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

When Xiao Yuhan signed her name on the official document, Chen Pingfang knew that this trip to the provincial capital was inevitable.

The high-speed train journey from Yunzhou to the provincial capital takes two and a half hours. Chen Pingfang sat by the window, the bandage on his forehead removed, leaving only a shallow scar. He scrolled through information about China Construction Third Engineering Bureau on his phone, his mind filled with memories of his past life.

The general manager of China Construction Third Engineering Bureau's Central China branch is Zhou Mingyuan, a very steady and reliable person. In his previous life, after the Jinshuiwan project was abandoned, this state-owned enterprise took over the soil remediation project. However, that was three years later, and Yunzhou City paid a huge price for it.

In this life, Chen Ping wants to move the timeline forward.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Chen Ping was placed at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in the provincial capital.

In the hotel lobby, the crystal chandelier illuminated the marble floor. Chen Pingfang, dressed in a dark blue suit and carrying a briefcase, walked directly towards the elevator.

"Sir, please show me your invitation."

A security guard in a black suit stopped Chen Pingfang.

Chen Pingfang was taken aback for a moment: "I am a staff member of the Yunzhou Municipal Government, here to discuss cooperation with General Manager Zhou of China Construction Third Engineering Bureau."

"I'm sorry, this is a business reception. You can't go upstairs without an invitation." The security guard was polite, but his tone was firm.

Chen Ping frowned. He had forgotten about this; in his previous life, he wasn't even qualified to attend a party of this caliber, so he naturally didn't know about this requirement.

"Can I wait here?"

"You can go to the executive lounge; that's a semi-open area," the security guard pointed to the right side of the lobby.

Chen Ping nodded and turned to walk towards the executive lounge.

The lounge was exquisitely decorated, and the windows offered a view of the provincial capital's nightscape. Chen Ping found a sofa in a corner, ordered a coffee, and kept his eyes fixed on the elevator entrance.

Time passed second by second.

At 7 p.m., the elevator doors opened, and a group of people in formal attire stepped out. Chen Pingfang's gaze swept over them and landed on a woman.

A woman wearing a black business suit and high heels, with delicate features.

Huang Qianshu.

Chen Ping narrowed his eyes.

In her past life, this woman was a legendary figure in the provincial capital's business world. Before she was thirty, she had turned her father's small company into a listed enterprise, displaying a ruthless and uncompromising approach, never giving face to anyone. But even such a powerful woman stumbled at a drinking party.

Chen Pingfang remembered clearly that after that drinking party, Huang Qianshu's company stock price plummeted and she disappeared because of the indecent video.

Today is the day of that drinking party.

Chen Ping put down his coffee cup, stood up, and walked towards Huang Qianshu.

On the other side of the lounge was a semi-open booth area. Huang Qianshu was sitting in a corner, opposite three middle-aged men. A bald man was pouring Huang Qianshu a drink with a lewd grin.

"Mr. Huang, this is a toast to you. I wish us a pleasant cooperation." The bald man raised his glass.

Huang Qianshu's expression was somewhat unnatural, but she still picked up her wine glass.

Just then, Chen Pingfang saw the bald man quickly take a white pill out of his pocket and drop it into her wine glass while Huang Qianshu was rubbing her temples.

The movement was so quick that no one around noticed.

Chen Pingfang clenched his fist instantly.

He recognized the bald man; he had seen him mentioned in the news in his previous life. He was Huang Qianshu's competitor, surnamed Liu, and ran a building materials business.

Huang Qianshu picked up the glass of laced red wine, tilted her head back, and drank it down.

A wicked smile flashed in Mr. Liu's eyes, and the people around him joined in the commotion.

"Mr. Huang has a great capacity for alcohol!"

"Come on, let's have another drink!"

Huang Qianshu's face grew increasingly red, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. She tried to stand up, but her body swayed slightly.

"Ms. Huang, have you had too much to drink? Let me help you to rest." Mr. Liu immediately stood up and reached out to help Huang Qianshu.

Chen Ping didn't hesitate.

He straightened his suit, grabbed the ice bucket from the table, and walked over, blocking Mr. Liu's path.

"Excuse me, sir," Chen Pingfang said calmly.

Mr. Liu was taken aback for a moment, sized Chen Pingfang up and down, and sneered, "Who are you? Meddling in other people's business?"

"I'm her friend," Chen Pingfang said, pointing to Huang Qianshu.

"Friends?" Mr. Liu's smile became even more lewd. "Young man, this is not a place for you. If you know what's good for you, get lost."

Chen Pingfang didn't say anything, but directly reached out and grabbed Liu's hand that was on Huang Qianshu's shoulder, and twisted it sharply.

"Ah!" Mr. Liu screamed in pain as his body was twisted and bent over.

People around looked over, somewhat surprised.

"You fucking dare touch me?" Mr. Liu's face flushed red. "Bodyguards! Where are the bodyguards?!"

Chen Ping relaxed his grip, slowly took out his phone, and opened the video he had just recorded.

In the video, Mr. Liu's action of putting the drug into the wine glass is clearly visible.

"Mr. Liu, if this video is sent to the police and your board of directors, do you think you can still work in the provincial capital?" Chen Pingfang's voice was very low, but every word made Mr. Liu's heart sink.

Mr. Liu's face turned deathly pale instantly, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

He stared at the image on Chen Ping's phone screen, his lips trembling a few times, before finally gritting his teeth and letting go.

"You win," Mr. Liu said, then slunk away through the side door with his few guests.

The onlookers whispered among themselves for a few moments, then dispersed once the excitement died down.

Chen Ping turned around and helped the swaying Huang Qianshu.

"Who...who are you..." Huang Qianshu's voice was weak, and her eyes were unfocused.

"I'll take you back to your room."

Chen Pingfang helped her towards the elevator. Huang Qianshu felt feverish all over; the drug was taking effect, and she began unconsciously tearing at her collar, leaning her whole body against Chen Pingfang.

There were only the two of them in the elevator.

Huang Qianshu's breathing became more and more rapid. She gripped Chen Pingfang's collar tightly and buried her face in his chest.

"It's so hot...it's so uncomfortable..."

Chen Ping gritted his teeth and endured it. He took the room key from Huang Qianshu's bag and swiped it to open the door to the top-floor suite.

The room was large, and the view from the window offered a panoramic view of the entire provincial capital at night.

Chen Ping placed Huang Qianshu on the bed and turned to pour a glass of warm water.

"Drink some water."

Huang Qianshu drank a few mouthfuls in a daze, and then collapsed onto the bed.

Chen Pingfang looked at her flushed face, took a deep breath, and went over to turn the air conditioner to the lowest temperature.

He didn't linger. He took out a pen and paper from his bag, wrote down his contact information and the words "Be careful of General Manager Liu," and placed them on the bedside table.

The moment the door closed, Huang Qianshu groggily opened her eyes and vaguely saw that figure from behind.

Chen Ping returned to the lobby and sat back down on the sofa in the lounge.

The coffee has gone cold.

He glanced at the time; it was 8:30 PM.

The elevator doors opened again, and a middle-aged man in a gray suit stepped out.

Zhou Mingyuan.

Chen Ping stood up and went to greet him.