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

When Chen Ping walked out of the Green Bamboo Hall, the tea on the table had already gone cold.

Wei Changqing did not see him off. The old man quietly drank his tea, showing no trace of his past influence in the officialdom of Nanzhou.

The negotiations proceeded calmly, but the risks involved were considerable.

Zhang Chao opened the car door, his voice still tinged with nervousness: "Director, back to the Management Committee?" He wasn't qualified to go in, but every minute he waited outside felt like he was being fried in oil.

"No, back to the park." Chen Ping sat in the back seat, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples.

Dealing with someone like Wei Changqing is far more exhausting than arguing with someone in a meeting room. That expense report was a blatant ultimatum. Wei Changqing knew very well that to keep those people, he had to get them to return the money, shut their mouths, and then hope that Chen Pingfang would keep his promise.

Through this transaction, Chen Pingfang gained valuable time.

At least in the short term, no one from Nanzhou will come to cause trouble anymore.

The car drove smoothly toward the High-tech Zone, and by the time it entered the gate of the Chipfire Industrial Park, night had already begun to fall.

The entire park was quiet, with only a few lights shining from the direction of Factory Building No. 3 in the distance, accompanied by the low hum of generators.

"Are they still there?" Chen Ping asked.

"The technical team from Huaxin International, and Lao Ma's security team," Zhang Chao replied. "Engineer Li and his team are tech fanatics. They said they wanted to simulate all the basic circuits and data interfaces again before the equipment arrived. Lao Ma and his team were worried, so they stayed with them the whole time."

Chen Pingfang stared at the lights and remained silent for a few seconds.

"Let's go to the best hot pot restaurant in the city," Chen Pingfang suddenly said. "Buy hot pot for twenty people, including the broth and ingredients, and all kinds of the best meats. Also, bring two cases of beer."

Zhang Chao was taken aback: "Director, this..."

"I'll pay for it myself, go now." Chen Ping's tone left no room for argument. "Tonight, we'll cook in the park."

……

Half an hour later, on the open ground outside Factory Building No. 3.

Several makeshift military tables were pushed together, and two huge copper pots were placed on a portable gas stove, bubbling and steaming. The red oil churned, and the aroma of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns instantly dispelled the chill of the night.

The engineers from Huaxin International, along with the group of dark-skinned security guards under Lao Ma, sat somewhat awkwardly around the table, unsure of what to do.

The head of the management committee personally paid for hot pot for these frontline staff? I've never even heard of such a thing before, let alone seen it.

"What are you all standing there for? Are you afraid I'll poison it?" Chen Ping took the initiative and picked up a slice of fatty beef, dipped it in the boiling hot pot, and stuffed it directly into his mouth, hissing from the spiciness. "Engineer Li, you guys are the heroes, you can start eating first."

The technical lead, known as Engineer Li, was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing glasses and quite refined. He adjusted his glasses, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "Director Chen, you're too kind. We're just doing our job."

"My job duties don't include sleeping in the factory," Chen Ping said with a smile, personally picking up a piece of tripe for him. "It's been cooked seven or eight times, it's crispy, have a taste."

The atmosphere at the table immediately became lively.

Old Ma was the first to loosen up. He picked up a bowl of beer, stood up, and his dark face was full of sincerity: "Director, I, Old Ma, don't know how to say anything else, but just for your kind gesture, from now on, anyone who wants to cause trouble in this park will have to step over our brothers first!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back and finished the bowl of beer.

"Yes! Step over it!" the security guards shouted in unison, raising their wine bowls.

Although the engineers weren't quite as boisterous, they were also caught up in the enthusiastic atmosphere. They raised their glasses to Chen Pingfang, everything understood without words.

These people, over the past few months, included a security company whose wages were withheld and a technical partner who almost got dragged down by the mess. They had felt disappointed and resentful towards the park.

But now, the way they look at Chen Pingfang is full of enthusiasm.

Chen Ping didn't spout any grand principles; he simply ate meat and drank wine heartily, just like the others. He toasted everyone in turn, accurately calling out the names of several security guards and young engineers, and even chatting about a technical problem they were working on.

There are no superiors or subordinates here, only bubbling hot pot, chilled beer, and a group of people working towards the same goal.

Just as the atmosphere was reaching its peak, a white sedan silently pulled up a short distance away. The headlights went out, the door opened, and a tall figure stepped out.

Xiao Yuhan was wearing a simple beige trench coat and carrying a cake box. She looked at the bustling scene before her with some surprise, then a smile appeared on her face.

"Oh, you're eating alone without inviting me?"

Her clear, crisp voice immediately drew everyone's attention.

Zhang Chao was the first to react, and quickly stood up: "Reporter Xiao, what brings you here?"

Chen Pingfang also stood up. Seeing that it was her, a smile appeared on his face: "How did you find this place?"

"I wanted to find you, isn't that easy?" Xiao Yuhan rolled her eyes at him, put the cake in her hand on the table, "Just passing by, thought I'd grab a late-night snack, but it seems like I went to all that trouble."

When Lao Ma and the others saw this, they all smiled knowingly and started making a fuss.

"Not at all! Not at all! We've had hot pot and cake, life is both sweet and spicy!"

"Mr. Xiao, please have a seat. Let me bring you another pair of chopsticks!"

Xiao Yuhan didn't hesitate and sat down next to Chen Pingfang. Chen Pingfang naturally took a clean set of bowls and chopsticks, rinsed them with boiling water, and handed them to her.

The hot pot feast lasted until late at night.

The engineers went back to rest, and Old Ma led the team to clean up the mess. Chen Pingfang and Xiao Yuhan walked side by side on the empty main road of the park.

The moonlight is beautiful tonight, casting a silvery glow on the massive factory buildings and cranes.

"Did you go see Wei Changqing today?" Xiao Yuhan suddenly asked.

Chen Ping nodded, making no attempt to hide anything.

"He didn't give you any trouble?"

"He's a smart man," Chen Ping said casually.

Xiao Yuhan stopped and turned to look at him. In the moonlight, her eyes shone brightly: "I'm working on an in-depth feature report on Chinese chips, and I've been preparing for it for a long time. The Chipfire Industrial Park will be the core part of the report."

Chen Pingfang knew the weight of her words.

This means that the Chipfire Industrial Park will receive positive media support from the very beginning. This will be a significant advantage in the future.

"Thank you," he said sincerely.

"There's no need for this between us." Xiao Yuhan smiled and continued walking forward. "I'm just recording a major event, something that could change Nanzhou, and even the domestic semiconductor materials industry. And you are at the heart of it all."

The two walked in silence, the surroundings quiet. In the distance were the lights of the city, and the land beneath their feet was still vast and empty, yet full of hope.

They walked to a newly cleared plot of land, which would become the foundation of a new research and development building.

Xiao Yuhan suddenly stopped, looked at Chen Pingfang, and asked very seriously, "Pingfang, if this really succeeds, what do you most want to do?"

He did not answer immediately.

Chen Ping raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the land before him, towards the deep night sky in the distance. The stars there were distant yet clear.

His eyes held neither the joy of success nor the anticipation of the future, but something deeper and more resolute, as if he were carrying a secret promise.