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

"Director Fang," assistant Liu Ming said, following his gaze, "we'll take the materials back to the office for processing first. You..."

"You guys go first," Fang Jingxiu said calmly. "Leave the car behind."

"Okay." Liu Ming nodded and winked at his colleague.

The two left quickly, their footsteps soon fading into the distance.

Fang Jingxiu stood there for a few seconds, then walked towards the ginkgo tree.

The leather shoes rustled on the fallen leaves. Chen Nuo didn't look up until the shadows fell.

"Chen Nuo".

She then looked up, her face showing just the right amount of surprise: "Mr. Fang? You...are you finished talking?"

"Hmm." Fang Jingxiu's gaze fell on the book in her hands. "What are you reading?"

Chen Nuo closed the book and showed him the cover.

Power.

Fang Jingxiu raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes: "You like reading this kind of book?"

"It was recommended by my teacher." Chen Nuo stood up, only reaching his shoulder. "He said that even directing students need to understand power dynamics, otherwise they can't make good stories."

When she spoke, her eyes were fixed on him, clear, direct, and without any hesitation.

Fang Jingxiu looked at her and suddenly smiled.

It wasn't the perfunctory smile typical of officialdom; it was a genuine smile that radiated from the depths of his eyes.

"That makes sense," he said.

The subtext of this statement is: I understand what you're saying, and I understand what you're trying to say.

Chen Nuo's heart skipped a beat.

She knew she had made the right bet.

When men reach a certain stage in life, what they miss most is the purity and ambition of their youth.

They looked at the light in the young girl's eyes as if they were looking at their past in a mirror.

That version of myself who believed that hard work could change everything.

"Are you waiting for someone?" Fang Jingxiu asked.

"No, I just thought it was quiet here and I wanted to read a little longer." Chen Nuo paused. "I went to Professor Li's office earlier, but you were busy, so I didn't want to disturb you."

That's a clever way of putting it.

This explains why she was there, and also implies that she wasn't waiting for him intentionally.

Fang Jingxiu didn't reply, his gaze sweeping over her again. This time he looked more closely, from her pale yellow dress to her loose black hair, and then to the white flat shoes on her feet.

"No classes today?" he asked.

"I don't have classes this afternoon," Chen Nuo replied. "I came to ask Professor Li a few questions."

"Or materials engineering?"

"Hmm." Chen Nuo nodded naturally. "After you mentioned battery temperature control last time, I looked up some information, but there are some parts I don't quite understand."

She took a notebook out of her bag, opened it, and handed it to him.

The handwriting is neat, and the questions are professional.

It wasn't just for show; they really put in the effort.

Looking at the questions, Fang Jingxiu suddenly remembered Professor Li's words: "It's rare to see such a persistent and dedicated young person."

That's truly rare.

In this fast-paced era, there are too few young people willing to settle down and learn new things.

"These questions," he handed the notebook back to her, "you can ask Professor Li directly."

"I asked," Chen Nuo smiled. "Professor Li said that some questions can only be answered in the context of specific projects. He said that since you've been researching new energy projects recently, you might have a better understanding of the difficulties in practical applications."

This was half true and half false, but Fang Jingxiu did not expose him.

He just looked at her, his gaze deepening.

This girl is intelligent and ambitious, but she knows how to hide it. Unlike those women who are eager to climb the social ladder and wear their desires on their sleeves, she is not like them.

Her desires were disguised.

It's packaged as being studious, ambitious, and thirsty for knowledge.

What's even more ingenious is that what she gave him wasn't money or her body, but vitality, youthful spirit, something he had lost long ago.

"Are you going to the lecture on Thursday?" Fang Jingxiu suddenly asked.

"Yes, I'm going." Chen Nuo nodded. "Professor Li's lecture is a rare opportunity."

"Hmm." Fang Jingxiu glanced at his watch. "Shall I take you home?"

Chen Nuo's heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm: "No need to trouble you, I'll just take the subway."

"No trouble at all." Fang Jingxiu had already turned and walked towards the parking lot. "It's on my way."

Chen Nuo hesitated for two seconds, then followed.

As the car drove onto the Fourth Ring Road, the sun was setting, and the entire city of Jingjing was bathed in a golden glow.

Chen Nuo turned her head to look out the window, her pale yellow dress shimmering warmly in the setting sun.

Fang Jingxiu glanced at her from the side.

At that moment, he suddenly understood why he was attracted to this girl.

It's not because it's pretty.

He'd seen plenty of beautiful women.

It's because of the feeling of being alive that she embodies.

That kind of enthusiasm—a curiosity about the world, an expectation for the future, and a belief that you can change something.

That was something he had when he was twenty, but it was gradually worn away by his immersion in officialdom.

He became Director Fang, who never showed his emotions; a politician who weighed the pros and cons; and a steady and reliable young cadre in the eyes of others.

But he would occasionally reminisce, longing for the version of himself that still had sharp edges.

"Do you smoke a lot?" Chen Nuo suddenly asked.

Fang Jingxiu snapped out of his daze: "What?"

"My father also smoked," Chen Nuo said softly. "He said smoking could keep him alert, but it was bad for his health. Later, he was diagnosed with lung nodules and quit."

These words were spoken casually, like the concern of a junior for an elder.

Fang Jingxiu was silent for a few seconds: "What does your father do?"

"Building materials," Chen Nuo repeated his previous answer, "a small business."

"A person from Yongzhou?"

"Yes." Chen Nuo nodded. "How did you know?"

"Accent," Fang Jingxiu said, "It has a slight Wu dialect softness."

Chen Nuo laughed, a clean laugh: "I thought my Mandarin was very standard."

"Standard, but you can tell from the subtle details." Fang Jingxiu turned the steering wheel. "Like your perfume... changed?"

Chen Nuo was startled.

He noticed it.

"Yes." She nodded. "The old one ran out, so I got a new one."

"What smells?"

"Bitter orange and cedar." Chen Nuo paused. "You...don't like them?"

Fang Jingxiu didn't answer directly, but simply said, "More special than gardenias."

These words are quite meaningful.

Chen Nuo gripped her handbag tightly, her nails digging into her palms.

Father is right.

He did notice the change in scent and became curious.

Men always crave novelty. They lose interest in secrets they already know if things remain unchanged.

But if you suddenly change your approach, he'll start wondering: Why? Does he no longer care about me? Or has he found someone new?

This kind of pondering is the beginning of getting trapped.

The car arrived at her apartment building. Chen Nuo unbuckled her seatbelt: "Thank you for driving me."

"Hmm." Fang Jingxiu looked at her. "Lecture on Thursday, what time?"

"It starts at 2 PM."

"Understood." Fang Jingxiu nodded. "Go."

Chen Nuo got out of the car, stood by the roadside, and watched the car drive away. Only after the taillights disappeared did she turn around and walk into the school gate.

The gentle mask on her face slowly faded, revealing the calm beneath.

She won this chance encounter today.

He not only gave her the gift, but also noticed that she had changed her perfume and asked about the lecture on Thursday.

More importantly, he didn't expose her scheme; instead, he played along with her performance.

This means that he is interested in her enough to be willing to play this game with her.

Chen Nuo took out his phone and sent a WeChat message to his father:

"I saw it. It was given to me. I asked about the perfume. I should see it again on Thursday."

The reply came very quickly:

"Next, we'll wait for him to take the initiative."

Chen Nuo put away his phone and walked into the courtyard.

The setting sun cast a long shadow over her. Her pale yellow dress shone like an unyielding light in the twilight.

She knew that in Fang Jingxiu's eyes, there was admiration, curiosity, and something deeper...

It was a man who had achieved great success reminiscing about his lost youth.

And she is that mirror.