After breaking up with my boyfriend, I made a fortune and rose rapidly in my career.

As night deepened, the city lights came on.

Chen Ping turned off the office light but didn't leave immediately. He stood by the window, looking down at the brightly lit city below. The cars below flowed in a continuous stream, their lights flashing, moving quietly.

This place is more prosperous than Qingyuan County, but it's also less humane.

He remembered the contents of the document that recorded 500 million yuan in fraudulent trade very clearly.

This is clearly a meticulously planned financial crime, a blatant embezzlement of state-owned assets. Hu Jinshan, Liu Guangming, and that unseen Director Lin Yaodong—what exactly are their roles in this complex web of interests?

Chen Ping took out his phone and dialed a familiar number.

The phone rang twice before connecting. Xiao Yuhan's voice sounded very concerned: "Pingfang? How are things on your end?"

"It's alright." Chen Pingfang's voice was calm. "Do you have time? I'd like to meet with you."

"Yes, of course," Xiao Yuhan said quickly. "Where are you? I'll come find you."

"No need, find a quiet place, I'll come over."

Half an hour later, the two met in a private room on the second floor of a teahouse called Jingxin Teahouse in the city.

The teahouse is decorated in a traditional style, and there is a faint scent of sandalwood and tea in the air, which is very different from the outside world.

Chen Pingfang pushed open the door and entered; Xiao Yuhan was already there. She was wearing a beige trench coat today, her long hair draped over her shoulders, and the tea set in front of her was steaming. Seeing Chen Pingfang come in, she immediately stood up, her eyes full of worry.

"You look very tired." Xiao Yuhan poured him a cup of hot tea.

"It's alright, but there are still some things I need to figure out." Chen Ping sat down and took the teacup; the warmth of the cup made him relax a bit.

Xiao Yuhan didn't ask for details. Instead, she took out a document in a brown paper bag from her bag and pushed it in front of Chen Pingfang.

"This is information I obtained through connections from several departments in the province, and I compiled a relationship chart of the members of the High-tech Zone leadership team."

Chen Ping opened the file bag; inside were not reports, but several hand-drawn structural diagrams.

The central figure in the picture is Lin Yaodong, the director of the management committee, with a small note next to him: 58 years old, nearing retirement, preferring stability in his work. No connection is traced to his name.

A typical complacent official.

Below Lin Yaodong, the name of Executive Deputy Director Hu Jinshan was circled in red. Numerous connections extended from his name, creating a complex web of relationships.

The thickest line points to Wang Hong of Hongyuan Real Estate.

"Hu Jinshan is fifty-two years old and has worked in the High-tech Zone for almost ten years. He has a very deep network of connections," Xiao Yuhan said in a low voice, pointing to the thick line. "This Wang Hong is a well-known real estate developer in the provincial capital, the boss of Hongyuan Real Estate. Our station's reporters found out that Hu Jinshan's wife's younger brother is the vice president of Hongyuan Real Estate. Moreover, Hu Jinshan himself has met with Wang Hong privately several times."

Chen Ping gently tapped the four characters "Hongyuan Real Estate" with his finger.

He recalled the 500 million yuan fraudulent trade, with the receiving company being Nanzhou Hongsheng Trading Co., Ltd.

Hongsheng, Hongyuan... Is this just a coincidence?

"Lin Yaodong is looking for stability, so Hu Jinshan is in charge now. The other deputy directors all have to watch their step," Xiao Yuhan continued. "The Corefire Industrial Park that you've taken over was previously managed by Hu Jinshan. The problems that happened to the previous two deputy directors were both related to him. As soon as you took office, he dumped this mess on you, and his purpose is very clear."

"You want me to be the next scapegoat?" Chen Pingfang's tone was very calm, as if he were talking about someone else's business.

"That's not all." Xiao Yuhan's expression turned serious. "Pingfang, you're in danger right now. He definitely knows about your auditing of the accounts, and he won't just sit idly by."

She took a deep breath and revealed something even more important.

"I have a very reliable inside information. Hu Jinshan and his team have been making a lot of moves lately, preparing to push forward a proposal."

Chen Ping raised his head, his eyes becoming sharp.

"What proposal?"

"A proposal regarding the change of land use for the Chipfire Industrial Park," Xiao Yuhan said, emphasizing each word. "The Chipfire Industrial Park was originally acquired under the name of a high-tech industrial park, and it was designated for industrial use at a very low price. Now that the project has stalled, they want to convert this land into commercial and residential land."

The private room fell silent immediately.

Chen Ping's eyes widened suddenly.

The price difference between industrial land and commercial/residential land is enormous. Especially in prime locations within high-tech zones, the price difference can exceed tenfold.

That 12 billion yuan in bad debt is nothing compared to the value of this land.

That's their real purpose.

The billions in losses and abandoned projects are just a smokescreen. Their real target is the land in the Chipfire Industrial Park, worth tens of billions.

"Their target isn't me," Chen Pingfang said slowly, his voice cold, "it's that piece of land. I was blocking their way."

The previous show of force, that dilapidated office, the debt collectors at the door, and Liu Guangming's constant excuses... everything can now be explained.

Their goal was to discourage Chen Ping from taking action, or to overwhelm him like the previous two men did with this mess. This way, they could smoothly push for the land rezoning, sell the land to Hongyuan Real Estate at an extremely low price, and pocket all the profits.

"That's right." Xiao Yuhan looked at Chen Pingfang, still very worried. "Moreover, they have to be quick. The project has been stalled for too long, and some people in the province have suggested taking back the land for redevelopment. So they have to finalize this before you can establish yourself."

Chen Pingfang didn't say anything. He picked up his teacup and drank the now-cold tea in one gulp.

So this is the real battlefield.

Zhou Wenyuan probably didn't expect that the problems underwater would be so big and so frightening when he brought him here.

Seeing Chen Pingfang frowning, Xiao Yuhan couldn't help but reach out and place her hand on the back of his hand. "Pingfang, this matter is too dangerous, and the interests involved are too great. You..."

"I'm fine." Chen Pingfang grasped Xiao Yuhan's hand in return. "Yuhan, thank you. This picture of yours helped me a lot."

With this map, he was no longer completely ignorant. He now knew who the enemy was and what their objective was.

"So what do you plan to do?" Xiao Yuhan was still worried.

Chen Pingfang's lips curled up slightly.

"They want to go fast, but I'll make them slow down."

Chen Pingfang looked at Xiao Yuhan with a deep gaze. "They're trying to play tricks, so I'll sabotage their scheme first."

Seeing that he had regained his fighting spirit, Xiao Yuhan felt less worried, but still reminded him, "You have to be careful. Hu Jinshan has been in the High-tech Zone for so many years, and he has people everywhere."

"I know." Chen Ping nodded, his gaze returning to the relationship diagram, finally settling on Hu Jinshan's name.