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

The police station at 2 a.m. was freezing cold.

Chen Nuo sat in the interrogation room, her hands icy cold. She was just a college student, and it was her first time in a place like this; it would be a lie to say she wasn't afraid.

The police took a statement and said in a businesslike tone, "The other party said they would sue you for intentional assault. If the medical examination shows that the injury meets the standard for minor injury, you may face criminal charges."

"He forced himself on me first!" Chen Nuo exclaimed urgently. "He tried to drag me to a hotel!"

"Do you have any evidence?" the police officer asked. "We've reviewed the surveillance footage. It did capture physical contact between you from that angle, but it didn't capture any coercion. And—"

The police officer paused for a moment, then said, "Lin Hao's lawyer has arrived. He says you seduced him and then became enraged and assaulted him after being rejected."

Chen Nuo felt a chill run through her body.

She knew what kind of tactic this was.

They distort the truth and bully others by abusing their power.

The Lin family has a professional legal team; they have plenty of ways to turn black into white.

Two hours later, the door to the interrogation room was pushed open.

A sophisticated woman in a Chanel suit and impeccable makeup walked in, followed by a lawyer and assistant. She was around fifty years old and well-maintained, but the sharp edge in her eyes was undeniable.

"So you're the one who hit my son?" Mrs. Lin walked up to Chen Nuo, looked her up and down, and stared at her as if she were looking at something dirty.

Chen Nuo hadn't even spoken yet...

"Snapped!"

A hard slap landed on her face.

The force was so great that Chen Nuo turned his head away, his cheek burning with pain.

"Auntie!" The young policewoman next to her tried to stop her, but was pulled back by the older policeman.

"Mrs. Lin, this is against the rules..." Officer Yang said with a smile.

"Rules?" Mrs. Lin sneered. "My son is still in the hospital, with eight stitches in his head! Why should I talk to this arrogant woman who tries to climb the social ladder and then bites the hand that feeds her?"

She walked up to Chen Nuo, her finger almost poking her face: "Just because you have a seductive face, you think all men have to revolve around you? My son is young and handsome, and our family is well-off. Why would I need to force you? You're the one who tried to seduce her but failed, and now you're angry and embarrassed!"

Chen Nuo raised her head, her face clearly marked with five red finger marks, but her eyes were cold: "I didn't."

"Still being stubborn?" Mrs. Lin said to Officer Yang. "Officer Yang, I think some people won't know their place until they're taught a lesson. What do you think?"

Officer Yang's expression changed. He glanced at the lawyer behind Mrs. Lin, and then at Chen Nuo.

A female college student with no connections or background.

The decision only takes a few seconds.

"Mrs. Lin is right," Officer Yang nodded. "Suspects with violent tendencies like this definitely need... proper education."

He waved his hand: "Xiao Zhang, Xiao Li, take her to interrogation room number 3."

Two male police officers stepped forward and grabbed Chen Nuo from the left and right.

"What are you trying to do?!" Chen Nuo struggled. "I haven't broken the law! It was Lin Haoxian..."

"Now that we're here, do you think you can call the shots?" Officer Yang said coldly.

Interrogation room number 3 was at the end of the corridor, its nameplate faded with age. Chen Nuo was pushed inside; there was only an iron chair, a glaring incandescent light bulb, and some inexplicable marks on the wall.

Another person took out a pair of specially made handcuffs, not the ordinary kind that are handcuffed to the front of the body, but the kind that can cuff both hands behind the back of a chair.

Chen Nuo's heart pounded wildly, fear gripping his entire body like cold vines.

"I didn't commit a crime! You can't do this!" She struggled desperately, but the two men were too strong.

The instant the cold metal of the handcuffs touched my wrist...

Hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.

"stop!"

A deep, powerful voice rang out.

Everyone was stunned.

Fang Jingxiu stood at the entrance of the corridor, wearing a dark gray suit with a long black coat over it. He had clearly rushed over; his hair was somewhat disheveled, but his eyes were as sharp as a drawn sword.

Officer Yang frowned: "Who are you? This is an investigation area; you can't just wander around like this..."

Fang Jingxiu ignored him and walked directly in front of Chen Nuo, causing the two policemen to instinctively let go.

Chen Nuo looked at him, and tears welled up instantly.

Fang Jingxiu took off his coat and draped it over her trembling shoulders, then gently pulled her behind him.

Fang Jingxiu didn't say anything, but took out a dark blue work ID from the inside pocket of his coat, opened it, and held it up in front of him.

Fang Jingxiu, Deputy Director of the High-Tech Industry Department of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Officer Yang's expression changed.

He took the work permit and examined it carefully; the photo, the official seal, and the job title were all genuine.

"Director Fang..." his voice was a little weak, "Why are you here?"

"I'll vouch for him." Fang Jingxiu's voice was calm, but every word was like an ice pellet hitting the ground. "Officer Yang, is this how police stations handle cases now? They skip interrogation procedures and go straight to torture?"

Officer Yang, sweating profusely, said, "No, Chief Fang, this...this is a case of intentional injury. The victim is currently in the hospital."

"The victim?" Fang Jingxiu interrupted him, his eyes sharp. "Who decided the nature of the crime? You?"

He looked at Madam Lin: "Madam Lin, it's been a long time. I've heard about your son's matter. However, as far as I know, it was your son who harassed a woman in public first, and Chen Nuo acted in self-defense."

Lin's mother's face turned ashen: "Fang Jingxiu, mind your own business! This is a matter for the Public Security Bureau, it's none of your concern, the Development and Reform Commission!"

"It's none of my business to interfere?" Fang Jingxiu laughed, a laugh devoid of any warmth. "Officer Yang, are you performing your duties or helping someone vent their personal grievances?"

Officer Yang's lips moved, but he didn't dare to reply.

Fang Jingxiu took out his phone, dialed a number, and said only one sentence after the call was connected: "Director Li, I'm at your Dongcheng branch. I have something I'd like to ask you."

He handed the phone to Officer Yang: "Answer this."

Officer Yang's hands trembled slightly as he took the phone: "Hello? Chief Li? Yes, it's me, Xiao Yang... Yes, there's a case of intentional injury... Ah? Release him? But what about Mrs. Lin... Yes, yes, I understand!"

After hanging up the phone, Officer Yang's face turned ashen.

He handed the phone back to Fang Jingxiu with both hands, then yelled at the two policemen, "Release him now!"

Chen Nuo was released and staggered.

Chen Nuo buried her face in his chest, and finally couldn't hold back her tears.

She wasn't faking it; she was genuinely terrified. If Fang Jingxiu had arrived even a minute later, she would have been dragged into that interrogation room.

Fang Jingxiu raised his hand and gently touched the red mark on Chen Nuo's face. His fingertips were icy cold, but his movements were gentle.

Chen Nuo's tears finally fell.

It wasn't a feeling of being wronged, nor was it fear; it was a kind of collapse of relief and survival after finally being rescued.

Fang Jingxiu pulled her into his arms. Chen Nuo buried her face in his chest, tears instantly soaking his shirt. She could smell the familiar cedar scent on him, along with a faint hint of tobacco.

He had one arm around her shoulder and the other hand gently patting her back, as if soothing a frightened little animal.

"It's alright," he whispered in her ear, his voice soft but steady.

Then he raised his head and looked at Officer Yang, whose face had turned deathly pale.

"Yang Jianguo," he began slowly, "is a police officer of twenty-three years, deputy captain of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the Songyang Branch. His wife works at the District Education Commission, and his daughter was admitted to Renmin University last year."

With each sentence he spoke, Officer Yang's face grew paler.

"Last March, you handled a case involving a fight at an entertainment venue. The parties involved were artists from a film company invested in by the Lin family. The case was eventually settled through mediation, and the suspect was released after three days of detention." Fang Jingxiu paused. "Would you like me to continue?"

Officer Yang's legs went weak: "Director Fang, I... I was just following the rules..."

"Rules?" Fang Jingxiu laughed, a laugh that was chillingly cold. "Lin Hao attempted to force himself on a woman, and you didn't investigate; Chen Nuo acted in self-defense, and you took drastic measures. Is this your rule?"

He looked at Mrs. Lin, who was still stunned, and said, "And you, shouldn't we also check how Chen Nuo got the injury on his face?"

Mrs. Lin's face turned ashen: "Director Fang, this is my business. Aren't you meddling too much?"

"Wide?" Fang Jingxiu tightened his grip on Chen Nuo's arm. "She's mine. If you touch her, you're touching me."

These words resonated deeply.

The interrogation room was completely silent.

Mrs. Lin's face turned white then green, then green then white again.

Of course she knew who Fang Jingxiu was.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is a powerful organization that money can't afford to offend.

Several of her family's projects required Fang Jingxiu's approval.

"Director Fang, this might be a misunderstanding..." she tried to salvage the situation.

"A misunderstanding?" Fang Jingxiu glanced at the slap mark on Chen Nuo's face. "This slap, too, was a misunderstanding?"

Fang Jingxiu continued, his voice as cold as ice, "Zhao Yufen, your son Lin Hao attempted to force himself on a woman at HP, which constitutes sexual harassment. I will have this matter thoroughly investigated. As for the cultural industry support funds your Lin family applied for..."

He paused, looking at Zhao Yufen's face, which had turned deathly pale.

I will personally attend next week's judging session.

Then he lowered his head and whispered to Chen Nuo in his arms, "Can you walk?"

Chen Nuo nodded, but his legs were still weak.

Fang Jingxiu simply picked her up horizontally, like he was holding a child. Chen Nuo instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

He carried her, strode out of the interrogation room, across the corridor, and out of the police station.