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

At 2:30 pm on Wednesday, Director Zhou asked Chen Nuo to come to his office.

The messenger was Xiao Qin from the office, speaking in a casual tone, as if he were giving instructions on a routine official business.

Chen Nuo didn't ask anything, closed the documents he was organizing, and got up.

The sunlight in the corridor was still bright. Her steps were unhurried, and her high heels made a steady tapping sound on the terrazzo floor.

No one knew that she was mentally replaying the events of the past few days like a movie.

The third day after Tang Hai was taken away.

There was no official announcement from the bureau, but the news had already seeped into every layer like water seeping into sand.

Some said he was assisting with the investigation, others said the problem might not be limited to the K Foundation project, and still others whispered about old grievances in Yongzhou.

Chen Nuo remained quietly at her workstation, doing everything she was supposed to do: organizing files, proofreading drafts, and taking notes on the learning tasks assigned by Professor Liu Zheng.

Her mentor, Shi Anping, was the most senior section-level cadre in the review department. He was in his early fifties, with gray hair, and didn't talk much, but he was extremely knowledgeable about the business.

On the day Tang Hai had the accident, Shi Anping only looked up once, then continued looking down at his documents without saying anything.

Now, Vivian Chow wants to see her.

This was expected.

The door to Vivian Chow's office was ajar. Chen Nuo knocked three times and heard a gentle voice from inside say, "Come in."

Pushing open the door, I saw Vivian Chow standing by the window, holding a cup of tea.

"Xiao Chen is here, have a seat." Vivian Chow pointed to the chair opposite the desk, but did not immediately return to her seat. Instead, she leaned against the window, her gaze fixed on Chen Nuo, as if examining an object that needed to be re-evaluated.

Chen Nuo sat down as instructed, her back straight, her hands folded on her knees. She didn't speak, but waited quietly.

Sunlight streamed in from behind Vivian Chow, casting interplay of light and shadow on her face, making her expression somewhat enigmatic.

"You've been at the bureau for two weeks now, haven't you?" Vivian Chow finally spoke, her tone as casual as if she were chatting with someone.

"Two weeks and three days," Chen Nuo replied.

"How's it going to fit in?"

"It's great. Teacher Shi is very dedicated and has taught me a lot. The other colleagues in the department are also very supportive."

Vivian Chow nodded, took a sip of tea, and her gaze remained fixed on Chen Nuo's face.

The gaze was not sharp; in fact, it could be described as gentle. But Chen Nuo could sense that beneath that gentleness, something was being carefully weighed.

"Shi Anping is a veteran in the bureau," Zhou Huimin said. "He's impeccable in his work, but he's not very talkative. There aren't many people he can mentor with his whole heart."

Chen Nuo understood the weight of those words, but didn't reply. He simply lowered his head slightly, acknowledging the affirmation.

"You've heard about Tang Hai's matter, haven't you?" Vivian Chow suddenly changed the subject, her tone still calm.

It is a declarative sentence, not an interrogative sentence.

Chen Nuo's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained unchanged.

"I've heard about it." She nodded, her tone as calm as if she were discussing the weather.

"What do you think?" Vivian Chow asked.

This is a dangerous problem.

Chen Nuo paused for a second, as if seriously considering the question, and then slowly spoke:

"I think... it's quite sudden. Team Leader Tang has been in the department for so many years, and he's always been very kind to everyone. But since the Discipline Inspection Commission has intervened, they must have their reasons." She paused, "I don't know the specifics, so I don't dare to say anything rash."

After hearing this, Vivian Chow's lips twitched very slightly.

"I wouldn't dare to say anything reckless," she repeated, a hint of amusement in her voice. "That's true. It's a good thing for a young person to know what to say and what not to say."

She moved away from the window, walked back to her desk, sat down, and placed her teacup on the table. This action finally brought their eyes level.

"Xiao Chen," Vivian Chow looked at her, her gaze more direct, "You joined the Youth Support Program last year?"

coming.

Chen Nuo's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "Yes, Director. Last March."

"The spots in the Youth Support Program," Vivian Chow picked up her teacup, then put it down again, the porcelain clinking softly. "I heard the competition is fierce. How did you get in?"

Chen Nuo smiled, a smile carrying just the right amount of shyness a young person might have when asked about the past: "The Youth Support Program is indeed very competitive. I was still studying at the film academy at the time, and an opportunity came along. I submitted some works and materials and passed the initial screening. Later..."

She paused, seemingly considering her words.

"Later, Director Fang, as my mentor, gave me some guidance during the interview. Perhaps he felt that I... still had potential for development."

That's a clever answer.

She replied that Fang Jingxiu had only given her the opportunity, and it was she who seized it.

After listening, Vivian Chow nodded and did not ask any further questions.

This attitude shows that what Vivian Chow wants is not the fact of whether she and Fong King-sau have a relationship, but her attitude towards that relationship.

Is it about being flamboyant or low-key? Is it about using connections as capital or keeping them hidden in one's heart?

"Director Fang's judgment has always been very accurate," Vivian Chow said, her tone carrying a hint of ambiguity. "The people he takes a liking to must be more than just those with potential."

Chen Nuo didn't respond, but just listened quietly.

Vivian Chow looked at her, then suddenly changed the subject: "Do you know why I wanted to see you?"

Chen Nuo shook his head: "Please enlighten me, Director."

"Regardless of what the final investigation into Tang Hai reveals," Vivian Chow's voice slowed down, "one thing is certain: his position in the investigation department is now vacant."

Chen Nuo's back remained straight, and his expression did not change.

"The department will make the appropriate arrangements," she said, her tone still calm and unhurried. "Those of us who do the specific work are simply following the organization's decisions."

Vivian Chow smiled.

This time it was a genuine smile, though very faint.

"You're quite composed," she said. "Most young people would react to this. After all, if that position changes, those below have a chance to move up."

Chen Nuo smiled, with just the right amount of shyness: "I've only been here for two weeks, and I haven't even memorized all the office numbers yet. Moving to a different location is a long way off for me."

"Really?" Vivian Chow looked into her eyes and suddenly asked, "Then what do you think is the closest place to you?"

Chen Nuo paused for a little longer this time than before.

It seemed like he was genuinely thinking, or perhaps carefully choosing his words.

"The thing closest to me," she said slowly, "is to secure my current position, do my job well, thoroughly learn what Teacher Shi teaches, and understand the relevant policies."

She paused, looked into Vivian Chow's eyes, and said calmly, "As for a higher position, that depends on the organization's needs, the leader's judgment, and whether I have the ability."

Vivian Chow looked at her, and the icy shell of scrutiny in her eyes seemed to crack with a tiny fissure.

"Do you know why Tang Hai has remained in this position for seven years?" she suddenly asked.

Chen Nuo shook his head: "I'm new here, I don't know."

"Because he was too cautious," Vivian Chow said, her tone tinged with complexity. "To the point that he didn't want to offend anyone, to the point that he wanted everything to pass smoothly. He thought that way there would be no risk, but what happened?"

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

Chen Nuo listened quietly, without showing any expression of evaluation on his face.

Vivian Chow looked at her, then suddenly changed her sitting posture, leaning forward slightly and resting her elbows on the table.

"Xiao Chen, I have a question for you. You can choose how to answer, but I hope you understand that I'm asking this question because I want to use you."

Chen Nuo's heart skipped a beat: "Please speak, Director."

"What do you think is most important to a leader when choosing people?" Vivian Chow looked at her and said, word by word.

Chen Nuo did not answer immediately.

She knew that answering this question correctly would be an opportunity;

If you answer incorrectly, you may be marginalized in the future.

She was silent for three seconds.

In those three seconds, her brain was working at lightning speed.

Vivian Chow doesn't want an obedient puppet; she has plenty of puppets out there.

She doesn't want someone who only knows how to flatter; she's seen too many people like that, and they won't last long.

What she wanted was someone she could use.

A person who is intelligent, shrewd, but also knows how to maintain boundaries.

A person who can help her with things, take responsibility for her, and also knows who she belongs to.

Chen Nuo, on the other hand, has a powerful background and is cunning. What she needs to prove now is that she knows the rules, knows her limits, and won't turn around and scheme against her.

"I think," she began slowly, each word carefully considered in her mind, "it depends on the person. Some people prefer obedient people, some prefer capable people, and some prefer people they've trained themselves."

Vivian Chow didn't interrupt; she just looked at her.

"But no matter what kind of person you use," Chen Nuo continued, "what leaders value most is whether the person is reliable."

"Reliable?" Vivian Chow repeated.

"Being reliable means," Chen Nuo met her gaze, speaking steadily, "first, being capable. Getting the tasks assigned to you done without any mistakes. Second, being able to take responsibility. When problems arise, not shirking or avoiding them, but finding solutions. Third, knowing how to behave appropriately. Knowing when to speak and when not to speak; knowing how to speak in front of superiors, colleagues, and in public."

She paused for a moment, then added the last sentence:

"And another thing is knowing your place, knowing who you belong to."

A brief silence fell over the office.

Vivian Chow looked at her, the scrutiny in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by something complex.

It felt like getting to know someone all over again, or like finally confirming a guess.

"Who taught you to say these things?" Vivian Chow said slowly.

Chen Nuo smiled, a very light and faint smile: "No one taught me. I figured it out myself. If there's anything I've figured out wrong, please point it out, Director."

Vivian Chow stared at her for several seconds, then suddenly smiled.

This time it was a genuine smile; even the corners of her eyes showed fine lines.

"Fang Jingxiu," she said, "he really knows how to pick people."