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

At 3 PM on the third day, in the laboratory building of the School of Materials Science and Engineering.

Chen Nuo wore a light yellow dress with the hemline three centimeters above her knees, perfectly revealing her slender and straight calves.

Those are the lines honed through ten years of ballet training.

Her long, straight black hair cascaded down her shoulders without any styling, adorned only with a simple pearl hair clip.

young.

This is the weapon that my father repeatedly emphasized.

"Men are always fascinated by youthful things," Chen Jianguo said on the phone. "Look at those married men who still cheat, how many of them are looking for women older than themselves? They're not attracted to a woman's face, but to that youthful energy, to something they've already lost."

"A man like Fang Jingxiu, who got to this position at the age of 29, has seen the backstabbing and treachery of officialdom and is as mature as an old man. Do you think he really likes those socialites and heiresses or powerful women in society? No, what he misses in his bones is the youthful spirit he had when he was 20."

"So what you need to show him is not sexiness, not worldliness, but cleanliness, vitality, that feeling of 'I am still young, the world is in front of me'."

At this moment, Chen Nuo sat in the waiting area, his pale yellow skin like a ray of sunshine in the gray-toned laboratory building.

She held "Introduction to New Energy Materials" in her hands, and as she looked down at the book, her eyelashes cast a faint shadow on her cheeks.

Assistant Teacher Wang came out of the office for the third time to pour water, and couldn't help but glance at her again.

This girl came for three days, and each time she was quiet, but the questions she asked were very insightful.

What's even more remarkable is that composure.

Unlike some pretty girls who are always eager to show off, she is not like that.

At 3:20, footsteps could be heard in the corridor.

Chen Nuo didn't look up, but her body tensed slightly. She could tell it was the sound of men's footsteps; the rhythm of leather shoes striking the ground was steady and powerful, and there was more than one person.

"Director Fang, Professor Li is waiting for you in his office."

"Um."

The moment that voice rang out, Chen Nuo's heart skipped a beat.

She slowly raised her head, her movements slow and deliberate, like a slow-motion scene in a movie. Her gaze first fell on the book, then moved up along the edges of the pages, finally settling on the man approaching.

Fang Jingxiu wore a dark gray suit today, well-tailored, which made his shoulders look broad and his legs look long. He wasn't wearing a tie, and the top of his white shirt was unbuttoned, revealing the line of his Adam's apple.

Behind him were two men in their thirties, both dressed in standard government attire. They wore dark jackets, had serious expressions, and carried briefcases.

When he saw her, his steps faltered for a fraction of a second.

It was very subtle, but Chen Nuo noticed it.

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, followed by scrutiny, and then a complex mix of emotions.

It was as if I had seen something I hadn't seen in a long time, or as if I was unsure whether I should believe my eyes.

Chen Nuo stood up, her pale yellow skirt swaying gently. Holding her books, she gave a slight bow: "Mr. Fang."

His posture was respectful, but his back was straight.

That's the upright posture only dance students possess, like new bamboo shoots sprouting in spring, carrying an upward vitality.

Fang Jingxiu nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a second.

From the pale yellow dress to the flowing black hair, and then to those clear eyes.

Then he looked away and went into his office. The door closed.

Chen Nuo sat down again and opened the book. Her palms were a little damp, but she steadied her breathing.

The location, the angle, and the outfit she chose today were all carefully calculated.

Pale yellow.

It represents youth, vigor, and sunshine.

Long, straight black hair.

It represents purity, cleanliness, and unadornedness.

I sat in the waiting area reading a book.

It represents being studious, ambitious, and not impetuous.

Faint conversations could be heard coming from the office. Chen Nuo couldn't make out the content, but she could hear Fang Jingxiu's voice.

Calm, articulate, and occasionally asks brief questions.

She waited outside for twenty minutes, then got up and went to Professor Wang's desk: "Professor Wang, Professor Li seems to be busy, so I won't disturb him any longer. Could you please pass this notebook on to him? It contains the questions I organized yesterday."

Inside the kraft paper folder were more than a dozen professional questions she had compiled overnight, each with a reference attached.

It's not just for show.

My father once said, if you're going to do something, do it all the way.

Fang Jingxiu is a shrewd person; he can tell the truth from the falsehood at a glance.

"Okay, don't worry." Teacher Wang took it. "Professor Li really admires you. He said that although you studied directing, you have a good understanding of materials."

"Thank you, teacher." Chen Nuo smiled and turned to leave.

Instead of going downstairs directly, she went around to the small courtyard behind the laboratory building.

Several ginkgo trees were planted here, and the autumn sunlight filtered through their golden leaves, creating dappled patterns. Chen Nuo chose to sit on the stone bench furthest inside, with her back to the direction of the laboratory building.

From this angle, looking out of the office window, you can see her profile.

Her pale yellow dress stood out against the green trees, her long, straight black hair cascading over her shoulders, and her posture as she looked down at her book was quiet and beautiful.

She opened the book in her hand; this time it was the original English version of "Power: Why Some People Have It and Others Don't".

Reading professional books makes one appear diligent;

Reading this kind of book makes one seem ambitious.

For men who have achieved success, ambition is another kind of aphrodisiac.

Looking at the burning desire in the young girl's eyes, they would think of themselves at twenty, a boy who had nothing but believed he could conquer the world.

In his office, Fang Jingxiu was reviewing the materials provided by Professor Li.

"China has indeed made breakthroughs in phase change materials," Professor Li said, pointing to the charts, "but industrialization is still a long way off. The main issues are cost and long-term stability..."

Fang Jingxiu listened, nodding occasionally. But out of the corner of his eye, his gaze unconsciously drifted towards the window.

That pale yellow figure was still sitting there.

What is she looking at?

Why aren't you leaving?

"Director Fang?" Professor Li noticed his absent-mindedness.

Fang Jingxiu looked away: "Excuse me, please continue."

The conversation lasted another twenty minutes. At the end, Professor Li suddenly said, "By the way, that girl outside earlier, she's from the film academy, but she's particularly interested in my course. She's come for three days in a row, and the questions she asks are all very insightful."

Fang Jingxiu looked up at Professor Li.

"She said she came to study in depth after taking your advice," Professor Li said with a smile. "It's rare to see such a determined young person."

Fang Jingxiu didn't speak, he just nodded.

It was past four o'clock when I left the office. The autumn sun slanted into the small courtyard, making the ginkgo leaves glow golden.

Two subordinates followed behind, discussing the details of the research report.

Fang Jingxiu was about to walk towards the parking lot when he caught a glimpse of that figure out of the corner of his eye.

She was still sitting there, looking down at her book.

The wind ruffled the stray hairs on her cheeks, and she reached up to tuck them behind her ears, a natural movement with the lightness unique to young girls.

At that moment, Fang Jingxiu suddenly remembered many years ago.

The library in college, the afternoon sunlight, and the girl who always sat by the window reading.

Where did she go after that?

He doesn't remember.

All I remember is that feeling: quiet, focused, and the feeling that the world hadn't been polluted yet.