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

The car drove smoothly across the wilderness, the darkness outside the window stretching endlessly, with only the headlights cutting out two warm beams of light in the night.

Chen Nuo leaned against Fang Jingxiu's shoulder, able to smell the faint scent of cedar on him and hear his steady breathing.

His arm was around her shoulder, the warmth seeping through her clothes, making her relax and drift off to sleep.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, Fang Jingxiu suddenly spoke:

"Will filming end on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month?"

His voice rang out in the quiet carriage, deep and clear.

Chen Nuo suddenly woke up, but didn't move. She just leaned against him and whispered, "Yes, Director Liu said that's when filming will wrap up."

"When are you going back to Jingjing?" he asked again.

"We'll go back as soon as filming is over," Chen Nuo said. "Director Liu said the crew will disband as soon as the wrap party is over."

Fang Jingxiu hummed in response and then said nothing more.

Chen Nuo waited for a while, and seeing that he didn't say anything more, she couldn't help but lift her head off his shoulder and turn her face to look at him.

He still had his eyes closed, but his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he were thinking about something.

"Brother Xiu," Chen Nuo asked tentatively, her voice soft and slightly coquettish, "Will you come to pick me up?"

Fang Jingxiu opened his eyes.

The carriage was dimly lit, with only the faint glow of the instrument panel and the occasional sparse lights flashing past the window. His eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the dim light, like a deep pool.

He looked at her for a few seconds, then said, "We'll see."

A typical Fang Jingxiu-style answer.

Neither agree nor refuse, leaving room for maneuver.

Chen Nuo's heart sank.

But she quickly adjusted her emotions and followed her father's advice to retreat in order to advance.

"Okay." She lowered her eyes, a hint of disappointment playing on her voice. "You must be very busy at the end of the year... I can go back by myself."

After she finished speaking, she leaned back on his shoulder, but this time she didn't press too closely against him; instead, she kept a little distance.

That tiny distance felt like a silent grievance.

Fang Jingxiu sensed it.

He looked down at her.

She turned her face to the side, her long eyelashes drooping slightly, casting soft shadows beneath her eyelids. Her lips were slightly pursed, the corners turned down, giving her an expression that said, "I'm sensible, but I'm also very sad." Like a kitten neglected by its owner, she looked aggrieved but dared not make a fuss.

Fang Jingxiu's heart softened for no apparent reason.

"There's a lot going on at the end of the year," he said, his voice softening. "I'll try to make time for that day."

Chen Nuo's eyes lit up instantly.

She looked up at him, the disappointment in her eyes vanishing instantly, replaced by bright, undisguised joy: "Really?"

The speed at which he changed his expression surprised even Fang Jingxiu.

But he quickly realized what was happening.

That little rascal did it on purpose.

She deliberately acted aggrieved, intentionally trying to soften his heart.

Fang Jingxiu looked at the sly glint in her eyes and couldn't help but smile slightly: "Mm."

"It's a deal!" Chen Nuo immediately sat up straight, her eyes shining like stars. "The 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, at the airport, you'll pick me up!"

"As much as possible," Fang Jingxiu emphasized.

"Okay, I'll try my best." Chen Nuo readily agreed, but the smile in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Seeing her like this, Fang Jingxiu's displeasure at being schemed against vanished.

Forget it.

As long as she's happy.

"How many days are you going on this business trip?" Chen Nuo asked again, leaning closer to him, this time even closer than before.

Fang Jingxiu felt the warmth and weight on his shoulder, and his arm naturally wrapped around her again.

"I'm going to Yanning the day after tomorrow," he said. "There's a new energy base there that I want to visit."

Chen Nuo's eyes shone even brighter.

She looked up at him; his face, with its distinct mixed-race features, was exquisitely sculpted like a work of art. Deep-set eyes, a high-bridged nose, and a delicate chin.

At this moment, her amber eyes shone brightly, carrying the unique charm and anticipation of a young girl:

"Can we go out for dinner together tomorrow?"

She asked very carefully, but the expectation in her eyes was almost overflowing.

Fang Jingxiu looked into her eyes, the words of refusal circling on his lips, but ultimately he didn't say them.

"I'll take a look at the work schedule tonight," he said, his tone as cautious as ever.

But Chen Nuo sensed a loosening in his voice.

Just then, Secretary Qin, who had been driving quietly, suddenly spoke up: "Director Fang, tomorrow's work can be finished tonight. You can rest assured and go on your date with Miss Chen Nuo."

As soon as he finished speaking, the carriage fell silent.

Chen Nuo froze, then her face flushed red. She secretly glanced at Fang Jingxiu and noticed that his expression was also somewhat unnatural.

But... I'm not angry.

Rather, it was an indescribable feeling.

A bit helpless, a bit indulgent, and a bit... perhaps he was also hoping for something?

"Meddlesome," Fang Jingxiu said in a very indifferent tone.

But Chen Nuo understood that it wasn't a reproach, but rather a tacit agreement.

Her heart was instantly filled with joy.

"It's a deal, Brother Xiu!" She looked into his eyes, her voice light and cheerful.

Fang Jingxiu looked at her happy expression and shook his head helplessly, but the corners of his lips still curved into a smile: "Okay."

In a word, it's light and airy.

But to Chen Nuo, it weighed as heavy as a thousand pounds.

As the car approached the film set, the sky was already beginning to lighten. And so, the night passed.

"We've arrived." Secretary Qin stopped the car.

Looking at the familiar buildings outside the window, Chen Nuo felt a pang of reluctance.

She turned her head and looked at Fang Jingxiu.

He was looking at her too.

Eyes facing each other.

Chen Nuo's heart skipped a beat.

Then, she made a bold decision.

She leaned over and quickly kissed Fang Jingxiu on the cheek.

It was very light and quick, like a feather brushing past.

Then she immediately pushed open the car door, jumped out, and ran towards the dormitory building without looking back. Her face was as red as a ripe apple, and her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her chest.

She didn't dare turn around.

So he didn't see it, and Fang Jingxiu, who was in the car, was stunned.

His hand unconsciously rose and touched the spot where she had just kissed him. The warm, soft touch and a faint, sweet scent of her lipstick still lingered there.

It took him a few seconds to come to his senses.

From the front row came Secretary Qin's suppressed laughter: "Boss, finally, the iron tree has blossomed."

Fang Jingxiu withdrew his hand, his expression returning to its usual calm, but his ears turned slightly red.

"You talk too much," he said, his tone still indifferent. "Let's go."

Secretary Qin started the car with a smile.

The car drove away from the weather station and back into the dawn of the wilderness.

Fang Jingxiu leaned back in his seat, his eyes closed, but his fingertips were still unconsciously rubbing the spot where he had just been kissed.

The corners of her lips unconsciously curved into a very shallow arc.

Inside the dormitory building, Chen Nuo leaned against the door, covering her burning face, her heart still pounding frighteningly fast.

She did it.

She kissed him.

Even though it's just on the cheek.

But he didn't push her away.

He wasn't angry.

Chen Nuo took a deep breath, walked to the window, and watched the black Audi A6 disappear into the morning mist.

Its daybreak.

A new day begins.

But something between her and him seemed to have completely changed.