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

When Chen Nuo returned to his rented apartment, it was already 1:30 a.m.

The stairwell lights in the old-style apartment building were broken, so she climbed up to the fifth floor in the dark, opened the door, and turned on the lights.

The 30-square-meter studio apartment was kept clean and tidy.

My father once said that a person can be poor, but cannot be slovenly.

Sloppy people are not presentable.

She took off her high heels; her ankles were already red and chafed. A pale white cheongsam hung at the back of the wardrobe, her handbag on the table. Then she took out her phone and dialed that familiar number.

It rang three times before being answered.

"Dad." Chen Nuo sat down on the edge of the bed, his voice finally revealing a hint of exhaustion.

"How is it?" Chen Jianguo's voice was clear, indicating that he had been waiting.

Chen Nuo recounted the events of the evening from beginning to end.

Zhao Mingkai's arrangements, the other girls' whereabouts, the chance encounter on the terrace, the handkerchief, the business card, the farewell in the rainy night, and the final conversation about materials engineering.

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.

"Fang Jingxiu gave me his personal business card..." Chen Jianguo repeated, his tone filled with unbelievable excitement. "Nono, do you know what this means?"

"It means he's interested."

"More than that." Chen Jianguo lit a cigarette on the other end of the phone, and Chen Nuo could hear the lighter. "For a man of this caliber, giving you his business card means he's opened a crack in the door for you. Whether you can squeeze in or not depends on your skills."

Chen Nuo pinched the bridge of her nose: "So what should I do next? Wait for him to contact me?"

"Wait?" Chen Jianguo laughed. "Silly girl, waiting is the dumbest way. You need to make him feel like he's taking the initiative, but actually you're guiding him."

"How to guide them?"

"Didn't you mention Professor Li Zhaonian's class to him tonight?" Chen Jianguo flicked his cigarette ash. "I've studied Fang Jingxiu. He's all about evidence and logic. You said you took a materials engineering course; he'll definitely check that up in the next couple of days. Not you, but the veracity of that claim."

Chen Nuo's heart tightened: "Will he ask Professor Li?"

"I don't necessarily have to ask him personally, but I'll have someone below confirm it," Chen Jianguo said. "So these next few days, you need to get to know Professor Li better. You don't need to do it intentionally; just go to his office to ask him a question, or audit a seminar. Make sure he bumps into you."

"A chance encounter?" Chen Nuo frowned. "How would I know when he would investigate?"

"You don't need to know," Chen Jianguo said confidently. "Just go for three consecutive days, from 3 to 4 pm each day. That's when Professor Li sees students. If Fang Jingxiu's people investigate, there's a high chance they'll come to his office during that time to ask about the situation. Even if they don't run into him, Professor Li will remember you. If anyone asks later, he'll say, 'Chen Nuo, that kid comes here often.'"

Chen Nuo understood.

This is a setup.

A seemingly accidental, but actually meticulously planned scheme.

"And another thing," Chen Jianguo continued, "did you wear gardenia-scented perfume tonight?"

"The handkerchief was scented, but I only sprayed very little on my body."

"Starting tomorrow, I'll switch to a different one."

Chen Nuo was taken aback: "Why? Isn't that his favorite flavor?"

"It's precisely because it's his favorite that we need to change it," Chen Jianguo said in a deep voice.

"Nono, if a man keeps bringing up secrets he already knows, he'll become wary. He'll think you're deliberately seducing him and scheming against him."

He paused for a moment: "But if you suddenly change the scent, he'll wonder. He knows I love gardenias, so why didn't you use it? Is it a game of playing hard to get? Or do you really not have feelings for me?"

"In psychology, this is called expectation violation," Chen Jianguo explained. "When you break his expectations, he will spend more time figuring you out. The more he figures out, the deeper he gets involved."

Chen Nuo held his phone, a chill running through him.

The father spoke of these calculations with such calmness and naturalness.

It was like teaching her how to play chess and how to strategize.

"Dad..." she asked softly, "Have you used these methods on Mom before?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Your mother is different." Chen Jianguo's voice softened for once. "We are truly sincere with each other."

"What about Fang Jingxiu?" Chen Nuo asked. "Do you think he'll be sincere?"

Chen Jianguo laughed, a laugh tinged with helplessness: "People in his position are truly a luxury. What he wants is someone suitable, someone who makes things easy for him, someone who can help him stabilize things behind him. Love? That's something for young people."

His tone turned serious: "You're not talking about feelings, you're making a deal. You're trading your youth, beauty, and intelligence for his resources and status. What he wants is a presentable partner, a respectable collaborator. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement, understand?"

"Understood." Chen Nuo closed his eyes.

Of course she understood.

She understood from the day her father sent her to the film academy.

"There's one more thing," Chen Jianguo said in a low voice, "You just said that Fang Jingxiu received a phone call, was it from Minister Gao?"

"Yes, the note is 'Minister Gao'."

"Gao Yongchun..." Chen Jianguo muttered to himself, "The vice minister of the Ministry of Energy, in charge of new energy. Fang Jingxiu is at the National Development and Reform Commission, which is a perfect match for him."

He suddenly asked, "What exactly did they talk about? Tell me in detail."

Chen Nuo recalled and recounted the fragments he had heard.

Battery temperature control system, safety assessment, time is tight but procedures cannot be omitted.

After listening, Chen Jianguo remained silent for a long time.

"dad?"

"Nono," Chen Jianguo said gravely, "listen carefully. Gao Yongchun has a bad reputation. He's been in the energy system for over a decade, and his subordinates are shady. Fang Jingxiu's dealings with him mean he's either complicit or..."

He paused for a moment: "Either they're investigating him."

Chen Nuo's heart tightened: "Investigate him?"

"Yes," Chen Jianguo said. "I've heard some rumors that the higher-ups might be planning to make changes to the energy system. Fang Jingxiu is young, has a strong background, and is capable, so he's very likely to be sent to lead the charge."

His tone turned serious: "If that's the case, then you need to be even more careful. At times like this, the woman beside him must be absolutely clean, with no leverage whatsoever. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Understood." Chen Nuo took a deep breath. "I'll be careful."

"Also," Chen Jianguo thought for a moment, "since you mentioned materials engineering tonight, let's delve a little deeper. I'll have someone compile a technical briefing on the new energy battery industry for you; memorize it. It doesn't need to be too advanced, just enough so you can respond if he brings it up again."

"it is good."

"There's one more thing," Chen Jianguo hesitated for a moment, "What about Zhao Mingkai... did he say what benefits he would get if you took down Fang Jingxiu?"

Chen Nuo recalled, "He said it was good for him, and for everyone else."

"Hmph." Chen Jianguo sneered, "Of course he's good. If Fang Jingxiu really accepts you, it'll be like he owes Zhao Mingkai a favor. That favor could be a lifesaver in some crucial moments."

He paused for a moment: "In this circle, everyone is both a pawn and a player. Zhao Mingkai is using you to climb the social ladder to the Fang family, and Fang Jingxiu may also be using you to test the Zhao family. What you need to do is find your place in the cracks."

Chen Nuo gripped her phone tightly: "I understand."

"Go to bed early." Chen Jianguo's voice softened. "Starting tomorrow, proceed according to plan. Remember, haste makes waste."

The phone hangs up.

Chen Nuo put down her phone and walked to the window.

The rain has stopped, and outside the window are the rooftops of the hutongs in Jingjing, undulating like inky waves in the night.

She remembered what her father had said.

Expectations were not met, a scheme was orchestrated, and everyone got what they wanted.

I also recalled Fang Jingxiu's slightly damp left shoulder when he held up the umbrella, and the glimmer of light in his eyes when he heard about phase change materials.

This man was like an iceberg. What she could see was only one-tenth of what was above the surface. The remaining nine-tenths were unfathomable.

But the more unfathomable something is, the more valuable it is to conquer.

Chen Nuo opened the wardrobe and took out a small wooden box from the back. Inside were more than a dozen perfume samples.

These are all products her father has prepared over the years, which she studied to find what men like to use.

The bottle of gardenia-scented perfume was already half full. She picked it up, sprayed some on her wrist, and smelled it again.

Indeed, it's too deliberate.

She put the perfume back at the bottom of the box and then picked out a new one.

Bitter orange and cedar are neutral, cool, and carry a sense of detachment.

Starting tomorrow, I'll use this.

My phone suddenly vibrated.

Chen Nuo picked it up; it was a WeChat notification. Her heart stopped for a second…

"Fang" accepted her friend request.

They didn't greet me, didn't ask who I was, and just let me pass.

Chen Nuo stared at the black-and-white silhouette of the building, hovered his finger over the screen for a few seconds, and then typed:

"Mr. Fang, the umbrella is with me. How can I return it to you?"

send.

I waited for three minutes, but there was no reply.

She put down her phone and went to the bathroom to remove her makeup. As the hot water splashed on her face, she wondered what Fang Jingxiu was doing right now. Was he in his study looking at documents? Was he socializing? Or was he already asleep?

Or perhaps he is waiting as well.

Let her lose her temper first.

When I came out of the shower, my phone was still silent.

Chen Nuo lay down on the bed and turned off the light.

In the darkness, she recalled the faces of the girls in the banquet hall. Some were taken away in different cars, some were stuffed into exchanges for benefits, and others, like herself, were temporarily sidelined.

In this game, being pretty is the most basic entry ticket. But how far you can go depends on your intelligence, your character, and whether you can be ruthless at crucial moments.

Father is right, this isn't about feelings, it's about making a deal.

What she had to do was make Fang Jingxiu feel that the deal was worthwhile.

The phone screen suddenly lit up.

Chen Nuo suddenly grabbed it.

It was Fang Jingxiu.

It's only three words, concise and to the point:

"Leave it for now."

Then, another one:

"Professor Li Zhaonian will be giving a public lecture on Thursday afternoon. You can attend if you're interested."

Chen Nuo stared at the two messages, his heart pounding.

He did indeed go and check.

Moreover, he was creating opportunities for her to meet again.

Using her own interests as an excuse is clever.

She typed: "Okay, thank you for the recommendation, Mr. Fang."

After thinking for a moment, I added another sentence:

Are you going too?

send.

The reply was very quick this time:

"It depends."

A typical Fang Jingxiu-style answer.

Leave room for maneuver and control the pace.

Chen Nuo didn't ask any further questions, and simply replied with a "okay".

The conversation ends here.

She put down her phone and lay there with her eyes open in the darkness.

Thursday. Three more days.

Over the next three days, she needed to make herself known to Professor Li, memorize the industry briefing her father had given her, change her perfume, and prepare for the next chance encounter.

Just like my father said, this is a game of chess.

And she had already laid her first stone.

Jingjing City outside the window is asleep in the night.

Countless people chase after power, wealth, and status in this city, like moths to a flame, one after another.

Chen Nuo closed his eyes.

She didn't want to put out the fire.

What she wanted was to be the one holding the lamp.