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

"Minister Chen."

Fang Jingxiu's voice rang out, not loud, but clear.

The private room fell silent instantly.

Minister Chen stopped what he was doing, turned to look at Fang Jingxiu, and still had that knowing smile on his face: "Director Fang, what's wrong?"

Fang Jingxiu put down his phone, picked up a damp towel from the table, and wiped his hands slowly and deliberately.

"She can't drink anymore," he said, his tone as flat as stating a fact.

Minister Chen's smile faded slightly, but quickly returned: "Director Fang is worried? It's alright, she's just a young girl, she'll get used to it."

"It's not that I feel sorry for her." Fang Jingxiu looked at Chen Nuo, his gaze lingering on her face for a second.

Her face was pale, her eyes were red, and her lips were clenched tightly. She looked aggrieved and stubborn, like a small animal cornered.

He looked away and turned back to Minister Chen: "She's allergic to alcohol."

The words were spoken naturally, but everyone at the table was stunned.

Minister Chen squinted: "An allergy?"

"Hmm." Fang Jingxiu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "I drank some at my house last time, and I broke out in a rash all over my body. I had to go to the hospital for two days of IV drips."

He spoke in such detail, it sounded so real.

Chen Nuo was also stunned.

When did she develop an alcohol allergy?

Minister Chen's gaze swept back and forth between Fang Jingxiu and Chen Nuo several times, his smile gradually becoming meaningful: "The drinks you had at Director Fang's house..."

The words were spoken ambiguously, and the other two men at the table both gave knowing looks.

Liu Qingsong quickly smoothed things over: "So, Xiao Chen is allergic to alcohol. Then he really can't drink. Minister Chen, let's drink, let's drink."

But Minister Chen ignored Liu Qingsong; he just stared at Fang Jingxiu, as if he were weighing something.

A few seconds later, he suddenly smiled, a probing smile in it: "Director Fang, this girl... your relationship seems a bit unusual, doesn't it?"

The question was phrased tactfully, but the meaning was clear.

Is he one of your people?

Everyone looked at Fang Jingxiu.

Chen Nuo's heart was in her throat. She looked at Fang Jingxiu, her eyes unconsciously revealing a pleading expression.

Brother Xiu, help me.

Fang Jingxiu remained silent for a few seconds.

He put down his teacup, looked up at Minister Chen, and said calmly, "She is my distant cousin."

Seven characters.

It was like seven knives stabbing into Chen Nuo's heart.

cousin.

It's my cousin again.

Minister Chen's expression changed instantly. The tentative, ambiguous smile vanished, replaced by a polite yet distant expression typical of officialdom.

"So you're Director Fang's cousin!" He immediately released Chen Nuo, shifting his body to the side to create distance. "Why didn't you say so sooner!"

He turned to Chen Nuo, his tone becoming serious: "Little Chen, you can't drink alcohol if you're allergic. You need to take care of your health."

The change in attitude was as swift as a Sichuan opera face-changing act.

The other two men at the table immediately changed their expressions as well:

"That's right, that's right, your health is the most important thing."

"Fang's cousin is one of our own."

"Director Liu, really, why didn't you explain this earlier?"

Liu Qingsong quickly smiled apologetically, "Yes, yes, it's my fault, I didn't ask clearly."

Chen Nuo sat there, her hands and feet ice-cold.

She looked at Fang Jingxiu, who was already discussing new energy projects with Minister Chen. His tone was calm and his expression was normal, as if his mention of his cousin was just a casual remark and had nothing to do with it.

Yes, it doesn't matter.

What was a huge deal to her was nothing more than a word to him.

A sentence that can both sever ties and protect her completely.

Chen Nuo lowered her head, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

pain.

But it's nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

"I'm going to the restroom." She stood up, her voice a little hoarse.

"Go quickly, go quickly." Minister Chen was now being overly polite to her. "Do you need someone to accompany you?"

"No need." Chen Nuo shook his head and quickly walked out of the private room.

The door closed behind him, shutting out the laughter and conversation inside.

The corridor was quiet; Chen Nuo could hear her own rapid heartbeat. Holding onto the wall, she slowly walked forward.

Every step felt like walking on cotton, soft and yielding, making it impossible to exert any strength.

She went to the bathroom, closed the door, and slid down to the floor with her back against the door.

Tears finally welled up and flowed uncontrollably.

But she dared not cry out loud, and could only bite her hand tightly, swallowing all her grievances, sadness, and resentment.

cousin.

My cousin from afar.

What a convenient excuse.

This both distanced her from any ambiguous relationship and provided her with a protective shield. If Minister Chen wanted to touch her again, he would have to consider Fang Jingxiu's feelings.

He considered everything very thoroughly.

So thorough...it chilled her to the bone.

Because it means that, in his heart, she was never anything special.

She's just a distant cousin who needs to be taken care of.

Only.