Yes... they're from Linshui County."

She deliberately didn't say her name, only the region.

Zheng Haiyang, however, wasn't going to let her off the hook, pressing her relentlessly: "What's your name? Which organization do you work for? What's your specific position?"

Zhou Qingyan finally lost her temper and retorted, barely suppressing her anger, "Secretary Zheng! Does normal dating and friendship violate any Party discipline or national law? Isn't it going too far to interrogate me about my privacy like this?!"

"If it's just normal dating and friendship, of course it doesn't violate any rules." Zheng Haiyang's tense face leaned forward slightly, his sharp eyes fixed on Zhou Qingyan, his voice low but like thunder: "But the problem is, according to the HCG test results in front of Secretary Zhou... Secretary Zhou, you are very likely pregnant."

"Buzz...!"

Zhou Qingyan felt as if he had been hit hard on the head with a hammer; his face turned deathly pale in an instant, and even his lips lost all color.

Pregnant?!

I'm pregnant?!

I actually won the lottery in just that one time?!

A tremendous sense of absurdity and fear instantly overwhelmed her.

She stared intently at the numbers on the lab report, knowing all too well what they meant!

She was thirty years old, unmarried, and didn't even have a publicly acknowledged romantic partner. She had finally made it to the top and become the leader. However, just one week into her new post, the Discipline Inspection Commission discovered that she was pregnant out of wedlock!

Within this rigidly structured system, this kind of corrupt lifestyle is enough to forever nail her to the pillar of shame! With just a little maneuvering from her political enemies, this is not just a Waterloo, but a direct step into a political mass grave!

If no one knew, she could have quietly aborted the child after she left. But now, the test results are on the table of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, and Zheng Haiyang and Chen Yongjun are watching her closely! She has no room for maneuver or cover-up whatsoever!

"Secretary Zheng!" Zhou Qingyan stood up abruptly, his voice cracking with anger and fear. "This matter concerns my personal reputation and political life! This is no joke!"

Zheng Haiyang sighed: "It is precisely to protect Secretary Zhou's reputation and out of a sense of responsibility towards young cadres that we are conducting this closed-door, formal, and non-public inquiry with you. Please answer truthfully: whose child is this? If you cannot provide a legal and legitimate romantic partner, the organization can only classify this matter as a serious issue of personal conduct."

There was nowhere to retreat, nowhere to avoid.

Zhou Qingyan's body trembled slightly uncontrollably. Just a few minutes ago, she had felt even the slightest bit of gratitude towards Zhao Jianguo because her terminal illness had turned negative. Now, it had completely turned into a deep-seated hatred!

That bastard! Not only did he take advantage of my virginity, but now he's even left behind a bastard child that could ruin my life!

The inner conflict, shame, and resentment intertwined, driving him to madness.

"Yes..." Zhou Qingyan bit her pale lips tightly, her cheeks flushed red with extreme shame and indignation, her voice barely audible: "My boyfriend... is called Zhao Jianguo, he's from Linshui County, and currently... is a low-level employee of the county government."

As soon as she uttered those words, Zhou Qingyan felt as if she had been stripped naked and thrown into the street for all to see. Her knowledge of Zhao Jianguo was limited to this. She didn't even know which department that bastard worked in. For a county party secretary to be pregnant with the child of a low-level clerk whose background she didn't even know was simply the most ridiculous thing in the world!

Upon hearing this definitive answer, Zheng Haiyang and Chen Yongjun exchanged a glance, a subtle, complex emotion flashing in their eyes.

Zheng Haiyang closed the folder, nodded, and his tone became meaningful: "Since it is a legitimate romantic relationship, it falls under the category of normal love between a man and a woman, and the organization, in principle, will not interfere."

At this point, Zheng Haiyang paused, looking intently at Zhou Qingyan: "However, Secretary Zhou, I still have to remind you of two things. Although the organization does not interfere in the private lives of its cadres, it absolutely does not encourage this practice of premarital pregnancy. Moreover, you are the top leader of Linshui County, and this Comrade Zhao Jianguo works in the county government. Although the difference in your ranks is currently very large and does not constitute a legal conflict of interest between close relatives, you must pay close attention to the relevant boundary issues."

Zheng Haiyang's words were loaded with meaning as he lightly tapped the table: "The organization cherishes young cadres, which is why only a few of us are here to talk today. But remember, you must never cross the red line in terms of conduct or personnel decisions. Once you give others grounds for criticism, no one can protect you, understand?"

Zhou Qingyan was in a state of utter confusion.

She certainly understood Zheng Haiyang's subtext. The municipal discipline inspection commission was willing to go with the flow and treat this as a "normal relationship between young people" without pursuing it, partly because she had strong connections in the province, and partly because her pregnancy was currently kept absolutely secret.

But this is a landmine that could explode at any moment! This infectious disease outbreak has already revealed that countless eyes in Linshui County are watching her closely in the dark. If she doesn't deal with Zhao Jianguo and the trouble in her belly as soon as possible, it will eventually lead to an irreparable catastrophe!

"I understand... Thank you, Secretary Zheng, and thank you for the organization's reminder. I will handle my personal emotional issues as soon as possible and properly, and I will never cause trouble for the organization." Zhou Qingyan bowed deeply, but he had already decided in his heart that he would go back and resolve this trouble immediately.

Seeing that things were going well, Zheng Haiyang stood up and extended a hand: "Alright, since that's the case, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection's investigation into Secretary Zhou ends here. You've cleared your name, and the organization is happy for you."

"After a short rest, the Discipline Inspection Commission will immediately arrange a special car to send Secretary Zhou back to Linshui County to take up his post with dignity!"

Having finally shed the life-threatening debt of 20 million yuan, I felt the air in Linshui County was exceptionally fresh as I left home.