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

Secretary Liu had barely finished speaking when he froze in place, halfway through turning around.

Because Chen Ping had already turned around and walked towards the gate, without leaving a single extra word.

There was no anger in that figure, only utter indifference, making her and the important guest behind her, Chairman He, seem like they were invisible.

Zheng Xian was stunned for a moment, then quickly followed.

Secretary Liu maintained a professional smile, but that smile had frozen on her face. In all her years in the industry, this was the first time she'd encountered someone like this. No harsh words, no table-pounding, not even an argument—he simply used his actions to declare the conversation over.

This silent sense of oppression made her feel uneasy.

Until Chen Pingfang and Zheng Xian disappeared outside the revolving door.

~

The atmosphere inside the car was somewhat somber.

Zheng Xian gripped the steering wheel, glanced at Chen Pingfang who was resting with his eyes closed in the rearview mirror, and finally couldn't resist.

"Director, are we just going to leave like this? That He Qishan really doesn't take us seriously at all!"

"Arguing with them is a waste of time." Chen Pingfang's eyes remained closed, his voice steady. "He wants to drag us into his rules, using his network of connections and business tactics to play against us. Why should we get involved and play along?"

Zheng Xian was puzzled.

"That piece of land..."

"We are the government, the rule-makers, not pawns who follow their rules." Chen Pingfang finally opened his eyes, which were clear. "Since he doesn't follow the rules, then we'll set new rules for him."

He sat up straight, speaking slowly but in an unquestionable tone.

"Zheng Xian, contact the comrades in the Planning Department and the Municipal Land and Resources Bureau immediately. Tell them that, as I said, the Industry and Information Technology Department is leading a comprehensive review and standardization of the changes in the nature of industrial and scientific research land use in the Nanzhou High-tech Zone."

"Sorting out and standardizing?" Zheng Xian repeated, his mind racing.

"Yes." Chen Pingfang tapped his fingers lightly on his knee. "Draft a 'Guiding Opinion on Strictly Controlling Changes in the Nature of Industrial Land in High-tech Zones.' The core point is that any land designated for industrial and scientific research and education purposes shall, in principle, never be changed to commercial or residential use."

He paused, then added the most crucial sentence.

"In particular, the site of Professor Gu's EDA laboratory should be immediately reported to the provincial authorities and permanently designated as a red line for scientific research and education. No unit or individual may apply for a change for any reason."

Zheng Xian's heart skipped a beat.

He understood instantly.

Didn't He Qishan want to go through the bidding and auction process for commercial development?

Chen Pingfang completely blocked this road!

Once the policy red line is drawn, not even He Qishan, let alone the Emperor himself, can turn this research land into a commercial complex. While He Qishan was still figuring out how to use connections and money to smooth things over, Chen Pingfang had already directly changed the rules of the game.

"I understand, Director! I'll get on it right away!" Zheng Xian's voice was filled with excitement.

~

Two days later.

A red-headed document, jointly issued by the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Provincial Department of Planning, and the Municipal Bureau of Land and Resources, was quietly distributed to the Management Committee of Nanzhou High-tech Zone.

The document is short and the title is clear: "Guiding Opinions on Strictly Controlling Changes in the Nature of Industrial Land Used in High-tech Industrial Parks".

When Li Wei, the director of the High-tech Zone, saw the document, he was stunned for three seconds, then held the pages in his hands and read them over and over again three times.

When he saw in the attachment that the plot of land targeted by Jinzuo Real Estate was clearly marked as "Reserved land for provincial key scientific research projects and permanent scientific research and education red line", he felt as if every pore on his body relaxed.

He let out a long breath and slumped into the chair, his back soaked with cold sweat.

saved.

He no longer has to be caught in the middle between the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and Jinzuo Real Estate.

Now, it's He Qishan's turn to have a headache.

Li Wei picked up the phone and dialed the number for the chairman's secretary's office at Jinzuo Group. His tone carried an unprecedented sense of self-righteousness.

"Secretary Liu? This is Li Wei from the High-tech Zone. Please tell Chairman He that the land your group was interested in has just been officially designated as a research and development red line by the province. Therefore, you can no longer consider the commercial development plan."

~

The chairman's office on the top floor of the Jinzuo Group headquarters.

The ashtray on the ground was broken.

He Qishan's face was very pale, and he held the phone tightly in his hand.

"Old Zhou, listen to me, it's not like that. I just want to ask, is that document really finalized, and there's absolutely no way to change it?"

An old and tired voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Qishan, you were too careless this time. Do you know what the red line is? The province has already agreed to it, who can change it? That guy surnamed Chen made a big fuss about it, saying it was for the country. No one can withstand that accusation."

The old man's voice carried a hint of warning.

"The Chip Spark Project is the top priority project personally overseen by Governor Liu. You've ruined its laboratory. What will Governor Liu think of you? Where will I put my old face?"

He Qishan felt a chill run down his spine.

He initially thought it was just a normal business competition, and that with his extensive network of connections, acquiring the land was only a matter of time.

He never expected that the young man would play by his own rules.

He didn't even meet me or argue with me; he simply pronounced the death sentence on my project at the provincial policy level.

"Old Zhou, what... what should I do?" He Qishan's voice carried a hint of pleading.

"What should we do?" There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone. "You made this mess, so you have to clean it up yourself. Go find Director Chen, and be humble. Not only can you not accept that land, but you also have to cooperate actively, providing the people and money you need. Otherwise, all your previous shady dealings might be dug up again."

The call was disconnected.

He Qishan stood frozen in place, the bustling city night view outside the window appearing so cold to him for the first time.

He lost, he lost miserably.

He picked up another phone and dialed a number with trembling fingers.

"Help me make an appointment with Director Chen Pingfang of the Industry and Information Technology Department. Tell him it's me, He Qishan from Jinzuo, and I'd like to invite him to a casual meal to apologize."

~

Department of Industry and Information Technology, Director's Office.

It was late at night, and Chen Pingfang was still reviewing the draft plan for the supporting industrial cluster of the Chip Spark Project.

Zheng Xian knocked on the door and came in, his expression somewhat complicated.

"Director, He Qishan of Jinzuo Group has used several connections to invite you to dinner."

Chen Ping didn't even look up, his gaze remaining fixed on the documents, as if he had only heard about a trivial matter.

Zheng Xian looked at Chen Ping's calm profile and felt a pang of emotion.

The real estate tycoon who was arrogant just two days ago is now groveling and asking someone to treat him to a meal.

All of this change stemmed from a document signed by the young man in front of us.

Chen Ping turned a page of the document, marked a few places that needed to be modified with a pen, and then spoke calmly.

"Zheng Xian, tell him."

He paused for a moment, picked up the water glass on the table, and took a sip of water.

"Four words."

"Keep it strictly official."