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

The car drove into the old town and slowly came to a stop in front of Chen's house.

Fang Jingxiu turned off the engine, but didn't get out of the car immediately. He looked at the mother and daughter in the back seat through the rearview mirror: "Auntie, please go upstairs and rest first. Chen Nuo and I have some errands to run."

Lin Xiuqin was taken aback: "Director Fang, this..."

"Don't worry," Fang Jingxiu said calmly, "I guarantee Uncle Chen will be back tonight."

These words were spoken with such certainty that Lin Xiuqin could hardly believe it: "Really... really can he come back?"

"Yes," Fang Jingxiu nodded, "but Chen Nuo needs to come with me."

Chen Nuo immediately straightened his back: "Holy crap!"

Fang Jingxiu glanced at her, a meaningful look in his eyes: "You might meet some...not-so-good people."

"I'm not afraid," Chen Nuo said, "as long as I can save my dad."

Fang Jingxiu didn't say anything more, but simply nodded to Lin Xiuqin: "Auntie, please go back first. Wait for our news."

Looking into the calm eyes of the young man in front of her, Lin Xiuqin ultimately chose to believe him.

She got out of the car and walked into the building entrance, turning back every few steps.

Only Fang Jingxiu and Chen Nuo remained in the car.

"Brother Xiu," Chen Nuo asked softly, "who are we going to see?"

"The person who reported your father," Fang Jingxiu restarted the car, "or rather... the mastermind behind it all."

Chen Nuo's heart sank.

The car wound its way through the old town of Yongzhou before finally stopping in front of an inconspicuous teahouse.

The teahouse has an ordinary facade, with the words "Tranquil Tea House" written on the sign, but the several black Audis parked in front of it suggest that this place is not so simple.

Fang Jingxiu got out of the car, and Chen Nuo quickly followed. He walked to her side and naturally took her hand.

Chen Nuo was taken aback.

"Don't be nervous," Fang Jingxiu said softly, gently patting the back of her hand with his fingers. "Stay by my side later and watch my eyes."

His hands were warm and strong, completely enveloping hers. That feeling of being protected gradually calmed Chen Nuo's frantic heartbeat.

The two entered the teahouse. A waitress in a cheongsam greeted them: "How many of you?"

"Zhou Guoliang booked the private room," Fang Jingxiu said.

The waiter's eyes flashed, and he immediately bowed: "Please follow me."

The innermost private room on the second floor had its door ajar.

Fang Jingxiu pushed open the door, and there were already two people sitting inside.

Two men, around forty or fifty years old, wearing dark jackets, looked about seven or eight parts alike.

Upon seeing Fang Jingxiu enter, the two stood up simultaneously.

"Director Fang!" the older man said with a smile, extending his hand. "I've heard so much about you!"

Fang Jingxiu shook hands with him, his grip neither too firm nor too light: "You're too kind. And this is...?"

"This is my younger brother, Zhou Hongcai," the man introduced. "I am Zhou Guoliang."

Two local powerhouses in Yongzhou's building materials industry, Chen Jianguo's biggest competitors.

Fang Jingxiu nodded and pulled Chen Nuo to sit down opposite him.

He never let go of her hand; he just brazenly held it and placed it on the table.

The Zhou brothers' gazes fell on the two men's clasped hands, then they looked at Chen Nuo, a knowing glint in their eyes.

"This must be Miss Chen?" Zhou Guoliang asked with a smile. "Chen Jianguo's daughter? She's truly a remarkable young woman."

Chen Nuo bit her lip and remained silent.

Fang Jingxiu continued, "President Zhou, we've come today to discuss Chen Jianguo's matter."

"Chen Jianguo..." Zhou Guoliang slowly picked up his teacup, "He's suspected of bribery and tax evasion, the evidence is conclusive, what's there to talk about?"

"Conclusive evidence?" Fang Jingxiu smiled, a faint but cold smile. "Are you sure?"

Zhou Hongcai chimed in, "Director Fang, you're a leader from Jingjing, so you might not be familiar with the situation in Yongzhou. Chen Jianguo has always had a bad reputation in the industry, so it was only a matter of time before he was investigated."

"Is that so?" Fang Jingxiu released Chen Nuo's hand, took out a cigarette case from his pocket, knocked out a cigarette, and lit it. The whole process was slow and deliberate, with a sense of composure as if he controlled the rhythm.

He took a drag of his cigarette, exhaled the smoke, and then slowly spoke: "But the materials I saw were so perfect they didn't seem real. All the accounts, transfer records, witness testimonies... were airtight, flawless."

Zhou Guoliang's expression changed slightly: "What does Director Fang mean by this?"

"What I mean is," Fang Jingxiu flicked his cigarette ash, "such a perfect chain of evidence is either true, or... a carefully designed trap."

The air in the private room suddenly froze.

Zhou Hongcai chuckled twice: "Director Fang is joking. The Discipline Inspection Commission emphasizes evidence when handling cases. Since the evidence is conclusive, it is naturally the truth."

"The evidence can be real, but the motive can be fake." Fang Jingxiu looked at him. "Zhou Hongcai, the rectification of the building materials market is an inevitable trend. But some people want to take advantage of the rectification to eliminate their competitors."

He paused, then added, "This approach is very unwise."

Zhou Guoliang's face darkened completely: "Director Fang, have you come here today to interrogate me?"

"No," Fang Jingxiu shook his head, "I'm here to solve a problem."

"How do we solve this?"

Fang Jingxiu didn't answer directly, but looked at Chen Nuo: "Chen Nuo, is there anything you want to say?"

Chen Nuo was taken aback, not expecting him to suddenly call on her. But she quickly realized that he was giving her a chance to participate in this game himself.

She took a deep breath and looked at the Zhou brothers: "Uncle Zhou, Uncle Zhou. My father has been in the building materials business in Yongzhou for over twenty years. Although there is competition in the business, he has never done anything immoral. I know that someone framed him this time. I only beg you two... to show mercy."

She spoke sincerely, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion, but her eyes were firm.

Zhou Guoliang looked at her and suddenly laughed: "Miss Chen, you make it sound so easy. But this matter... is not something a girl like you can solve. Your father's affairs involve far too many people."

The meaning is clear: you don't have the background or the ability.

Chen Nuo bit her lip and subconsciously looked at Fang Jingxiu.

Fang Jingzheng finished his cigarette and stubbed it out in the ashtray. He looked up at the Zhou brothers, his eyes calm, yet exuding an undeniable power.

"Could it be," he began, his voice low but each word clear, "that I'm standing here today not because of my girlfriend's presence?"

girlfriend.

These three words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in the private room.

Chen Nuo froze, her face instantly turning bright red.

Zhou Guoliang and Zhou Hongcai exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

They knew that Fang Jingxiu and Chen Nuo had a special relationship, but they didn't expect it to be this special.

"Director Fang," Zhou Guoliang's tone softened, "you...and Miss Chen..."

"We're dating," Fang Jingxiu said matter-of-factly. "Chen Jianguo is my girlfriend's father, my father-in-law. So his business is my business."

He paused, leaned forward slightly, rested his elbows on the table, and interlaced his fingers: "Zhou Guoliang, I'm a man of principle. If it's normal business competition, I don't care. But if it's about using unfair means to frame someone…"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the threat was obvious.

Zhou Hongcai's face darkened: "Director Fang, are you threatening us?"

"It's not a threat," Fang Jingxiu smiled faintly, "it's a reminder. The rectification of the Yongzhou building materials market is to regulate the industry's development. But if anyone takes this opportunity to engage in underhanded activities, and is caught..."

He picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, and said calmly, "I remember your Rongneng Group has a logistics park project in Yongzhou New District, right? It seems... it's still waiting for approval from the National Development and Reform Commission?"

Zhou Guoliang's face turned pale instantly.

That logistics park project is Rongneng Group's core business for the next three years. If the approval doesn't come through, the hundreds of millions of yuan invested upfront will all be wasted.

"Director Fang," Zhou Guoliang's voice trembled slightly, "you..."

"The approval process was going smoothly," Fang Jingxiu said, taking a sip of tea. "But if you insist on continuing down the current path... then things are hard to say."

A blatant act of blackmail.

But Fang Jingxiu spoke casually, as if he were discussing today's weather.

The private room fell into dead silence.

Zhou Guoliang's forehead began to sweat.

He looked at the young man in front of him, who was not yet thirty years old and was wearing a simple cashmere sweater and overcoat, but sitting there he was like a mountain, making it hard to breathe.

That is power.

No need to bang on the table or glare, no need to shout; a single, understated sentence can decide the life or death of a company.

In the end, Zhou Guoliang was defeated.

"Director Fang," he took a deep breath, "there might indeed be some misunderstanding regarding Chen Jianguo's matter."

"Misunderstanding?" Fang Jingxiu raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, it's a misunderstanding." Zhou Guoliang wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Those举报 materials... might need to be re-verified. I know a few friends who can help... smooth things over."

Fang Jingxiu nodded in satisfaction: "Then I'll trouble you."

"Of course, of course." Zhou Guoliang nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, Director Fang, Chen Jianguo will definitely be out by tomorrow... no, at the latest, one hour later."

"Okay." Fang Jingxiu stood up and took Chen Nuo's hand again. "Then we'll wait for your good news."

The Zhou brothers quickly got up to see their guests off.

As he reached the door, Fang Jingxiu suddenly turned back: "By the way, I'll take care of the approvals. As long as the logistics park project is compliant, all the necessary approvals will be granted."

This is for sweet dates.

Zhou Guoliang immediately understood: "Thank you, Director Fang! We will definitely operate in compliance with regulations!"

Fang Jingxiu nodded and led Chen Nuo away.

As Chen Nuo walked out of the teahouse and got into his car, he was still in a state of shock.

She watched Fang Jingxiu start the car, looking at his calm profile, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Brother Xiu...you just said...girlfriend..."

Fang Jingxiu turned to look at her, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes: "What? You don't want to?"

"No!" Chen Nuo quickly shook her head, her face turning red again. "It's just... I just didn't expect you to say that..."

"They won't give up if I don't tell them," Fang Jingxiu said bluntly. "In a place like Yongzhou, personal relationships are more effective than the law. I have to tell them in the most direct way that you are one of my people, and to touch you is to touch me."

Chen Nuo's heart was pounding.

You are mine.

These words are more beautiful than any sweet talk.

After the car drove out of the neighborhood where the teahouse was located, Fang Jingxiu spoke again: "You did very well. Just now in the private room, you were neither humble nor arrogant, and you had a great sense of propriety."

Chen Nuo pursed her lips: "I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing..."

"You're right," Fang Jingxiu said. "Remember this: in the future, when you encounter something like this, the more nervous you are, the more you need to stay calm. If you stay calm, others will be wary of you."

"Yes." Chen Nuo nodded vigorously.

"I'm going back to your place to pack my things. Your dad's coming back tonight, so I won't be able to go."

"I'll help you!"

Looking out at the street scene of Yongzhou, she suddenly felt that the world wasn't so scary after all.

Because there is a man who will hold her hand and tell her: Don't be afraid, I'm here.