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

On a spring afternoon, sunlight streamed through the glass into Shanghai's most upscale shopping mall, reflecting a dazzling light off the gleaming marble floor.

Shen Yao was wandering around here alone.

It wasn't for shopping, but rather a habitual observation of the fashion trends and the people coming and going; it had become part of her self-improvement.

As she was wandering aimlessly, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye.

Xie Yunzhou, and a young, stylishly dressed girl beside him who was chattering incessantly.

Shen Yao immediately seemed to be put on pause, quickly dodging behind a huge Roman column.

Is it true that if you're unlucky for a long time, your luck will come?

This sentence flashed through her mind.

Having just stumbled at the BBC salon, she suddenly encountered Xie Yunzhou, whom she had always wanted to get close to but had no chance to do so, and it was even with a "breakthrough" right next to him!

She held her breath and observed carefully from the shadows.

The girl was about seventeen or eighteen years old. Her features were somewhat similar to Xie Yunzhou's, but her temperament was completely different.

Xie Yunzhou had a cold and aloof demeanor, while this girl was full of sunshine and vitality.

Shen Yao almost immediately concluded that this must be Xie Yunzhou's legendary younger sister!

The siblings' personalities are truly diametrically opposed.

The girl enthusiastically pulled Xie Yunzhou to look at this and that, but Xie Yunzhou remained expressionless, occasionally nodding, clearly having no interest in shopping.

The girl pouted in dissatisfaction, seemed to say something, then angrily shook off his hand and ran towards the escalator leading upstairs.

Xie Yunzhou stood there, a rare look of helplessness appearing on his handsome, jade-like face.

opportunity!

Seeing that Xie Yunzhou didn't seem to be following, Shen Yao quickly made a decision.

Getting to know Xie Yunzhou personally is too difficult, but his seemingly lively and cheerful sister, who is pampered by her brother, might be an excellent starting point.

Becoming friends with her would be like opening a side door into Xie Yunzhou's and even Fang Yunci's circle.

Without further hesitation, she tidied her hair and clothes and quietly followed them upstairs.

Shen Yao quickly found the girl in the women's clothing section.

She was standing in front of two very different dresses, holding one in each hand, her brows slightly furrowed, seemingly hesitant.

Shen Yao stood in a corner not far away and quickly glanced at the two pieces of clothing.

One is a black leather mini skirt with sharp lines, exuding a cool and avant-garde style; the other is a champagne-colored silk maxi dress with exquisite embroidery.

Shen Yao was a little puzzled.

What's there to hesitate about? With the Xie family's wealth, why not just buy both?

But on second thought, perhaps the girl simply enjoys the pleasure of this "choice," or perhaps she has some other considerations.

Shen Yao took a deep breath, put on the gentlest and most harmless smile, and walked over with light steps.

Xie Yuanzhu was agonizing over the two dresses, feeling a bit down because of her brother's lack of interest, when she suddenly heard a gentle, soothing voice behind her:

"Excuse me, but I think the champagne-colored dress on the left might suit you better."

The voice was so beautiful that it instantly soothed Xie Yuanzhu's agitation.

She turned around curiously, and when she saw who was speaking, her eyes widened instantly, revealing undisguised amazement!

The girl standing in front of her looked to be about the same age as her, but she was so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.

It's not the kind of aggressive, bright beauty, but rather a pure and refined elegance, like a rare orchid in a secluded valley.

She wore a white lace slip dress of excellent quality as an inner layer, and a loose and soft light purple cashmere cardigan over it, which made her skin look as white as snow and as delicate as jade.

The light purple color, which is difficult to pull off, doesn't look tacky on her at all. Instead, it adds a touch of gentle and mysterious charm, making her look contradictory yet captivating.

Xie Yuanzhu is a serious looks-obsessed person. She is often disappointed when she sees celebrities in person. But when she sees Shen Yao now, she is simply amazed by her beauty.

Without hesitation, she tossed the black leather skirt back onto the hanger without even glancing at it. Like a butterfly drawn to a flower, she ran up to Shen Yao, her eyes sparkling, and asked:

"Sister! Really? How do you know this one is better?"

Her attitude was warm and direct, and she was completely unguarded.

Shen Yao smiled inwardly as she looked at her innocent reaction.

Shen Yao began to patiently explain:

"This champagne-colored silk gown complements your skin tone beautifully and makes you look very elegant. The cut and embroidery details are also exquisite, making it suitable for slightly formal occasions."

As she spoke, a delicate and subtle fragrance wafted from her body. It wasn't strong, but it lingered around Xie Yuanzhu's nose, making her feel extremely comfortable.

"As for that black one..."

Shen Yao turned her gaze to another item.

"It has a strong design sense, but the style is rather edgy and avant-garde, which may be more suitable for special parties or occasions where you need to highlight your personality. For everyday wear, the champagne color would be more versatile and would better highlight your lively yet sophisticated feel."

Her analysis was clear and logical, affirming the advantages of the other option while pointing out the more suitable choice for Xie Yuanzhu, making it very pleasant to listen to.

Xie Yuanzhu was originally a spoiled girl with little opinion of her own, and after Shen Yao's gentle and reasonable analysis, she nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, yes! You're absolutely right, sister! I think the champagne-colored one looks better!"

Her eyes darted around, and as she looked at Shen Yao's flawless face so close to hers, she felt an overwhelming fondness for her.

She immediately put her natural ease into action, affectionately taking Shen Yao's arm and beginning her "family check":

"Sister! You're so kind! You're beautiful and have great style! What's your name? Are you from Shanghai? Are you still studying? Which school do you go to?"

She asked one question after another, her tone so warm that it was as if the two were old friends.

Shen Yao was slightly taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm, and her face showed surprise and shyness at the right moment, but she did not push her away. Instead, she let her take her arm and answered her questions gently one by one:

"My name is Shen Yao. I'm not from Shanghai, I'm here to study at Shanghai University, and I'm a freshman this year."

"Wow, you're such a smart girl!" Xie Yuanzhu's eyes lit up even more, and she exclaimed sincerely, "You're so beautiful, sister!"

Shen Yao lowered her head shyly after being praised, and said softly, "You flatter me. You are very pretty and cute too."

Her words weren't entirely polite; Xie Yuanzhu was indeed beautiful with bright eyes and white teeth, possessing an innocent and noble air that came from being pampered.

Being sincerely praised by such a stunningly beautiful woman made Xie Yuanzhu overjoyed.

She was a pampered young lady in the capital, surrounded by admirers. What kind of flattery hadn't she heard? But the praise from a beautiful woman is always more pleasing to the ear.

She tightened her grip on Shen Yao's arm, as if afraid she would run away, and chattered away:

"Sister Shen Yao, let's be friends. I don't have any friends in Shanghai, I'm so bored! I'll ask you to hang out next time, okay?"

Shen Yao looked at the passionate girl in front of her, a gentle smile appearing on her face, and nodded:

"Sure, of course. It's nice to meet you too."

Xie Yuanzhu came to Shanghai this time to handle some business with her brother Xie Yunzhou and to have some fun for a couple of days.

But Xie Yunzhou's personality was such that it was already an unprecedented event for him to accompany her shopping once. Most of the time, she could only stay in the hotel by herself, bored to the point of getting moldy.

Meeting a beautiful woman like Shen Yao who was willing to go shopping with her felt like finding a treasure, and her mood instantly brightened.

"Sister Shen Yao, that's great! Shall we go shopping together? I know there are a few really great shops upstairs!" Xie Yuanzhu excitedly extended the invitation.

Shen Yao was naturally more than happy to accept it:

"Great, I don't have anything planned today."

The next two hours became the happiest time for Xie Yuanzhu in recent times.

She dragged Shen Yao from one luxury store to another, chattering away as she shared her preferences and observations.

Shen Yao, on the other hand, put in her best effort to "perform".

She accompanied Xie Yuanzhu to try on clothes, and every time she could give accurate and pertinent advice, from colors and styles to matching, she spoke eloquently, making Xie Yuanzhu feel that she had wasted her money on all the clothes she had bought before.

Shen Yao would patiently listen to Xie Yuanzhu's little girl troubles and funny stories, and would agree or comfort her when appropriate, her tone as gentle as a spring breeze.

She would even take care of Xie Yuanzhu in small ways, such as helping her carry her bag and handing her water, her actions natural and considerate, without any affectation.

Throughout the process, Shen Yao portrayed herself as a "pure, gentle, tasteful, and understanding" older sister almost perfectly.

She concealed all the aggressive beauty that might have aroused suspicion from other women, revealing only a side as gentle and pure as moonlight.

They deliberately avoided any sensitive topics that might involve family background or wealth, and only talked about safe topics such as fashion, studies, and hobbies.

Xie Yuanzhu was completely captivated by her, and felt utterly bewildered.

Looking at Shen Yao's perfect profile, smelling her pleasant fragrance, and feeling her meticulous care, a ridiculous thought even popped into her mind:

Oh my god, Sister Shen Yao is so amazing! Could it be that I have a crush on girls?

The thought startled her, and she quickly shook her head to dismiss it.

But there's no denying that being with Shen Yao is incredibly comfortable and addictive!

If Shen Yao knew what she was thinking, she would definitely laugh out loud with pride.

Nonsense! I used every ounce of strength I had!

She went all out to win over Xie Yunzhou, her younger sister.

Aside from not using the physical seduction techniques typically used to seduce men, she maximized all her charm, determined to become Xie Yuanzhu's "best and most approachable older sister."

She might still seem naive when dealing with a cunning old fox like Fang Yunci.

But when it comes to dealing with a well-protected young girl like Xie Yuanzhu, Shen Yao's approach is like a complete annihilation.

After a stroll through the streets, Xie Yuanzhu was completely "captured" by Shen Yao.

She felt that Sister Shen Yao was perfect in every way—beautiful, with a good personality, good taste, and caring! Crucially, they were about the same age, so there was absolutely no generation gap.

"Sister Shen Yao, today was so much fun! We must keep in touch!"

When they parted, Xie Yuanzhu was reluctant to leave. She took out her phone and exchanged WeChat and phone numbers with Shen Yao, repeatedly urging Shen Yao to visit her.

After parting ways with Xie Yuanzhu at the mall entrance, Shen Yao did not leave immediately.

She quietly followed Xie Yuanzhu from a safe distance.

Sure enough, they hadn't gone far when they saw Xie Yuanzhu run back to Xie Yunzhou, who was still looking at his phone. She excitedly pulled him aside and said something, and then the two siblings walked together toward a high-end Western restaurant on a high floor of the mall.

Shen Yao understood.

She walked quickly to a corner near the restaurant and, using the greenery as cover, quickly checked her appearance.

After a while, she timed it perfectly and walked leisurely toward the Western restaurant.

Just as she was about to pass the restaurant entrance, almost simultaneously, Xie Yuanzhu, who was idly poking at her bread, looked up and happened to see that familiar and stunning figure outside the window.

"Sister!" Xie Yuanzhu exclaimed in surprise, her voice filled with the excitement of "meeting an old friend in a foreign land".

She immediately dropped the bread, ignoring her brother who was still busy, stood up abruptly, grabbed Xie Yunzhou's arm, and pulled him outside.

"Brother, look! That's the sister I was talking about. Sister, what a coincidence!"

Xie Yunzhou was pulled so hard by his sister that he stumbled and had to look up from his phone screen, his brows furrowed slightly, showing his displeasure at being disturbed.

When he looked in the direction his sister was pointing, and saw the figure outside the window who was "accidentally" passing by, stopped when he heard the sound, and turned his head to look at him with a hint of surprise, his usually emotionless eyes flickered.

Outside the window, Shen Yao stood there gracefully, her head slightly turned to the side, the light casting a soft halo on her perfect profile.

She looked surprised, then broke into a gentle, delighted smile and waved to Xie Yuanzhu.

At that moment, she was like a meticulously painted scroll that inadvertently entered their field of vision.

Xie Yuanzhu had already run out like a happy little bird, and affectionately took Shen Yao's hand:

"Sister Shen Yao, what are you doing here? What a coincidence! Have you eaten? Would you like to eat with us?"

Shen Yao's face showed a hint of embarrassment and awkwardness. Her gaze swept over the cold-faced man in the restaurant who was also looking at her, and she said softly:

"Isn't this inappropriate? Won't it disturb you?"

"No, no, my brother is just waiting for someone to talk to me. He's so bored!" Xie Yuanzhu said without waiting for a reply, pulling Shen Yao inside.

Shen Yao was half-heartedly pulled into the restaurant and, with Xie Yuanzhu's enthusiastic arrangement, sat opposite the brother and sister.

She looked up, meeting Xie Yunzhou's eyes, which were as bright as the moon and as clear as frost. A shy blush rose on her face, and she nodded politely in greeting.

"Mr. Xie, what a coincidence. We meet again."

Xie Yunzhou looked at her without saying a word.