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

Chen Ping held the teacup but didn't drink; he simply used the lid to gently stir the tea leaves floating on the surface.

The atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly became tense, and everyone looked at him and Vice Governor Wang.

Vice Governor Wang wore a gentle smile, appearing to be a senior figure genuinely concerned with the overall situation. He assumed Chen Pingfang's silence meant he had no way to refute him.

"Comrade Pingfang is young and capable, but sometimes we need to take a broader perspective when looking at issues." Vice Governor Wang put down his teacup and said in a lecturing tone, "I think this matter is settled. The Department of Industry and Information Technology should cooperate in compiling Dr. Gu Weizhen's information, and I will personally liaise with Su Jiang's side."

Chen Pingfang finally raised his head, put the teacup back on the table with a soft sound.

"Vice Governor Wang is right; we do need to take a broader perspective when looking at issues."

Chen Ping spoke calmly, his voice not loud, but everyone in the conference room could hear him clearly.

"However, before recommending talent to other provinces, shouldn't we first clarify things within our own borders?"

Chen Pingfang didn't give Vice Governor Wang time to react. He stood up and said to the Secretary-General of the Provincial Government, "Secretary-General, I have some new developments regarding the recruitment of Dr. Gu Weizhen that I need to report to the Governor and the Secretary. The situation is quite urgent and complicated."

Vice Governor Wang's smile froze on his face.

That afternoon, the director of the General Office of the Provincial Government personally called Chen Pingfang to inform him to attend a special report meeting at the No. 1 Conference Room of the Provincial Party Committee at 9:00 a.m. the next day.

The person presiding over the meeting was Deshan, the provincial party secretary.

At 8:50 a.m. the next day, Chen Ping arrived early at the No. 1 meeting room of the Provincial Party Committee. When he entered, several people were already seated inside. Governor Liu Mingyuan sat to the right of Secretary Deshan, expressionless. Vice Governor Wang sat to the left of Liu Mingyuan, looking down at documents, seemingly very calm.

Chen Ping walked to his seat and sat down, carrying only a thin folder.

At 9:00 sharp, Secretary Deshan walked into the meeting room on time, and everyone stood up.

"Please sit down." Secretary Deshan's voice was calm and steady. After sitting down, he glanced around and said, "I've invited everyone here today to hear a report on the work of attracting high-level talents. Comrade Liu Mingyuan, please say a few words first."

Liu Mingyuan nodded and got straight to the point: "Secretary, comrades, Comrade Chen Pingfang from the Department of Industry and Information Technology recently discovered a top semiconductor expert, Dr. Gu Weizhen. However, we have differing opinions internally regarding the specifics of his recruitment. Today, we need to put this issue on the table, unify our thinking, and reach a resolution."

Secretary Deshan turned his gaze to Vice Governor Wang: "Comrade Wang Meng, I heard you have a different opinion on this matter?"

Vice Governor Wang cleared his throat, stood up, and repeated his speech from the previous day's special meeting. He spoke with great emotion, portraying the recommendation of talent to Jiangsu Province as a strategic decision aimed at promoting the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta and mitigating major foreign-related risks.

"...Therefore, my opinion is very clear. We will voluntarily give up our share, do a favor, and thus preserve the overall situation while supporting our brother province—a win-win situation."

After he finished speaking, he sat down confidently and looked at Chen Pingfang, his expression seeming to say, "Let's see how you refute this now."

Secretary Deshan did not express his opinion, but turned to Chen Pingfang.

"Comrade Pingfang, what's your opinion?"

Chen Ping stood up, bowed slightly to Secretary Deshan and Governor Liu Mingyuan before speaking.

"Reporting to the Party Secretary and Governor. I agree with Vice Governor Wang that there are indeed risks involved in bringing in Dr. Gu Weizhen."

As soon as Chen Ping spoke, Vice Governor Wang was stunned, and the others also showed expressions of surprise.

"To accurately assess the risks, our Department of Industry and Information Technology has developed a specific technical solution and submitted it to the Provincial Department of Science and Technology for record-keeping." Chen Pingfang pulled out the first document from the folder, handed it to a staff member, and projected it onto the large screen. "This is the alternative solution based on the 5-nanometer FinFET process that we submitted to the Department of Science and Technology."

He paused, then pulled out a second document.

"And this is the core solution we truly prepared for Dr. Gu Weizhen, based on the 3-nanometer GAA architecture. The Science and Technology Department does not have this solution."

"If I'm not mistaken, the risk assessment report that Vice Governor Wang received was based on the first proposal. How much reference value can be derived from using an outdated technological solution to evaluate the value and risks of a top scientist?"

Vice Governor Wang's cheek muscles twitched slightly.

Chen Ping didn't stop; he pressed a button on the remote control, and the image on the screen changed.

It was a photograph taken in front of a private teahouse, showing Vice Governor Wang shaking hands with a middle-aged man goodbye, both smiling. The photo was taken from a car across the street, a rather unusual angle.

"In order to promote the development of other provinces, Vice Governor Wang took advantage of his inspection trip to hold two secret meetings with Mr. Zhou Liqun, Chairman of Suxin Group in Jiangsu Province. He really went to great lengths."

Sweat began to bead on Vice Governor Wang's forehead. He wanted to say something, but was stopped by a cold look from Secretary Deshan.

"As far as I know, Chairman Zhou Liqun is Vice Governor Wang's classmate and good friend from university. It's normal for old classmates to meet and catch up," Chen Pingfang said, his pace still steady. "However, if the content of the reunion involves using our strategic talent from Nanzhou Province as a bargaining chip to negotiate a behind-the-scenes deal involving equity holding on behalf of others and project profit sharing, then that's not quite normal."

A third document popped up on the screen.

It was a summary of an internal plan by Su Xin Group, obtained through Qin Yu's network of contacts from Su Jiang, regarding the group's preparation to take over Gu Weizhen's team. It explicitly stated that the third-party company making the introduction would be offered 3% of the shares in a subsidiary of Su Xin Group, and promised preferential treatment in future equipment procurement.

The final evidence was laid bare before everyone.

The meeting room was eerily quiet.

Vice Governor Wang slumped into his chair, his face deathly pale. He never imagined that his secretive dealings would be uncovered by Chen Pingfang, and that Chen would expose them so thoroughly, directly to the provincial party secretary.

He immediately realized that this was not a work report, but a fatal blow aimed at him.

Secretary Deshan's face was frighteningly dark. He didn't look at Vice Governor Wang, but stared at the summary of the scheme for transferring benefits on the screen, reading it word by word.

Secretary Deshan slowly leaned back in his chair, picked up the teacup on the table, but didn't drink it. He simply placed it heavily on the table with a thud.

"We cannot afford to lose a single talented person in our province."

Secretary Deshan's voice was not loud, but every word carried weight, making everyone present feel a sense of unease.

"We will never allow anyone to use the country's strategy as a bargaining chip."

This statement determined Vice Governor Wang's political fate.

After the meeting ended, Chen Ping walked out of the provincial party committee building. Only when the cold wind blew outside did he realize that his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

He won, but he also completely offended the provincial science and technology department.

He walked to the parking lot and was just about to open the car door when his backup phone's encrypted line vibrated.

Chen Ping picked it up; on the screen was a message he had just received from his overseas intelligence channels.

The message states that AetherX has officially reported Gu Weizhen to the FBI for allegedly stealing trade secrets, and the matter has escalated into a criminal case.