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

Chen Ping hung up the phone, but the unfamiliar number on the screen was still faintly glowing.

Sun Jiancheng slumped to the ground, his whole body trembling, his lips quivering, unable to utter a single word.

Chen Ping put the USB drive into his inner pocket, turned around and dialed Zhang Chao's number.

"Immediately arrange for Lao Ma to bring people to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission's residential compound to take Accountant Sun to the park's security dormitory for 24-hour protection. No one is allowed to approach her."

He hung up the phone after he finished speaking, and looked at Sun Jiancheng.

"Accountant Sun, from this moment on, I'll protect your life."

Sun Jiancheng raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed, his lips trembling, but he still couldn't speak.

Twenty minutes later, Lao Ma arrived with four capable security guards and escorted Sun Jiancheng away.

Chen Ping stood alone in the empty room, his gaze fixed on the old computer whose screen was still lit up.

He took out his phone and took a picture of all the transaction records on the screen.

After doing these things, Chen Ping turned around, walked out of the room, and disappeared into the corridor.

……

Three o'clock in the morning, on the Nanzhou Expressway.

A black Audi sped along the empty road, its headlights illuminating the road ahead.

Chen Ping held the steering wheel with one hand and rested the other on the car window, focusing intently on the road ahead.

The fact that Zhao Bo dared to make that call shows that he had already planted spies in the provincial capital.

If they wait until dawn, the other party will have enough time to use their connections to block the news.

He had to see Zhou Jiang before that happened.

The speedometer needle remained steadily at 120 mph, and the engine emitted a deep roar.

Two hours later, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Chen Ping's car drove into the provincial party committee compound.

The duty room of the Provincial Party Committee Office was dimly lit.

A young secretary wearing glasses was flipping through documents when she heard footsteps. She looked up, saw Chen Pingfang, and frowned slightly.

"Comrade, what brings you here so early?"

The secretary spoke politely, but her eyes held a scrutinizing gaze.

"I am Chen Pingfang, director of the Nanzhou High-tech Zone Management Committee. I have an emergency to report to Governor Zhou."

The secretary adjusted his glasses, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Director Chen, the governor is resting and should not be disturbed unless it's an urgent matter. For a cadre of your rank, you should first report to the city, and then the city should consult with the province. That's the rule."

Chen Pingfang didn't bother arguing with him.

He took a notepad out of his pocket, picked up a pen from the table, and quickly wrote down eight characters.

"Core Fire Foundation, Zhao Bo calls."

Chen Ping pushed the notepad in front of his secretary: "Please give this to Governor Zhou."

The secretary took the note, her eyes falling on the words "Zhao Bo," and her expression changed.

He suddenly stood up, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"Please...please wait a moment."

The secretary's voice trembled slightly as she turned and quickly walked into the inner room.

Less than five minutes later, the lights in the governor's office came on.

Chen Ping was led into the spacious office.

Governor Zhou Jiang sat behind his desk, wearing a dark coat, with two cigarette butts already extinguished in the ashtray.

He didn't speak, but stared sharply at Chen Pingfang.

The only sound in the entire office was the ticking of the wall clock.

"Chen Pingfang," Zhou Jiang finally spoke, his voice deep, "Do you know the political consequences of reporting to a higher level without authorization?"

Chen Ping stood ramrod straight, meeting Zhou Jiang's gaze.

"Know."

"You knew that, so why did you come?"

"Because some things can't wait."

Zhou Jiang tapped his fingers lightly on the table twice, his eyes becoming even sharper.

"explain."

Chen Pingfang neither produced the USB drive nor provided any evidence.

He simply spoke, repeating word by word what Zhao Bo had said on the phone.

He said the water in Nanzhou was too shallow to drown, but it could suffocate people.

He said, "Hand over that machine, and all the accounts inside will be wiped clean."

"He also said," Chen Ping paused, "that he would guarantee me a place on the provincial party committee standing committee next year."

Zhou Jiang's fingers, which had been resting steadily on the table, suddenly trembled.

He stared at Chen Pingfang without saying a word.

"Did he really say that?"

"Not a single word is different."

Zhou Jiang suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the office, each step heavy.

His breathing became heavy, and his chest heaved violently.

"Very well, very well indeed!" Zhou Jiang sneered. "Right under my nose, you've built a money laundering network spanning foreign capital and high technology, and you even dare to treat party principles as personal gain!"

He turned around and stared intently at Chen Pingfang.

"Aren't you afraid I'll make you hand over that machine?"

"If the province faces difficulties, I can carry out Zhao Bo's orders to make that lithography machine disappear completely."

Zhou Jiang stopped in his tracks.

He stared at Chen Pingfang and asked, "Are you testing me?"

"I'm waiting for your response."

Silence fell in the office once again.

After a long while, Zhou Jiang snorted coldly, walked back to his desk, and sat down heavily.

"Zhao Bo's father, Zhao Yongnian, is currently in a critical period of investigation." Zhou Jiang's voice was cold. "Zhao Bo is making a last-ditch effort, trying to use your case to create leverage for his father."

He raised his head and looked sharply at Chen Pingfang.

"But he miscalculated one thing."

"The provincial party committee will not be held hostage by this kind of privileged son."

Chen Ping's heart skipped a beat.

Zhou Jiang opened the drawer, took out a blank supervisory order, and spread it on the table.

He picked up his pen, the tip scratching harshly on the paper.

"Investigate thoroughly, without setting any limits."

The eight large characters were written with great force.

Zhou Jiang pushed the supervisory order in front of Chen Pingfang.

"Zhao Yongnian has been removed from his core position and is undergoing an interview with the organization."

"This fire will not only burn away the rotten debts of the heartfire, but also burn down the sky of the Southern Continent."

Chen Pingfang accepted the heavy supervisory order, his fingers trembling slightly.

He bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Governor Zhou."

"No need to thank me." Zhou Jiang waved his hand. "You just need to remember that you risked your life to get this order. From now on, Zhao Bo and his team will make you their primary target."

Chen Ping carefully put the supervisory order away and turned to walk towards the door.

"Chen Pingfang," Zhou Jiang suddenly called out to him.

Chen Ping turned his head back.

"I'll keep a close eye on the Chipfire Industrial Park," Zhou Jiang said, looking at him. "Don't let me down."

"Won't."

Chen Ping pushed open the door and walked out of the governor's office.

The sky was already turning a pale white, and the morning light shone on the bluestone path of the provincial party committee compound.

Chen Ping stood on the steps and took a deep breath.

He took out his phone and dialed Zhang Chao's number.

"Notify all members of the management committee that an emergency meeting will be held at 9:00 AM today."

"In addition, have Lao Ma double the security force in the park. Starting today, the Chipfire Industrial Park is on high alert."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ping walked down the steps and disappeared into the morning light.