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

When Fang Jingxiu pushed open the side door and came in, Zhao Mingkai was talking with Shen Rongchuan and Lu Jinglan around a small round table.

Upon seeing him, Shen Rongchuan smiled.

"Brother Xiu is late, he deserves three drinks as punishment!"

Fang Jingxiu took off his suit jacket and handed it to the waiter, loosened his tie, and the coldness on his face lessened a bit: "Just finished a meeting. We need to keep an eye on the matter of Political Commissar Zheng's son."

He pulled out a chair and sat down, his movements exuding a languid air of nobility.

That's the relaxed feeling that comes from being immersed in power circles since childhood, unlike what ordinary people can fake.

"Young Master Zheng? Wasn't he exposed and drugged?" Lu Jinglan handed over a cigar case. "Last week's incident—he acted recklessly, completely out of control. He's been arrested and is under investigation."

"He's being taken in for fun." Fang Jingxiu took the cigar, didn't light it, and twirled it between his fingers. "Prepare for the new policy to be implemented, and seal the records. He's being transferred to Yanning next month, at the deputy bureau level."

Shen Rongchuan clicked his tongue: "Well, another place to continue living the high life. So, having money is not as good as having power. If you have money, you'll be blackmailed and extorted when you go in; if you have power, you'll be on vacation."

Zhao Mingkai chuckled and replied, "Alright, let's stop talking about these unpleasant things. Let me introduce you to some new dishes."

He snapped his fingers.

David immediately understood and turned to go to the lounge to call for help.

Fang Jingxiu then lit a cigar, took a deep breath, and the smoke slowly overflowed from his nostrils.

He leaned back in his chair, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing the cold metallic gleam of his watch: "What, trying to bring me down?"

These words were spoken casually, but everyone at the table laughed.

"I'd have to see if the Fang family will allow it before I can pull you in," Zhao Mingkai said, raising his glass. "Besides, if you, Fang Jingxiu, could be brought down by something so trivial, then half of us in this circle would already be in jail."

This statement may be crude, but the principle is sound.

In this circle, as long as you have someone protecting you and the chain of interests remains intact, even if you cause a huge uproar, you can eventually be labeled as a young person who was ignorant and has already deeply reflected on their actions.

The real downfall is never because of committing a crime, but because of choosing the wrong side.

Zhao Mingkai laughed, "The girls I chose are not only beautiful and sensible, but they're also all virgins. And most importantly, they have gentle personalities and are easy to train. They're better than those female cadres in your unit who want to climb the social ladder, right? At least they won't try to scheme against you."

"Humble?" Fang Jingxiu took a sip of wine. "Who doesn't have a cunning mind when someone offers themselves up?"

He said this in a calm tone, as if stating a fact. In his position, too many women wanted to seduce him.

Businessmen, subordinates, and even peers.

If you are neither greedy nor lustful, others will think you are low-class and will ostracize you.

Accepting it is a way of giving the other party face.

If you accept the money but don't use it, it's a way of showing the other person you have a sense of propriety.

It's all about knowledge.

A minute later, David led the girls out.

Five girls, all dressed in elegant light-colored dresses, stood in a row, their heads slightly bowed.

The light shone on their young faces, revealing skin so smooth that you could see the fine downy hairs.

This is exquisite craftsmanship built with money and time.

Chen Nuo walked last.

She felt Fang Jingxiu's gaze sweep over her and linger on her for a moment.

It's short, but sharp enough.

Zhao Mingkai lowered his voice: "The one on the far right, Chen Nuo, from the Film Academy. What do you think?"

Fang Jingxiu didn't say anything, but just took another puff of his cigarette.

"Brother Xiu, how long has it been since you've been with a woman?" Shen Rongchuan teased. "I heard you sent that dance student to your bed last time back to school untouched? The girl was crying her eyes out."

"I don't find it appealing," Fang Jingxiu said calmly.

"And this one?" Zhao Mingkai pointed at Chen Nuo, "Her figure is absolutely stunning, with a voluptuous bust and buttocks..."

Fang Jingxiu interrupted him: "Thin."

"Thin?" Zhao Mingkai was taken aback.

"A bunch of bones." Fang Jingxiu stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his tone slightly lazy with a Beijing accent, "It's hard to hold."

A group of men at the table were laughing and joking.

Lu Jinglan shook his head: "Brother Xiu, your standards are too high. She wants someone beautiful, sensible, clean, curvy, and pleasing to the eye. There's no such thing as a free lunch!"

"So I'm single," Fang Jingxiu said casually, but Chen Nuo understood the underlying meaning.