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

It was already 9:30 p.m. when I parked the car at the entrance of the old residential area.

The streetlights were dim, barely outlining the mottled walls and rusted security grilles. Several dusty bicycles were piled up at the entrance of the building.

Secretary Qin stopped the car and was about to get out to help Chen Nuo with her luggage when Fang Jingxiu raised his hand to stop him.

"Wait in the car," he said, and got out of the car himself.

Chen Nuo quickly got out of the car and went around to the trunk to get her suitcase. Fang Jingxiu had already taken her suitcase first.

A small silver suitcase, so light in his hands it felt almost weightless.

"Brother Xiu, I can do it myself." Chen Nuo reached out to take it.

Fang Jingxiu didn't give it to her; he just stood under the streetlight, carrying the suitcase, and watched her.

The light shone down from above, casting varying shades of shadow on his face. The collar of his coat was turned up, obscuring half of his jawline, making him look even more aloof than usual.

But Chen Nuo knew that beneath that cold demeanor lay a rare concern.

"Let's go, I'll take you downstairs." Fang Jingxiu carried the suitcase and walked into the residential area.

Chen Nuo quickly followed.

The old residential building has no access control system, and the locks on the unit doors have long been broken, leaving them slightly ajar. The stairwell is pitch black, with only the motion-activated lights on the first floor barely working.

Fang Jingxiu stopped at the entrance of the building and placed his suitcase at Chen Nuo's feet.

He didn't leave immediately.

Instead, he turned around to face Chen Nuo. The two stood under the dim streetlights, very close, close enough that Chen Nuo could smell the faint scent of cedar on him, mixed with a hint of tobacco.

"Chen Nuo," he said, his voice particularly deep in the night.

"Hmm?" Chen Nuo looked up at him.

Fang Jingxiu's gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, then he naturally raised his hand. He didn't touch her, but simply straightened her scarf, which had been ruffled by the wind.

The movements were very light and natural, as if they had been done countless times.

"Be careful if you live alone," he said, his tone serious like that of an elder. "Before going to bed at night, check the doors and windows. Make sure the doors are locked from the inside and the windows are locked too."

Chen Nuo nodded: "I know."

"Don't open the door to strangers," Fang Jingxiu continued, "especially at night. Ask who it is first, and make sure you see clearly before opening the door."

"Um."

"Check the expiration dates of the items in the refrigerator. Some things might have gone bad since I've been away from home for three days."

Chen Nuo felt a warmth in her heart: "Okay."

Fang Jingxiu paused, looked at her, and said, "If anything happens, call me."

He spoke slowly, each word clear: "Anytime, anything, we can fight."

Chen Nuo's heart skipped a beat.

Anytime. Anything.

These words, like a promise, weighed heavily on her heart.

"Brother Xiu," she said softly, "you're too kind."

Fang Jingxiu looked at her with a deep gaze: "You call me brother, so it's only right that I protect you."

These words sounded perfectly reasonable, but Chen Nuo sensed the weight behind them.

This is not just polite talk, nor is it perfunctory.

Seriously.

As night deepened, the wind blew, stirring up fallen leaves. Chen Nuo subconsciously hunched his shoulders.

Fang Jingxiu noticed it.

He raised his hand and naturally adjusted her coat collar. His fingers brushed against her chin, the warm touch fleeting.

"Let's go up," he said. "It's cold outside."

Chen Nuo nodded and picked up his suitcase: "Well... goodbye, Brother Xiu."

"Um."

She turned and walked into the stairwell. After taking two steps, she turned back.

Fang Jingxiu remained standing in the same spot, the streetlights shining from behind him, making his figure appear exceptionally tall and upright. He stood ramrod straight, his hands in his coat pockets, like a pine tree in the snow.

"Brother Xiu," Chen Nuo suddenly spoke.

Fang Jingxiu looked up at her.

"You should go home and get some rest too," she said. "Don't stay up late."

These words sounded like a junior caring for an elder, but Fang Jingxiu sensed the sincerity in them.

He nodded, and the corners of his lips seemed to curve slightly: "Okay."

Chen Nuo then turned around and walked into the dark stairwell.

The motion-activated light was broken, so she had to go upstairs in the dark.

The wheels of the suitcase made a gurgling sound on the stairs, which was particularly clear in the quiet night.

When she reached the second floor, she couldn't help but glance out the window in the stairwell.

Fang Jingxiu is still alive.

He stood under the streetlamp and lit a cigarette. The scarlet flame flickered in the night, and the swirling smoke blurred his face.

He was waiting for her to come upstairs safely.

This realization made Chen Nuo's heart feel as if it had been gently bumped by something.

She quickened her pace, went up to the fifth floor, opened the door, and turned on the light.

Warm light shone through the window, cutting a bright spot in the darkness.

Chen Nuo walked to the window and looked down.

Under the streetlights, the figure finally moved. Fang Jingxiu stubbed out his cigarette and glanced up at the building.

Chen Nuo didn't know if he could see her, but she still waved and whispered, "Goodnight, Brother Xiu."

Then, he turned around and walked towards the car parked at the entrance of the residential area.

Only after the black Hongqi car drove away and disappeared around the street corner did Chen Nuo step back from the window.

She leaned against the wall and let out a long breath.

My heart is still beating very fast.

My phone vibrated; it was Fang Jingxiu.

"arrive?"

She replied, "I arrived and watched you leave from the window."

A few seconds later, the reply came:

Go to bed early. Lock the door.

Chen Nuo stared at those six words for a long time.

Then she put down her phone and started checking the doors and windows. She locked the doors from the inside, locked the windows, and then checked the gas and water.

Only after she finished all this did she go to take a shower.

The hot water washed over her, washing away the day's fatigue. Chen Nuo closed her eyes, her mind filled with images of tonight.

Fang Jingxiu's profile as he washes the dishes, his tenderness as he helps her straighten her scarf, his figure as he stands under the streetlight smoking.

And then there's the phrase, "Anytime, Anything".

After taking a shower, she came out wrapped in a towel, and her phone vibrated again.

It was Fang Jingxiu.

This time it's a photograph.

The living room of the ministry compound dormitory was warmly lit, with several documents on the coffee table and a steaming cup of tea beside it.

The following sentence is:

"We're home. You should get some rest too."

Looking at the photo, Chen Nuo suddenly had a strange feeling.

It's like a husband letting his wife know he's safe.

The thought made her face flush.

She replied, "You should go to bed early too, don't stay up late looking at documents."

Fang Jingxiu quickly replied, "Okay. I'll listen to you."

obedient.

These two words seemed to have a magical power, softening Chen Nuo's heart like a pool of water.

She lay down on the bed and turned off the light.

In the darkness, the phone screen lit up again.

Goodnight from Fang Jingxiu:

"Go to sleep. Call me if you need anything."

Chen Nuo held his phone and smiled in the darkness.

She knew that starting tonight, something would be different.

He was no longer the aloof and powerful Director Fang.

She was no longer the female student who could only look up to him.

There was an inexplicable connection between them.

Like an older brother to a younger sister, but more than that.

There are too many instances of elders treating younger people like elders.

picture……

Chen Nuo dared not think any further.

She placed her phone beside her pillow and closed her eyes.

Outside the window, the winter wind in Jingjing was still howling.

But her heart was warm.

Because she knew that somewhere in this city, someone cared about her.

He would remind her to lock the door.

I will tell her anytime.

I will wait until she is safely upstairs before leaving.

This is enough.

At least for now, that's enough.