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

Yan Ning's meeting lasted until 6 p.m.

When Fang Jingxiu walked out of the conference room, it was already dark. The corridor was lit by incandescent lights, and several local officials wanted to come closer to talk, but Secretary Qin calmly blocked them with a half-step: "Gentlemen, Director Fang has a phone call to return."

Upon hearing this, the group of people immediately backed away, knowing their place.

Fang Jingxiu walked to the terrace at the end of the corridor and lit a cigarette. A cool breeze blew in, dispelling the stuffiness in the conference room.

He glanced at his phone. Chen Nuo's number wasn't among the missed calls, only a few work-related messages.

She didn't call again.

This means that the situation is under control and she has not encountered any new problems.

But Fang Jingxiu still dialed the number.

The phone was answered after ringing twice.

"Brother Xiu?" Chen Nuo's voice came through, sounding a bit more relaxed than in the afternoon, but still tired.

"Hmm." Fang Jingxiu exhaled a puff of smoke. "The military medical team just informed me that the bleeding has stopped, and the intracranial CT scan didn't find any major problems. After suturing, we just need to observe for two days."

A distinct sigh of relief came from the other end of the phone: "That's great... thank you."

"No need to thank me." Fang Jingxiu paused, "Are you alright?"

The question was asked casually, but the fingers gripping the phone unconsciously tightened a little.

Chen Nuo paused for two seconds, then said, "I... I'm actually a little scared. The spot Jiang Wen was standing in this afternoon was the one I was supposed to stand in to adjust the camera position. But I had a brain fart and suddenly wanted to get a drink of water, so I switched places with Jiang Wen."

Her voice lowered: "If I hadn't gone to get some water, I'd be lying in the hospital right now."

Fang Jingxiu's hand, holding a cigarette, froze in mid-air.

The wind on the terrace was strong, making his hair indistinct. He squinted at the lights of Xining in the distance and suddenly found those lights a bit dazzling.

"It's a good thing you've lost your mind," he said, his voice somewhat deep. "Keep going to be this crazy in the future."

Chen Nuo paused for a moment on the other end of the phone, then burst out laughing: "Who would let someone keep making stupid mistakes?"

"With your stupidity, you can make the same mistakes a few more times." After saying that, Fang Jingxiu realized that it didn't sound like him, so he paused and added, "Anyway, it'll save your life."

Chen Nuo laughed even harder, his laughter coming through the receiver, soft and gentle, like a feather brushing against the heart.

Fang Jingxiu's lips unconsciously curled up as he listened to her laughter.

After laughing for a few seconds, Chen Nuo stopped and whispered, "Actually, now that I think about it, I'm quite glad... luckily I'm rather stupid."

Fang Jingxiu raised an eyebrow: "Are you glad you got in?"

"Just a little bit." Chen Nuo's voice was sly. "Otherwise, I'd be the one getting stitches now, and it would hurt so much."

"You're quite something," Fang Jingxiu said with a laugh, his tone unusually relaxed. "But speaking of which, in the future, when you encounter something like this—"

He paused, then his voice became serious: "Run as far away as you can, do you hear me?"

"Huh?" Chen Nuo clearly hadn't expected him to say that. "But the injured..."

"The injured person will be treated by professionals," Fang Jingxiu interrupted her, his tone authoritative and fatherly. "You're an outsider; there's only so much you can do. What if the machine collapses again? What if the injured person suddenly has seizures? What if there are other risks you haven't anticipated? What if something happens to you?"

He spoke quickly, as if these words had already circled in his mind several times.

Chen Nuo didn't speak on the other end of the phone.

Fang Jingxiu realized he had spoken too harshly, so he softened his tone and said, "Everyone is a little selfish, there's nothing wrong with that. I don't want anything to happen to you."

He said those last words very softly, but very clearly.

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

Then Chen Nuo's voice came through, obediently: "Okay. I'll stay ten meters away from now on."

Fang Jingxiu laughed again: "Ten meters isn't enough, twenty meters."

"Thirty meters?"

"Okay." Fang Jingxiu finished speaking, raised his hand to look at his watch. It was 6:45. The next coordination meeting would start at 7:00 at the Provincial Energy Bureau.

He has fifteen minutes left.

Fang Jingxiu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Is Director Liu with you?" he asked.

"Yes, he's over there talking to the assistant director," Chen Nuo said. "Do you want to see him?"

"Okay, let him answer the phone."

"Okay, I'll take it."

Fang Jingxiu heard footsteps on the other end of the phone, along with the whistling sound of wind through the receiver. Chen Nuo was running.

"Slow down," he said. "I'm not in a hurry."

The footsteps slowed down a bit, but the person was still panting.

After about ten seconds, Chen Nuo's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Director Liu, it's Brother Xiu on the phone."

Then came Liu Qingsong's voice answering the phone. Though there was some distance between them, his tone was respectful: "Director Fang, please speak."

Fang Jingxiu stubbed out his cigarette, his voice returning to its usual businesslike tone: "Director Liu?"

"Please speak, please speak," Liu Qingsong responded repeatedly.

"Everyone present needs to have their phones and all chat logs checked for what happened this afternoon." Fang Jingxiu spoke calmly, but every word carried weight. "Delete all photos, videos, and recordings. Especially the parts involving the military; I don't want any word leaked out."

He paused, then added, "You know what I mean."

Liu Qingsong on the other end of the phone immediately replied, "I understand! I get it! I'll check everything right away and make sure nothing goes wrong!"

This is the rule of officialdom.

There are some things you can do, but you can't say.

Especially when it comes to using special resources, it must be handled cleanly and thoroughly, leaving no room for any wrongdoing.

Fang Jingxiu hummed in agreement, and was about to say it was over when he suddenly remembered something.

He remained silent for a few seconds.

The wind on the terrace picked up, and the sound of cars passing by could be heard in the distance. Fang Jingxiu looked at the black government cars in the parking lot downstairs, and the image of Chen Nuo's calm report on the phone that afternoon flashed through his mind, along with the sly smile on her face when she said, "Luckily, I'm rather stupid."

"And one more," he said, his voice lower than before.

Liu Qingsong immediately held his breath and waited.

Fang Jingxiu paused for two seconds, as if he was carefully considering his words.

"Keep an eye on Chen Nuo," he finally said.

The words were simple, but Liu Qingsong understood immediately. This wasn't just a routine work assignment; it was a trust.

"I don't want anything to happen to her," Fang Jing added, his voice even more somber. "Tell me immediately if anything happens."

Liu Qingsong was stunned.

That was too blunt. So blunt that it didn't seem like something Fang Jingxiu would say. He was always reserved, always knowing when to stop.

Unless... unless he's genuinely worried, so worried that he can't be subtle anymore.

"Yes, yes! Don't worry, Director Fang!" Liu Qingsong replied repeatedly, "I will definitely take good care of Chen Nuo and make sure she's alright!"

"Mm." Fang Jingxiu paused after speaking, "Thank you for your hard work, Director Liu."

"It's not hard work at all! It's my duty!"

The phone hangs up.