Guide to Rising to Power as a Wife in Beijing's Elite Circle

On the afternoon of the third day, the hospital's lounge was unusually quiet.

Fang Jingxiu did not work at his desk as he had the previous two days.

The files were neatly stacked in a corner of the desk, and the encrypted communication devices were unusually silent.

He stood alone in front of the observation window of the intensive care unit, his back straight, yet exuding an indescribable loneliness.

The morning light had shifted to the slanting rays of the afternoon, casting long, slowly moving patches of light across the corridor floor through the glass. Time seemed like a stretched rubber band, each second clearly perceptible.

According to his agreement with his father, and also due to his duties as director, if Chen Nuo is still unconscious today, he must set off back to Jingjing tonight, no matter how unwilling he is.

The purge in Yongzhou requires him to return to his department to oversee and coordinate, the pressure from the Bai family requires him to confront it head-on, and the backlog of official duties is even more urgent.

The web of power and responsibility will eventually pull him back to that turbulent center.

He was already at his limit to stay for her for three days, which was an exception.

The person on the bed remained lying quietly. Although there was a slight increase in color in their complexion compared to before, their eyes were tightly closed, long eyelashes were lowered, and their breathing was weak and regular, entirely dependent on the equipment.

During morning rounds, the doctor reiterated that the patient's vital signs continued to improve, and awakening was possible at any time, but it was impossible to predict precisely.

This medical uncertainty is now like the most agonizing dull knife.

Fang Jingxiu gently pressed his hand against the cold glass, his fingertips unconsciously tightening.

He recalled the afternoon at Dajue Temple on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

He knelt on the prayer mat, not seeking a successful career or a distinguished family; he believed he could control those things better.

Amidst the wisps of smoke, he silently murmured only four words in his heart: peace and joy.

It was for her.

Today, the word "peace" must be verified in such a tragic way.

He gently pushed open the door to the intensive care unit, and the smell of disinfectant mixed with the subtle sounds of the instruments running rushed out.

When the nurse saw him come in, she nodded silently and quietly retreated to the outer room, leaving him some space to be alone for a while.

He walked to the bedside and slowly sat down.

The bed and chair weren't high, so his tall frame had to bend slightly. He didn't touch her hand with the IV line inserted; he just stared at her face, his gaze seeming to etch every inch of her features into the depths of his soul.

"Baby." He spoke, his voice low and hoarse, almost a whisper, an unprecedentedly affectionate address, filled with an overwhelming tenderness and helplessness, "It's the third day."

"Brother Xiu... might be leaving." He continued, his tone very soft, as if afraid of disturbing her, or perhaps speaking to himself, "There's a ton of things waiting for me in Jingjing. Dad's pressuring me, and work can't wait."

He paused, his gaze tracing her pale lips, remembering how they used to call him Brother Xiu with a smile, and how they would mischievously tease him into jealousy.

"I really want to put you in my pocket and take you with me." He sighed softly, a bitter smile curving his lips. "But you're too fragile right now, you can't take any more trouble. Qin Mi will stay and watch over things here for you. When you're feeling better, Brother Xiu will definitely come to pick you up, in the best car, with the most reliable driver, and we'll go back to Jingjing, back to our home."

He reached out, his fingertips hovering above her cheek, and finally just lightly, very lightly brushed the soft strands of hair on her forehead, a gesture as precious as touching a fragile butterfly wing.

"Please wake up soon, okay?" His voice was even lower, almost drowned out by the ticking of the medical equipment.

"When you wake up, whatever you want to eat, I'll get it for you. If you want to make a movie, I'll pave the way for you. You can do whatever you want... just don't scare me like that again."

"Do you know how scared I was?" He closed his eyes slightly, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with unfathomable fear and grief. "That knife... a little more off... baby, I can't bear to think about it."

He leaned down, his lips close to her ear, and whispered in a voice only she could hear, a plea and love he had never shown to anyone before, a plea so humbled. "Please, wake up. Xiu-ge can't live without you. I'll go to Dajue Temple every year to fulfill the vow I made. As long as you are safe and happy... I'll do anything."

If anyone familiar with Fang Jingxiu heard these words, they would probably be shocked.

The Director Fang who was ruthless and decisive at the negotiating table, composed and dignified in the ministry building, and stubborn and firm in front of his family, was now like an ordinary man anxious for his lover, saying the softest and even somewhat childish love words.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door connecting the rest room and the intensive care unit, and Secretary Qin peeked in.

His intention was to remind the driver of the time and to report that the tickets had been finally confirmed.

However, the moment the door opened, Fang Jingxiu's low, gentle, and emotionally charged murmur drifted into his ears.

"Baby",

"Put it in your pocket"

"I can't live without you"

"I'm willing to do anything"...

Secretary Qin froze, instantly feeling a strong, inexplicable sense of horror shoot up her spine to the back of her head, goosebumps rising on her skin.

What did you hear?

Is this something I can hear?

Director, your public image has been ruined!

Double standard dog!

They're usually so arrogant towards us, but to Miss Chen... is that all?

Give me back the baby?!

Double standard dog!

Fang Jingxiu had already sensed the knock the moment Secretary Qin knocked on the door, and almost at the same time Secretary Qin froze, he had already quickly straightened up.

All the tender emotions on her face receded like the tide, and she instantly returned to her usual calm demeanor, except for a barely perceptible blush at the base of her ears.

He cleared his throat, his voice returning to its usual steady tone, even carrying a hint of annoyance at being disturbed: "What is it?"

Secretary Qin jolted, immediately suppressing all his inner turmoil. He lowered his eyes and reported professionally and respectfully, though his speech was slightly faster than usual: "Director, the flight tickets are confirmed. Tonight at 7:40, from Yongzhou to Jingjing. The car departs from the hospital in forty minutes. Also, the final version of the risk contingency plan for industrial upgrading from the Third Division of the Ministry has been sent to your encrypted email address. Deputy Director Li hopes you can review it before boarding. Furthermore, Director Ma informed me that Zhao Zhiqiang's materials are basically ready, and he asked when would be the most appropriate time to initiate the process."

Fang Jingxiu nodded, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to Chen Nuo on the hospital bed, his brows furrowing slightly.

Just as he was about to instruct Secretary Qin to strengthen her care before she regained consciousness, suddenly...

On the hospital bed, the pale, slender hand that had been quietly resting outside the thin blanket moved its fingers almost imperceptibly.

Fang Jingxiu's blood seemed to freeze for a moment, then suddenly boil over.

He turned abruptly, almost lunging at the bedside, his eyes fixed on the hand, his voice trembling without him even realizing it: "Baby?"

Secretary Qin immediately fell silent and looked over, holding his breath.

Her long eyelashes trembled gently, like butterfly wings.

Then, under the extremely tense gazes of Fang Jingxiu and Secretary Qin, Chen Nuo slowly and with great difficulty opened his eyes.

At first, her beautiful eyes were filled with confusion and emptiness as she stared blankly at the ceiling, seemingly unable to understand where she was or what was happening.

"Baby!" Fang Jingxiu's voice choked. He immediately reached for the call button on the bedside table. His fingers trembled slightly with excitement and sudden joy. It took him two tries to press it correctly.

At the same time, his other hand instinctively and very carefully wrapped around her shoulder, wanting to support her, but not daring to use force. "Doctor! Nurse!"

Medical staff rushed in quickly.

Fang Jingxiu was briefly asked to step aside, but his gaze remained fixed on the person on the bed.

He saw her eyes slowly move, as if trying to recognize the surrounding environment and the crowd. Finally, her blank gaze, with some effort, landed on him.

Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to speak, but her throat was injured and she had not eaten or drunk anything for a long time, so she could only make extremely hoarse and indistinct breathy sounds.

The doctor quickly performed a preliminary examination and indicated that the vital signs were stable and the return of consciousness was a good thing.

The nurse moistened her chapped lips with a cotton swab dipped in a tiny amount of warm water.

After the doctor nodded his permission, Fang Jingxiu immediately moved back to the bedside.

He knelt down so that he could look her in the eye, his heart pounding in his chest as if it would burst out of his chest.

He held her hand that wasn't receiving the IV drip, feeling her faint, cool body temperature radiating from his palm, yet he felt that temperature burning his heart.

"It's me, Brother Xiu." He spoke in a very gentle voice, with a coaxing and reassuring tone. "Don't rush, take your time. You're injured, but you're in the hospital now, so you're safe."

Chen Nuo looked at him; his eyes, which had just regained their clarity, still held the bewilderment and weakness of someone recovering from a serious illness.

She stared at him for a long time, long enough for Fang Jingxiu's heart to pound and a sense of foreboding to begin to grow.

Then, very slowly, she blinked and asked in a hoarse, almost inaudible but clear enough voice for those around the bed to understand:

"……Who are you?"

Time seemed to stand still at this moment.

The color drained from Fang Jingxiu's face in an instant, leaving him frozen like a sculpture, his breath catching in his throat.

He gripped her hand and trembled violently, but dared not let go. He stared at her eyes in disbelief, trying to find a trace of familiar affection or a joke, but all he saw was a strange, weak, and bewildered look.

Secretary Qin also gasped.

The doctor and nurse, who had just finished the examination, exchanged bewildered glances. The attending physician immediately stepped forward, his expression serious: "Ms. Chen, do you know your name? How old are you? Where are you?"

Chen Nuo seemed a little tired from the barrage of questions. She frowned slightly, her gaze shifting from Fang Jingxiu's face, appearing somewhat unfocused, and she did not answer the doctor's questions.

Fang Jingxiu abruptly turned to look at the doctor, his usually calm voice unusually tense and tinged with barely suppressed panic: "What happened to her? Amnesia? Did the surgery affect her brain? Didn't you say the imaging showed no problems?!"

A barrage of questions rained down on him, Fang Jingxiu's style of interrogation, a calm facade masking a turbulent undercurrent about to burst.

The doctor, feeling immense pressure and sweat beading on his forehead, said, "Director Fang, this... based on the neurological reflexes and basic examination just now, the cognitive function shouldn't be... post-traumatic stress or transient confusion are possible, but direct amnesia... I need to immediately arrange an emergency consultation with a neurologist and a functional MRI of the brain!"

The atmosphere in the ward instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Fang Jingxiu looked at Chen Nuo's still blank and even somewhat evasive eyes, and his heart sank into an endless abyss.

He imagined that she would be in pain, scared, and wronged when she woke up, and he would do everything he could to comfort and make amends.

But he never considered that she might not remember him. Not remember who he was, not remember anything between them... This was more fatal than any knife wound.

At this moment of extreme oppression, the weak girl on the hospital bed looked at Fang Jingxiu's face, which had turned as pale as paper in an instant, the almost shattered pain in his eyes, and the solemn expressions of the doctors and nurses. Suddenly, she twitched the corner of her mouth very slightly.

It was a very weak, yet clear enough, cunning arc.

Then, in a voice still hoarse but with a bit more strength, she said softly:

"...Just kidding, Xiu-ge."

Fang Jingxiu: "..."

Secretary Qin: "!!!"

Doctors and nurses: "???"

The world came to a standstill again, but this time for a completely different reason.

Fang Jingxiu was stunned for a full three seconds.

In those three seconds, the expression on his face went from extreme panic and blankness to incredulous astonishment. Finally, all his emotions converged into a surging tide of joy at regaining what he had lost, which made his eyes suddenly burn.

He stared intently into Chen Nuo's eyes, which, though still weak, clearly reflected his image, along with a hint of guilt and mischief after successfully pulling off a prank.

"You..." Fang Jingxiu began, his voice hoarse, trembling with the shock of surviving a disaster, and a hint of... doting affection through gritted teeth?

He tightened his grip on her hand, but still controlled his strength. "Chen Nuo, you really... need a lesson!"

That's what he said, but his body, which had been tense to the extreme, relaxed instantly, and a huge joy that almost made him collapse and a lingering fear swept over him at the same time.

He lowered his head, gently resting his forehead against their clasped hands, took a deep breath, and when he raised his head again, apart from slightly reddened eyes, he had basically regained his composure. However, the tenderness and relief hidden deep in his eyes were so intense that they could not be concealed.

Chen Nuo looked at him, and although she was weak, she tried her best to smile and give him a comforting smile, but even this simple action seemed to have taken a lot of her strength.

Secretary Qin, standing nearby, was internally racing again:

The young couple is really showing off their skills.

He maintained the poker face of a professional assistant, silently took two steps back to minimize his presence, and gestured to the equally bewildered doctors and nurses that they could relax for the time being.

The doctor was both amused and exasperated. He wiped his sweat and stepped forward to check again: "Ms. Chen, please don't make jokes like that again. How are you feeling now? A sore throat is normal. You can't talk much for now, but we'll take it slowly."

Fang Jingxiu also composed himself and nodded to the doctor: "Please examine me more thoroughly."

His tone returned to calm, but he held Chen Nuo's hand tightly, never letting go.

Chen Nuo gently squeezed his hand back; though the force was weak, it clearly conveyed her consciousness and emotions.

Fang Jingxiu's heart finally settled back into a solid place at this moment.

Peace has arrived.

Joy is on the horizon.

What remained was the shelter he provided for her.