The Guide to Rising to Power: The Ultimate Schemes of a Green Tea Beauty

The date for Yenching University's 110th anniversary celebration gala is getting closer.

On the steps at the edge of the stage, Shen Yao and Yu Hang sat side by side, their heads slightly close together, whispering to each other about their scripts.

"Here," Shen Yao pointed to a spot on the manuscript and turned to Yu Hang, "you can pause slightly before you continue; it will make the rhythm more comfortable."

Yu Hang gave a vague "hmm".

Just then, the door to the rehearsal hall was gently pushed open.

Several school leaders and student leaders were surrounding a distinguished-looking man as he walked in with smiles.

"Yunci, you're so busy, yet you still came all this way in person. You've really gone to a lot of trouble." A school leader with gray hair patted the visitor's shoulder gently, speaking in a friendly tone.

"Senior Fang, this way please, we're rehearsing for the evening's program." The student council president quickly stepped forward to lead the way, his attitude enthusiastic.

Surrounded by the crowd in the center was Fang Yunci.

The oversized wool coat, draped and crisp, accentuates the clean lines of the double-breasted suit. The white shirt underneath has a neat collar, revealing only a glimpse of a silver-gray patterned tie, while the well-fitting dark trousers make the legs appear even longer and straighter.

Half a year had passed, yet his face still held that gentle smile; the slight curve of his lips was neither too much nor too little, making him appear cold. His eyes, always carrying a hint of a smile, were as clear as autumn water, yet it was impossible to discern the true emotions beneath.

He exuded a calm and composed aura, like the silent fragrance of sandalwood in the night, gentle yet distant.

Fang Yunci turned slightly to the side, listening to the school leader speak, his voice gentle and deep:

"President Wang, you flatter me. I will always remember Yenching University's nurturing of me. It is only right that I come back to visit during the university's anniversary celebration."

The group walked into the center of the rehearsal hall as they talked.

The student council president quickly introduced, "Senior Fang, these two are the hosts of the party, Shen Yao and Yu Hang."

Instantly, all eyes were focused on Shen Yao and Yu Hang.

Shen Yao and Yu Hang had already gotten up.

Yu Hang nodded casually to Fang Yunci as a greeting. Fang Yunci also nodded slightly to him, the gesture conveying a familiarity that needed no further explanation.

Shen Yao slightly raised her eyes, calmly meeting Fang Yunci's gaze.

Fang Yunci's gaze fell on her face. His smiling eyes were completely unmoved, as if he were looking at a slightly pretty little girl.

His lips maintained a perfect curve, and in that impeccably gentle tone, he clearly uttered three words:

"Miss Shen."

Shen Yao's reaction was equally unbelievably calm. Her face showed neither the joy of a long-awaited reunion, nor the disappointment or embarrassment of being forgotten, nor even the slightest hint of tension.

She merely curved the corners of her lips slightly, returning the same polite yet aloof smile, her voice soft: "Mr. Fang, hello."

This extraordinary composure and calmness caused a fleeting look of surprise to cross Fang Yunci's eyes. The girl in front of him seemed to be meeting this "famous alumnus" for the first time.

She was a bit thinner than she was six months ago, and had lost some of her girlish naiveté. Her eyes and brows showed more calmness and competence, but the cute baby fat on her cheeks was still there. She had found a delicate balance between maturity and childlike innocence.

The school leader standing nearby seemed to sense the overly "businesslike" atmosphere and tried to smooth things over with a smile: "Do you know them?"

Fang Yunci withdrew his gaze from Shen Yao's face, his smile becoming more genuine, and his tone casual.

"By chance, we met a few times in Shanghai."

Shen Yao stood quietly to the side, a slightly shy smile still on her face.

The small talk continued in the rehearsal hall.

Accompanied by school leaders, Fang Yunci began to tour the rehearsal venue. He maintained perfect gentlemanly manners throughout, drawing suppressed excitement and whispers of admiration wherever he went.

Shen Yao sat back down on the steps, picked up her script, and acted as if the little incident had never happened.

Only Yu Hang, who was sitting next to her, glanced at Shen Yao's calm and expressionless profile.

Fang Yunci's rehearsal process was also perfect.

His speech was neither too fast nor too slow, his logic was clear and meticulous, and his manner was both witty and profound. Every pause and every smile was just right, as if he had rehearsed it a thousand times.

After the rehearsal ended, Fang Yunci bowed slightly to the crowd, his face showing apology.

"I'm very sorry, Yunzhou has an important meeting and can't make it. He specifically asked me to convey his apologies to everyone. I'm afraid he won't be able to attend this school anniversary celebration."

The school leaders quickly waved their hands with smiles, saying, "We understand. You and Yunzhou are both very busy people now, with your careers taking precedence. The school is already very happy to have you back."

Young people like Fang Yunci and Xie Yunzhou, who are outstanding in themselves and come from families with deep roots, are given arrangements that no one dares to criticize.

Fang Yunci added gently:

"In addition, to express my gratitude to my alma mater, I have prepared a donation in the hope of establishing a scholarship to reward outstanding students who have potential in their professional fields. This is also my way of contributing to the development of the school."

Upon hearing this, the school leaders were overjoyed and repeatedly praised Fang Yunci for his gratitude and affection for his alma mater. They personally escorted him to the entrance of the rehearsal hall and offered another round of warm thanks and farewell.

On the other side, Shen Yao also finished her rehearsal for the day. After going over the script with Yu Hang for the last time, she practiced with the dance team several more times until it got dark. Then she packed her things and left the school gate.

She hadn't gone far from the school gate when a black sedan silently pulled up beside her and came to a stop.

The car window rolled down, revealing Fang Yunci's handsome and gentle face.

"Miss Shen," he said, his voice still calm and gentle, revealing no emotion, as if it were just a polite greeting.

Shen Yao paused, turned her head, and looked at Fang Yunci inside the car.

The streetlights illuminated his perfect profile, and his ever-smiling eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the night.

A standard social smile quickly appeared on her face, and she nodded slightly to Fang Yunci in response.

She merely nodded. She didn't stop, didn't exchange pleasantries, and didn't even show the slightest surprise or desire to strike up a conversation.

After nodding in acknowledgment, Shen Yao turned around without hesitation, leaving Fang Yunci and his expensive car standing there.

Fang Yunci watched Shen Yao's departing figure without looking back, and for the second time, surprise clearly flashed across his eyes. Then, his eyebrows twitched slightly upwards.

Shen Yao didn't go far. She silently counted in her mind, waiting for the expected sound.

Sure enough, when she had walked less than ten steps, Fang Yunci called out to her again from behind.

This time, he called her by her full name, his tone slightly lower than the previous polite "Miss Shen," as if carrying a hook of tenderness.

"Shen Yao".

Shen Yao suddenly stopped in her tracks, her body stiffening as if the call had touched a sensitive nerve.

She slowly turned around, her face showing a deliberately suppressed mix of impatience and a hint of aggrieved anger, and her voice was harsh:

"Mr. Fang, is there anything else?"

Fang Yunci sat in the car, taking in her impatient reaction, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

He opened the car door, stepped out gracefully, stood beside the car, and looked at her calmly, his gaze leaving no room for refusal:

"It's not convenient to talk here. Let's chat in the car, I'll give you a ride."

Shen Yao glanced at the curious looks from the occasional students passing by, then looked at Fang Yunci, her face showing struggle and hesitation.

Finally, as if in resignation, she gave a soft "hmm," quickly walked around the front of the car, opened the door, and got in, her movements hurried and somewhat defiant.

Fang Yunci looked at her "reluctant" yet forced to comply look, smiled slightly, and sat back in the driver's seat.

The car's interior was spacious and filled with a faint woody scent, just like the feeling Fang Yunci gave off.

Shen Yao turned slightly to the side of the car window, her hands awkwardly folded on her knees, her gaze fixed on the outside, appearing to refuse to communicate.

Fang Yunci turned to the side with a relaxed air, his tone light:

"Miss Shen, it's only been half a year, have you forgotten me?"