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

"Zhang Chao, call Engineer Jiang and the head of the technical team to the conference room. We'll have a meeting in half an hour." Chen Ping's voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

Zhang Chao was very nervous. He knew something big was about to happen; Zhao Bo's text message meant that the Zhao family was no longer hiding anything and were going to come out in the open.

"Yes," Zhang Chao replied, then turned and quickly left.

Half an hour later, the conference room in the coordination center was filled with core members of the Chipfire project. Jiang Fan's hair was a little messy, and his eyes were a little red, clearly having just rushed over from the lab. The others were also very serious, their faces not looking too good. They all knew that the director's sudden call to a meeting at this time meant something serious had happened.

Chen Pingfang sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Everyone, Zhang Chao should have already told you all," Chen Pingfang said, his voice not loud but powerful, "The Zhao family has already begun a financial attack on our Corefire project."

People in the meeting room started talking quietly. They all knew that the provincial capital construction investment company had powerful connections, so they were all very worried.

"Director, what should we do? Should we retaliate immediately, or ask the province for help?" the deputy director of finance asked.

Chen Ping raised his hand to signal for quiet, then looked at Jiang Fan: "Engineer Jiang, how is the debugging of Light Chaser One progressing?"

Jiang Fan, wearing glasses, looked tired but also excited. He said, "Director, we did as you said. We're still working on the core parameters, but we can already start small-batch production. However..."

"But what?" Chen Ping asked.

"However, if we want to achieve large-scale mass production and be cost-competitive, we will need at least two more years and invest at least 5 billion yuan in research and development," Jiang Fan reported truthfully.

Chen Ping nodded and looked at everyone: "Did you hear that? Fifty billion. How much money do we have in our accounts right now?"

The deputy finance director turned pale: "Director, based on the current investment and the subsequent equipment procurement plan, we only have less than 500 million yuan left in our working capital."

The conference room fell silent. Five hundred million yuan was simply not enough for a national strategic project.

"So, we're out of money," Chen Ping said calmly, his tone understated, yet it sent a chill down everyone's spine.

"Director, this..." Zhang Chao couldn't help but speak. He knew the director was making a plan, but hearing these words from the director still made him uneasy.

"Zhang Chao, immediately release a statement saying that the Chipfire project has encountered bottlenecks in technological breakthroughs due to huge initial investments, and is facing a significant funding gap, and is seeking strategic financing." Chen Ping's eyes were sharp as he looked directly at Zhang Chao. "The sooner the better, and the more truthful the better."

Zhang Chao instantly understood Chen Pingfang's intention and his heart tightened: "Yes, Director."

Chen Ping then looked at Jiang Fan: "Engineer Jiang, your lab's public statements must remain consistent. Say that we've encountered a bottleneck in our technical research. Remember, it's a bottleneck, not a failure. But breaking through this bottleneck will require a significant amount of funding."

Jiang Fan hesitated for a moment: "But Director, Light Chaser One has clearly already..."

"Engineer Jiang," Chen Ping interrupted Jiang Fan, his tone becoming more serious, "This is an order. You and your team continue your research and development as normal, but externally, you must create the illusion that you are facing a tight budget and technological bottlenecks."

Looking into Chen Pingfang's determined eyes, Jiang Fan finally nodded: "I understand, Director."

Chen Ping looked at everyone again and continued:

"Everyone, our Chipfire project is currently facing a major challenge."

"If the Zhao family wants to ruin us with money, then we will use their money to make us successful. Remember, from now on, we will only have one message to the outside world—we are short of money, urgently need financing, and the project faces great risks."

After the meeting ended, Zhang Chao and Jiang Fan immediately got to work.

Chen Pingfang returned to his office, picked up his phone, and dialed a number. "Hey? Qingwan?" Chen Pingfang's voice was a little hoarse, sounding more tired and helpless than usual.

On the other end of the phone, Su Qingwan was organizing interview materials in the provincial newspaper office. Hearing Chen Pingfang's voice, Su Qingwan was somewhat surprised: "Pingfang? What's wrong? You sound a little off?"

"It's nothing, just... a little tired." Chen Pingfang sighed. "The Corefire project has run into some trouble recently."

Su Qingwan's heart jumped: "Trouble? What kind of trouble?"

"The investment was too large, as you know, EUV technology is extremely expensive. We invested too much upfront, and now our cash flow is a bit tight," Chen Pingfang said. "We've also encountered bottlenecks in technological breakthroughs, and we urgently need financing, otherwise the project might... might have to be stopped."

Su Qingwan tightened her grip on her phone. She had personally witnessed Chen Pingfang pour his heart and soul into the Chipfire project. Su Qingwan couldn't imagine that such a national strategic project could possibly be halted.

"How could this happen?" Su Qingwan's voice trembled slightly. "Wasn't it already a success? The press conference was such a sensation..."

"The press conference only showed the success of the prototype; there's still a long way to go before mass production. Those core technologies, you know, can't be mastered quickly." Chen Pingfang's voice sounded very genuine, so genuine that Su Qingwan felt a pang of sympathy. "I'm under a lot of pressure right now, and the higher-ups are constantly pushing. But money doesn't come easily, and technological breakthroughs aren't something you can just achieve overnight."

Chen Ping paused for a moment.

"Qingwan, as a reporter, you're well-informed. Could you write a report for me saying that the Chipfire project is currently out of money and desperately needs help from all sectors of society? Of course, you can write it politely, but you must mention that the project is facing financial difficulties and technical problems."

Su Qingwan fell silent. She knew Chen Pingfang too well; he never showed weakness easily, much less sought help from the media. Chen Pingfang's current statement meant that the Corefire project was truly at a critical juncture.

But at the same time, Su Qingwan vaguely felt that something was amiss. Although Chen Pingfang's voice sounded tired, Su Qingwan felt that beneath that tiredness lay something she couldn't understand. It was an abnormal, deliberately displayed vulnerability.

"Ping Fang, do you really want me to write it like this?" Su Qingwan asked. Su Qingwan felt a little wary.

"Yes." Chen Pingfang's voice was soft, but firm. He said, "This is the fastest way I can think of."

Chen Ping didn't explain much, nor did he urge Su Qingwan. He simply waited quietly for Su Qingwan's answer.

Su Qingwan closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She thought of Chen Pingfang standing on the press conference stage, his eyes shining. Su Qingwan decided to trust Chen Pingfang.

"Okay, I'll help you." Su Qingwan's voice became firm again. "I'll write this report myself. I'll also find a way to make it spread throughout Jiangdong Province quickly."

"Thank you, Qingwan." Chen Pingfang's voice sounded genuinely a little more relaxed.

Su Qingwan hung up the phone, but she didn't write immediately. She walked to the window and looked at the city lights outside. Chen Pingfang's tone, the strange feeling in his words, kept replaying in Su Qingwan's mind. She felt that this report about the Corefire project being "fundless" might not be as simple as it seemed. It seemed like a signal, a beginning, foreshadowing something bigger that was about to happen.

But Su Qingwan, being a reporter, was very perceptive and trusted Chen Pingfang, so she decided to give it a try.

Su Qingwan felt that this report would be one of the most important reports she had ever written as a journalist.

She turned around, turned on her computer, and started typing.

The title, "The Chipfire Project Faces Funding Difficulties, National Strategy Urgently Needs Social Assistance," slowly appeared on the screen.