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

Chen Ping pressed his thumb on the screen, zooming in on the details of the photo inch by inch. In the lower right corner of the window frame, a small section of the photographer's cuff was reflected in the light. Dark blue fabric, double rows of subtle stitching, extremely narrow spacing. The shirt Fang Xudong was wearing today had the same stitching on the cuffs.

Chen Ping threw the phone back at Lu Guangfei's chest.

"Take him back. Detain him for fifteen days for disturbing public order, and don't mention the stalking incident." Chen Ping turned to look at Qin Yu.

Qin Yu pulled Lu Guangfei up from the ground and tied his hands behind his back.

"Understood. Handle it with a cold shoulder."

Chen Ping didn't look at the person on the ground again, turned around and walked to his car. He opened the passenger door, and Su Qingwan sat inside, clutching her canvas bag.

"Have you found out?" Su Qingwan asked.

"The people around me." Chen Ping started the car, shifted gears, and drove off.

The carriage fell silent. The streetlights swept across the center console in sections.

At 8:00 a.m. the next day, Chen Ping parked his car on the tree-lined road outside the provincial government compound.

Chen Ping took out his phone and dialed Lin Shaofeng's encrypted private line.

"Shaofeng, contact Director Yan of the Second Technical Division of the Provincial National Security Department. Bring a full set of anti-eavesdropping equipment and go to the Provincial Government Office immediately. The reason is a classified review of the Corefire Standards."

Lin Shaofeng agreed without asking why.

"Understood. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Ping got out of the car and walked into the provincial government building.

At 8:30, Chen Ping walked into office 307. Fang Xudong had already placed the brewed tea on the table; the temperature was just right.

"Good morning, Deputy Secretary-General Chen. Today's schedule..."

"Let's put the schedule on hold for now." Chen Ping pulled out a chair and sat down, resting his hand on the edge of the table.

Fang Xudong stopped talking and leaned forward slightly as usual.

"The Chipfire standard involves the security of critical national information infrastructure and is highly classified." Chen Ping opened a folder on the table. "According to regulations, my office and related meeting rooms must undergo security upgrades."

Fang Xudong nodded.

"I immediately contacted the administration office and arranged for logistics personnel to conduct an inspection."

"No need," Chen Ping interrupted him. "The technical department of the Provincial State Security Bureau has arrived."

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Fang Xudong suddenly turned his head.

Four men in plainclothes pushed open the door and entered, carrying silver airline cases. The leader flashed his identification.

"Second Technical Division of the Provincial State Security Department. Ordered to carry out a confidential investigation."

Fang Xudong's shoulders stiffened, and his right foot unconsciously moved back half an inch.

"Deputy Secretary-General Chen, shouldn't this level of investigation be reported to Secretary-General Qin first?" Fang Xudong regained his composure and tried to intimidate people by mentioning Qin Daguan.

Chen Ping leaned back in his chair.

"Since when has the National Security Bureau been required to report its investigations to the Provincial Government Office?"

One sentence blocked the way. Fang Xudong could no longer maintain his composure.

The national security personnel leading the team opened the flight case and took out a spectrum analyzer.

"Clear the area. Everyone, retreat to the corridor."

Fang Xudong had no choice but to leave.

Chen Ping stood in the corridor, while people from several departments in the next office peeked out. Qin Daguan's secretary walked quickly from the other end of the corridor, but upon seeing the situation, he abruptly stopped and turned back to report.

The WeChat group of the General Office has exploded.

The newly arrived Deputy Secretary-General Chen didn't even greet him before leading Guo An directly into the provincial government building.

By doing this, he completely disregarded the rules of officialdom.

At the end of the corridor on the third floor, Luo Guodong opened the door to his office and glanced out. He saw the state security personnel standing outside, and his expression turned grim. He then slammed the office door shut again.

He was furious. He had just been humiliated yesterday, and now this was happening. It was practically revenge.

Han Zhiming stepped out of the elevator with a teacup in his hand and was met with this scene. The tea spilled onto the back of his hand, scalding him. He shook his hand and quickly retreated back into the elevator.

Half an hour later, the detector emitted a sharp beeping sound in office 307.

The national security technician walked to the windowsill and parted the leaves of the money tree.

A pair of tweezers probed into the soil and pulled out a black metal piece. It was about the size of a button battery and covered in mud.

"A miniature microphone. It has a wireless transmission module and is of military-grade quality that you can't buy on the market." The technician put the item into a transparent evidence bag.

Chen Ping stared at the evidence bag.

He just moved into this office yesterday afternoon. Fang Xudong waited for him at the door, and went in and out twice under the pretext of making tea.

Fang Xudong was Luo Guodong's overt informant, responsible for secretly filming and reporting movements. Installing this level of eavesdropping device was too risky and didn't align with the operational logic of an overt informant.

There are even deeper ghosts lurking in the office.

"Check the entry and exit records." Chen Ping turned and walked out of room 307.

Monitoring room of the Security Department of the General Office.

Check the corridor surveillance footage from 2 PM to 5 PM yesterday.

Fast forward. At 3:15, Chen Ping returns from his meeting. At 3:17, Fang Xudong secretly takes photos from outside the window.

At 3:40, Chen Ping left his office and went to the reception room of the Department of Industry and Information Technology.

At 3:45, a young man in a gray jacket pushed a document cart and stopped in front of room 307.

He glanced around, then pushed open the door and went inside. He came out a minute and a half later.

"Stop." Chen Ping pointed at the screen.

The head of security leaned closer to take a look.

"This is Xiao Li, a courier from the Confidential Affairs Department. He's responsible for distributing internal reports and classified documents."

"Where is he?"

"I was organizing and filing documents on the second floor this morning."

Ten minutes later, clerk Xiao Li was led into an empty conference room on the first floor.

National Security Bureau personnel were guarding the door. Only Chen Pingfang and Xiao Li were inside.

Xiao Li is in his early twenties and has been working in the government system for less than two years. He sits in a chair, rubbing his hands on his thighs.

Chen Ping threw the transparent evidence bag onto the table.

A soft "snap" sound.

Xiao Li shuddered, his gaze fixed on the evidence bag.

"I...I don't know what this is."

Chen Ping pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down, not in a hurry to speak.

There was silence in the conference room.

Xiao Li's breathing became heavier and heavier, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Article 77 of the National Security Law stipulates that anyone who steals or spyes on state secrets shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than ten years," Chen Ping announced, reciting a string of figures.

"I didn't steal state secrets! I really didn't!" Xiao Li suddenly raised his head and shouted.

"This is a military-controlled eavesdropping device. You installed it in the office of the deputy secretary-general of the provincial government. You say you didn't steal it, do you think the National Security officers will believe you?"

"Deputy Secretary-General Chen, I was wrong! I was really bewitched!" He gripped the edge of the table with both hands, his nails scraping against it with a harsh sound.

"Who gave it to you?"

"I don't know who he is!" Xiao Li shook his head frantically. "He left me a note and 20,000 yuan in cash. He told me to bury it in the flowerpot in your office."

Chen Ping leaned forward and stared at Xiao Li.

"How did you get the note?"

"The canteen...the lockers on the second floor of the provincial government canteen."

Xiao Li pulled a numbered brass key from his pocket and shakily pushed it across the table.

"Cabinet number 47. Whenever he gave instructions, he would put the items in there and tell me to pick them up during lunchtime."

Chen Ping picked up the key.

Made of brass, with polished edges.

How often should we contact each other?

"It's not fixed. Sometimes it's a week, sometimes it's half a month. As long as there's a red paper strip stuffed in the crack of the cabinet door, it means there's something inside."

Chen Ping stood up.

"You stay in this position. Don't let a single word of what happened today leak out."

Xiao Li nodded repeatedly, his chin resting on his chest.

Chen Ping opened the conference room door.

Fang Xudong was standing at the corner of the corridor, holding a document in his hand, and peering over.

Upon seeing Chen Ping being released, Fang Xudong immediately stood up straight and quickly stepped forward to greet him.

"Deputy Secretary-General Chen, Secretary-General Qin requests your presence. He says it concerns the surprise inspection by the Ministry of State Security and requires an explanation."

Chen Ping squeezed the locker key into his palm.

"Tell Secretary-General Qin that this is a classified operation and we cannot disclose any information."

Fang Xudong stood there, stunned. In the past, no one in the provincial government had dared to openly defy Qin Daguan like this.

Chen Ping ignored him and walked straight to the elevator.

12:15 PM. Provincial government canteen.

It was peak dining time, and the place was bustling with noise. The clinking of plates mingled with the aromas of various dishes.

Chen Ping didn't go to the food window; he went straight up to the second floor.

The second floor is a private room area, and at the end of the corridor is a row of metal lockers for employees to temporarily store their belongings.

Cabinet number 47 is on the bottom floor.

Chen Ping walked over and squatted down.

A corner of red paper was tucked into the gap of the cabinet door.

Someone just put something in there.

Chen Ping inserted the brass key into the lock.

With a "click," the lock cylinder turned.