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

After the auction ended, reporters surrounded Xiao Yuhan in the trading center hall, shoving cameras and microphones almost in her face, and flashes going off incessantly.

"Mayor Xiao, the Jinshuiwan project has successfully attracted a central state-owned enterprise and Tianxing Group. What are your thoughts?"

Why was this auction able to break the 500 million deposit threshold?

"What major initiatives will Yunzhou undertake next?"

Xiao Yuhan stood on the stage with a polite smile on her face, answering questions flawlessly.

Chen Ping stood outside the crowd, helping Huang Qianshu tidy up the documents on the table.

Huang Qianshu turned her head and her gaze fell on the light scar on his forehead, lingering for a moment.

"Secretary Chen, are you free tonight?" Her voice was very low.

Chen Ping raised his head, met her gaze, and smiled: "President Huang, Mayor Xiao is hosting a celebration banquet tonight, and you should receive an invitation as well."

Huang Qianshu raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes: "Then I'll have to dress up properly."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

……

At 7 p.m. that evening, in the Peony Hall of Yunzhou Hotel.

The private room was brightly lit.

Xiao Yuhan sat in the main seat, wearing a well-tailored navy blue business suit, her long hair pulled back, making her look very capable.

Old Zhang from the Finance Bureau, the director of the Land Management Bureau, and people from the Planning Bureau were all there, along with several section chiefs from the Municipal Government Office.

Sun Zhigang also arrived, sitting alone in a corner, his expression not very good. As the section chief of the municipal government office, he couldn't miss such an occasion.

"Come, everyone, please sit down." Xiao Yuhan raised her glass. "Today's meal is to celebrate the achievements of all the comrades who have contributed to the Jinshuiwan project."

Old Zhang was the first to stand up, holding his wine glass as he walked up to Xiao Yuhan: "Mayor Xiao, thanks to your wise decision this time, I'd like to propose a toast!"

"Old Zhang, you're the one who should be toasting you," Xiao Yuhan said with a smile, clinking glasses with him.

The director of the Land Management Bureau also came over: "Mayor Xiao, I'd like to propose a toast to you too!"

A group of people took turns toasting, creating a lively atmosphere.

After a couple of drinks, Old Zhang became more talkative. He turned to Chen Pingfang and said, "Secretary Chen, you deserve the most credit for the success of Jinshui Bay this time! If it weren't for your move, we wouldn't know how we would have ended up like this!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" the planning bureau staff chimed in. "Secretary Chen, let me toast you!"

Chen Ping stood up, raised his wine glass, and returned the toasts one by one, his attitude very humble.

Sun Zhigang sat in the corner, looking at Chen Pingfang who was surrounded by everyone, and felt very uncomfortable.

He picked up his wine glass and said slowly, "Secretary Chen is really impressive this time. Not only did he bring in a state-owned enterprise, but he also has a very close personal relationship with President Huang of Tianxing Group."

He deliberately emphasized the phrase "very close personal relationship".

The lively noise in the private room quieted down a bit.

Old Zhang frowned but didn't respond.

Xiao Yuhan tightened her grip on the wine glass, and the smile on her face faded slightly.

Chen Ping put down his wine glass and glanced at Sun Zhigang indifferently: "Section Chief Sun, General Manager Huang is the head of Tianxing Group. I was discussing cooperation with her."

Sun Zhigang sneered, and was about to speak again when the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open.

A woman wearing a fiery red off-the-shoulder evening gown walked in.

It's Huang Qianshu.

She changed her outfit tonight; the fiery red dress had a high slit, revealing a section of her fair, long legs, shoulders, and collarbone. Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, and she attracted everyone's attention as soon as she appeared.

Old Zhang was taken aback for a moment, then quickly stood up: "Mr. Huang, you've arrived! Please have a seat!"

The director of the land management bureau also stepped forward: "General Manager Huang, let me toast you!"

Huang Qianshu smiled, ignored them, and walked directly to Chen Pingfang's side.

She sat down next to Chen Pingfang, picked up the wine glass on the table, and said in a clear voice, "Distinguished leaders, today I toast Mr. Chen Pingfang."

All eyes in the room immediately turned to Chen Pingfang.

Huang Qianshu raised her glass, looking at Chen Pingfang with undisguised admiration in her eyes: "Secretary Chen not only helped me avoid the huge pitfall of Tianxing Pharmaceuticals, but also gave me the opportunity of Jinshui Bay. In my life, the people I admire most are those with ability."

She paused for a moment, then smiled even more broadly: "So I've decided that Tianxing Group will not only invest in Jinshui Bay, but also increase its investment in Yunzhou, and all of this is for Mr. Chen Pingfang's sake."

A murmur of discussion immediately filled the private room.

Old Zhang's wine glass stopped in mid-air, his mouth wide open.

The director of the land management bureau stared wide-eyed, unable to react for a long time.

The planning bureau official whispered, "Additional investment? How much would that cost?"

"Tianxing Group is a listed company; even a single project there starts at several billion!"

Xiao Yuhan sat in the main seat, her knuckles turning white from gripping the wine glass so tightly.

She stared at Huang Qianshu with a complicated expression.

After Huang Qianshu finished her drink, she put down her glass and poured another glass for Chen Ping.

After drinking a few cups, a thin blush rose on Huang Qianshu's face, and her eyes became somewhat glazed.

She picked up the lobster on the table, peeled it herself, and put the tender white shrimp meat into Chen Ping's plate.

"Secretary Chen, eat more." Her voice was very gentle.

The people in the private room were stunned.

Huang Qianshu picked up her handkerchief again, leaned close to Chen Pingfang, and gently wiped away the non-existent wine stains from the corner of his mouth.

Her movements were very natural.

Xiao Yuhan's face darkened completely.

She put down her wine glass, her voice cold: "Secretary Chen, be mindful of the proper etiquette when receiving foreign guests."

Huang Qianshu turned to look at Xiao Yuhan, smiling broadly, "Mayor Xiao, you've misunderstood. Secretary Chen is my savior and my soulmate. What I did wasn't excessive, was it?"

The atmosphere in the private room suddenly plummeted to freezing point.

Old Zhang's hands were trembling as he held the wine glass.

The director of the land management bureau lowered his head, wishing he could bury himself under the table.

Sun Zhigang sat in the corner, his eyes glued to the screen, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.

Huang Qianshu drank another glass of wine, and the blush on her face became even more pronounced.

She turned to look at Chen Pingfang, her eyes slightly glazed with intoxication: "Secretary Chen, I have a question for you."

Chen Ping put down his chopsticks and looked at her: "Please speak, Ms. Huang."

"Would you be willing to resign from your public office and go to the provincial capital to help me?" Huang Qianshu's voice was very serious. "You can fill in any annual salary you want, and I can also give you shares."

Everyone in the private room gasped.

Xiao Yuhan suddenly stood up, her face turning very ugly in an instant.

"President Huang, Secretary Chen is an indispensable talent in Yunzhou." Her voice was cold, each word seemingly squeezed out from between her teeth. "He will not leave Yunzhou."

Huang Qianshu raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Mayor Xiao, shouldn't Secretary Chen say that himself?"

She leaned closer to Chen Ping, her shoulder almost touching his arm.

Xiao Yuhan and Huang Qianshu stared at each other across the dining table, neither of them looking away.

The atmosphere in the private room was extremely tense.

Old Zhang was holding a wine glass, and his hand was shaking so much that he spilled the wine.

The director of the land management bureau lowered his head, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Chen Ping sat between the two, a fine layer of sweat beading on his forehead.

He took a deep breath and was about to speak when Huang Qianshu suddenly stood up.

"It's getting late, I'll be going now," she said with a smile. "Secretary Chen, let's talk again another day."

Surrounded by bodyguards, she walked towards the door. Before leaving, she suddenly turned around and gently kissed Chen Pingfang's ear.

"Goodnight." Her voice was soft, but everyone in the private room heard it.

Huang Qianshu pushed open the door and left, leaving a room full of people dumbfounded.

Xiao Yuhan's face turned completely dark.

She picked up her bag and said coldly, "Secretary Chen, please take me home tonight. I have important work to discuss."

Chen Ping stood up and followed Xiao Yuhan toward the door.

The people in the private room looked at each other, none of them daring to speak.

Sun Zhigang sat in the corner, a smirk playing on his lips.

The night was dark, and the streetlights in front of the Yunzhou Hotel illuminated the ground brightly.

Chen Ping followed behind Xiao Yuhan, and the two walked towards the parking lot one after the other.

Xiao Yuhan's high heels clicked loudly on the ground.

She didn't turn around, but Chen Ping could sense that she was very angry.