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

At the foot of West Mountain, a parking lot for visitors.

The night wind was biting, swirling up the dry, fallen leaves and rustling them. In the distance, the lights of the old house flickered among the trees, like the eyes of a silent beast.

Fang Jingxiu leaned against the cold Audi, not wearing a coat, only a dark cashmere sweater, his figure appearing thin and solitary under the dim streetlights.

My cerebral cortex became even clearer, like a knife blade soaked in ice water, sharp and cold.

It must be a fatal blow.

He squinted, his eyes behind the smoke unfathomable, like a cold pool in the night.

The Bai family's foundation lies in its intricate political and business network built over decades, in its highly profitable industries operating in the gray and even black markets, and even more so in its covert connections and protection with certain higher-ups.

To completely bring down such a family, public outcry and a few criminal cases are not enough.

These actions will only lead to a feigned investigation by those in power for their own benefit, and eventually the storm will subside and the matter will be dropped.

They must find that leverage point that can uproot their entire power network.

Fang Jingxiu's mind was racing, filtering through every piece of information reported by Secretary Qin, every piece of inside information handed over by Shen Rongchuan, and even the few words his father inadvertently revealed about some subtle movements at a higher level.

The source of Angel House's funding and technology is very likely with Bai Jingqi.

The coagulation injection used by Li Yiran, the bizarre defect in Li Xiaobao's heart... These acts, which go beyond ordinary crimes and touch the bottom line of human experimentation and bioethics, will no longer be simple criminal offenses once confirmed, but serious crimes against humanity that are enough to arouse the wrath of the highest levels and must be severely punished as a warning to others.

However, with officials protecting each other, it's difficult to find evidence against the old fox.

Furthermore, the Bai family's mining operations in the southwest are deeply intertwined with local powers, and there seem to be unusual fund transfers and personnel exchanges recently...

Could there be an even more deadly secret hidden there?

smuggling?

Was a major safety incident caused by illegal mining covered up?

Or... improper collusion with foreign forces?

The smoke burned quietly between his fingers.

Meanwhile, he was also thinking about another line of thought: Chen Nuo.

The father's questioning was cold and realistic.

The whole world probably thinks that, given Fang Jingxiu's qualifications, he should choose a partner like Liu Sihua, who comes from a prominent family and can bring a stable political alliance.

But he wanted to say, "Screw it, right!"

He has never lived his life according to what others should have. He got to where he is today through his own intelligence, methods, and unyielding spirit.

Why should he be measured by those worldly standards?

If fate insists on hindering her...

Then I will use my life, my power, my status, and even myself as a stepping stone for her!

She rose to such a height that all those who had once looked down on her and tried to obstruct her could only look up to her!

He doesn't think he's love-struck; he's very rational.

"Buzz—"

His phone vibrated in his pocket, interrupting his surging thoughts.

It was a WeChat message from Chen Nuo.

The first thing that catches the eye is a photo that was clearly taken in a dimly lit environment. Judging from the angle, it looks like it was taken in front of a floor-to-ceiling window at home, with blurry city lights outside. The composition is haphazard, and the focus is clearly not on the scenery.

The focus is on the lower half of the photo: a slender, shapely leg clad in sheer black stockings, casually draped over a dark sofa armrest, toes slightly pointed, gleaming with a delicate, ambiguous sheen in the dim light.

The edge of the stockings was faintly visible, disappearing into the shadow above, which was probably the hem of the skirt.

Below the photo was a caption, its affected and pretentious tone sending chills down my spine:

"Brother Xiu~ It's so dark outside... I'm so scared all alone~ (Poor me) (Poor me)"

Fang Jingxiu: "..."

He stared at the screen, stunned for a full three seconds.

An indescribable surge of heat suddenly rose from my lower abdomen and rushed to the top of my head.

This girl... she's getting better and better at it.

Knowing he was called home for a talk today and wouldn't be in a good mood, I decided to flirt with him in this way...?

Soothe him?

Or is it simply... something I've been thinking about?

Fang Jingxiu's Adam's apple bobbed violently, as if the cigarette he had just inhaled was now burning in his blood. He practically gritted his teeth, uttering a curse he rarely uttered:

"Grass!"

After he finished cursing, he was stunned for a moment.

He yanked open the car door and got into the driver's seat.

His scent and a faint smell of cigarette smoke still lingered in the car. He didn't start the car immediately, but instead held his phone, his thumb hovering above the screen, as if he wanted to reply to something.

Scold her?

To say she's being unreasonable?

Ask her if she knows what time it is?

Forget it.

Fang Jingxiu replied with a voice message, his voice low and husky with a warning: "Chen Nuo, you'd better be genuinely afraid of the dark."