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

He looked down at her holding his hand. Her fingers were slender and white, her nails were neatly trimmed, and she held his hand very lightly, like a small animal tentatively exploring.

"Chen Nuo," he said, his voice still hoarse.

"Um?"

"Stop seducing me." He sighed, a sigh filled with weariness, helplessness, and a barely perceptible smile. "I'm buried in my work during the day and still have to work hard when I get home at night. My body can't take it, girlfriend."

Chen Nuo was stunned for three seconds.

Then his whole face turned red.

"Fang Jingxiu!" She shook off his hand, her ears turning bright red. "What...what did you say! I told you to go back to sleep!"

Fang Jingxiu raised an eyebrow, looking completely innocent: "I just meant to go to sleep."

He took a step forward, placing his hands on the edges of the table on either side of her, trapping her between the desk and his body.

This position forced her to look up at him, and she could clearly see the mockery hidden in his eyes.

"Or perhaps..." he lowered his voice, his breath brushing against her ear, "the kind of sleep you're thinking of isn't the kind of sleep I'm thinking of?"

Chen Nuo's face turned even redder, and she reached out to push against his chest: "You...you get away!"

Fang Jingxiu didn't move, but instead moved even closer, his nose almost touching hers: "Director Chen, from the National Development and Reform Commission office. Mind your image."

He used her words to shut her up.

Chen Nuo was speechless with anger, and after a long pause, he finally managed to utter, "You...you seem so refined on the surface, but you're a complete slut behind the scenes!"

Fang Jingxiu smiled.

The laughter was low, resonating from his chest, carrying a certain triumphant pleasure. He straightened up, adjusted his tie, and resumed his aloof and dignified demeanor: "Thank you for the compliment."

"Who praised you!"

"His outward refined manners are a compliment to my good upbringing," Fang Jingxiu said slowly, adjusting his cuffs. "Behind the scenes, he's a complete playboy..."

He paused, looked up at her, and his eyes behind his glasses were as deep as the sea.

"That's a compliment to my abilities."

Chen Nuo was completely speechless.

She discovered that she could never out-argue this old fox. He could make the most risqué jokes in the most serious situations, say the most flirtatious things in the most serious tone, and kiss her so passionately one second that he would lecture her about her image the next.

"Hurry up, hurry up," she turned around to pack her bag, her ears still red, "Let's go back."

Fang Jingxiu watched her hurried figure as she walked away, his smile deepening. He walked to his desk and began tidying up the files, his movements unhurried and deliberate. He placed each file in order, put the pen back in its holder, and cleaned the ashtray.

Even the bookshelf that had been knocked askew was straightened.

It was as if the person who had just pinned her down on the desk and kissed her deeply wasn't him.

Chen Nuo was getting impatient and turned around to urge, "Brother Xiu!"

"What's the rush?" Fang Jingxiu closed the last folder, picked up the cashmere coat from the hanger, and said, "Tomorrow is a weekend, and I don't have to go to work."

He put on his overcoat; the dark gray fabric accentuated his straight shoulders and slender waist. As he walked over to her, he naturally took the bag from her hand and held her hand with his other.

"Perfect." He leaned down and whispered in her ear, in a voice only the two of them could hear, "We can ask the doctor if we can take her home and let her bury herself in her work."

Chen Nuo tripped.

Fang Jingxiu caught her in time, his tone concerned: "Be careful, Director Chen."

"You..." Chen Nuo glared at him, but her glare softened when she saw his serious expression. "You did that on purpose."

"What do you mean, 'deliberately'?" Fang Jingxiu looked completely innocent. "I was talking about work. There's a backlog of documents this week, I have to work overtime at home to finish them. What are you thinking, girlfriend?"

He took her hand and led her out of the office, swiped his card, and closed the door. The motion-activated lights in the corridor lit up one by one with each footstep, lengthening and shortening their shadows.

As the elevator descended, their figures were reflected in the mirror.

Fang Jingxiu stood ramrod straight, his coat buttons fastened meticulously, holding her hand with his right and carrying her bag with his left. His posture was exactly like that of a gentleman picking up his girlfriend who was coming home late.

If we ignore what he just said.

As the car drove into the compound of the Development and Reform Commission, the armed police on duty at the gate saluted.

Fang Jingxiu held the steering wheel with one hand, while holding Chen Nuo's hand with the other. Ping'an Street was deserted, and the streetlights cast flowing ribbons of light on the windshield.

"Brother Xiu," Chen Nuo suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"You actually... didn't have to hold back." Her voice was very soft. "Just now in the office... I was willing."

Fang Jingxiu turned his head and glanced at her.

In the darkness, her profile was bathed in a soft glow from the streetlights, her eyelashes drooping, and her ears still red. As she spoke, she gently scratched his palm with her fingers, like a small animal playfully teasing him.

"I know." He turned back and looked straight ahead, "but some things can't be done in the office."

Why?

"Because that's the National Development and Reform Commission," Fang Jingxiu said seriously. "That desk, the documents I sign every day, all involve the national economy and people's livelihood. Doing that kind of thing there... is inappropriate."

He paused, then added, "And there's surveillance footage."

Chen Nuo's eyes widened: "You still... with surveillance cameras?"

"There are some in the hallway, but not in the office," Fang Jingxiu laughed. "But what if there are? Director Chen, I don't want gossip about Director Fang's late-night passion in his office circulating in the committee tomorrow."

He spoke casually, but Chen Nuo sensed the caution in his voice.

The arena of power is like walking on thin ice; one wrong step and the whole game is lost.

He could let his guard down in front of her, tell her dirty jokes and tease her, and reveal all his desires and tenderness in private. But in public, he was always Director Fang, always the meticulous and impeccable Fang Jingxiu.

This is his upbringing, and also his survival rule.

【Easter Eggs】

Have they forgotten someone?

Qin Yang, Secretary Qin?

Inside the office, he was slumped in an extremely awkward position on two office chairs that had been put together, covered with a thin old suit jacket that he had somehow found. He was fast asleep and was even snoring softly.