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

As the door opened, a mixture of the warmth of the heater, the smell of smoke, alcohol, and some indescribable greasiness rushed out.

Chen Nuo followed behind Liu Qingsong, his gaze sweeping over the small private room, a round table with four people seated inside.

The head of the table was Fang Jingxiu. To his left was a man in his fifties with slicked-back hair, wearing a dark blue Zhongshan suit. To his right were two men in their early forties, both wearing the standard jackets worn by government employees.

Four people were smoking, filling the room with smoke. Several cold dishes were already laid out on the table, and two bottles of liquor had been opened.

"Minister Chen, Director Fang, Director Wang, Director Li." Liu Qingsong changed his demeanor as soon as he entered the door, slightly bowing and beaming with a smile. "Sorry I'm late, the road was difficult to travel on."

The middle-aged man, referred to as Minister Chen, raised his eyelids, his gaze first sweeping over Liu Qingsong before landing on Chen Nuo.

That look reminded Chen Nuo of a ferocious beast he had seen at the zoo when he was a child.

Casual, yet with a natural scrutiny and assessment.

"And who is this?" Minister Chen asked, his voice deep and resonant, each word carrying the distinctive rhythm of officialdom.

Liu Qingsong stepped aside to let Chen Nuo move forward: "Chen Nuo, our team's script supervisor, a top student from the Film Academy."

He paused, then added a crucial piece of information: "Recommended by Director Fang."

The air in the private room subtly changed after those words were spoken.

All eyes were on Chen Nuo.

That wasn't just looking at a young girl; it was an assessment.

Assess who she is, assess her weight, and evaluate her position in this situation.

Minister Chen looked at Fang Jingxiu and smiled: "Director Fang, is he one of your men?"

He used your people, not the people you recommended.

A single word makes all the difference.

Fang Jingxiu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said calmly, "Director Liu is short-staffed, so I'll recommend a student."

They downplayed the issue and distanced themselves from it.

Chen Nuo felt as if something had squeezed his heart.

Minister Chen's smile deepened, and he looked at Chen Nuo again, this time scrutinizing him more closely. From face to neck, to chest, to waist, he examined her as if she were a commodity waiting to be sold.

"Young and beautiful," he commented, then turned to Fang Jingxiu, "Director Fang has good taste."

The words were ambiguous, and the other two men at the table laughed, their laughter carrying a tacit understanding.

Fang Jingxiu didn't respond, but just continued drinking his tea.

"Please have a seat," Minister Chen said, gesturing to the seat next to him. It was the VIP seat, the closest to him.

Chen Nuo looked at Liu Qingsong, who gave her a wink: "Minister Chen told you to sit, so sit down."

She could only walk over and sit down in that chair.

As soon as she sat down, Minister Chen personally poured her a cup of tea: "Little Chen, how old are you?"

"Twenty-two," Chen Nuo answered in a low voice.

"Youth is wonderful." Minister Chen pushed the teacup towards her, his hand casually brushing against the back of her hand. "Film school? What do you study?"

"Directing Department"

"Hello, Director." Minister Chen leaned closer to her, so close she could smell the cigarette smoke and some kind of hair oil on him. "But directing is tough for a young lady like you. Have you ever thought about taking another path?"

His hand rested on the back of her chair again, this time even closer, almost touching her shoulder.

Chen Nuo's body stiffened, and he dared not move.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Fang Jingzheng looking down at his phone, as if none of this concerned him.

"Director Liu," Minister Chen turned to Liu Qingsong, "I've seen your approval document. There's no major problem, but we still need to follow the procedures."

"Yes, yes, we'll definitely follow the procedures," Liu Qingsong quickly replied, "It's just a matter of timing..."

"Time is not a problem." Minister Chen waved his hand, his gaze returning to Chen Nuo. "Little Chen, can you drink?"

coming.

Chen Nuo's heart leaped into her throat: "I'm not really sure..."

"If you don't know how, you can learn." Minister Chen smiled, gesturing for a waiter to bring a new set of wine glasses. "How can you survive in this industry without drinking?"

He poured her the wine himself, his movements slow and deliberate. After pouring, he pushed the glass towards her: "This glass is for Director Fang. Director Fang is your benefactor; you must show your appreciation."

Chen Nuo looked at Fang Jingxiu.

Fang Jingxiu finally raised his head and looked at her.

His gaze was calm, as calm as if he were looking at a stranger.

Chen Nuo's heart sank completely.

She raised her glass and stood up: "Director Fang, this is a toast to you."

She didn't call him Brother Xiu, she called him Director Fang.

Since he wants to distance himself from the relationship, then let him distance himself.

Fang Jingxiu looked at her for a few seconds, then picked up his wine glass and clinked it against hers.

They both drank it all in one gulp.

The liquor was very strong, and Chen Nuo's eyes turned red from the choking.

"Great!" Minister Chen clapped his hands and poured her another glass. "This one's for me. We're from the same clan, it's fate that brought us together."

The second cup.

Chen Nuo's hands began to tremble.

"Minister Chen, I really can't go on..." Her voice trembled.

"This is only the second cup." Minister Chen placed his hand on her shoulder, quite firmly. "Xiao Chen, you need to know that to survive in this industry, you have to be sensible. Only sensible people can get what they want."

His hand lingered on her shoulder for a few seconds, then slowly slid down to rest on her back.

Chen Nuo got goosebumps all over his body.

She looked at Liu Qingsong, hoping he would come to her rescue. But Liu Qingsong just kept his head down and ate his food, as if he hadn't seen her.

She then looked at the other two men at the table. Director Wang and Director Li were both smoking, with smiles of amusement on their faces.

Finally, she looked at Fang Jingxiu.

Fang Jingzheng lit a cigarette; the lighter snapped open, and a flame shot up. He brought it closer, lit it, took a deep drag, and exhaled the smoke.

I didn't look at her once the whole time.

Chen Nuo understood.

In this system, she is at the very bottom of the food chain.

Fang Jingxiu was the highest-ranking official, and he had the right of first choice. He asked Fang Jingxiu if he wanted the student, and Fang Jingxiu said that my recommendation was tantamount to saying that he didn't want the student.

Then Minister Chen can eat it.

This is an unspoken rule; everyone understands it.

So Liu Qingsong remained silent, Director Wang and Director Li watched the show, and Fang Jingxiu... stayed out of it.

Chen Nuo picked up the second glass of wine, his hand trembling so badly that some of the wine spilled out.

"Slow down." Minister Chen took her hand. "I'll feed you."

He actually picked up his wine glass and brought it to her lips.

Chen Nuo tried to dodge, but his other hand pressed down on the back of her neck.

"Drink," he said, his tone gentle but leaving no room for refusal.

Chen Nuo closed his eyes and drank it.

The liquor felt like a knife as it went down my throat.

She choked and coughed, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Alright, alright." Minister Chen patted her back, his hand lingering on it. "Little girl, take your time."

He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Don't go back tonight. I'll talk to you about the approval."

The hot breath hit her earlobe, and Chen Nuo froze.

She tried to push him away, but her body felt weak and she couldn't muster any strength.

The effects of the alcohol kicked in.

"Minister Chen..." her voice was weak, "I really can't go on..."

"It's alright, I'll take care of you." Minister Chen's hand slid down to her waist.

Just then...

"Bang."

A soft sound.

Fang Jingxiu placed the wine glass on the table quietly, but the private room fell silent instantly.

Everyone looked at him.