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

Chen Ping placed his phone on the table and stared at the line of text for a long time. The backlight of the screen reflected on his face, creating an interplay of light and shadow.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. Departure security review.

This is already the US government getting involved. Chen Ping helped Gu Weizhen resolve the company-level problems, and the US government immediately used administrative means to create obstacles. The legal battle is over, but the power struggle has only just begun.

Chen Ping leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He knew very well that lawyers and public opinion alone wouldn't be enough to get the man out of the FBI's hands. Official intervention was necessary to let them know that Gu Weizhen wasn't alone; he had the support of the provincial government, or even higher levels of government.

He needs a formal identity, an identity that allows him to negotiate on the international stage.

The next morning, at the provincial government building, in the governor's office.

Liu Mingyuan had just finished signing a document when he looked up and saw his secretary leading Chen Ping in. He waved his hand to let the secretary out.

"Sit down," Liu Mingyuan said, pointing to the sofa opposite him.

Chen Ping didn't sit down; he went straight to the desk and handed over a briefing he had prepared overnight.

"Governor, there's someone we need to use the province's resources to bring him back."

Liu Mingyuan took the briefing, which consisted of only two pages. The first page contained Gu Weizhen's resume, and the second page was a brief explanation of the AetherX lawsuit and the FBI's seizure of passports. He read it quickly, finishing it in less than three minutes.

"With the FBI involved, this is no longer a commercial dispute." Liu Mingyuan placed the briefing on the table, his fingers interlaced. "This is the US government using administrative means to impose a talent blockade on us."

Chen Ping nodded.

"To bring him back, we need to negotiate with an official of equal standing. I suggest establishing a 'Special Working Group for the Introduction of High-Level Overseas Returnees,' led by the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and coordinating with the National Security Bureau, the Public Security Bureau, and the Foreign Affairs Bureau. This group would be specifically responsible for handling all matters related to Gu Weizhen's return to China."

Liu Mingyuan tapped his fingers lightly on the table, without immediately expressing his opinion.

This proposal is not just for Gu Weizhen alone. Once established, it would mean that Nanzhou Province would have a permanent, high-level agency that could bypass many routine procedures and compete with overseas institutions for top talent. This would essentially give Chen Ping immense power.

"The idea is good." Liu Mingyuan stopped typing. "However, it's too much of a commotion. Coordinating so many powerful departments requires discussion at the executive meeting."

"I understand," Chen Ping replied.

"Okay, I'll arrange it." Liu Mingyuan picked up the red-headed telephone on the table. "Have the General Office add this topic to the agenda of the provincial government's executive meeting the day after tomorrow."

Two days later, in the executive meeting room of the provincial government.

Around the long conference table, the vice governors in charge of various fields, the secretary-general, and the heads of major departments were all present. The atmosphere was a bit more serious than usual.

Chen Pingfang, as the director of the Department of Industry and Information Technology, sat in the middle of the long table. There was only a notebook in front of him, with no other documents.

Liu Mingyuan briefly started by raising the topic.

"The first thing we'll discuss today is the proposal to establish a 'Special Working Group for the Introduction of High-Level Overseas Returnees.' Comrade Pingfang, could you please introduce the situation first?"

Chen Ping stood up, without reading from a prepared statement, and in three minutes clearly explained Gu Weizhen's value, his current predicament, and the necessity of establishing a working group.

After he finished speaking, the conference room was silent for a few seconds.

A vice governor sitting in the third seat to Liu Mingyuan's left cleared his throat.

"I'd like to say a few words."

The speaker was Vice Governor Wang, in his fifties, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and in charge of education, culture, health, and science and technology. His department, the Provincial Department of Science and Technology, overlapped with and competed with the Department of Industry and Information Technology on many projects.

"Comrade Pingfang's ambition to recruit talent for the province is commendable," Vice Governor Wang said, beginning with praise. However, he quickly changed the subject.

"However, bringing in someone like Gu Weizhen would have too much of an impact. Now that the FBI has clearly intervened, wouldn't our high-profile establishment of an interagency task force to try and get him cause unnecessary diplomatic disputes?"

He spoke slowly, and every word he uttered was steady and cautious.

"I have a risk assessment report here prepared by the Provincial Department of Science and Technology." Vice Governor Wang pulled a document from the files beside him and gently placed it on the table. "The report concludes that, given the current complex international situation, forcing Gu Weizhen back carries far more risks than benefits. If not handled properly, it could affect the overall situation of our province's foreign trade and economic cooperation."

He looked up and glanced around.

"My opinion is that this matter should be put on hold. We cannot take such a big political and economic risk for an uncertain talent."

Chen Pingfang's posture remained unchanged, but he already understood.

Department of Science and Technology. Sun Heming.

It turns out Sun Heming was behind it all. The Hanxin Microelectronics incident must have offended him. He escalated the issue to a political level.

That tripping move was both precise and steady.

Several directors with close ties to the Science and Technology Department immediately echoed this sentiment, all agreeing that Vice Governor Wang's concerns were valid. In an instant, the atmosphere in the meeting room shifted.

Chen Pingfang did not rush to refute. He knew that when a vice governor publicly expressed his opposition by presenting an "assessment report" at the executive meeting, it was not a good idea to stand up to him head-on.

He simply asked a question calmly.

"Vice Governor Wang, I would like to ask what the data source is for the assessment of the difficulty of technology integration in this report from the Department of Science and Technology? As far as I know, no team in China has been able to make an accurate assessment of Dr. Gu Weizhen's research direction."

This question hits the nail on the head regarding the report.

Vice Governor Wang paused for a moment, clearly not expecting Chen Pingfang to approach the issue from this angle. He glanced at the report and replied vaguely, "It's the result of expert review organized by the department."

Chen Ping didn't press further. He left it at that, which was enough for everyone present to understand the implication.

Liu Mingyuan tapped the table with his knuckles, drawing everyone's attention.

"Everyone's concerns are valid. Attracting top talent is our province's established strategy, and this general direction will not change." His gaze swept over Vice Governor Wang and finally landed on Chen Pingfang.

"In principle, this matter should be done. But the approach needs to be more comprehensive. Pingfang, please come up with another plan, outlining solutions to all the risks that Vice Governor Wang is concerned about. We need to show everyone that we not only have the determination, but also the ability to control the situation."

Liu Mingyuan temporarily suppressed the storm.

The meeting ended unhappily.

Chen Ping walked out of the meeting room without speaking to anyone, heading straight downstairs. He knew that Liu Mingyuan was giving him time, but also setting a challenge for him. He had to find a way to resolve the problem with Vice Governor Wang.

In the evening, Chen Ping returned to his office, locked himself inside, and went over every word spoken and every person's reaction from the day's meeting. The Provincial Department of Science and Technology was now out in the open.

At 10 p.m., just as he was about to leave, his phone vibrated.

It was a short text message from an anonymous number.

"Vice Governor Wang will visit another province in the Yangtze River Delta next week to inspect the semiconductor industry."