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

It's 3 PM on the 16th floor of the National Development and Reform Commission building.

Fang Jingxiu had just finished a cross-departmental video coordination meeting on the formulation of subsidy standards for the hydrogen energy industry. After two hours of heated debate, his temples were throbbing.

He loosened his tie, unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to rest, and pressed his fingers firmly against his brow.

The meeting minutes page was still open on the computer screen, next to a thick stack of preliminary project review comments that Secretary Qin had just delivered and needed his signature.

The phone vibrates on the table, emitting a continuous, slightly rapid "buzzing" sound, which is the message notification tone for someone who is particularly concerned about the contact.

Fang Jingxiu opened his eyes, his eyes still showing signs of fatigue and bloodshotness from the intense meeting.

He reached for the phone and unlocked it.

The screen was bombarded with messages from Chen Nuo.

The top two photos appear to have been taken secretly, judging from the angle.

One photo shows a panoramic view of the conference room, with a long table surrounded by serious-looking review experts. Director Zhou, sitting at the head of the table, is speaking, his profile hard and angular.

The other photo is a close-up of the judging materials for "The Silent City" on the table. Next to the thick stack of documents is a cup of steaming tea.

The lighting was dim, and the image shakily conveyed the photographer's tension.

Several lines of text followed the photo:

"Intermission for the judging panel..."

"Director Zhou just asked a very insightful question, about that part concerning the psychological shift among those affected by demolition..."

My palms were sweaty.

"What should I do, Brother Xiu? I'm so nervous..."

"They're back in now, in the final review stage..."

Do you think I can make it?

"Will there be many changes?"

"I feel my heart beating so fast..."

A series of messages—one can almost picture her clutching her phone, in the hallway outside the meeting room or in the restroom, typing these words with a mixture of trepidation and reliance.

As Fang Jingxiu looked at the words and pictures on the screen, the corners of his mouth, which had been stiff all afternoon, involuntarily turned up slightly in a tiny arc.

The scene from last night seemed to reappear before her eyes. She had just finished showering, wearing his oversized white shirt, swinging her two straight, smooth legs, and went to his study. She leaned against the back of his chair, playing with the short hair at the back of his neck with her fingertips, deliberately blowing air into his ear, and humming, "Brother Xiu, what if I'm too nervous to perform well at the judging panel tomorrow... You have to help me recharge..."

He was looking at an important document at the time, and without turning his head, he just patted her leg and said, "Stop fooling around, go look at your storyboard."

She wouldn't let it go, pressing herself against him softly, her arms encircling his neck. Her warm breath and the fresh scent of her shower made his breathing difficult, and her voice was soft and sticky: "Looking at the storyboards won't help... you have to recharge for it to be useful..."

Helpless, he took off his glasses and turned to look at her.

Her eyes sparkled with a mischievousness and an undisguised invitation, her cheeks flushed a faint pink from the steam, and her lips were moist.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and in the end, he couldn't resist. He cupped the back of her head and kissed her...

As a result, the document, which was originally planned to be read in half an hour, took an hour and a half to finish. She was carried back to the bedroom, completely satisfied and with rosy cheeks, muttering before going to sleep that she now had energy...

Pulling himself back to reality, Fang Jingxiu looked at the latest follow-up message on his phone, "Do you think I can pass?" His finger hovered over the screen for a moment, and then, almost as if possessed, he replied:

"Thank you, but I won't."

She's been too intense lately, I can't handle it.

Sure enough, the reply came almost instantly, containing only one punctuation mark:

"...?"

Fang Jingxiu could almost see her looking at her phone, her expression a mix of confusion and embarrassment.

He put down his phone, rubbed his temples, and tried to refocus his attention on the project feedback in front of him.

But my mind is a little wandering.

Five minutes later, the phone vibrated again.

It was her again.

"Why not do it? (puzzled)"

Fang Jingxiu stared at those five words, his fingers holding the pen paused, and he was momentarily at a loss for words.

Why not do it?

This is a question... Is he going to tell her that because her man is 29 this year, not 19, he can't handle spending 300 out of 365 days a year doing his homework in bed?

Do I have to secretly drink kidney-tonifying soup behind your back?

What's worse is that he was the one who did all the work, the one who was so tired that his back ached and he needed strong coffee to stay awake the next day, but what about her?

After each visit, she would be radiant, with moisturized skin and bright eyes, like a rose that had been thoroughly watered, becoming even more beautiful and dazzling.

Especially... she seems to have mastered certain skills without any formal instruction.

During her ovulation period, she was especially clingy. At night, she would snuggle in his arms, her fingertips restlessly tracing circles on his chest, rubbing against him. Or she would somehow find some incredibly revealing cosplay outfits of various styles, which she called role-playing practice, and ask him with innocent big eyes, "Brother Xiu, do I look like that character in the movie when I wear this...?"

How could he possibly stand this?

He's a normal man, not a eunuch!

Willpower is utterly vulnerable in the face of her.

But the problem is, what should we do if things continue like this?

He had heard some seniors who had had similar experiences mention, half-jokingly, that women in their thirties are like wolves and tigers.

But she's only twenty-two!

So... he's gotten hooked and is really into it. But what if he gets older, busier with work, and his health declines... and he has to rely on medication to keep going?

Fang Jingxiu put down his pen with some irritation, knocked a cigarette out of the pack, and lit it.

He took a deep drag, trying to let the nicotine soothe his somewhat chaotic thoughts. In the swirling smoke, his cold, handsome features held a rare hint of masculine confusion and... a faint anxiety.

He even began to admire and be puzzled how those high-ranking officials or tycoons, who were rumored to have a stable marriage, extramarital affairs, and even several mistresses at the same time, managed to do it.

Is it a natural talent?

Or is there some unknown beauty secret?

Are their kidneys made of iron?

Don't they need to sleep or rest?

Fighting in the political and business world during the day, and dealing with different women at night... This requires not only time management, but also superhuman energy, right?

He considers himself to have top-notch physical strength and energy, having never missed a training session since childhood, and trying to maintain a fitness routine two to three times a week no matter how busy he is with work.

Even so, faced with Chen Nuo's ever-increasing demands and ever-changing flirting tactics, he began to feel somewhat powerless, not from psychological weariness, but purely from physical exhaustion.

He had even secretly looked up some information and knew that this was a normal stage for young women to awaken their sexual awareness and have strong physical needs. He also understood that her complete trust and love for him was the reason she was so open and unreserved.

He enjoyed her passion, was infatuated with her body, and loved seeing her languid and alluring expression afterward.

But... the reality is that he still has a mountain of work to do, a series of nerve-wracking power struggles, and a ladder of power that requires his full attention to climb.

He cannot, and does not want to, waste his limited and precious energy excessively in bed.

Even if the person is the most important person in his heart.

The phone went silent again.

It seems her review meeting has started again.

Fang Jingxiu stubbed out the cigarette that was still mostly lit.

No, we can't avoid this problem; we have to find a way.

Should I just tell her I'm tired and need to be more restrained?

It would be too hurtful to my self-esteem, and it might also make her think that I have lost my attractiveness.

Pretending to be stupid?

She's so smart, she'll figure it out sooner or later, and that will make things even more complicated. Perhaps... we could guide her to redirect some of her energy to other things?

For example, could she focus more on her new job, or cultivate some other hobbies?

He was frowning in thought when there was another knock on the office door.

"Go in." He quickly suppressed all personal emotions on his face and reverted to the calm and composed Director Fang.

Secretary Qin came in with a new document: "Director, this is an urgent document just forwarded by the General Office of the State Council, a supplementary notice regarding the mid-term evaluation of the 14th Five-Year Plan for Strategic Emerging Industries, requiring preliminary feedback within this week."

Fang Jingxiu took the document, glanced at it quickly, and the worries about kidney and energy allocation in his heart were instantly suppressed, replaced by a sense of urgency and responsibility brought by the work.

"Understood. Inform the relevant departments to work overtime tonight to get the basic materials and data ready, and then have a short meeting tomorrow morning," he instructed in a deep voice.

"Yes," Secretary Qin replied, turning and leaving.

Fang Jingxiu looked back at the computer screen, his fingers tapping on the keyboard to retrieve relevant industry data.

But somewhere in my mind, the question from earlier was still lingering. Perhaps… when I get home tonight, I could try talking to her about it?

Let's explore sustainable development in a more mature way.

Just then, the phone screen lit up again.

It was Chen Nuo again.

This time it's not text, but a small, custom animated emoticon.

A little fox with droopy ears and a pitiful look covers its face with its paws, accompanied by the caption: "Energy depleted, urgently needs replenishment..."

Fang Jingxiu: "..."

He stared at the meme for a few seconds, then, somewhat resignedly and helplessly, he raised his hand to loosen his already unbuttoned collar, as if it were a little hot there.

In the end, he didn't reply. He simply put his phone screen face down on the table again and forced himself to focus all his attention on the urgent document from the State Council in front of him.

However, a very faint, almost imperceptible smile crept onto the corner of his mouth, without him even noticing it.

We still have to deliver grain tonight.