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

It was still chilly in early spring. One weekend after the start of the school term, Shen Yao was scrolling through her phone when she saw an advertisement for a contemporary art exhibition held at the International Art Center.

The posters were very stylish, and the exhibitors all seemed to be well-known artists.

She thought about it and decided to make time to go.

To cultivate her artistic appreciation, she now pays special attention to activities that can enhance her soft skills.

Since she was going alone and the weather was still cold, she didn't plan to hunt or bump into anyone at the art exhibition, so she dressed very casually.

A thick, long white down coat wrapped her up from head to toe, paired with simple blue jeans and warm snow boots. Her waist-length hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and she wore no makeup except for a touch of lip balm.

Stepping into the art gallery, she found it quite warm, but she was too lazy to take off her coat. The gallery was quiet, not crowded, and filled with an air of pretentious aloofness.

She strolled slowly, looking at the colorful, distorted, and meaningless abstract paintings on the wall, as well as the strangely shaped sculptures.

Shen Yao frowned, trying hard to discern some profound meaning or artistic beauty from it, but unfortunately, the only thought in her mind was:

What the hell is this drawing? It's more interesting to go back and watch two episodes of a melodramatic soap opera.

She felt like an elementary school student who had mistakenly wandered into an advanced mathematics class. Everyone around her was watching with great interest and seemed to be deep in thought, but she was completely confused and out of place.

This realization left her somewhat frustrated and made her even more aware of the huge gap between herself and that ideal circle in terms of aesthetics and knowledge.

After barely managing to walk through all the exhibition halls, Shen Yao felt her head buzzing. It wasn't from the artistic influence, but from the exhaustion of having to pretend not to understand what she was seeing.

Stepping out of the art center, the cold wind blew, but instead of making her feel refreshed, it only made her more irritable.

What kind of artistic cultivation is this? It's just self-torture!

She kicked a small pebble at her feet in annoyance, treating it as if it were one of those obscure and difficult paintings, venting her frustration.

Just then, a warm and pleasant male voice, tinged with uncertainty, sounded from behind her:

"Miss Shen?"

Shen Yao instinctively turned her head to the side.

When she saw the person standing not far away, she was completely stunned.

It was Fang Yunci!

He wore a high-quality dark gray cashmere coat and a matching scarf, exuding an extraordinary aura.

He seemed unchanged after several months, still with that gentle and refined demeanor.

Shen Yao's mind immediately went into overdrive, and she inwardly groaned in despair.

She really didn't check the almanac before leaving home! She felt like vomiting blood.

Why did she have to run into one of the men she was interested in, and the most difficult one at that very moment—when she was most unkempt, most relaxed, and even somewhat self-destructive?

She was completely naked! Wrapped up like a dumpling! Her hair wasn't even properly combed! Most importantly, she had just been kicking pebbles in a fit of pique like a child!

This is a far cry from the "smart, excellent, and cultured" image she has painstakingly cultivated!

In an instant, Shen Yao mentally berated herself a thousand times before leaving the house, regretting it so much she felt like her guts were turning green.

No matter how turbulent her heart was, or how much blood she felt, Shen Yao quickly managed to control her facial expressions.

She stopped kicking the pebbles in annoyance, and instead opened her eyes wide, her face showing a mixture of disbelief and childlike joy:

"Mr. Fang? Is it really you? What a coincidence!" Her voice was clear and cheerful, carrying the joy of meeting an acquaintance, perfectly masking the turmoil in her heart.

Seeing her sudden change in expression, Fang Yunci's smile deepened.

He actually spotted the figure from quite a distance. The superior physique that was still evident even when fully covered up, and the casually draped yet still eye-catching waist-length hair, made the figure seem somewhat familiar to him.

Upon closer inspection, it was indeed her—the girl who had made a stunning debut at the summit and left a deep impression on him.

What amused him even more was that when he got closer, he found that the girl was kicking pebbles on the ground with a miserable little face, looking completely different from when she was calmly performing first aid in the summit lounge or chatting eloquently in his car. She looked like a sulking middle school student.

He's still just a child, after all. Fang Yunci chuckled to himself.

"It's quite a coincidence." Fang Yunci stepped closer, his gentle gaze landing on her simple yet undeniably beautiful face. "Miss Shen, are you here for the exhibition too?"

Fang Yunci's smiling and child-like reaction left Shen Yao somewhat bewildered.

What does he mean by that?

Did he find her kicking the pebble childish and ridiculous, lowering his opinion of her? Or did he not actually care, and instead find her more genuine, even somewhat cute?

Shen Yao tried to guess quickly, but Fang Yunci's expression was perfectly controlled, and she couldn't see through him at all.

She maintained her obedient smile and answered his question, "Yes, Mr. Fang. I heard there was a pretty famous art exhibition here, so I came to take a look out of curiosity. I just finished seeing it and came out."

"What are you doing here, Mr. Fang?" she asked at the opportune moment, steer the conversation back to him.

"I had some official business to attend to recently, and since I happened to be in Shanghai, I heard about this exhibition and decided to stop by and take a look." Fang Yunci's reply remained mild and polite, making it impossible to tell whether he was being genuine or not.

He then posed a question that instantly sent chills down Shen Yao's spine:

"Ms. Shen, after watching them, were there any works you particularly liked? Or what were your thoughts?"

It's here! Shen Yao's heart skipped a beat, and she almost broke out in a cold sweat.

The last time they were in the car, he asked her about financial policy, and she was overjoyed because it was an area she had studied intensively in private, and it was the perfect opportunity to put her skills to good use.

But this time… art? Abstract paintings? Her head was buzzing while she was looking at them, her mind filled with "What is this crap?" Forget liking it, she couldn't even remember the name of one of the paintings or the artist! Her mind was completely blank!

What could she say? Could she say she prefers watching melodramatic soap operas? Wouldn't that instantly destroy the "cultured" image she had painstakingly cultivated?

Quick-thinking, Shen Yao, with a slightly embarrassed and confused expression, didn't directly answer the specific question of "which painting you like." Instead, she spoke in a somewhat bewildered tone about her feelings:

"My feelings... to be honest, Mr. Fang, I didn't quite understand it."

She frowned slightly, looking at Fang Yunci with an honest gaze. "Those paintings are very abstract, with strong colors and lines. I feel that what the artist wanted to express is very profound. I stood in front of the paintings for a long time, trying to understand them, but it was as if there was still a veil between us, and I couldn't grasp the core."

She paused, her voice lowered, carrying a hint of self-reflection: "Perhaps my artistic cultivation is insufficient; I need to learn more."

Shen Yao looked at Fang Yunci nervously, wondering if her quick-thinking honesty would pass the test.