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

It was very dark, and the High-tech Zone Management Committee building looked very solemn at night.

Chen Ping returned to his office without turning on the light. He stood by the window, his fingertips touching the A4 paper in his pocket. The sharp edges of the paper were a little rough on his hand, making him feel uncomfortable.

ASML.

7nm EUV.

These two words changed the nature of the Chipfire Industrial Park incident.

This is a colossal lie, a massive deception. Hu Jinshan and his group are taking a huge risk on a matter that could affect the entire political landscape of Nanzhou.

And Chen Pingfang was standing right next to this problem.

He knew very well that he couldn't fight against the complex relationships behind Hu Jinshan on his own. A direct confrontation would definitely result in a crushing defeat.

We must find a key person who can solve the problem.

Chen Ping's gaze slowly drifted towards the top floor of the building.

Nineteenth floor, the office of Lin Yaodong, director of the management committee.

……

At 10 p.m., the entire building was quiet, with only the emergency lights in the corridors on.

Chen Ping appeared on the nineteenth floor.

A sliver of light shone through the crack in the door to the director's office.

He raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.

"Enter."

A slightly tired voice came out.

Chen Ping pushed open the door and went in. The office was large and decorated in a very understated style. Behind the mahogany desk, a gray-haired man wearing reading glasses was engrossed in reading documents.

It was Lin Yaodong, the director of the management committee.

Hearing footsteps, Lin Yaodong looked up and saw Chen Pingfang. He was a little surprised, but quickly calmed down.

"Comrade Pingfang, it's so late, is something the matter?" He took off his glasses, rubbed his temples, and spoke in a very calm tone.

"Director Lin is still working hard. You must be exhausted." Chen Ping closed the door and walked directly to the desk, showing no intention of sitting down.

Lin Yaodong pointed to the sofa opposite him: "Sit down and let's talk."

"No, I'll just say a few words and then leave." Chen Ping's attitude was more like a negotiation than a subordinate reporting to the authorities.

Lin Yaodong frowned slightly, but didn't say anything. He simply leaned back in his chair, crossed his hands on his stomach, and prepared to listen to what he had to say.

"Director Lin, I went to the Chipfire Industrial Park today," Chen Pingfang said directly.

"Oh? Did you find anything? That project has a lot of problems. You've just taken over, so you'll have to put in a lot of effort." Lin Yaodong's reply was very official.

Chen Ping smiled and didn't respond to his words, but changed the subject instead.

"I heard that Deputy Director Hu Jinshan is planning to propose a motion regarding the change of land use for the Chipfire Industrial Park at next week's leadership meeting?"

Lin Yaodong's gaze froze for a moment.

This matter is still under internal discussion. How could Chen Ping, a newcomer, know about it so quickly?

"We do have this initial idea." Lin Yaodong did not deny it, his tone still calm. "The project is stalled, the debt is huge, and revitalizing the land assets is also to solve the problem. Of course, everything must be done according to procedure."

"Program?" Chen Ping repeated the word, his tone carrying a different meaning. "What I'm worried about is that once the program is complete, the problems will be even bigger."

He took a step forward, leaned slightly forward, and looked directly at Lin Yaodong.

"Director Lin, you are the legal representative and the top leader of the management committee. From the project's inception to its eventual abandonment, you were the last person to sign all the documents for the Chipfire Industrial Park project."

Lin Yaodong's expression changed.

Chen Ping's words went straight to the heart of the matter.

"What do you mean by this?" Lin Yaodong's voice turned cold.

"What I mean is, political security," Chen Ping said, enunciating each word clearly, his voice not loud, but loud enough to be heard in the quiet office. "If—and I mean if—this project was a scam from the very beginning, then changing the land use designation and using tens of billions of yuan in land revenue to fill a 12 billion yuan hole might seem like a solution. But what if things come to light in the future, and the higher-ups want to investigate the root of this scam? Who will ultimately bear the responsibility?"

"Nonsense!" Lin Yaodong slammed his hand on the table, but his voice was weak. "Comrade Pingfang, don't make things up without evidence!"

"evidence?"

A cold smile curled at the corner of Chen Ping's mouth.

He didn't say another word, but took out the folded A4 paper from his pocket, walked to the table, and gently placed it in front of Lin Yaodong.

The movement was very light; the paper fell almost silently onto the mahogany table.

Lin Yaodong glanced at Chen Pingfang with some doubt, picked up the paper, and slowly unfolded it.

When the blue ASML logo and the words "7nm EUV" appeared, Lin Yaodong's eyes narrowed sharply.

The color drained from his face instantly.

As the head of the high-tech zone, he might not understand the specific technical parameters, but he couldn't possibly be unaware of what the letters ASML represent. Those are key technologies that can influence the global semiconductor industry!

A project that claims to be completely independently developed has yielded core technology test records from a world-leading lithography machine company that is subject to strict embargoes!

This isn't just a corruption issue! This is a massive case of deceiving superiors and subordinates to embezzle national major science and technology project funds! Once exposed, it will cause serious trouble not only in Nanzhou City, but throughout the entire Nanjiang Province's officialdom.

Lin Yaodong, as the person in charge who signed the document, bears the greatest responsibility for this major issue.

The office was very quiet.

Lin Yaodong's hand, holding the paper, began to tremble uncontrollably. The paper made a soft rustling sound.

He got it.

Hu Jinshan and his gang were in a hurry to change the land use, not to resolve the debt, but to destroy evidence! As long as that land is turned into a commercial building, the secrets underground will never be known.

Lin Yaodong, who is about to retire, is the person they put forward to sign the document and take the blame in the future.

"How dare they... how could they..." Lin Yaodong's voice was hoarse, as if it were being squeezed out of his throat.

Chen Ping looked at him quietly without saying a word.

He knew that Lin Yaodong couldn't hold on any longer.

A long time passed.

Lin Yaodong seemed to age ten years in an instant. He leaned back weakly in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.

He glanced at Chen Pingfang, his expression complex.

He made no talk of an alliance, nor did he make any promises.

Lin Yaodong silently stood up, walked to the bookshelf behind him, stepped onto a wooden ladder, and groped around in an inconspicuous corner of the top shelf for a while before taking down a dusty box.

Back at his desk, he took a brass key out of the box, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Chen Ping.

"In the archives on the fifth floor, there's a confidential area at the very back that's not open to the public." Lin Yaodong's voice returned to calm, but he sounded extremely tired. "This is the key to filing cabinet number three. Some of the earliest items from the project might still be inside."

After saying that, Lin Yaodong turned around, put his reading glasses back on, picked up a document, and acted as if nothing had happened.

"I'm tired, you can go now."

This was his choice.

He neither took sides nor expressed his opinion; he simply gave Chen Ping a knife.

Chen Ping picked up the brass key and gripped it tightly in his hand.

He said nothing, turned around, opened the door, and walked out.

The door was gently closed.

In the corridor, Chen Ping opened his palm and looked at the key under the light. It was heavier than it looked.