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

When Chen Nuo woke up, it was already one o'clock in the afternoon.

The winter sun streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a warm golden band of light across the cot. She groggily opened her eyes, reached for her phone beside her pillow, and her heart skipped a beat the moment the screen lit up…

There is an unread WeChat message from Fang Jingxiu.

Sending time: 9:47 AM.

Just three words: "Are you awake?"

Chen Nuo stared at the line of words, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

She held her phone to her chest, rolled over in bed, pressed her cheek against the cool screen, and curled up in the blankets like a shy and sweet girl who had just fallen in love.

After a while, she calmed her racing heart and picked up her phone to type:

"I'm awake! [Cat rubbing eyes emoji]"

send.

She thought she would have to wait a while, since he should be busy with work at this time.

But the reply is almost instantaneous.

Fang Jingxiu sent me a photo.

It was a bowl of steaming noodles, with a clear broth, topped with thin slices of meat and bright green scallions.

The camera angle was casual, revealing the grain of the wooden tabletop and his hand resting on its edge. His fingers were long and slender with distinct knuckles, and the watch on his wrist gleamed coldly in the natural light.

The following sentence is:

"I've never had minced pork before, I'll try this."

Chen Nuo burst out laughing.

She typed: "Then I'll treat you to dinner tonight [grinning face]"

Fang Jingxiu replied instantly: "Then I'll save my stomach for a free meal."

Chen Nuo stared at those words, her face turning red again.

She buried her face in the pillow and giggled for a while before getting up to wash up.

Today, she specifically chose a short pink down jacket, which made her skin appear even whiter and brighter. She paired it with light blue jeans and white snow boots. Her hair was styled in a side braid, falling over one shoulder with a few wisps framing her face.

She wore light makeup. The foundation was very thin, she only applied lip balm, and a touch of blush on her cheeks. She looked clean and fresh, like a well-off, well-protected girl on a university campus.

Chen Nuo turned around in front of the mirror in the dormitory and nodded in satisfaction.

That's exactly the effect I wanted.

It's like being in love, but not overly deliberate. It's like I've become better and brighter because of him.

At 3 p.m., Chen Nuo arrived at the filming location on time.

Liu Qingsong was out socializing late last night and didn't show up this morning, leaving the crew leaderless. The assistant director temporarily arranged some scattered reshoots. The atmosphere on set was relaxed, with crew members chatting in small groups.

When Chen Nuo walked in, the previously noisy scene fell silent for a moment.

All eyes were on her.

"Wow, Chen Nuo looks so beautiful today!" Makeup artist Xiao Meng was the first to exclaim.

"This pink down jacket suits you so well!" Stylist Lily leaned closer. "You look like...like a pink pearl about to be plucked from the sky!"

"Sister Nuonuo sent me a link, it's so good!"

"Do you really think it's all thanks to the clothes? You need her modeling skills to do this!"

"screw you!"

Chen Nuo blushed with embarrassment at the compliments, lowered her head, and quickly walked to her workstation. Along the way, people kept greeting her, their eyes filled with admiration.

Jiang Wen was squatting in front of the monitor adjusting the equipment when he heard the noise and looked up. The moment he saw Chen Nuo, he froze.

He pushed up his glasses, his gaze lingering on her for several seconds before he came to his senses: "Chen Nuo, you're... a little different today."

Chen Nuo smiled at him: "Really? I just changed my clothes."

Jiang Wen shook his head, his tone serious: "More than that. It's... his whole body is glowing."

Chen Nuo's face turned even redder.

She lowered her head, took out her script, and began checking today's shooting schedule, trying to distract herself with work.

But she didn't know that the way she worked so diligently was even more touching.

The afternoon sun streamed in through the skylight in the roof, falling on her. Her pink down jacket shimmered with a soft, warm light, and her profile was as exquisite as a meticulously sculpted work of art.

She lowered her head, her eyelashes casting faint shadows under her eyelids, her fingers moving quickly across the paper, her expression focused and serious.

Like a painting.

A painting that you can't take your eyes off.

Just then, a slight commotion arose at the entrance of the photography studio.

Chen Nuo didn't pay attention and continued working. It wasn't until the scene became completely quiet that she realized something was wrong and looked up…

Then, she saw Fang Jingxiu.

He stood at the entrance of the photography studio, backlit, his figure as straight as a pine tree. He wore a long, dark gray coat over a black executive jacket.

That was the standard attire of senior officials within the system: serious, composed, and exuding an invisible pressure.

He wore a mask, revealing only his deep-set eyes and striking brow bone. Even so, the aura he exuded, cultivated over years in the world of power, made the air in the entire studio seem to freeze.

Everyone on the scene stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to him.

No one spoke.

Even their breathing became softer.

Liu Qingsong was dozing off in the director's chair when the assistant director woke him up. The moment he looked up and saw Fang Jingxiu, he jumped up so quickly that his chair tipped backward.

"Director Fang!" He hurried to greet him, bowing slightly. "What brings you here? You didn't even tell me beforehand so I could have come to meet you!"

Fang Jingxiu removed his mask, revealing his handsome but cold face. He nodded to Liu Qingsong as a greeting, but his gaze passed over him and landed on Chen Nuo.

At that moment, Chen Nuo's heart skipped a beat.

She saw Fang Jingxiu's eyes.

In those usually calm and unwavering eyes, an emotion she had never seen before was surging. It was like surprise, like admiration, like… her heart had been gently touched by something soft.

He stared at her for several seconds before looking away.