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

It was 8:30 a.m. on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year.

Chen Nuo stood in front of the Jingjing Broadcasting and Television Bureau building and took a deep breath.

Director Li's Young Director Support Program Studio is located on the 17th floor of the Broadcasting Building.

She arrived half an hour early, but someone was already waiting at the door—a woman in her forties wearing a dark gray suit with a name tag around her neck: Project Director Zhou Wen.

"Chen Nuo?" Zhou Wen looked her up and down, her eyes scrutinizing her. "Come with me."

Without exchanging pleasantries or formalities, they turned and walked straight inside.

Chen Nuo quickly followed.

The two swiped their cards to enter the elevator, and Zhou Wen pressed the button for the 17th floor. There were only the two of them inside; the air was quiet and somewhat oppressive.

"Director Li has already given instructions," Zhou Wen suddenly spoke, her voice flat. "You joined the team later than usual. The project started before the new year, and the others have been working together for a month."

Chen Nuo's heart tightened.

"So," Zhou Wen turned to look at her, "you'll feel pressured. People will also look at you with prejudice, asking why you were able to transfer to this class, what your background is. That's only natural."

She spoke very directly, even somewhat cruelly.

But Chen Nuo understood the subtext; it was a reminder and a lesson for her.

"I understand, Director Zhou." Chen Nuo nodded. "I will prove myself with my abilities."

Zhou Wen glanced at her but didn't say anything.

The elevator has arrived.

The entire 17th floor is the work area for the support program.

The corridor is lined with glass-partitioned offices where you can see people having meetings, editing videos, or having heated discussions.

Zhou Wen led Chen Nuo into the largest conference room. There were already more than a dozen people inside, ranging in age from their early twenties to their forties, both men and women, all looking down at the documents in their hands.

Hearing the door open, everyone looked up.

In that instant, Chen Nuo could feel more than a dozen gazes falling on him simultaneously—curious, inquisitive, suspicious, and even… disdainful.

"Everyone," Zhou Wen walked to the conference table, "let me introduce you. This is Chen Nuo, a third-year student majoring in directing at the Film Academy. He will be joining our project starting today."

There was silence in the conference room.

She looked at Chen Nuo: "Chen Nuo, say a few words yourself."

This is a show of force, a test. In this situation, what you say and how you speak will determine the first impression you make.

Chen Nuo stepped forward and bowed slightly: "Hello, teachers and seniors. I am Chen Nuo, and I am honored to join this project. I know that I am a transfer student with little experience and may cause you trouble. But I promise that I will study hard, work diligently, and not hold the team back."

She spoke humbly, but not subserviently;

Sincere, but not obsequious.

The meeting room was silent for a few seconds.

Then a man in his forties spoke up. His name was Liu Zheng, and he was the most senior director on the project, having already directed two TV dramas broadcast on major networks: "From the Beijing Film Academy? Which teacher mentored you?"

"Professor Wen Feng," Chen Nuo said.

Wen Feng is the star of the directing department at Jingying Film Academy, and all the students he has mentored are industry leaders.

Liu Zheng nodded: "Professor Wen's students should have no problem with the basics. But theory is theory, and practice is practice. Our project requires five short films after the New Year, with requirements on subject matter, style, and theme. You're already a month behind schedule. Can you catch up?"

This is both a question and an opportunity.

Chen Nuo met his gaze: "Director Liu, I dare not make any grand promises. But I will catch up on the schedule as quickly as possible. If there is anything I don't understand, I would appreciate any guidance from you seniors."

Having said all that, to question it further would seem petty.

Zhou Wen continued, "Alright, Chen Nuo's seat is over there. Let's begin today's morning meeting."

Chen Nuo walked to an empty seat in the corner and sat down.

She could feel the gazes around her drifting over from time to time, scrutinizing, weighing, and evaluating.

The content of the morning meeting was very professional.

Everyone reported on the progress of their projects, the problems they encountered, and the resources they needed. Chen Nuo listened attentively and took notes rapidly in his notebook.

She noticed that the project had a strict hierarchy: senior directors like Liu Zheng had a say, mid-level directors had the right to make suggestions, and new directors only had the right to execute.

She was a newcomer among newcomers.

After the morning meeting, Zhou Wen assigned Chen Nuo her first task: "Chen Nuo, you'll work with Director Liu Zheng's team as a script supervisor. Get familiar with the process, the team, and the project."

The script supervisor is the most basic job, but also the most demanding in terms of personal development.

"Okay." Chen Nuo nodded.

Liu Zheng glanced at her: "We're shooting interior scenes in Studio 3 at 2 PM. Be there at 1 PM, and I'll show you around the equipment."

"Thank you, Director Liu."

After the meeting, Chen Nuo stayed in the conference room to organize her notes. The others left in twos and threes, and no one greeted her.

She understands that in this industry, newcomers need to be self-aware. They can't be too proactive or too enthusiastic; they need to observe first and then integrate.

Noon, at the canteen of the Broadcasting Building.

Chen Nuo, carrying his tray, glanced around the packed cafeteria. Several large round tables had already been occupied by project team members, who were chatting and eating in small groups, their laughter echoing throughout.

Without hesitation, she walked straight to a single table in the corner.

This was something she had planned long ago; newcomers should be self-aware. Those people joined the crew before the new year and spent a month together, so naturally they got along well.

If she tries to force herself on him now, she'll not only feel awkward, but she might also be looked down upon.

She had just picked up her chopsticks when she suddenly remembered that Fang Jingxiu had drunk so much alcohol last night.

I wonder if he has a headache right now...

Chen Nuo put down his chopsticks, took out his phone, and found Secretary Qin's WeChat: "Brother Qin, could you please make Brother Xiu a cup of honey water for me? He drank some alcohol last night, and I'm worried he might have a headache."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "Thank you!"

After sending the message and putting down my phone, the screen lit up with a message from Fang Jingxiu: "How's it going? Getting used to it?"

Chen Nuo smiled and replied, "That's great, Brother Xiu. Everyone is very professional."

"What are you doing?"

The reply came quickly: "Just finished approving the documents, now going to the cafeteria for lunch."

Chen Nuo sent a picture of her plate, saying, "You're too late, I've already started eating!"

Fang Jingxiu replied, "Eat more, you're so thin."

When Chen Nuo saw the words "lost weight," she suddenly realized, "Oh no!" During the Spring Festival in Ningbo, her mother cooked delicious meals for her every day. When she returned on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Fang Jingxiu took her out to eat everywhere. She had completely forgotten about dieting.

And the acting department's minor course instructor, the notoriously strict Professor Deng, will definitely start the semester with...

She sent a pitiful emoji: "Oh no, Xiu-ge!!! I forgot to lose weight!!! My minor course teacher is definitely going to yell at me after the New Year!!!"

---

The canteen of the Jingjing Development and Reform Commission.

Fang Jingxiu and Secretary Qin had just entered the cafeteria when his phone vibrated. He took it out and saw it was a message from Chen Nuo saying she forgot to lose weight, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

Secretary Qin, noticing the smile on her boss's face, whispered, "Boss, is this Ms. Chen Nuo?"

Fang Jingxiu glanced at him: "Mind your own business."

Secretary Qin smiled, deliberately teasing him: "Alright, I was just about to tell you that Miss Chen Nuo sent me a message earlier..."

Fang Jingxiu paused, frowning. "What is it?"

"I wouldn't dare say," Secretary Qin shook his head dismissively, "I'm afraid you'll think I'm being nosy."

Fang Jingxiu glanced at him and said calmly, "Secretary Qin, I feel you haven't been doing enough work lately. How about I send you to the Northwest to oversee the base's progress?"

Secretary Qin immediately backed down: "No, no, no! Boss, I'll tell you! Miss Chen Nuo was worried you'd have a headache from drinking last night, so she asked me to make you a cup of honey water!"

After he finished speaking, he added, "I just had the honey water delivered to your office; the temperature is just right."

Fang Jingxiu was taken aback for a moment, then a smile appeared in his eyes, but he still said, "You talk too much."

He looked down and texted Chen Nuo: "I have a great way to lose weight, guaranteed to make you lose several pounds in a few hours."

Chen Nuo replied instantly: "Really? What's the method?"

Fang Jingxiu smiled and typed: "I'll tell you tonight."

Then he put away his phone and said to Secretary Qin, "Go get the food."

Secretary Qin watched her boss's obviously pleased figure as he walked away, and chuckled inwardly. This Miss Chen really had her boss under her thumb.

……

2:30 PM, Booth No. 3 of the Broadcasting Building.

Chen Nuo arrived fifteen minutes early.

There were already people setting up in the shed, and she volunteered to help move the props.

"Hey, you there," a female stagehand in her thirties called to her, "bring that box over here."

Chen Nuo glanced at it; it was a box containing lamps, and it wasn't light. But she didn't say anything, and went over to pick it up.

"And this too," another prop master pointed to a pile of miscellaneous items, "tidy it up, it's too messy."

"OK."

"Oh, by the way, could you go to the equipment room and get me a light meter?"

"it is good."

One afternoon, Chen Nuo spun around the studio like a top. He moved props, carried equipment, took notes, and kept an eye on the monitor to record the scene notes.

She was so busy that her feet barely touched the ground, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

But she was happy inside; this sense of fulfillment was what she wanted.

She wasn't being given special treatment as Fang Jingxiu's girlfriend, but rather, as an ordinary newcomer, she was being bossed around, demanded of, and treated like a beast of burden.

She's just naturally gifted at working!

But this is just the starting point of one's career.

There was no background to back him up, no halo to surround him, only solid work.

She recalled what Fang Jingxiu had said: "Within the system, newcomers must first learn to be like sponges, absorbing everything they can. Once you're saturated enough, you'll naturally be able to squeeze out the excess and retain the essence."

She's acting like a sponge right now.

When they got to the fourth take, Liu Zheng called for a stop and looked at Chen Nuo: "Where was the emotional turning point in that last take?"

Chen Nuo raised his head and said without hesitation, "At the 28-second mark, after the actor said 'I understand,' there was a 0.5-second pause in his gaze. That was the transition from anger to disappointment."

Liu Zheng stared at the monitor and reviewed the footage, and it was indeed as she had said.

"Write this down," he said. "You need to keep this in mind during post-production editing."

"It's already been noted." Chen Nuo opened the scriptbook and pointed to one line. "The note says it's a key frame for an emotional transition."

Liu Zheng glanced at her without saying anything, but the scrutiny in his eyes lessened.

During the break, the female stagehand who had been bossing Chen Nuo around all afternoon came over and handed her a bottle of water: "Tired?"

"It's alright." Chen Nuo took the water. "Thank you."

"My name is Zhang Li." The female stagehand sat down next to her. "Were you placed here by Director Li?"

Chen Nuo's heart tightened, but his expression remained normal: "Mm."

"Does he have connections?" Zhang Li asked directly.

Chen Nuo thought for a moment and said, "If you have connections, you won't be bossed around all afternoon."

Zhang Li laughed: "That's true. Those with real connections would be sitting next to the director as supervisors on their very first day, unlike you."

She paused for a moment, then said, "But don't mind it. It's the rule that everyone should give orders to newcomers. Everyone starts like this."

"I understand," Chen Nuo said. "It's only right."

Zhang Li looked at her for a while, then suddenly said, "You can endure hardship better than I thought."

"Suffering is a blessing," Chen Nuo said with a smile.

"Okay, that's good to have that mindset." Zhang Li stood up. "Let's continue tomorrow."

Filming ended at 6 PM.

Chen Nuo tidied up the stage manager's notebook and put the equipment back in its place before leaving last.