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

Distracted by Xiang Yuchuan, Shen Yao simply let loose.

Upon hearing Xiang Yuchuan's somewhat reproachful question, she barely hesitated before her body automatically switched to the mode of dealing with the young master.

She immediately pouted, her brows furrowed slightly, and looked at Xiang Yuchuan with a wronged expression in her still slightly watery eyes. Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of coquetry:

Are you blaming me? I just haven't had a chance to tell you yet.

This tactic always works against Yuchuan.

His heart softened at the sight of her, and he couldn't bear to ask any more questions. He quickly hugged her tightly and coaxed her:

"Okay, okay, I don't blame you, I was just asking casually."

A potential crisis was skillfully thwarted by Shen Yao.

Xiang Yuchuan then turned to Fang Yunci and continued exchanging pleasantries.

Fang Yunci greeted Xiang Yuchuan's parents in a gentle tone: "How are you, Uncle and Aunt?"

"I'm doing great, just like always, always flying all over the world, constantly urging me to get down to business." Xiang Yuchuan waved his hand dismissively.

Fang Yunci smiled, his gaze falling on Xiang Yuchuan with a hint of elder's concern, reminding him, "You should also settle down and play less. You're the only son in the Xiang family, and the burden is heavy."

"Okay, Yunci-ge, why are you acting like my parents?" Xiang Yuchuan replied, clearly not taking it to heart.

Shen Yao quietly followed Xiang Yuchuan, listening to the conversation between the two men.

Upon reaching the hotel entrance, it was time to say goodbye.

Fang Yunci stopped, his face still bearing that impeccably gentle smile, and nodded to Xiang Yuchuan and Shen Yao: "Alright, that's enough for now. Yuchuan, take good care of Miss Shen. I'll be going now."

His gaze lingered briefly on Shen Yao's face, polite yet distant, as if the awkward dinner from before had never happened.

"Take care, Yunci-ge!" Xiang Yuchuan waved goodbye.

Shen Yao forced a sweet smile and said, "Goodbye, Mr. Fang."

Watching Fang Yunci get into that unassuming sedan, smoothly drive away, merge into the traffic, and finally disappear into the night, the smile on Shen Yao's face instantly vanished.

A sense of irritability and frustration gripped her heart like a poisonous vine.

How could he do this? How could he not react at all?

She went to great lengths, feigning innocence, playing the victim, showcasing her talent, and even "sacrificing her looks," to finally create a special impression in his eyes and narrow the distance between them.

As soon as Xiang Yuchuan appeared, he immediately retreated to the safest, most polite, and most distant distance.

That nonchalant, unaffected demeanor seemed to be silently mocking her.

See, all your performances are nothing but a joke to me.

Shen Yao stared in the direction where Fang Yunci had disappeared, her teeth unconsciously clenching her lips.

The evil thoughts in my heart surged forth:

I really want to see what he'll be like after that gentle, calm mask is torn off.

I really wish I could rush up to him right now, rip off his impeccably expensive clothes in a few quick moves, and see if he, like any other man, harbors the same desires and madness beneath his perfect exterior.

She had to force him to lose his composure, force him to change his expression, force him to become as infatuated with her and lose control of himself as Xiang Yuchuan did!

The thought made her heart race and her blood feel hot.

Sitting in Xiang Yuchuan's flashy sports car, the roar of the engine temporarily suppressed Shen Yao's thoughts.

She fastened her seatbelt and casually turned her head to ask Yuchuan, "You and Mr. Fang seem to know each other quite well?"

As Xiang Yuchuan turned the steering wheel, he casually replied:

"Yeah, we're pretty close. I spent a few years studying in Beijing when I was little, living with my grandparents. Yunci's family and my family are practically family friends. He's always been amazing, got good grades, and was good at getting things done—the typical 'other people's child.' My grandparents always compared me to him, constantly nagging me about it."

His tone carried a hint of complaint about his childhood trauma, but more than that, it was one of familiarity and acceptance.

Shen Yao understood.

Just as I suspected. Xiang Yuchuan, Fang Yunci, and Xie Yunzhou—these three men really did grow up in the same circle.

The capital city is a place where hidden talents abound, and the power of their families probably far exceeds her imagination. This made her raise her assessment of Fang Yunci's "value" by another level.

Just then, Xiang Yuchuan suddenly changed the subject, his tone becoming slightly sour, and he glanced sideways at Shen Yao:

"Hey, why are you dressed up so nicely tonight for dinner with Yunci?"

His possessiveness and pettiness, typical of a spoiled young master, kicked in again, and he even got jealous of his "older brother" whom he had known since childhood and with whom he had a good relationship.

Shen Yao rolled her eyes inwardly. If it weren't for maintaining her image in front of your perfect "Brother Yunci", would she have gone through all this trouble?

She looked aggrieved and gently punched his arm.

"What nonsense are you talking about! Isn't this how I always am? Besides, you can't be too casual when having dinner with Mr. Fang, can you? That would be disrespectful."

Xiang Yuchuan snorted and didn't press the matter further, but it was clear that his displeasure was still lingering.

The car drove all the way back to the apartment in Luhu International.

As soon as they entered, before Shen Yao could even turn on the light, Xiang Yuchuan pinned her against the wall in the entryway and unleashed a burning kiss, more urgent and aggressive than usual, with a hint of punishment.

Shen Yao understood that this was the young master's "routine" after he got jealous, and it was also his way of venting his possessiveness and confirming his sovereignty.

She was preoccupied with Fang Yunci's frustration at failing to achieve his goal, and was somewhat disheartened, but at this moment she could only cooperate by letting out soft sobs and letting him do as he pleased.

That night, Xiang Yuchuan seemed to want to vent all the subtle feeling of being "outdone" by Fang Yunci and the jealousy of Shen Yao "dressing up for someone else," so he "tortured" her inside and out, turning her over and over again.

He held Shen Yao contentedly until she was so tired she didn't even want to move her fingers, and they fell asleep.

In the darkness, Shen Yao listened to the steady, unguarded breathing of the person beside her.

On one side is Fang Yunci, a man of deep thoughts and unshakeable will; on the other side is Xiang Yuchuan, a man of strong possessiveness and unpredictable temper.

This path, where one tries to straddle multiple boats and climb up by stepping on them, is certainly not easy.

But the more difficult it was, the less she wanted to give up.

Fang Yunci...it's not over between us yet.