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

When Shen Yao woke up, the person next to her was empty. The faint sound of water could be heard from the bathroom.

She sat up, rubbed her aching lower back, and her eyes were clear, showing no trace of hangover or confusion.

When Xiang Yuchuan came out of the bathroom, he saw Shen Yao, who was already dressed and sitting on the edge of the bed combing her long hair.

She changed into a clean beige sweater and jeans, her long hair flowing smoothly over her shoulders. Her face was bare of makeup, except for her lips, which were still slightly swollen from the excessive kissing the night before. Her eyes were clear, and she had regained her usual innocent college student appearance, as if the passionate enchantress of the night before was just a dream.

This stark contrast stirred a flutter in Xiang Yuchuan's heart once again.

"Awake? Are you hungry? I'll have someone bring breakfast." His voice was much gentler than usual.

"Hmm, I'm a little hungry." Shen Yao looked up at him and gave him a slightly shy smile, her cheeks flushed.

Breakfast was delivered to the room and was plentiful. The two sat at the small dining table, the atmosphere unlike any other date they had ever had.

An invisible bond, carrying warmth and intimate memories, quietly flows between the two.

Xiang Yuchuan's gaze would always unconsciously fall on Shen Yao, looking at the fair back of her neck that was exposed when she lowered her head to drink porridge, and at the ambiguous red marks he had left the night before when she inadvertently raised her hand and the collar of her sweater slipped down.

Shen Yao could clearly feel the heat in his gaze and his undisguised possessiveness. She pretended not to notice, occasionally glancing up to meet his eyes, her gaze filled with dependence and sweetness.

"Food and sex are human nature," this saying is indeed true. As Xiang Yuchuan ate his simple breakfast, his gaze grew deeper and deeper.

He put down his chopsticks, reached out, and gently touched Shen Yao's lips, wiping away non-existent food residue. His fingertips lingered, slowly sliding to her still slightly swollen lips, gently caressing them.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked in a low, hoarse voice.

Shen Yao blushed even more, gently shook her head, and her eyes flickered like a frightened deer.

This sight only fueled Xiang Yuchuan's burning desire. He simply stood up, walked around the table, pulled her up, and leaned down to kiss her.

This kiss was no longer the predatory madness of last night, but rather filled with the tenderness and affection that followed the initial enjoyment.

As expected, the food ended up in her mouth.

After the meal, Xiang Yuchuan personally drove Shen Yao to her apartment.

When they arrived at the apartment building, Shen Yao unbuckled her seatbelt and prepared to get out of the car.

"Take a good rest for a couple of days." Xiang Yuchuan looked at her gently. "Don't overwork yourself."

"Okay." Shen Yao nodded obediently, leaned over and gently kissed him on the cheek. "You too."

Back in her empty apartment, Shen Yao let out a long sigh of relief.

The continuous mental strain and physical exhaustion left her feeling quite tired. She decided to take two days off and temporarily put aside her dance classes and beauty salon plans.

Her "vacation" hadn't been going on for long when her phone beeped with a crisp notification sound.

She picked it up and saw it was a bank transfer notification. Xiang Yuchuan had transferred a considerable amount of pocket money to her, with only a few brief words in the notes: 【Take a good rest and buy something you like.】

Shen Yao looked at the long string of numbers on the screen, and a satisfied smile slowly curved her lips.

She felt no guilt whatsoever and readily accepted the message. Then, she immediately sent Xiang Yuchuan a voice message, her joy and playful tone undisguised:

"I received it! Thank you, Yuchuan! You're the best to me! [heart] I'll think carefully about what gift you want!"

She skillfully expressed her love and gratitude, transforming material rewards into emotional bonds, further consolidating her gains.

After a two-day rest, Shen Yao once again threw herself into the high-speed operation she had planned for herself.

Beauty treatments, fitness, driving lessons, dance classes... the schedule is packed full.

Sufficient sleep and the confidence boosted by Xiang Yuchuan's "consolation money" made her feel refreshed and full of energy.

Xiang Yuchuan would still call from time to time, always inviting her to some private club, card game, or dinner. Those places offered her no benefit other than making her sit there like a decorative vase, wasting her time.

She decided to start tentatively refusing.

The first time, she found a reasonably plausible excuse:

"Yuchuan, my dance class is full today. The teacher is very strict, so I really can't get away. Can I come with you next time?" Her tone was filled with regret and coquettishness.

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Xiang Yuchuan's slightly displeased but still restrained reply: "Alright, then you get back to work."

After hanging up the phone, Shen Yao waited for a while, but no questions or complaints came. That evening, Xiang Yuchuan even sent her a message asking if she was tired.

The second time, she was bolder and said directly:

"I don't really want to go to those kinds of places; they're too noisy and give me a headache. I'd rather stay home and read a book."

Xiang Yuchuan remained calm, simply humming in response without saying anything more.

After several attempts to test the waters, Xiang Yuchuan, aside from occasionally speaking in a less enthusiastic tone on the phone, did not show the strong displeasure Shen Yao had anticipated. Even when they met later, his attitude towards her remained the same, and because of their closer relationship, he showed even more natural intimacy and indulgence.

Shen Yao was completely relieved. She realized that after breaking her vow that night, her importance in Xiang Yuchuan's heart had indeed changed.

He no longer treated her merely as a beautiful girlfriend who needed to be constantly shown off and accompanied, but began to respect her wishes and personal space to a certain extent.

It's like a wild cat that's used to being a stray and is extremely wary. After being adopted by a seemingly kind person, it won't immediately consider its new home its home. It will only cautiously extend its paws, repeatedly testing the other person's bottom line and tolerance.

Shen Yao is this wildcat.

She started to push her luck.

From initially politely declining, she eventually started openly avoiding places she considered "boring."

Sometimes, when Xiang Yuchuan enthusiastically plans a weekend trip to a newly opened club, she'll frown and complain with a hint of annoyance:

"Going to those kinds of places again? No fun, just a bunch of people making a racket. It's better to stay home and watch a movie."

Occasionally, Xiang Yuchuan would be annoyed by her "ungrateful" attitude, his face darkening and his tone hardening: "Shen Yao, don't go too far!"

This is when Shen Yao's ability to coax people is put to the test.

She understands the essence of "quarrels at the head of the bed are resolved at the foot of the bed".

She would immediately soften her posture, lean closer, look at him innocently with her big, watery eyes, gently tug at his sleeve with her fingers, and speak in a soft, sweet voice:

"Oh, don't be angry~ I'm sorry, okay? I just wanted to be alone with you..."

If sweet talk and coquetry don't work, she still has her last trump card—sexual intimacy.

When Xiang Yuchuan, still furious, pinned her to the bed and kissed her with a punitive intent, his movements more forceful than usual, Shen Yao not only did not resist, but instead actively responded, using her awkward yet passionate reactions to defuse his anger.

She would plead for mercy in a tearful tone in his ear, and when he softened, she would pester him in an even more torturous way.

This unruly young master seemed to be bewitched by her. Every "lesson" he gave her ended up being an even more satisfying "feast," devouring her inside and out until his anger dissipated, leaving only a satiated laziness.

A minor incident vanished in the midst of this intense physical intimacy.

What often follows is a larger transfer to Yu Chuan, driven by a sense of compensation, or expensive, latest-style bags and jewelry that he brings back for her when he goes out to eat, drink, and have fun.

This continuous influx of resources completely resolved the financial pressure Shen Yao had caused due to "multiple investments".

The private dance lessons that used to cost her dearly are now commonplace. She can now hire the best teachers and buy the most expensive practice clothes and dance shoes without any financial burden.