At thirty, I started my comeback from the intelligence system.

"Old Wang from GG Company, Vice President Wang Zhenye, is my college classmate, and we have a good relationship. Old Wang has been with GG Company for many years and has a deep foundation. I will mention your performance to him afterward. As for how far you can go in the future, it depends on your own abilities and Old Wang's decision."

"Of course, if my business is settled here, and there are suitable locations in the real estate sector, and you are interested and capable, I will consider it."

The promise is specific! The last sentence, "It depends on your own ability," is to absolve oneself of responsibility and is in line with workplace rules.

"Thank you, Mr. Liang," Chen Geng said sincerely, without becoming complacent.

"Don't thank me too soon." Liang Dan's gaze was sharp. "First, if the evidence is fake, or if you're playing tricks, you know the consequences. Second, this matter ends here; only you and I know the truth. Understand?"

"Understood. Confidentiality is the bottom line," Chen Geng solemnly replied.

Liang Dan gave him a deep look and said in a low voice, "Tomorrow at three o'clock in the afternoon, at the 'Listening to the Rain Pavilion' teahouse by the river. I'll be waiting for you. Only you are allowed to come."

"I'll be right on time," Chen Geng replied.

Liang Dan said no more, walked straight down the steps, got into the Audi that had driven up, and sped away.

Chen Geng stood alone in the pavilion, letting the river breeze blow over him.

The conversation just now seemed calm, but in reality, every step was taken with extreme caution.

"Vice President Wang Zhenye... GG Company..." Chen Geng murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming.

Of course, this is on the premise that Liang Dan can win, and the "evidence" on the USB drive must be substantial enough.

After leaving the branch office, Su Qingqing felt like a walking corpse whose strength had been drained.

"Chen Geng...you just wait!" she whispered through gritted teeth, but what she feared even more was something else—Zhou Peng.

Since the news of the incident at "Longwan International" broke yesterday, she has made countless phone calls and sent dozens of WeChat messages to Zhou Peng throughout the day, but all of them have gone unanswered.

This loss of contact only means one thing: Zhou Peng is really in big trouble, he can't even take care of himself, and he may even... be finished.

If Zhou Peng falls, all the losses she suffered at Chen Geng's hands today will have been for nothing, and she doesn't dare to think about her future at the company...

She returned to her small loft apartment, dejected, and curled up on the sofa with the curtains drawn tightly, as if only in this way could she gain a pitiful sense of security.

Around 9 p.m., the phone screen suddenly lit up, accompanied by a piercing ringtone, displaying the name "Zhou Peng"!

Su Qingqing jolted awake, practically lunging forward to grab her phone. She answered, her voice trembling and choked with tears: "President Zhou! You finally answered! I...I was so scared! Are you alright? Everyone at the company is saying..."

"Shut up!" Zhou Peng's voice on the other end of the phone was hoarse and irritable, filled with exhaustion and impatience. He interrupted her directly, "I'm in room 1808 of the Grand Hyatt Hotel. Now, immediately, come over right now! Don't let anyone see you!"

After saying that, he hung up the phone without giving Su Qingqing a chance to ask any more questions.

Su Qingqing held the busy signal on her phone, stunned for a few seconds.

His tone was awful, but at least he was alive and could still order her around, and in a hotel no less… which seemed to mean things weren’t beyond repair yet.

A faint, distorted hope, coupled with the urgent need to grasp something at that moment, made her quickly get up, rush into the bathroom, and touch up her makeup as fast as she could to cover her swollen eyes and haggard face. She then changed into a dress that Zhou Peng had once praised, one that accentuated her shapely figure and added a touch of allure.

Half an hour later, wearing a mask and hat, she sneaked into the Grand Hyatt Hotel like a thief and took the elevator directly to the 18th floor.

The door to room 1808 was ajar.

She pushed open the door and was immediately hit by a strong smell of smoke.

The suite's living room was a mess, with several empty wine bottles and an overflowing ashtray on the coffee table.

Zhou Peng was only wearing pajamas and had a gloomy expression.

When he saw Su Qingqing come in, he raised his eyelids slightly. His cloudy eyes held no trace of his usual lust, only irritation and scrutiny.

"Lock the door," Zhou Peng commanded, his voice still hoarse.

Su Qingqing did as instructed, carefully sitting down on the edge of the single sofa next to her, her hands nervously twisting together.

"What's been going on at the company today?" Zhou Peng asked coldly, staring at his phone without looking at her.

Su Qingqing quickly recounted the key points of the rumors she had heard about the project being investigated, Liang Dan possibly being implicated, and various speculations about Zhou Peng's fate, her tone filled with worry and ingratiation.

After listening, Zhou Peng scoffed, tossed his phone aside, took a swig from the bottle, and then glanced sideways at Su Qingqing: "That's all? Nothing else? Like... what stupid thing did you do?"

Su Qingqing's heart skipped a beat. Knowing she couldn't hide it any longer, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and recount, in fits and starts, how Chen Geng "tricked" her today, how her extortion attempt failed and she was recorded, and how she ended up at the police station and finally had to write a letter of repentance.

She naturally omitted the details of her own extortion, trying her best to portray herself as a victim.

"Snapped!"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Peng slammed the wine bottle he was holding onto the coffee table with a loud bang, splashing wine everywhere. He pointed at Su Qingqing's nose and began to curse:

"Idiot! Hopeless idiot! Su Qingqing, how come I never realized you were so brainless?! Who gave you the right to go after Chen Geng on your own? And with such low-level tactics! Blackmail? Recording? Do you think this is some third-rate TV drama?!"

Su Qingqing trembled from the scolding, her face turning deathly pale. She stammered, trying to explain, "I... I was just angry, and I thought he..."

"What do you think? What do you think?!" Zhou Peng spat as he spoke, his fat face trembling with excitement.

"You fucking alerted the enemy, you know that?!"

"I had a better plan: to slowly wear him down and squeeze every last drop of value out of him! Now you've ruined it all, you idiot!"

Zhou Peng, exhausted from his tirade, panted heavily, took another gulp of wine, and then stared at her menacingly: "What's wrong? Did you see what happened to 'Longwan' and think I'm going to be in trouble, so you're rushing to go solo and find a way out? Hmm?"

"No! Mr. Zhou, I didn't! I've always been loyal to you!" Su Qingqing hurriedly pledged her loyalty, her tearful eyes peeking out. "I just... I was just confused for a moment. I was driven crazy by Chen Geng, and I couldn't contact you, so I was scared..."

"Scared? Hmph." Zhou Peng sneered, his tone softening slightly but still icy. "Let me tell you, I'm fine! Not only am I fine, but I'm going to make a contribution this time!"

Su Qingqing was taken aback and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

A smile, a mixture of smugness and malice, appeared on Zhou Peng's face.

"Do you know who reported Liang Dan? It was me! It was me, Zhou Peng! I have irrefutable evidence of her corruption, bribery, and substandard products! This time, the 'Longwan' incident was my initiative to report it to the group and the investigation team! Liang Dan is doomed this time, not even a god can save her!"

Su Qingqing was stunned.

"Once Liang Dan, that stumbling block, is gone, Young Master Lu said he'll consider me for the position she vacates. Do you know who the Lu family is? They're a powerful family that can make a name for themselves in Shenzhen, no, in the entire South China! What is Liang Dan? She just relies on her parents' somewhat outdated connections to think she can fight against Young Master Lu? Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, gesturing wildly: "Young Master Lu's uncle is the current district head of Luohu District! A powerful figure! The district is about to launch a huge project, and then... hehe."

He knew when to stop talking, and that there were things he shouldn't say more about.