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

The banquet ended after midnight.

The rain started at some point, pattering against the Waldorf's huge glass windows, and turning the Bund lights into a blurry golden patch.

Chen Nuo stood by the side door of the banquet hall, watching his companions being picked up one by one.

A girl in a champagne-colored long dress was led into a Rolls-Royce by a middle-aged man in his forties, who put his arm around her shoulder.

The one in the hazy blue dress was shoved into the passenger seat of a Lamborghini by one of Shen Rongchuan's friends;

The one in the pearl white suit was the luckiest; he got into Attorney Shen's car. He had the best reputation among the group, at least he wouldn't be too rude to anyone.

There were two more. Chen Nuo saw David whisper something to them, and then their faces turned pale, but they still got into two unfamiliar Mercedes-Benzes.

That was for exchange.

In this circle, a woman's body is the most basic form of currency, used in exchange for convenience in a project or the acceleration of a permit.

Zhao Mingkai walked over and, seeing Chen Nuo still there, frowned: "Fang Jingxiu didn't ask you to stay?"

"I gave him my business card," Chen Nuo said softly.

"That's good." Zhao Mingkai breathed a sigh of relief and patted her shoulder. "That's just how he is, no rush. Just keep trying and get him to agree sooner rather than later, it'll be better for everyone."

Chen Nuo nodded, but inwardly he sneered.

Should we secure it sooner rather than later?

If Fang Jingxiu were so easy to win over, she wouldn't have had a chance to be with him long ago.

Zhao Mingkai glanced at the rain outside: "Should I have the driver take you?"

"No need, Mr. Zhao, I'll take a taxi myself," Chen Nuo politely declined.

She knew Zhao Mingkai hadn't arranged where she would go that night.

It wasn't that I forgot; it was intentional.

He treated her as a gift specially reserved for Fang Jingxiu; he couldn't just give her to anyone else, nor could he give her away, so he could only leave her there for the time being.

Yeah.

Chen Nuo thought that this was the only way to protect himself.

Zhao Mingkai didn't insist and left with the remaining girls. The banquet hall quickly emptied, and the waiters began to clean up the mess.

Chen Nuo walked to the door; the rain was pouring down.

She took out her phone to call a taxi, which showed that there were 87 people in the queue and the estimated wait time was two hours.

well.

She turned and went to the restroom to touch up her makeup in front of the mirror.

I reapplied the lip gloss, touched up my eyeliner, and loosened my hair before re-tying it up.

This time she looked more casual, with a few stray hairs falling on her cheeks, making her look like she had been waiting in the rain for a long time.

She's gambling.

She gambled on Fang Jingxiu's gentlemanly demeanor and on his nascent, nascent affection for her.

When she returned to the doorway, she could still hear voices inside.

It was Fang Jingxiu and Shen Rongchuan.

The two stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, their backs to the door. Their voices were not loud, but they could be heard clearly in the spacious hall.

"How's the Bai family matter going?" Shen Rongchuan asked.

"No results." Fang Jingxiu's voice sounded tired. "The person is already in the United States. The agency insists that the cooperation was voluntary, the paperwork is complete, and they can't investigate further."

"Is that all?"

"What else can we do?" Fang Jingxiu lit a cigarette. "Once the storm passes and they come back using their overseas identities, who can bring up the old stories? In the current environment, if we really investigate, too many people will be implicated."

Shen Rongchuan cursed, "That's true. Old Bai has been in that position for so many years; his network of connections runs deep."

"So let's put it on hold for now." Fang Jingxiu exhaled a puff of smoke. "By the way, I looked at that project your dad mentioned last time. The plan is too radical and could easily go wrong. You should advise him to play it safe."

"Okay, I'll talk to them when I get back."

The two chatted for a few more minutes before Shen Rongchuan left. Fang Jingxiu stood alone by the window, watching the rain outside, and slowly finished his cigarette.

Five minutes later, Fang Jingxiu came out rubbing his temples, and his assistant immediately went up to him: "Director Fang, the car has arrived."

"Hmm," Fang Jingxiu responded, glancing up to see Chen Nuo in the corner.

She stood there with her arms crossed, her moon-white cheongsam fluttering slightly in the night breeze, her shoulders already a little damp.

Upon seeing him, she paused for a moment, then nodded politely as a greeting.

Fang Jingxiu paused, then walked over: "You haven't left yet?"

"I took a taxi." Chen Nuo shook his phone helplessly. "The rain is too heavy, I can't get a taxi."

Fang Jingxiu glanced at the queue number on her screen: 87, and it was still increasing.

He paused for two seconds, then said to his assistant, "Bring the car over."

Then he turned to Chen Nuo: "I'll take you."

It's not about whether I want to give you a gift or not, nor is it about me giving you a gift; it's simply that I'm giving you a gift.

The declarative sentence carries the unyielding tone typical of those in positions of authority.

Chen Nuo breathed a sigh of relief, but hesitated on the surface: "Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you...?"

"No trouble at all." Fang Jingxiu had already opened the umbrella, a long-handled black umbrella with a large canopy. "Come here."

Chen Nuo didn't hesitate any longer and strode under the umbrella.

Fang Jingxiu tilted the umbrella towards her, and Chen Nuo noticed that a small patch of his left shoulder quickly became wet.

Bet right.

The car was a black Hongqi, very understated, but the license plate was white.

Jing AG6001

That's a car used by government officials.

You can pass through any part of the country without being checked or photographed.

No one in the capital will be treated specially.

However, the concept of "fangjia" (方家) is, in a sense, the principle itself.

The driver got out of the car and opened the door. Fang Jingxiu waved his hand, opened the back door himself, and let Chen Nuo get in first.

The car smelled of clean cedar, the same scent Chen Nuo had smelled on him at the banquet.

"Where do you live?" Fang Jingxiu asked, loosening his tie.

"Kangning Avenue, near the Film Academy," Chen Nuo said, referring to a residential area.

Just as Fang Jingxiu was about to say something, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen; the contact name was "Minister Gao." His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but he still answered the call.

"Minister Gao... um, I just finished. Please go ahead."

The voice on the other end of the phone was quite loud; Chen Nuo could vaguely hear that it was a middle-aged man's voice, speaking very quickly and with an official tone.

"I've reviewed the feedback from the National Development and Reform Commission regarding the new energy plan," Fang Jingxiu said calmly. "Yes, I know time is tight, but the safety assessment cannot be omitted. I mentioned this at the last meeting; there's a potential design flaw in the battery pack's temperature control system..."

As he spoke, his fingers unconsciously tapped a rhythm on his knees. Chen Nuo sat quietly to the side, watching the rain outside the window.

The call lasted seven or eight minutes, with the other party doing most of the talking, and Fang Jingxiu responding only occasionally, his tone respectful but not humble. After hanging up, he rubbed his temples, looking somewhat tired.

"Excuse me," he said to Chen Nuo, "it's a work call."

"It's nothing." Chen Nuo paused and said softly, "The battery temperature control system you just mentioned... I took an introductory course in materials engineering last semester, and the professor talked about a similar case."

Fang Jingxiu turned to look at her, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "You know about this too?"

"I don't know." Chen Nuo shook his head, his tone sincere. "I just heard a professor mention a case study. There was a project in Germany that used phase change materials as a thermal buffer layer, which could reduce the peak temperature by about 15%. I don't know if it would be of any use to the project you mentioned."

After she finished speaking, she added, "I was just talking nonsense, please don't mind."

Fang Jingxiu didn't speak, but stared at her for a few seconds, his gaze deepening.

Chen Nuo felt uneasy.

She knew she was taking a risk.

A female film school student suddenly started talking about materials engineering; it felt too deliberate.

But she had to take the risk.

Fang Jingxiu is a man who is thirty years old, rich and powerful, and has seen too many beautiful faces.

Beauty and youth alone cannot hold his attention for long. He has no shortage of women throwing themselves at him; what he lacks are people who can talk to him.

Simply using physical attraction and appearance to seduce a woman will only make him think you're superficial. At his level, he values ​​a woman's inner qualities, knowledge, and the unspoken understanding that comes from knowing her.

So she needs to showcase not only her beauty, but also her intelligence.

"Phase change materials..." Fang Jingxiu repeated, then suddenly took out his phone and jotted something down in his notes app. "Which professor?"

"Professor Li Zhaonian, a visiting professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering," Chen Nuo answered quickly. "His course is very popular; I audited it for half a semester."

Half true, half false.

Li Zhaonian is real, and the classes are real too, but she didn't just audit half a semester; she specifically asked her father to use his connections to get a spot in the classes.

She had been preparing for this day for half a year.

Fang Jingxiu put away his phone and leaned back in his seat: "A film school student, going to listen to a materials engineering class?"

"Interest," Chen Nuo smiled. "I think a director can't just understand art; they also need to understand some science. Otherwise, it'll be embarrassing to make sci-fi films with cheap special effects."

Fang Jingxiu smiled, a genuine smile this time, fine lines appearing at the corners of his eyes: "That makes sense."

As the car passed Jianguomen, the rain lessened. Fang Jingxiu suddenly asked, "What does your father do?"

coming.

Chen Nuo's heart tightened, but his face remained calm: "I make building materials, and I have a small factory in Yongzhou."

"Building materials..." Fang Jingxiu repeated, without asking any further questions.

But Chen Nuo knew that he must have already investigated. A man like Fang Jingxiu wouldn't let a woman of unknown origin into his car.

"Mr. Fang," she said softly, "thank you for bringing me home today. I was going to invite you up for a cup of tea, but it's too late, and I didn't want to disturb your rest."

To retreat in order to advance.

The invitation, followed by its withdrawal, expressed gratitude while also demonstrating thoughtfulness.

Fang Jingxiu glanced at her: "Next time."

next time.

This word made Chen Nuo's heart race.

The car was parked at the entrance of the residential area.

The apartment building was an old-style residential building with a basic environment, but it was close to the school. Chen Nuo unbuckled his seatbelt: "I'll be going now, take care on the road."

She opened the car door, and the rain started pouring down again.

"Here's the umbrella." Fang Jingxiu handed over the umbrella.

"No need, I'll just run in!"

"Take it." His tone left no room for refusal.

Chen Nuo took the umbrella; the black handle still retained his body heat. She stood in the rain, watching the car drive away, its taillights gradually blurring in the rain.

She didn't turn around and walk into the residential area until the car had completely disappeared.

The mask of gentleness and understanding on her face slowly faded away.

It became.

She won this bet tonight.

Fang Jingxiu not only gave it to her, but also remembered what she said about phase change materials.

More importantly, he said next time.

This meant that he gave her a second chance to meet.

Chen Nuo opened her handbag, took out the pure white business card, and looked at it for a long time under the streetlight.

Then she took out her phone, opened WeChat, and searched for that phone number.

An account popped up with a black and white silhouette of a building as its profile picture and a simple nickname: "Fang".

She clicked "add friend" and sent only three words in the verification message: "Chen Nuo. Umbrella".

send.

Then she put away her phone, held up the long-handled black umbrella, and slowly walked back to her rented room.

Not urgent.

That's enough for tonight.

The rest, he'll have to decide for himself.