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

It was the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, at 10:00 AM.

Just as Chen Nuo had stuffed the last sweater into her suitcase, her phone rang.

She practically lunged at it; the screen displayed two words: Xiu Ge.

"Are you all packed?" His message was simple.

Chen Nuo immediately replied, "Okay [Good girl]"

After sending the message, she held her phone, a faint sense of anticipation in her heart. What would he say? Would he... say he wanted to come and see her off?

But reason told her it was impossible.

Today is Friday, the last working day of the year, and Fang Jingxiu cannot take leave.

Sure enough, the next message came quickly: "The department has an annual summary meeting today, I can't get away, and I can't take you to the airport."

As Chen Nuo looked at the words, the little bit of expectation in her heart deflated like a balloon punctured by a needle.

But she quickly composed herself and typed: "I know, Brother Xiu, you go ahead with your work. I'll just take a taxi myself."

That was a sensible and tactful response.

Fang Jingxiu replied almost instantly: "I've sent a driver downstairs to pick you up. He'll be there at 10:30."

Chen Nuo was taken aback.

She didn't mention needing a ride at all.

He had already made arrangements before she even thought of them.

"I can take a taxi..." She instinctively wanted to refuse, feeling it would be too much trouble for him.

"It's the peak of the Spring Festival travel rush now," Fang Jingxiu replied crisply. "My car isn't stuck in any traffic jams."

Chen Nuo stared at the seven words for a moment, stunned.

No traffic jams on the entire road.

That's a very domineering statement, but in Jingjing at this point in time, it carries weight.

Today is the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the peak of the Spring Festival travel rush. All exits from Jingjing city are jammed like parking lots, the subway is packed with people, and taxis are extremely scarce. To say there are no traffic jams at this time is not an exaggeration, but a testament to the reality.

Chen Nuo finally replied, "Okay, thank you, Brother Xiu."

At 10:25, she dragged her suitcase downstairs.

Sure enough, a black Audi A8 was parked at the entrance of the residential area, with a thin layer of snow on its body.

The driver was a middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a dark jacket. When he saw Chen Nuo come out, he immediately got out of the car and took the luggage.

"Ms. Chen, Director Fang asked me to take you to the airport."

"Thank you for your help." Chen Nuo nodded.

She got in the car, the heater was on full blast. Chen Nuo sat in the back seat, watching the familiar street scenes outside the window recede little by little, a complex feeling welling up inside her. She was going home, but she was a little reluctant to leave Jingjing, where he was.

My phone vibrated. It was Fang Jingxiu: "Are you on the bus?"

"Okay, I'm getting in the car," Chen Nuo replied. "Thanks for the arrangements, Brother Xiu."

Fang Jingxiu didn't reply this time; he must be in a meeting.

As the car entered the East Second Ring Road, Chen Nuo immediately experienced what the "Spring Festival travel rush" meant.

The once spacious six-lane road was now crammed with all sorts of vehicles. Private cars, taxis, buses... like a dense swarm of beetles, slowly crawling in the cold wind. Some sections of the road were even completely stopped, with horns blaring incessantly.

"How long will this traffic jam last..." Chen Nuo glanced at the time, a little anxious. Her flight was at 3 PM, and it was 10:40 now. Logically, she should have plenty of time, but at this rate...

The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror and smiled, "Ms. Chen, don't worry, we're not stuck in traffic."

Before the words were even finished, the car had already changed lanes to the right and entered the innermost bus lane.

Chen Nuo was taken aback. A bus lane?

At this time, the bus lane is not open to private vehicles, right?

Before she could react, the car had already crossed an intersection. Two traffic police officers were standing at the intersection, directing traffic.

They saw the black Audi drive into the bus lane, their eyes lingered on the license plate for a second, and then... looked away.

Turn a blind eye.

The car continued forward and soon encountered a second intersection.

This time, a young traffic policeman seemed to want to step forward to stop them, but was pulled back by an older traffic policeman next to him.

The older traffic policeman whispered something, and the younger traffic policeman's expression changed. He immediately stepped back and saluted the car.

Chen Nuo could see it clearly.

She suddenly remembered Fang Jingxiu's words, "My car never gets stuck in traffic."

It turned out to be the case.

It's not that there's no congestion, it's that others dare not let it become congested.

The car drove onto the airport expressway.

This section of the road is even more outrageous; all three lanes are completely jammed with cars, and in some sections, the speed is less than 20 kilometers per hour.

Occasionally, vehicles attempt to cut in on the emergency lane, but are quickly driven away by traffic police.

Chen Nuo's car was traveling in the innermost lane, maintaining a speed of over 60 km/h. When encountering particularly congested sections, the driver naturally turned the steering wheel and entered the emergency lane.

Once, twice, three times.

Each time they passed the checkpoint, the traffic police would only glance at the license plate before looking away. On one occasion, one officer even stepped into the middle of the road to signal other vehicles to give way.

Looking at the slowly crawling traffic outside the window, and then at his own car that was moving unimpeded, Chen Nuo felt an indescribable feeling welling up inside him.

That is power.

It is invisible and intangible, yet it is everywhere.

It can make a blocked road clear a path for you, make people who should be blocking you open the way for you, and make rules temporarily invalid in front of you.

The car quickly arrived at the departure level of Terminal 3.

The driver parked his car closest to the entrance, where there was a sign that clearly stated "drop-off and leave immediately, no long-term parking," but the traffic police officer next to him only glanced at it before turning around to direct other vehicles.

"Ms. Chen, we've arrived." The driver got out of the car and helped Chen Nuo with her luggage.

"Thank you." Chen Nuo took the luggage, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Um... excuse me, what kind of vehicle is this...?"

The driver smiled but didn't answer directly. He simply said, "Director Fang instructed me to make sure you get there safely."

Chen Nuo understood.

She dragged her suitcase into the terminal and glanced back at the black Audi. It was parked in a no-parking zone, but no traffic police came to move it. The driver stood by the car, lit a cigarette, and remained calm.

This is Fang Jingxiu's world.

A world where the rules make way for him.

Chen Nuo took a deep breath and turned to check in.

While waiting for her flight, she took out her phone and texted Fang Jingxiu: "Brother Xiu, I've arrived at the airport. The journey was smooth. Thank you."

Fang Jingxiu replied quickly this time: "Okay. I'll let you know I landed safely."

"So heartwarming!"

After sending the message, Chen Nuo looked at the heart emoji, hesitated for a moment, and didn't retract it.

She put away her phone and looked out the window.

On the tarmac, planes take off and land.

The sky over Jingjing was overcast, as if it were about to snow.

See you next year, Xiu-ge.

She thought to herself.