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

It was 9 p.m. in mid-December when Chen Nuo emerged from the subway station. He had just finished his exams and felt completely drained.

A cold wind blew in her face, and she wrapped her down jacket tighter around herself.

Then, something cold landed on my face.

She looked up.

Snowing.

Tiny snowflakes drifted down from the inky black night sky, swirling in the glow of the streetlights. At first, there were only a few scattered snowflakes, but soon they became denser, like countless white feathers.

"The first snow!" exclaimed a young girl with a southern accent beside me. "I'm so lucky to see the first snow in my first year in Jingjing!"

A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. Some raised their phones to take pictures, while others reached out to catch snowflakes.

Chen Nuo stood still, looking up.

The cool snowflakes landed on my cheeks and melted quickly.

She recalled a line from a Korean drama.

For your wish to see the first snowfall, you must do so with the person you love.

The moment the thought popped into her head, her hand involuntarily reached for her phone and tapped the pinned chat window.

"It's snowing for the first time, Xiu-ge."

send.

She stared at the screen, her heart starting to race.

She knew he was busy.

At this time, he might be in a meeting, socializing, or reviewing documents.

Therefore, she doesn't expect an instant reply.

But my phone vibrated.

There was only one word: "Mmm".

Chen Nuo was stunned for a moment, and before he could react, the second message came in:

"Turn back."

She held her phone and slowly turned around.

A black Hongqi H7 was parked on the roadside opposite the subway station exit. Its headlights were on, cutting two warm beams of light through the snow.

The rear door opened.

Fang Jingxiu got off the car.

He wore a long black coat over a well-pressed suit, without a tie. He wore a white face mask, revealing only his deep-set eyes and striking brow bone.

Snowflakes landed on his shoulders and the tips of his hair, shimmering in the halo of the car lights.

He was waiting for her.

He stood there, looking at her through the swirling snow.

Chen Nuo's heart clenched sharply, then began to pound wildly.

She ran towards him almost instinctively, her steps so hurried that she slipped on the snow and stumbled forward.

"Be careful!"

Fang Jingxiu strode forward and caught her arm firmly before she fell.

His hands were very strong; you could feel their warmth even through his thick down jacket.

"Why are you running?" His voice came through his mask, a little muffled, but serious. "The roads are slippery in the snow, what if you fall?"

It was a reprimand, but Chen Nuo sensed concern in it.

She steadied herself, looked up at him, her eyes shining like starlight: "What brings you here?"

Above the mask, Fang Jingxiu's expression seemed to soften for a moment: "On the way."

On the way.

From the National Development and Reform Commission to the Beijing Film Academy, you have to cross most of Jingjing City. This supposedly convenient route is actually quite long.

Chen Nuo didn't expose him, but just looked at him with bright eyes, and couldn't help but smile.

At that moment, from Fang Jingxiu's perspective, the girl looked up, her eyes filled with stars, her surprise and joy impossible to hide. Snowflakes landed on her eyelashes, and when she blinked, the tiny glistening drops melted away.

My nerves, which had been tired all day, suddenly relaxed.

The officialdom is a place of ups and downs, backstabbing and intrigue, mountains of documents, and constant pressure.

He has seen too many people.

Flattery, calculation, fear, ingratiation. Everyone's eyes hold desire and purpose.

Only Chen Nuo's gaze towards him was as pure as the first snowfall.

It wasn't because his surname was Fang, nor because he held power; it was simply because seeing him made me happy.

Such purity is extremely rare.

She can't even pass math, yet she's trying to scheme against people...

Fang Jingxiu suddenly realized that the woman he was looking for was never necessarily the most beautiful.

He'd seen plenty of beautiful faces; the same old exquisite looks got tiresome after a while.

It's not like I'm particularly good at working.

He doesn't need business partners, nor does he need women who can help him analyze reports.

What he needed was solace.

It's about being able to open the door after a long day at work and see a face genuinely happy to see you. It's about being able to temporarily forget the games and calculations, and return to the simplest, most relaxed state.

Chen Nuo possessed a youthful spirit, a vibrant smile, and eyes that still held innocent expectations for the world.

Like a mirror, it reflects what he looked like at twenty.

That version of myself before the harsh realities of officialdom had worn me down, and who still believed that hard work could change something.

"Get in the car." Fang Jingxiu let go of her hand and opened the car door for her.

Chen Nuo got into the car, and the warmth enveloped him. Fang Jingxiu then got in, took off his mask, revealing a visibly tired face.

Secretary Qin turned around from the front seat: "Director Fang, where are we going?"

Fang Jingxiu didn't answer immediately, but turned to look at Chen Nuo: "Have you eaten?"

Chen Nuo shook his head: "I just came out of the exam room, I haven't had time yet."

Fang Jingxiu glanced at his watch; it was 9:10.

"Turn right ahead, there's a wonton shop," he told Secretary Qin. "Go there."

The car slowly started and drove into the snowy night.

Chen Nuo secretly glanced at Fang Jingxiu.

He leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, fingers rubbing his temples. There were faint dark circles under his eyes, and stubble appeared on his chin; he exuded the weariness of someone who had worked intensely.

But he's still good-looking.

It's not the kind of refined good looks, but a kind of handsomeness honed by experience and pressure, with sharp edges.

"What are you looking at?" he suddenly asked, his eyes still closed.

Chen Nuo's face flushed: "You look...very tired."

"Hmm." Fang Jingxiu opened his eyes and looked at the snow falling outside the window. "It's almost the end of the year, there's a lot to do."

He spoke of it casually, but Chen Nuo knew that behind those three words, "many things," lay countless meetings, countless documents, and countless decisions that needed to be weighed.

"And you also..." she paused, "...came here on your way."

Fang Jingxiu turned to look at her, his eyes deep: "What, not welcome?"

"No!" Chen Nuo quickly shook his head, "It's just that...you're so busy, and yet..."

"You have to eat, no matter how busy you are," Fang Jingxiu interrupted her. "I haven't eaten either."

After he finished speaking, he closed his eyes again.

The car quieted down, with only the low rumble of the engine and the sound of the air conditioning blowing out.

Chen Nuo looked at his profile, a mix of emotions welling up inside her.

She knew that Fang Jingxiu wasn't going that way tonight at all.

He came here specifically for this purpose.

Why?

Because she saw her say it was snowing?

Because I remembered that she finished her exam today?

Or is it because... he also wants to see her?

She dared not think too deeply about it.

But she knew that this kind of deliberate gesture was already a rare expression for Fang Jingxiu.

He wouldn't say he missed her, wouldn't say he cared; he would only show it through his actions. He drove through half of Jingjing city in the snowy night to appear before her.

This is enough.