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

Before the echoes of the clashing porcelain had even faded, Chen Pingfang was already standing in the backstage corridor of the lecture hall on the first floor of the Corefire Center.

Next Friday is here.

After a night of preparation, the auditorium had been completely transformed. The stage was covered with dark blue velvet, and roll-up banners for Xinhuo Phase II and Jiacheng Precision stood on both sides. A large LED screen hanging in the center was playing promotional videos for the industrial park.

There were twelve rows of folding chairs in the audience, with the first three rows labeled with the guests' names.

Chen Pingfang stood behind the side curtain, looking out through the gap in the curtain.

Han Zhengke was already seated on the left side of the first row. His suit was new, the buttons on the cuffs were gleaming, and a Jiacheng Precision company emblem was pinned to his chest. Next to him sat a middle-aged man with blond hair and blue eyes, a high nose bridge, a clean-shaven chin, and wearing a well-tailored navy blue suit with a Patek Philippe watch on his left wrist.

People from Company M.

Han Zhengke turned to the Dutchman and spoke in hushed tones, occasionally pointing towards the podium. The Dutchman nodded politely, a faint smile playing on his lips.

In the first row on the right, He Hongru sat upright, wearing a gray Zhongshan suit, his hair neatly combed, his hands folded on his knees, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Chen Ping shifted his gaze to the back. In the fourth row, by the aisle, Su Qingwan sat with her canvas bag at her feet and a voice recorder in her hand, flipping through her interview notebook.

Further back, in the last row in a corner, Ma Donglin, wearing a dark gray down jacket, was huddled in a chair with his hands in his pockets, looking utterly bored. But the four young men in casual clothes next to him were sitting upright, their eyes darting around in the crowd.

The provincial economic crime investigation team has arrived.

Jiang Fan jogged over from the other end of the backstage corridor, holding a process sheet in his hand.

"Director Chen, Deputy Secretary-General Zhou from the Provincial Government has arrived, the Department of Industry and Information Technology has sent two division chiefs, and the Development and Reform Commission has sent a deputy director."

Where is Governor Liu?

"He didn't come, but he sent his secretary with a basket of flowers."

Chen Ping nodded. Liu Mingyuan wouldn't come. Those who needed to know already knew what was going to happen today, and those who shouldn't be there wouldn't show up.

"Is it time yet?"

Jiang Fan glanced at his watch. "Three minutes left."

"Let's begin."

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At 9:00 AM sharp, the lights in the auditorium turned on one level, the host walked onto the stage, read the opening remarks for two minutes, Deputy Secretary-General Zhou of the Provincial Government gave a speech, and the director of the Department of Industry and Information Technology said a few polite words.

Then it was He Hongru's turn.

He Hongru stood up, buttoned the top button of his Zhongshan suit, and walked onto the stage. He stood in front of the microphone, his hands resting on the edge of the podium, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, each word clearly enunciated.

"Jiacheng Precision's donation of 1 billion yuan worth of equipment to the second phase of Xinhuo reflects the patriotism of private enterprises and is a vivid practice of the spirit of serving the country through industry."

Applause erupted from the audience.

Han Zhengke clapped in the front row, his applause moderate in volume and rhythmic. The Dutchman also clapped a few times.

He Hongru spoke for eight minutes. He covered topics ranging from macro policies to industrial layout, from self-reliance and control to international cooperation, and finally mentioned Han Zhengke's name separately, calling him a "responsible entrepreneur."

Han Zhengke stood up and bowed slightly towards the stage, the movement perfectly timed.

Chen Ping, who was behind the side curtain, saw all of this.

As He Hongru stepped down from the stage and passed by Han Zhengke, their eyes met briefly. Just for a moment.

But Chen Pingfang caught it.

The host announced the next segment: "Please welcome Chen Pingfang, the person in charge of the Chipfire Phase II project and deputy director of the High-tech Zone Management Committee, to give a speech."

Chen Ping straightened his shirt cuffs and walked onto the stage from the side of the stage.

The spotlight shone down, very bright. The audience was packed with over two hundred people, and the faces in the first three rows were clearly visible.

Han Zhengke nodded slightly to him, displaying an air of gentleness, kindness, respect, frugality, and humility.

The Dutchman raised his head, his bright blue eyes fixed on the stage, displaying a businesslike politeness.

He Hongru's hands remained folded, and he remained seated motionless.

Chen Ping walked to the microphone without a prepared speech.

"Distinguished leaders, honored guests, and friends from the media."

His opening was unremarkable, even somewhat clumsy in its sincerity.

"The success of Chipfire Phase II wouldn't have been possible without the support of many people. But today I want to especially thank one person."

He turned slightly toward the first row.

"Han Zhengke, General Manager Han."

Han Zhengke straightened his back.

"One billion. Forty-two precision instruments and equipment. This is no small sum."

Chen Ping paused for a moment and glanced around the room.

"The entrepreneurs present all know what one billion yuan means. Mr. Han's generosity is not just ordinary; it is the backbone of national enterprises."

The applause rang out again, even more enthusiastic than before. Some people even stood up to applaud.

Han Zhengke's lips curled up slightly, and he gestured with his hand in a gesture of respect, his humility tinged with barely suppressed pride. The Dutchman joined in the applause, his movements more exaggerated than before.

Chen Ping waited for the applause to subside.

"At the same time, I also want to announce a decision."

The whole place fell silent.

"After review by the High-tech Zone Management Committee and approval by the Provincial Semiconductor Industry Leading Group, we have decided to recommend Jiaxing Precision as a 'Provincial Supply Chain Security Strategic Partner'."

The weight of this title was clear to everyone in the audience.

Han Zhengke's eyes lit up. This title was like a golden signboard, meaning that Jiacheng Precision would be included in the list of preferred suppliers for all key provincial projects.

The Dutchman leaned close to the translator's ear, and the translator whispered a few words in his ear. A hint of satisfaction flashed in the Dutchman's blue eyes.

He Hongru twitched his thumb slightly on his knee, and that was all.

Su Qingwan pressed the record button on the voice recorder in the fourth row.

Ma Donglin zipped up his down jacket two inches from the back row.

Chen Ping placed his two hands on the podium, his ten fingers spread out flat.

"To express our gratitude for Jiacheng Precision's generous gift~"

His speech slowed down, and the intervals between each word lengthened by half a beat.

"Our High-tech Zone has also prepared a return gift."

Han Zhengke tilted his head slightly.

Chen Ping didn't look at him.

"A single document that can benefit the entire nation~"

He paused for a full two seconds.

The lecture hall was completely silent.

"A gift that allows everyone to see the true value of this 'generous gift'."

Han Zhengke's neck stiffened. The words "true value" exploded into his ears, with the emphasis on the word "true".

On stage, Chen Ping raised his right hand and gestured towards the side of the stage.

"Please look at the big screen."

The overhead lights in the auditorium suddenly went out halfway, and the wall lights on both sides also dimmed. The three-meter by five-meter LED screen behind the stage lit up abruptly, casting blue and white light on the faces of everyone in the first three rows.

Han Zhengke placed his hands on his knees, his fingers didn't move, but the muscles in his thighs were tense.

The Dutchman's blue eyes stared at the lit screen, the smile still lingering on his lips, but frozen in time.

He Hongru separated his clasped hands and placed his left hand on the armrest.

On the screen, a high-resolution macro photograph of a gray ceramic chip filled the entire image. It was four millimeters square, without any silkscreen printing, and four clearly visible wires.

Han Zhengke still had the polite smile he had three seconds ago on his face, but beneath that smile, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The balance he had maintained his entire life was now a prelude to complete collapse.