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

The office door was not closed.

The light in the corridor was blocked by two tall figures, making the newly decorated office dark.

Zhang Chao's face turned pale instantly.

Provincial Party Committee Organization Department!

These six words carry enough weight to determine the career path of any official in Nanzhou.

It’s over.

This was the only thought in Zhang Chao's mind. The director's methods were too harsh; he had ultimately escalated the situation. Wang Weidong was going to great lengths, even bringing in people from the provincial level!

In the office, the key personnel from the Finance Bureau and Audit Bureau who were still organizing documents also stopped what they were doing, lowered their heads, and no one dared to make a sound, but their ears were all perked up.

The entire space was eerily quiet.

Only Chen Pingfang remained calm.

He turned his gaze from the window to the desk.

In the center of the table sits a brand-new brass seal with the words "Nanzhou Industrial Energy Coordination Center" engraved in Song typeface.

This official seal was just rushed out yesterday afternoon, and when it was delivered, the bronze body still carried the residual heat of the machine.

It signifies the establishment of a new power structure and the end of Wang Weidong's influence.

The middle-aged man at the head of the group narrowed his eyes behind his glasses, seemingly surprised by Chen Pingfang's calmness.

"Comrade Chen Pingfang, didn't you hear what I said?" His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried weight.

Chen Pingfang then slowly raised his head and calmly met his gaze.

"I heard you," he said. "Cooperating with the investigation is every cadre's duty. I'll go with you."

Chen Ping's decisiveness rendered the other party unable to utter any words of pressure he had prepared.

"However, before I leave, I need to hand over some work." Chen Pingfang said, opening a drawer in his desk and taking out a black safe about half a meter square.

"Thump!"

The safe was slammed onto the desk with a thud, making the teacup on the desk jump.

Under the watchful eyes of the two members of the investigation team, Chen Ping turned the combination lock, entered the password, and with a soft "click," the cabinet door popped open.

He picked up the brand-new brass company seal on the table, along with the newly printed implementation document on electricity quotas for eliminating outdated production capacity, and put them into the safe.

Then, in front of everyone, he slammed the safe door shut and turned the combination lock again to lock it.

"What are you doing?" Another younger member of the investigation team frowned.

Chen Ping ignored him.

He pulled the only key from the safe, turned around and handed it to Zhang Chao, who was pale and at a loss behind him.

The cold touch of the metal key sent a shiver down Zhang Chao's spine.

"Director..." Zhang Chao's voice trembled.

Chen Ping looked at him, his gaze steady.

He lowered his voice and explained, word by word:

"From now on, this safe will be a core secret of our center."

"When I'm not around, no matter who it is, which department they're from, or what their reason is, if they want to open it or take it away, you don't need to care."

Chen Ping paused for a moment.

"Remember, this key is not to be given to anyone except Mayor Li himself."

"Did you understand?"

Zhang Chao's eyes widened; he understood what the director meant.

This is not a simple handover.

This is setting a bottom line! This is telling everyone, especially the people from these two provinces—I, Chen Pingfang, can go with you, but no one can touch the things I want to do or the new rules I've established behind my back!

Zhang Chao gripped the key tightly, his hands covered in sweat.

"Understood, Director!" He nodded heavily, his voice hoarse with excitement. "Rest assured, unless I die, no one can take this key away!"

The head of the investigation team's face darkened.

His name is Wu Bin. He has worked in the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department for almost ten years and has seen all kinds of cadres. He has dealt with those who cried out for justice, those who were so scared that their legs went weak, and those who stubbornly refused to speak.

But he had never seen anyone like Chen Pingfang.

Chen Ping remained calm, offered no explanation, and didn't even make a phone call for help.

This is no longer cooperating with the investigation.

This is a protest!

"Comrade Chen Pingfang!" Wu Bin's voice turned cold. "Do you know that your current actions constitute obstruction of the investigation? Are you demonstrating against the organization?"

Chen Pingfang finally turned around and looked at Wu Bin directly for the first time, even showing a faint smile on his face.

"Director Wu, you've misunderstood."

He pointed to the safe and explained slowly, "This center is a key project approved by the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee and personally led by Mayor Li. It concerns the industrial layout of Nanzhou for the next ten years. The official seals and documents inside are the city's core assets. As the person in charge, it is my duty to ensure its absolute safety while I am unable to perform my duties."

"Personally, I will fully cooperate with any investigation by the organization."

"But work must be done according to the rules."

"I think the rules of the provincial party committee and the rules of the municipal party committee should be the same in this respect, right?"

Wu Bin was speechless for a long time after hearing his words.

He gave Chen Pingfang a deep look.

He realized that the young man in front of him was completely different from the hotheaded, impulsive young man described in the whistleblower letter who relied on his leader's trust.

This is a formidable character!

"Okay, very good." Wu Bin squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth. He knew that if he continued, he would only embarrass himself.

He waved his hand towards the door.

"Now that the handover is complete, come with us."

"Please." Chen Ping gestured for him to leave and stepped outside.

Chen Pingfang's appearance caused quite a stir in the short distance of just a few dozen meters from his office to the building entrance.

All the city staff who witnessed this scene stopped in their tracks. Their expressions varied: some were shocked, some were puzzled, and others were simply there to watch the spectacle.

The young man who just made a big splash in Nanzhou and brought down Vice Mayor Wang has only been in the limelight for less than 24 hours before he's about to be taken away by the provincial authorities.

Sure enough, the higher you climb, the harder you fall.

Many people were thinking this.

Chen Pingfang ignored all the gazes around him, his steps steady and his spine ramrod straight.

When they reached the black Audi sedan downstairs, Wu Bin personally opened the back door for him.

Just before getting into the car, Chen Ping stopped, turned his head, and moved closer to Wu Bin.

His voice was soft, but every word clearly reached Wu Bin's ears.

"Director Wu."

Wu Bin glanced at him instinctively.

Chen Pingfang's lips curled slightly.

"It's easy to get into this car."

"When it comes time to ask me to come down, I'm afraid... we'll have to send someone else."