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

Laughter and applause echoed from the corridor, a world of its own, a world of song and dance, a world of bright futures.

He chose to step into this quagmire.

Secretary Qin approached unnoticed and asked softly, "Boss, what happened?"

Fang Jingxiu turned around, his eyes already sharp as usual: "In Yongzhou, Chen Jianguo has been taken away."

Secretary Qin's expression changed: "So fast? Isn't it still in the early stages of rectification?"

"Someone is trying to use this as an excuse," Fang Jingxiu sneered. "Or... Chen Jianguo really does have a problem."

"Then you..." Secretary Qin hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

"I've agreed to take care of it," Fang Jingxiu said simply.

Secretary Qin remained silent.

He had followed Fang Jingxiu for five years and knew all too well what this decision meant: getting involved in local discipline inspection commission cases was a major taboo in officialdom.

Especially now, at this critical juncture, Fang Jingxiu is set to be promoted to director next year...

"Sir," Secretary Qin finally spoke up, "this matter... is too risky."

"I know," Fang Jingxiu nodded, "but a promise must be kept."

He paused, then looked at Secretary Qin: "Go back to the auditorium first and tell Deputy Director Wang that I have some urgent business at home and I have to go. Please apologize for me."

"Then you..."

"I'm going back to my office," Fang Jingxiu said. "I need to make a few phone calls."

Secretary Qin looked at him and finally just nodded: "Okay."

Fang Jingxiu turned and walked towards the office, his steps steady and his back straight.

As Secretary Qin watched his retreating figure, she suddenly recalled what Fang Jingxiu had said on stage earlier: "Success doesn't have to be achieved by me, but I will definitely be a part of it."

Now, for the sake of a girl, he has chosen the part where success doesn't have to be his.

The winter nights in Jingjing are bustling yet cold.

But at this moment, Fang Jingxiu knew that a girl was waiting for him in Yongzhou, hundreds of kilometers away.

Waiting for his news, waiting for his help, waiting for his... protection.

Then let's protect them.

Fang Jingxiu thought.

Since we've chosen to pave this road, we have to see it through to the end.

---

Yongzhou Airport, arrival hall.

Chen Nuo stood there, holding the phone that had already been hung up, not moving for a long time.

People came and went around her, travelers hurried by with their suitcases, and flight information was repeatedly broadcast over the loudspeaker. But she felt as if she were isolated in a transparent dome, unable to hear or see anything.

The phone screen was still lit up, showing her last chat history with Fang Jingxiu.

The photo of him speaking, and her jokingly saying she wanted to use it as her screensaver.

Just ten minutes ago, her heart was racing because of this photo.

Ten minutes later, half of her world collapsed.

My father was arrested.

These four words pierced my heart like an icicle.

She remembered her mother's distraught voice on the phone: "Nono... your father... they said your father is suspected of bribery... and needs to cooperate with the investigation... when he left he told me... to call you... and to find Director Fang..."

Find the right place.

At that moment, the first thing her father thought of was to have her find Fang Jingxiu.

Chen Nuo gripped his phone tightly, his fingertips turning white.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

Xiu Ge said: Don't panic, go home, take good care of your mother, lock up the files, and wait for his message.

She dragged her suitcase and hurried towards the taxi stand. The line was long, so she bit her lip, took out her phone, and called a private car. She couldn't wait any longer.

Once in the car, she called her mother: "Mom, I'm in the car, I'll be home in twenty minutes. Listen to me, now put away all the account books, contracts, and documents, and lock them in the safe. Not a single piece of paper can be left out."

"Nono... your father..." The mother's voice was still trembling.

"Dad has someone helping out," Chen Nuo said, trying to keep her voice calm. "What you need to do now is protect the things in the house and wait for me to handle things."

After hanging up the phone, she leaned against the car window, looking at the damp and cold night view of Ningbo.

The rain was still falling, and a layer of fog had condensed on the car windows.

She reached out her hand and wrote two words in the mist: Respectful Respect.

Then wipe it off quickly.

He will help me.

He said he would pave the way for me.

He said he would take care of this matter.

Chen Nuo closed her eyes, and tears finally streamed down her face uncontrollably.

But this time it wasn't a helpless cry; it was a... complex emotion.

There was fear, there was worry, but there was also a trace of a sense of security that she herself was unwilling to admit.

Even if the sky were to fall, someone would say: Don't be afraid, I'll hold it up.